Happy Monday Writers!
I am happy to be back home, at my desk, on my desktop surrounded by all my things and furry critters once again!
The vacation did lead me to a chapter that is taking my novel in a new direction (or rather one I hadn’t planned on) and it raises the stakes very nicely, thank you. So, that was good.
I kept wanting to do a flash fiction piece, set there, as it’s a place that I have in my past WIP as well as the current one. But I’m finding that flash fiction is just not my strong suit– let me rephrase that–I suck at Flash Fiction!
I tried. I had an idea, had two characters, knew the situation– but it just didn’t work. I wanted to experiment with style. As an artist, I know how to experiment: with color, with different mediums, with a new technique…but not with words.
Do you experiment? Do you try new styles or new genres? It is always good to try something new and to stretch the writing voice, but I found myself saying, I’m just not a flash fiction writer!
Have you found a groove you are happy in and know it’s your thing? Or, are you still searching for that groove?
Please share your experiences with experimenting!
When I was young I thought of myself as a poet, and at heart that is what I still am, but after twenty years writing nothing but poetry I sat down and wrote two novels; halfway through my third novel I stopped for two years and wrote a play and a collection of short stories (the first since leaving school) and then no sooner had I finished my fourth novel I wrote another play. About eight or nine years later I tackled my first flash fiction. I now think of myself as a writer. The forms I find come naturally and I have no idea what I might tackle next. Probably won’t be a screenplay though.
Jim Murdoch recently posted..The whys, whyfors and why nots of commenting
Jim-your writing is indeed across the board! I’d love to tackle a screenplay someday and I dabble in poetry (for my eyes only) but for some reason, FF kills me. BUT–I like the challenge and I think when we venture into new territory, we learn something new, not only about ourselves, but about what might have been hidden inside as far as a new style. Do you think that FF came easily to you because y of your passion for poetry?
Content, for me at least, dictates form. I never set out to write flash any more than I set out to write I novel. My basic axiom for writing is, as you know, say what you have to say and get off the page. The flash pieces happened because I did exactly that. On the whole it’s not a form I’m drawn to and I find books of flash – of which I have two or three – can be a hard read. They’re well suited to the web where you get one every now and them. I subscribe to one author who published one piece of flash a day 100 words long and I think I don’t mind devoting 30 seconds to that. They’re often like cartoon strips. I love my daily Garfield but to sit a read a whole book is like sitting and eating a box of chocolates. I quite like to see short story collections broken up by flash pieces. That’s a good use for them.
Jim Murdoch recently posted..The whys, whyfors and why nots of commenting
My first foray into unfamiliar ground of writing experimentation was writing a screenplay. The limitations of that led me back to flash fiction, which to me is an extension of the lessons of screenwriting (no words must be wasted!). I’m currently holding myself to a 500 word (or less) flash fiction piece a week just for the challenge of attempting a coherent story in such a small space.
I also decided to join you and Jeannine in the FB page land, so I’m going to attempt her project of doing the 425 character stories! THAT’S going to be a real challenge!
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You, my dear are fabulous with FF! That’s funny that you mentioned the FB story–I was thinking about that myself! While in Beaufort, I wanted to write something about Nick (he was Raelinn’s BF in Beaufort in my first version) and I started a piece from his POV, but couldn’t get it to work as a FF piece. So, then I thought–what if this is done in Jeannine’s FB style?? Hmmmm…LOL
So, my next question is: is it Ok to steal another writer’s style?
Style as in the unique voice of a writer I think it’s okay to emulate to a point, as long as you’re trying to springboard off it in creating your own voice and not just copying them. A musical example is Tori Amos and Kate Bush. Listen to Amos’s early music and she sounds like a cheap Bush ripoff. She’s evolved into her own 100% unique style over the years, though.
I think it’s okay to take a form a writer has come up with, for example a sestina poem or the length of a flash piece, as much as you want! Because you’re just trying on a framework; you’re not putting on that author’s style like a sweater and calling it your own.
That is a very long-winded way of saying YES PLEASE DO THE FB STATUS UPDATE STORY TOO!
Jess recently posted..Movie Monday: Source Code
I think I’ll give it a whirl…when are you starting?
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Some kind of fantasy! I’ve had my head buried in A Song of Ice and Fire for so many weeks now, I kind of need to do it to cleanse my palate! (Still working on Dance with Dragons.) I think it’s going to be Diablo-esque so some fighters, a crapload of demons, and other random craziness.
Jess recently posted..Movie Monday: Source Code
That sounds exciting–the crazier, the better!
Great post, Ashley! (This is Amy from WWIA, btw). It’s something to think about, experimentation and getting out of your comfort zone. Of course, I tend to be very easily bored, so I tend to start new/different things every other week. Also, I’m an eclectic reader, and I think my writing projects reflect that. Mostly, I novel (KidLit and LitFic), but I also love breaking up long writing projects with shorter flash pieces. I’ve also started doing these little “prose poetry” pieces every once in a while. I have yet to be able to complete an actual short story, however! Also, I find experimenting in genre to be one of the most rewarding and fun things ever.
Anyway, I miss the WWIA group. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch a workshop or get in on the online version.
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Hi Amy! Thanks for stopping by! I’m the same way when it comes to starting new things…always exciting in the beginning! LOL I’m enjoying trying new things right now (more than working on the novel!) but I know that everything helps me to be a better writer in the end…so, it’s all good! We’ve missed you at WWIA!!
Amy, I love your genre experimentations! (At least what I’ve heard of them so far!) I am dying to hear/read more of the one with the pseudo-Victorian kids whose father died. I hope you’ll post it on the forums! I will pay you in candy/chocolate to do so!
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I usually feel uncomfortable when experimenting. I think the thought that I know I am not good at it, makes it harder for me to succeed. But it is an exciting feeling; once I try it and realize it is not as hard as it looks then I’ll learn.
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