Departure From A Path Most Written

[TarnishedPenny]

I had a couple of stories in my mind originally and submitted those. I then set myself a challenge, to write something in every category. I didn’t quite make it (stopping short of the LW cesspit fortunately), but gave it a good go, some of them bespoke stories. Now I’m focussing more on things that I find interesting.

 

[Silver_Arrow]

I had a couple of stories in my mind originally and submitted those. I then set myself a challenge, to write something in every category. I didn’t quite make it (stopping short of the LW cesspit fortunately), but gave it a good go, some of them bespoke stories. Now I’m focussing more on things that I find interesting.

Did you find it helpful in the development of your writing at all? Were there aspects you brought back to topics you did find interesting?

 

[Rob_Royale]

If a story appeals to me, I'll write it regardless of category, genre or kink. I never imagined I'd write a noncon story, but I got an idea and suddenly, I'm writing a noncon story. Granted there is a lane I'm most comfortable driving in, but if the right song comes on the radio, who knows?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Did you find it helpful in the development of your writing at all? Were there aspects you brought back to topics you did find interesting?

I think it was helpful, now that you mention it. Without being disparaging, it’s a lot easier to write something you identify with or enjoy than something outside your happy space. Writing NC (by request for a couple where she had her own fantasies) took me into areas I’d never explored before, opened a couple of doors to my own character. (I don’t write NC now because I found I didn’t like what it did to me when I was writing it.) But yes, like any other skill, I think the trick to improvement is having to work hard to succeed. You don’t develop big biceps with 2lb weights.

 

[ElectricBlue]

As a writer, did you find a niche or subject you just stick with? or do you wander all over from category to category trying to write different things? I guess people will stick to the sexual acts, kinks, and fetishes that they themselves like, or do you find challenge in writing something you're not familiar with?

I've got stories in twenty categories at last count, so that probably answers your question.

 

[Silver_Arrow]

@AG31 requested an update as to when my short little story was published so here it is: The Ren Faire
The series, when I get around to writing more of it, focuses heavily on transformation and monster girls. It was a random thought I had that turned into 2.5k words of mostly sexy stuff.

 

[Silver_Arrow]

I think it was helpful, now that you mention it. Without being disparaging, it’s a lot easier to write something you identify with or enjoy than something outside your happy space. Writing NC (by request for a couple where she had her own fantasies) took me into areas I’d never explored before, opened a couple of doors to my own character. (I don’t write NC now because I found I didn’t like what it did to me when I was writing it.) But yes, like any other skill, I think the trick to improvement is having to work hard to succeed. You don’t develop big biceps with 2lb weights.

I'm starting to open to the idea of exploring some other topics to broaden by writing. I guess the hope is that by writing other things I may have ideas or find different expressions and styles that inform my main body of writing.

 

[Djmac1031]

I bounce around. I've written a lot of E/V stuff, but have also expanded to several different categories.

And my newest is a Supernatural fantasy story with very little hard core sex. Which, being honest, isn't drawing a ton of readers, but I knew that would happen while writing it.

I write what the story dictates, and really try NOT to write based on a category. I just write the story then figure out where it goes.

 

[SimonDoom]

I definitely would recommend to every author here to wander off their preferred path at least once and do something completely different. I think it's easy to get stuck in a groove. I find it rewarding to try something completely different.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Follow the ideas and don't worry about categories.
Not long ago I'd have told you I'd never write a non-human story. I had an idea and it turned into a non-human story that is now my highest rated story.

 

[Silver_Arrow]

Follow the ideas and don't worry about categories.
Not long ago I'd have told you I'd never write a non-human story. I had an idea and it turned into a non-human story that is now my highest rated story.

This is a little funny because I just had my first non-human story published. It was a random idea I had and just went with it.

I get the feeling I'm probably going to be following a few spur of the moment ideas here and there.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

This is a little funny because I just had my first non-human story published. It was a random idea I had and just went with it.

I get the feeling I'm probably going to be following a few spur of the moment ideas here and there.

You should.
Writer doesn't need a descriptor in front of it.
You don't have to fit into any category. Write what you want.

 

[Silver_Arrow]

After writing two shorter stories that, to me, differ from my long form main story I've noticed a few things that many more seasoned people here are likely already aware of. Still, I found it interesting that the level of interaction and views from other categories outside science fiction and fantasy to be disproportionately high.

This obviously resulted in a very small, but negative, impact on my main body of writing. It happens, and I'm not writing to commiserate the review system or anything like that. Just curious to watch the downward trend in my review scores as a result.

I'll likely keep writing the stories I started, as I enjoy what I started, but I'm apprehensive only in that mixing genres appears to negatively impact what I'm most passionate about. It's hard to tell without writing more, different, things but I hope in the long run my style can become more refined. Not looking for perfect, or literary master pieces. At the end of the day I'd like most people to read what I've written and think, 'I enjoyed that.'

Thank you for all your input, I'll likely keep referring back to it.

 

[StillStunned]

This obviously resulted in a very small, but negative, impact on my main body of writing. It happens, and I'm not writing to commiserate the review system or anything like that. Just curious to watch the downward trend in my review scores as a result.

I posted something similar a while back: apparently most of the I/T and EC readers don't like SF&F. The good news is that some do, and your scores will slowly recover a little.