NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Friday, June 3, 2016

Writing outside the Box - why you should!

I can see the TV advert now:
Are you tired of writing?Still committed to your genre but intrigued by something else?Loving your characters but wishing they could be on another planet / in another time / in love with werewolves?Can’t face a 50,000 words target at the moment?

I’m not suggesting anyone abandons their chosen genre. We all know the importance of creating our brand and maintaining consistent quality on our books.
But there are times you just think… not just now. The Muse is just not there. The Muse has left the building.
So don’t be afraid to try something different! Whoever said you could only write in the genre you publish? This doesn’t have to be anything to do with your publishing career – in fact, it’s probably better NOT to be. That will take the pressure off. And, God knows, you don’t have time to write another publishable novel this month LOL.

Dabble in another genre.
Revisit that WIP you’ve had for years where the elves meet the sexbots.Follow a picture prompt on the net.Write some fanfic, like you did in the old days.Use the excuse of a seasonal theme to revisit existing characters – but with a twist!Write a scene from a different gender’s POV.Write a short story in the style of the favourite author you read.Etc etc
Just for FUN! The idea is to rediscover the sparkle and buzz of writing in itself. And for those who still like there to be a purpose (looking at myself here!) there are plenty of opportunities to submit to.
I enter flashfic in QueerSciFi’s esteemed annual challenge. And although I don’t do it for the money or kudos, I won 2nd prize this year!
I enter the annual 1000words challenge on Live Journal, and have done for years. There’s no restriction at all on genre or pairing, and I’ve done horror, paranormal and comedy in the past.
I’m writing a M/F short for an RNA challenge.
always check out the picture prompt at Cryselle’s Bookshelf website and have been inspired to write flashfic for many of them.
I entered a literary festival challenge this year, a 1000 words limit. I didn’t get accepted for publication, but have a short fic I’ll enjoy sharing with my readership at some time.

Writing is so much more than publishing. Feel free to spread your wings, authors!
~~Clare London~~
www.clarelondon.com
~ And apologies for anyone who may already have read this on another blog this month - I've run up against (you guessed it) writing deadlines, and hoped you wouldn't mind me repeating it! ~

9 comments:

Wynter said...

Congrats on your prize!! I love dabbling in multiple genres. Always have. It keeps things interesting. I am just finishing the first of a contracted two-book contemporary romance series, then looking forward to starting a light paranormal novella. Got to do what feels right!

Anne Marie Becker said...

Clare, this is the perfect post for me right now. I finished a book a couple weeks ago and haven't been motivated to even look at my keyboard since. I feel like I'm at a crossroads and could totally try something new. I've never done that before (not seriously, anyway), but I think this might be the time to spread my wings. Thanks for this post!

Toni Anderson said...

I love this too. I think I should write horror. It would get a lot of stress out :) <3 Congrats on 2nd place!!!!

Marcelle Dubé said...

Way to keep the passion burning, Clare! And congrats on your second place!

jean harrington said...

Thanks for the suggestion that we innovate. We all get stuck in writing "ruts," so sometimes we need a prod like the one you just nudged us with. Thanks, Clare!

CathyP said...

Congratulations on your writing prize!

This post is so timely for me. I'm releasing a novella this summer that's outside my usual genre - and stressing terribly about whether my current readers will like it.

I'll have to search out the writing prompts you mentioned - some much needed fun :)

Elise Warner said...

Bravo on your prize. I've been jumping between fiction and non-fiction. But trying something completely different sounds like fun.

Julie Moffett said...

Great post! And congrats on your excellent finish. I totally get this. I have this book on the back burner that is totally different that I'd like to do someday... :)

Rita said...

How wonderful! This is what I'm doing, writing (much) shorter stories and it is such fun.

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