Thoughts on Trend and Identity

I've never been a big fan of trends in writing, or following trends or anything like that.  To an extent, as right or wrong as it may be, I've always considered it gimmicky and I don't like gimmicks.  Also, I tend to ignore them because I'm confident in my writer identity.  I know my point of view and I'm confident in my style, views, and techniques.  I know I don't like to write things over the top, and I know I like to use simple statements to make an impact.  I know I like to use adjectives and adverbs and whatnot to build up a tone and use the tone to support the simple statements that give them more of an impact.

I also know I like to write fantasy.  I like to write an enchanting sort of fantasy, and I tend to steer away from classic epic sword and sorcery.  I'm also not a fan of dark or urban fantasy.  This does not mean that I do not appreciate these other sub-genres, but I realize it's simply not who I am as a writer.

Recently, though, I've realized/discovered something that's probably really obvious: writing with some of these trends is an interesting experiment in self discovery.  Or rather its interesting to see how you take elements in say, dark fantasy, supernatural, urban, steam punk, etc., and how, when you write, you make them you're own.

When I wrote 'Flowers for Clockwork Street,' I wanted to experiment with steam punk since it was something I had never read or even tried to write before.  Clearly the story I wrote wasn't steam punk, but it had elements of steam punk in it that I think helped to elevate the story.  I, without realizing it, took the things I liked about steam punk and gave them my own voice and style. As a result, I think it made the story a bit unique.

Therefore, writing with a trend or something that's trendy may not actually give you a story that's on trend but rather a story that feels more creative and unique.  It's a test for your identity as a writer too, and to see how you can "cross-genres" and still be able to make something that's clearly yours.  That clearly has your views, your styles, your trademarks.

I wonder, too, if you still haven't found your identity as a writer, if this experiment would work.  If you don't know the things that you like to write, that you find important to write, that you find makes a story wonderful, and then you write to a trend, will you just produce another smattering of hollow trend literature?  Is it this writer identity that gives good stories within trends depth and texture?

That's an interesting question to throw out into the void:  Looking at trend novels, do writers with a strong and confident identity write a better novel than those that are just writing with a trend and don't know their point of view?

I honestly don't know.

Bam!

Lookie what comes out in December!!

YES!!   Just in time for Christmas!

This is so exciting.  Bound in Blood was so good, giving us the answers we knew were there and whetting our appetites with more mysteries that will develop and be answered in this new novel.  I remember reading in Ms. Hodgell's blog a while ago that Tori was set to do something dumb in this.  Sad because I love love love  Tori, but I understand.  It's kind of necessary. Tori needs a push...in some direction.

So exciting.


I wish they had cover art though that didn't make Jame look like such a slut :/

I've Been Interviewed!

Check out my interview with the lovely Gay Degani over at Flash Fiction Chronicles! 

My story, Flowers for Clockwork Street, was the highest rated for the month of August at Every Day Fiction, so I chatter about that, writing, and a little bit of science :)

What I Did Today

I just signed for two boxes of nano materials.

And they weren't mine.

It's been a very odd day.

In other news more related to the purpose of this blog, I had to return Wise Man's Fear unfinished.  I ran out of time.  The first part is slower than I was expecting.  More on that to come.

For now though I have to teach another class and then hope my heat is back on in my apartment.  And make more plans for a balloon fiesta.

Did I mention it's been a very odd day?

Tools

Back when I lived in Virginia, once a month I would go to a local C.S. Lewis book club.  It was one of the only book clubs in town and any chance to get some mental stimulation AND discuss literature is an opportunity I can never turn down.  Anyways, each month we would all read a book by C.S. Lewis and then meet to discuss it--just like any normal book club. 

During my turn to lead, we were reading a copy of Lewis's 'Studies in Words.'  It's a fascinating book, if you ever get the chance to read it, if a little dry.  It basically covers what almost seem like a series of lectures on individual words and their use.  This book actually allowed our book discussion to veer away from the book itself and instead focus solely on words.

Great topic for those of use who like to write, huh?

Anywho, we ended up discussing words in writing, and one person said something along the lines of the following:

Adjectives are the weakest part of speech.  I went to hear {insert name of some author I've never heard of here}speak and that's what they said.

After I picked my jaw back up off the floor I said immediately responded:

Then that person had no idea how to use adjectives.


I'm sorry, I don't care who you are, but I personally believe that's one of the sillies things I've heard.  Okay--maybe 'hey!  I think I'll run in front of on coming traffic!' or 'I believe this piece of rancid meat will be delicious' is sillier but...you get what I mean.

Words are tools and they all serve a function and it is up to us as writers to learn how to use those tools in the right way to make the most of them in our own piece of writing. 

I was hanging pictures the other day.  I used a hammer.  I didn't use my wrench.  I could have used my wrench but I chose not to.  I chose not to not because the wrench was a weaker tool, it was just different and could serve a different and better purpose.  It's the same with adjectives.  They are a different part of speech than a verb or an adverb and different isn't bad, nor is it, weak, it's simply different.

I contend adjectives contribute to the mood of a piece.  That's the main purpose I actually use adjectives for anyways.  Also, adjectives help establish setting so you know where a character is.  Do you always need adjectives?  No, but that doesn't mean they're weak.

I can understand how people can get frustrated.  I've read pieces where I found the adjectives a distraction.  But that doesn't mean the adjective was weak, the use of the adjective was weak.  Perhaps that spot didn't need the adjective, or maybe it was simply the wrong adjective, but again, it's not the poor little adjectives fault.

It's our job as writers to look at words, look at all of them, and try to use them in the best way we can.  You learn nothing by blaming the a word, and you don't improve yourself by blaming a word.  So use your words wisely, writers, and become better writers for it.


And...as an unrelated side note, I had to represent my department today at a college open house.  Naturally, I turned my table into an epic dinosaur battle.

Win.