Diversity as a Writer
Diversity as a Writer
Don't try to hold me to one genre
Most of you receiving this newsletter only know me for my ultrashort fiction. But did you know I write books as well? Or that I write lots of different kinds of fiction?
People tend to think of writers in terms of a particular type of writing. Maybe they peg you as a nonfiction writer. If you write fiction, they’ll label you either as a literary writer, or a genre writer.
”Oh, she’s a science-fiction writer,” or “He writes LGBTQ romance.”
I used to define myself that way as well. I bought into the notion that I had to pigeon-hole my writing. I was a science fiction writer. And I wrote books. I branched out into young adult (YA) science fiction, but, still, it was science fiction.
And then I started to write on Medium (which I left to start this newsletter, but that’s another story). I blogged about writing, but I also started a short fiction publication called Tempest in Under 1000 and invited other writers to contribute. I discovered a lot about what I like to write.
While I do still write books (I’m working on a YA science fiction tetralogy), I’ve discovered a love of short form. My friend, Christy Kimmerly, whom I met on Medium, inspired me with her fifty word fiction, which she wrote for a publication called The Friday Fix (which has also left Medium—again, another story).
I had written an occasional flash fiction (under 1000 words) in the past but was now regularly writing flash and micro (under 300 words). I decided to try fifty word stories. With my very first story, I was hooked.
Medium was the place I really discovered myself as a writer. I turned to pictures for prompts and these led me to different genres. I wrote contemporary fiction, paranormal, horror, fantasy, LGBTQ, humor and, yes, science fiction.
I realized that published writers get branded for whatever genre first brought them notice. Maybe some of them really only do write in that one genre. I don’t think it’s true for most. Some use a different pen name to publish in other genres. I’m not planning to start multiple newsletters. Hoping you’ll all come along for the ride, with all my different writing adventures, right here on Fiction in 50.
Oh—and next Sunday? I’ve just decided to treat you to a tongue-in-cheek horror flash I wrote a while back. Have a great week, and don’t let anyone pigeon-hole you.