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This has been a year of surprises. I've let go of a major writing gig and went both feet into my new podcast booking service (which is doing surprisingly well). And I managed this year, so far, to finish a strong draft of a story I'd been working on for years.
After that, knowing I needed to give myself a break, I reached for other stories in my "finished - but not revised" folder. I brought both up, started working on them, and got bored.
I. Got. Bored.
With my own work!
This is obviously a terrible sign, but I thought...well, I'm stressed. And I'm having a hard time focusing creatively. So, maybe just keep at it.
Until something hit me. One of my favorite short stories was in the category of speculative fiction (it's called Mannequin of Lot 18). My latest story is about virtual reality and the ramifications of trusting that technology with our lives.
And as I was thinking of the stories I was attempting to revise, an idea struck me: these aren't in my genre. What I love about speculative fiction is that you can really say things about society. I mean, you can in all genres, but I feel like this genre inspires me to write more thought-provoking themes in my work.
My next project is to speculatively fictionalize (my new word) these old stories of mine.
If you aren't really feeling the vibe of your latest work, maybe it isn't you. Maybe the story isn't expressing a part of who you are anymore. Maybe it's not even the genre you want to be in.
And that's okay. Don't be afraid to move or let go. That means you're growing, not failing.
Nicole Pyles is a slightly overworked solopreneur who somehow can't admit she's running a business and not simply a side hustle. She loves the Lord and spending time with her family. She dreams vividly and loves writing metaphors in her fiction. When she's not checking her email obsessively, she enjoys watching old episodes of Twilight Zone and black-and-white monster movies. If you ever want to be on podcasts, let her know. And if you have a podcast, you could be her new best friend.
2 comments:
Great post, Nicole! I relate to getting bored with your own work. Your idea of shifting the genre to fit your current vibe is smart. I can see this working to breathe new life into so many of my abandoned pieces. Thanks for the tip! :)
Thanks! I think it's a good way of connecting to my stories again.
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