Writing Excuses Transcripts

Writing Excuses 12.46: Reinventing Yourself

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2017/11/12/12-46-reinventing-yourself/

Key points: Transitions can be conscious, and risky, because readers/fans don't always follow you. Read your reviews -- the four stars, especially, provide information about what to keep, and what needs tuning. Be conscious of your choices. But they do have benefits, too. You need to stay interested and engaged. Be aware of the market, but try to avoid letting yourself be trapped by it. How do you keep learning? Do new things, try them, learn how to do them. Talk to people who have experience doing what you want to do, and study how other people have done it (read!). Pick out places that your writing is weak, and then figure out how to correct them.

( Learn, plateau, learn... climb! )

[Brandon] Mary Anne, you have some homework for us?
[Mary Anne] Yes. So, this is continuing with what Brandon was saying. What I do when I'm switching genres is I going to immerse myself in the genre. Because often, it's been a while since I've had time to read a lot of it. So, I would go, decide I'm going to try fantasies, science fiction, horror, whatever it is. Find a year's best anthology. And from… And a recent one, because things change over time. Just read through it, that's going to give you a huge variety. Or, if you're not a short story person, then go to the award winners from the previous years. The Nebula awards, the Brom Stoker awards, whatever it is, and read the nominees for best novel.
[Brandon] Excellent. Well, this has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.