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So I’m stepping out of my comfort zone later this week. I’ve decided to tackle the paranormal thriller that I hope to release in early 2016.
Why so long? Because I have no idea what I’m doing. All I have is a basic idea and now the characters, but this one is a little scarier to get into than my previous challenges. All of those had some connection to what I had already done. This one seems to be entirely on its own. Minimal action since I’m going for atmosphere and mystery. Shorter in chapter and size from what I’m thinking. Then again, I don’t know what I’m thinking or how to piece this together just yet.
To be honest, this story has cropped up in my mind several times over the last two years. I think it’s time I gave it life, but now I see how slippery it is. Focusing on it makes things a lot more real than the dream it was before. So doubt and second-guessing is showing up in my mind. Is present tense good for this? Can I contain my natural instinct to go big? How does a chapter in this story differ in structure from the ones I usually do? All of this and I still plan on writing the story. My hope is to get the outline done tonight before I go to bed.
So, what do other authors do when they step into a new genre? Is there always a flicker of doubt whenever you try something new?
Legends of Windemere 
Oh, yes! I’m tacking urban fantasy (vampires and all that fun stuff) as soon as my current trilogy is done. It’s scary… present tense here, too, and a lot more sex and violence than I’m used to. Not to mention the fact that it’s set in our world, which means icky things like fact checking. I’m scared that the audience won’t respond, and that my current readers will abandon me even though I’ll be going back to epic/high fantasy in 2017.
Yeah, it’s scary. But it’s pretty exciting too, right? 🙂
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You have a really strong fanbase, so I think you’ll do better than you think. Many people will follow a beloved author into a new genre because they trust their ability. I’ll be tackling my vampire series after this one too, but mine are still in Windemere. So I don’t have to worry about it being in our world, which has a good and bad side.
It’s funny how writing something in our world is more daunting than doing one in my fantasy world. Less freedom or something like that?
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That’s a big part of it. I’m sticking my vampires in Newfoundland, so for the first time I have to worry about accurate travel distances, street locations, and things like that. And technology, too. Things like smartphones cut down on options for things like people not getting critical information in time and other tension-raisers that I’m used to having access to. It’s an interesting challenge, for sure.
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Honestly, a smartphone doesn’t cut down on those things if you play it right. They get lost, put on silence, run out of battery power, get stolen, and all manner of disaster. That’s just the phone too. The owner might not be able to get to it or be routinely forgetful about messages. Not a fictional character, but my wife is terrible with her phone in terms of messages and remembering to charge it.
Google maps can help with the location stuff. I used map programs when I originally had my vampires in LA.
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Ooo!!!! Kate is writing a vampire series!!! Can’t wait!!!
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I am writing my first book, as you know, which is a fantasy. I have never written in this genre before, except my dabbling on my blog. It took me months to get a clear path of the journey I wanted to take. Finally, I started doing story boards. They are brainstorming ideas of how the story “could” flow. I wrote down all kinds of ideas and started to get a better idea of where I wanted to go. Follow your vision. Get excited, be a kid, (sorry I had to add that :-D) and lose control on paper. Then weed through your ideas and pick what you like best. Then, do a general outline. I had my ending before I knew where I was going. I write notes in a spiral notebook as I go. Names change, places change…
Don’t be afraid to try this. I know you will be great! Spread your ‘old’ adult wings. Best of luck to you! ❤
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I’m already at the outline stage. I have the beginning and ending, so it’s the middle that I’m not sure about. I’ve tinkered with the idea for over a year, so I’m hoping all of that helped.
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It will. Once you start writing you will feel better. 🙂
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It’s always good to step out of your comfort zone. Lately I’ve been writing mystery, but before I got into that genre I wrote in a few other genres. If anything else, it’ll be a learning experience. Good luck with it!
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Mystery is a big challenge from what I’ve seen. Good luck with that.
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Yes, but it’s a lot of fun.
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Interesting. I’ve got one in the works and I changed the person from first to third, and back to first, now back to third. It’s past tense. But it’s the greatest challenge, so far. It’s hard to get that element of suspense when you already know what will happen. Good luck with it. I’m trying to read a paranormal thriller right now that is in present tense called, “The Edge of Normal” by Carla Norton, but it’s been real hard for me to get into it. I’m only on chapter three and I’ve been going back to it for two weeks. Supposed to be a real page turner and suspenseful, but I haven’t gotten there yet.
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I tend to focus on what I believe is my strongest element in all the ‘mess’ I am summoning onto myself – my style of writing itself.
Best of luck to you with your project and I am looking forward to seeing the end result of it, and even more, to get a glimpse of your process while you are writing it.
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Thanks. I’m going to be depending a lot on my style and hope it works. I’m expecting more rewrites than usual. I’ll post a teaser or two when I feel comfortable with it. Promise.
