Fiction is Fiction is Fiction: So Take a Risk and Write for a New Audience

As a writing teacher, I often surprise people and tell them that I teach the same things regardless of the audience. It doesn’t matter if I teach a fiction class to a 3rd grade class or a class of advanced novelists, the techniques are the same. Of course, the sophistication of the finished writing project is another story. But really, fiction is fiction. There is character, plot, setting, theme, descriptions, action, and so on. The language of story remains the same, the techniques remain the same, regardless of where I teach.

I am reminding myself of this truth because I realized I was stuck in a rut, thinking about my own writing in certain terms. I write middle grade fiction. I would never write __________(fill in the blank here with a long list of no-nos). Or, try this one: I write fiction. I would never write nonfiction.

This summer, I am challenging myself to stretch for new audiences, new genres. I am writing an adult sff (science fiction fantasy—the abbreviation used by most in the field) short story. Whoa! Adult audience. Short story. Only the sff feels comfortable.

This summer, I am working on a book proposal for a nonfiction, nature book for middle grade audience. Now, I’ve done nonfiction nature picture books. But a book proposal? Middle grade audience?

Why stretch? Because I have gotten stagnant and need to find new enthusiasm for projects that I can write with passion. I didn’t have to change audiences, genres, forms, I could have just found a renewed passion for old paths. But as much as I like habits—and I really like my habitual world—I also like going new places and doing new things, as this photo proves. I think my writing needs that, too.

Standing on the border between Poland and Ukraine, May 2013.

What about your writing? What bold new projects will you attempt?

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Darcy Pattison blogs about how-to-write at Fiction Notes and blogs about education at CommonCoreStandards.com Follow Darcy on Pinterest.