Relax. Contest first, then comes the thinking. ;)
Check out this contest on YA Highway. They've got an awesome interview with new author Janice Hardy, and they're giving away an ARC of her soon to be released first novel, THE SHIFTER.
Before we get to the much anticipated question, just wanted to let you all know that I will be unplugging next week. So my blog will be post free. I shall return Monday, September 28th.
Now for the good stuff. :)
I was thinking yesterday, (If I have to think, then so do you. My blog. My rules.) and I started wondering why I write what I write. I've tried to write about normal people, but, somehow, it always evolves into the MC having superpowers or some special ability. This is what I've challenged myself with for my next novel--writing about a normal kid--but I'm afraid those sneaky superhuman abilities are going to creep in there somewhere. Even if the MC doesn't have any.
Maybe it's just that I want to have superpowers myself. Like the ability to snap my fingers and my house would be clean. That would be the best power ever. And I would totally abuse it.
So, I actually have a few questions. First, what do you write? Why do you write what you write? And is there some aspect you feel compelled to include in all your stories, or do you like to mix things up?
Happy Friday!
Ha! LOL, you know being unplugged isn't going to keep me from emailing you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you know I'm the same way. The MC of my WiP began as just a normal girl, but I just couldn't handle that, so I made her see ghosts.
It's working out waay better than if I'd made her normal. I have to give major props to those who write YA lit with no supernatural elements, because I sure can't. I don't want to. I read tons more fantasy as a kid and enjoyed it far more than realistic YA fiction, so that's what I like to write.
Have fun unplugging! Ironically enough, next week, I'll be unpacking. ;)
Just so you know, I think going Unplugged is insanity. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, hmm ... thinking, thinking ...
It's funny because I think I have the opposite problem you have with my writing. I TRY to write MC with powers and they always end up being just about the only ones WITHOUT power, lol. I guess I always like to write stories that show a person prevailing against the odds.
Guess that's just the way I roll!
Enjoy being unplugged--though it's just so selfish of you :)
unplugged...? is that possible? maybe i'll just have to meet you in person...
ReplyDeletei write fantasy. i tried contemporary romance, but it wasn't as much fun. i like making up my facts. i love giving my characters special abilities. the people in this story still have those powers but they're not working properly. what's a magic user to do?
sometimes i write about mermaids or travelers from other places. even when i think of a normal story idea, i end up making it fantasy or sci. fi. still haven't tried urban fantasy.
btw, the word verification i got was Drianta. doesn't that sound like a great fantasy name? i might just use that in my story.
I write contemporary YA (no super powers). I always include a romantic element. I've tried to shy away from it, but it always creeps in.
ReplyDeleteI write historical romance (Regency mostly but I have been known to dabble in the Scottish Highlands, as well). I write what I write because I am utterly fascinated with those two time periods. Regency, to me, seems so peaceful. The girls wore beautiful dresses and lazed around all day (which, I know I'd like to do all day long...) Alright, to be honest, I don't know why I write Regency except that I just love it.
ReplyDeleteMy Scottish Highland stories, on the other hand, I write because I'm drawn to them. I've always been enthralled with anything Scottish, Irish and East coast Canada. Everything is so raw, it’s passionate, and in many ways it’s legendary. I guess the only way to put it is that I have to write highlander novels. It’s just a part of me.
Great questions. I write speculative fiction for YA. I do it because I've always wanted to have a superpower like controlling fire or flying. Coupled with my desire to tell the mean girl where to shove it, and that's where the spec fic for YA comes from.
ReplyDeleteAnd unplugged week is next week?? Ahhhh!
I write contemporary fiction because that’s what comes out when I sit down to write! I don’t feel compelled to include anything particular in my stories which is a good thing because I’m never quite sure where an idea is going when I start out.
ReplyDeleteTere: Supernatural powers are always good. Have fun unpacking!
ReplyDeleteAli: Yeah. It's feeling a little like insanity to me too. ;) I have a good reason for it, though. Really, I do. Prevailing against the odds = awesome! :D I always find myself tilting those odds unintentionally.
Michelle: I like making stuff up too. And everything I write turns into scifi or fantasy as well.
Lazy Writer: Oh, the romantic element. Where's the fun in writing without it? ;)
Natalie: Sounds like you really enjoy what you write! Very cool!
Elana: Superpowers rule! And, um, average powers drool?
Jane: I totally understand where you're coming from. The story always seems to take on a mind of its own for me too. :)
I don't write realistic either. I write what I want to read, and it's the kind of thing I like. I like going outside my comfort zone to somewhere new and seeing what it's like there.
ReplyDeleteI'm obsessed with psychology (not a surprise as I was a psych major) and how our minds work, and I seem to always focus on human thinking and human behavior in my writings. I also like "darkness," the occult. Although some of my writing might not be occult-oriented, there's always a dark feel to it. I enjoy being there...
ReplyDelete