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I have to laugh, because on a previous post of yours I said the same thing: I have no idea how to do this. But like you, if I had a story in mind, I would try to write it anyway. The plus side to this is that you already have a story idea. That seems half the battle! Also, you’ve already written so many novels! So you know how to produce a good book.
I always doubt myself. All I can do is keep going despite the doubt.
When I need to tackle a new genre, I try to read as many books as I can in the genre, to get a feel for the pacing.
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I think the main reason I’m not reading a bunch of books in the genre is due to time. I have so many projects that I don’t feel like I can sit to read a bunch of books for research. Probably a reminder of having been made to read so much in school, so I prefer to do it solely for fun. I did look up some examples and what people thought of the genre. Talked to a friend who knows more about this than me, so she gave me some pointers. So fingers crossed that I can tackle this and make it work.
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Of course you can do this! The best thing you’re doing is writing. And that’s the main thing, isn’t it?
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Thanks. We’ll see how it goes. Looks like I’ll start in on this come Thursday.
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Good job. I’m cheering for you. I wrote my last one in first person, because it was the same kind of story. I wanted it to feel personal. I’d never written in first person, but I really like the way it came out.
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I tried a first person with ‘The Hopeteller’ and it was interesting. Not sure I could write a full book like that. Guess we’ll see how a present tense thriller works.
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Test yourself, but trust yourself too. You write a good story. This one will be good too.
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Way to go Charles! I’m so excited for you! As writers, it’s so important for us to step out of our comfort zone and do something totally different. Doubt always creeps in and your inner critic will blast you with attacks. But don’t let that stop you! You are a brilliant storyteller and I can’t wait to hear more about your latest WIP.
Most thrillers I have read have been first person but not present tense. At the end of each chapter, there is usually a hook or something interesting happening that keeps the reader tuned in.
You can do it, Charles! Who knows, this could be a new genre you’ll fall in love with. 🙂
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Thanks. I’m hearing that a lot of them are first person past tense. Not sure if I’m going to try it like that. We’ll see how my normal writing style goes with it and rewrite if necessary. Don’t think it’ll be a genre I spend more time in than fantasy though.
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Good plan! Go with your normal writing style and see what happens. I love how you are trying something new! You’ve inspired me to get back to my Young Adult Short Story Collectiong. 🙂
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Thanks. Good luck with the YA short stories. 🙂
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As a fantasy, short stories and children’s books author, I’m constantly full of doubt. I just pay no attention to it 🙂
I’m sure the new series will be great. I, for one, am looking forward to reading it!
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Thanks. Not sure if it’ll be a series. The ending does leave it open for that, but I’m not thinking that far ahead right now.
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I enjoy writing in different genres. I think it helps me expand my repertoire and hones my ability as a writer. I have a list of genres I intend to tackle.
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Very cool. Think you’ll write in every genre?
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When I step out there is a bonfire of doubt. It is good for us though.
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So I need marshmallows when I tackle this. Got it. 🙂
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Or those tofu hot dogs
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Wouldn’t wish those on my worst enemy.
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I’m comfortable writing thrillers, and enjoy crime, but I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone twice in the past couple of years. Last year it was science fiction, which is odd considering it’s my favourite genre. I wrote The Fifth Watcher in first person and it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get it right! This year it’s fantasy and again, though it’s a favourite of mine, I’ve never ventured into the writing game! But both experiences have been fun in their own way and I know you’re going to love the new experience too. We’ll be here to cheer you on and take the journey with you 😉
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Interesting. I guess reading a favorite genre doesn’t always make it easy to write in them. I’m looking forward to the challenge and I’m slowly getting an idea of what to do.
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Excellent! I’ll look forward to hearing more about it as the novel progresses 😀
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Novel? Now that you mention it, I don’t know how big this thing is going to be.
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My brother’s previous 3 novels have been far-future military SF, but his next one is going to be… contemporary military SF. 🙂 He’s writing it next partly BECAUSE it’s different — it’s a chance to clear his brain from the other books before jumping back into the fray to finish that series. And there is some trepidation… New story and new setting, single POV throughout instead of having a handful of major viewpoint characters, a plot far more contained and “close-up” in the details.
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Sounds like a good challenge that doubles as a break from the big series. I might have to consider doing that before I write the finale for my books. Thanks.
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Good on you for doing something new. It will only make your “usual” fresher when you return to it. To get started, I’d suggest reading several books in the genre you want to write. You’ll get an idea what’s already been done and what the expectations of the genre are. Have fun with it.
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Thanks. I’ve looked at some sites about it and talked to an author who works in the genre for pointers. Ran my outline and idea by them to see what they thought, so it may take a few tries.
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