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Wednesday, April 7, 2021

IWSG: Risky Writing

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.


APRIL QUESTION - 
Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?

MY ANSWER - I suppose that depends on what you mean by "risk-taker". I write in a variety of genres and refuse to write something just because I've written in that style before. I've written from a woman's POV, a man's POV, the POV of different races, and ethnic groups, of inanimate objects and more. I suppose that could all be considered risky as I've often been told by editors that I should pick just one genre and POV in which to write in since that is the only way to "make a name for myself". I'm sure that is true to a point, but I prefer to write based on my interests rather than those of someone else.

How about you? Are you a risk-take?

6 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I think establishing with one genre is good, but after that, feel free to explore.

Ellen Jacobson said...

I think writing across genres is great, if that's what you want to do. I write in two - cozy mysteries and romcoms - and I'd like to get back to writing sci-fi / fantasy.

Rachna Chhabria said...

I too like to explore different topics, genres and age groups.

Chrys Fey said...

Pick one genre and one POV to write in. Nope. No thanks. lol

Z.A. Waterstone said...

Wow, I applaud you. I'm facing a bit of a dilemma with genre right now, and I find your post inspiring.

In a sense I am. Right now I'm covering a controversial issue that wasn't nearly as big a deal when I started the series as it is now. I was tempted to stop, but I'm going to keep going, doing my best to write with understanding and sensitivity.

Anne Higa said...

That's an interesting attitude to have! If it works for you, and evidently it does, then of course that is exactly what you should do. There are a handful of writers I can think of who are so good, I'll be like I don't care what it is if X wrote it, I'm reading it! And the variation can even be fun.

Anne from annehiga.com