Somebody on Twitter recently asked “is there any genre you wouldn’t write?” That might seem like a silly question, but what surprised me is how quickly I had an answer for them. Writers do have their preferred genres and styles, but over time we learn what we are and aren’t good at, and after 21 years I can say that I wouldn’t try fantasy. For me, it’s just too much to build an entire reality from scratch. I’d rather base it on something I already know, so I can focus more on the other elements: plot, theme, character development, etc. I don’t even read much fantasy. I prefer to watch it on movies or TV. It’s usually visually stunning and imaginative, and I actually like to see it instead of trying to visualize what the author is trying to convey.
What’s interesting is that this question came on the same day that my pastor called to ask if I’d write for and edit a Lenten devotional the church plans to release in March. One of my goals when I started as an inspirational writer in 2001 was to write a devotional, but I never had the resources or connections to do it. I eventually switched to fiction and forgot about it but, ironically, it did come back to mind during the holidays. Fate can be fortuitous. Of course I accepted, and am excited to return to a genre that I wondered if I’d ever return to.
These two things inspired me to look over my writing resume and to do some general research into the writing industry. I was surprised not only at the wide variety of things I’ve written, but to find that opportunities for freelance and technical writing are on the rise. That’s something I haven't thought about in a while. I certainly have the organizational skills and attention to detail, both naturally and from my primary profession. It's mostly part time or job-by-job opportunities but hey – we’re middle class America and any supplemental income is good, especially with inflation skyrocketing.
Are there limits to creativity? I think it depends on the person, and their needs and preferences. I probably wouldn’t tackle a massive cross stitch project, but if branching out to write, edit, or review different genres can help support our finances (and a possible retirement career), then it’s worth a shot. As with all things, it requires discernment, balance, and old-fashioned common sense to know where the efforts are worth it, and where they aren’t. Cross-stitching is a hobby for entertainment only. I don’t make money off it, and I know my skills in that area are limited. Books and writing are part of who I am, and needs to be integrated with my daily life.
The thought of writing a fantasy novel/series makes me shudder now, but things might change and lead me to give it a shot later. I wondered if I’d ever achieve my dream of writing science fiction back in those early days of inspirational writing, and now it’s my main thing – and I’m coming back around to inspirational writing, too. So who knows? The road can take you to surprising places.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
What’s interesting is that this question came on the same day that my pastor called to ask if I’d write for and edit a Lenten devotional the church plans to release in March. One of my goals when I started as an inspirational writer in 2001 was to write a devotional, but I never had the resources or connections to do it. I eventually switched to fiction and forgot about it but, ironically, it did come back to mind during the holidays. Fate can be fortuitous. Of course I accepted, and am excited to return to a genre that I wondered if I’d ever return to.
These two things inspired me to look over my writing resume and to do some general research into the writing industry. I was surprised not only at the wide variety of things I’ve written, but to find that opportunities for freelance and technical writing are on the rise. That’s something I haven't thought about in a while. I certainly have the organizational skills and attention to detail, both naturally and from my primary profession. It's mostly part time or job-by-job opportunities but hey – we’re middle class America and any supplemental income is good, especially with inflation skyrocketing.
Are there limits to creativity? I think it depends on the person, and their needs and preferences. I probably wouldn’t tackle a massive cross stitch project, but if branching out to write, edit, or review different genres can help support our finances (and a possible retirement career), then it’s worth a shot. As with all things, it requires discernment, balance, and old-fashioned common sense to know where the efforts are worth it, and where they aren’t. Cross-stitching is a hobby for entertainment only. I don’t make money off it, and I know my skills in that area are limited. Books and writing are part of who I am, and needs to be integrated with my daily life.
The thought of writing a fantasy novel/series makes me shudder now, but things might change and lead me to give it a shot later. I wondered if I’d ever achieve my dream of writing science fiction back in those early days of inspirational writing, and now it’s my main thing – and I’m coming back around to inspirational writing, too. So who knows? The road can take you to surprising places.
That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
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