Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html
I crossed the finish line this past month, writing my first ever upper, middle-grade urban fantasy. Now, it rests in the hands of my CP's and beta readers. I'm already receiving an overwhelming amount of positive feedback! This past fall, I stepped out of my comfort zone to try my hand at writing an urban fantasy which is 50% contemporary and 50% fantasy (where magical elements aren't the norm) and it's set in a city, hence the word, urban. For a genre I've never written before, this means the world to me!!
I may only ever write UF fiction for the rest of my life. NO I don't write about vampires and werewolves or zombies, unless you count the zombie-like MC waking up in the middle of the night. It's something new and fresh and derived from my overactive imagination and my love for sci-fi and all things retro. I will be pitching it as Night at the Museum meets The Matrix.
I'm looking forward to the AtoZ Blogging Challenge next month where I will also be a Sidekick for the contest. This time I'm getting ahead of the game by writing my posts in the month of March. As far as my theme, I will leave you with a hint in the form of a question:
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| What famous author grew up on the Mississippi River? |
Have you ever written out of your comfort zone? Do you trust your work to CP's and beta readers? Are you participating in the AtoZ Blogging Challenge next month? Hope to see you there!
Photo: mine (notice my daughter playing in the fountain!)
Yay for finishing your novel! And I'm so happy you're getting positive feedback. I've been getting some positive feedback and some not-so-nice feedback with my novel lately.
ReplyDeleteI try to write out of my comfort zone whenever I can. I believe we can learn so much when we do. :)
I never thought I would like it until I gave it a try:)
DeleteCongrats, for finishing your novel. Night at the Museum meets The Matrix sounds super intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I try to write what I want to read and what I think my teen boys would like to read.
DeleteCongratulations on finishing. You got out of your comfort zone and found you liked it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a zombie no matter when I wake up...
Yes, the novel I've just released was very outside my comfort zone. I am not a British cop! I do use beta readers. I feel that without their input, there is no way I can see if what I've written is working. Yep on the A To Z and I'm a co-host with my own team of minions haha! Lisa's LiveWires... Jeremy made us a cool badge (which you can see on the A to Z site http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2015/03/meet-your-co-host-interview.html Samuel Clemens?
ReplyDeleteI forgot to thank you for commenting on my blog today! You rock, thanks!
DeleteGlad to stop by! Yes, Samuel Clemens grew up in this little town I live in:)
DeleteCongrats on finishing your novel! Sometimes we leave our comfort zone and find something we like even more :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Glad I took a chance:)
Delete3 cheers on finishing your novel! I find writing outside my comfort zone is a great way to expand my skill! Even when what I write is crap, I still find something to take back to a WIP or use in the next project.
ReplyDeleteHappy March!
I always use things whether in my current WIP or I save it for later;)
DeleteReaders are vital. They're the only ones who can tell me if my novel still needs work (which it does).
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I'll work in a genre I'm not well-versed in. But first I should get well-versed in my first genre.
I wish I could get my own boys to become beta readers. Might have to do a little bribing...
DeleteCongrats on going out of your comfort zone to try a new genre, for finishing your draft, and for having a pitch ready to go! It's wonderful that the CPs are giving such good feedback. CPs are lifesavers, right?
ReplyDeleteLOVE my CP's and beta readers!
DeleteCongrats on crossing the finish line. We can go to wonderful places when we're brave enough to step away from our comfort zones.
ReplyDeleteDon't ever listen to the little voice of doubt in your head!
DeleteI don't think I have a writing comfort zone. I just write what inspires me and I go from there. In life, however, I have been forcing myself out of it... I like my zones. They're cozy and there's no immediate danger. Which I like. But in January, I forced my hermit self out of the house to go see an author I absolutely *love* and I got a hug! A HUG. It was *so* amazing that I started to cry. And on Pintrest, I found this great quote: "Great things never came from comfort zones." And it's so true. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I wish I could meet some of my fave authors.
DeleteJennifer!! Congratulations on finishing your novel!! :) you inspire.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteCongratulations on finishing your out-of-comfort-zone book! I felt the same way when I finished writing the manuscript I called "Grunsday" -- which would become The Eighth Day. I had only written historical fiction up to that point, but the premise for this urban fantasy story had been bugging me for almost two years. I never thought I could pull it off. I even wrote repeated disclaimers on my blog, telling everyone that I doubted I would ever finish it.
ReplyDeleteBut I did. :D (It's funny to go back and read those blog posts now!)
Hurray for stepping out of the comfort zone! It is so amazingly freeing! And I feel the same way you do. I love this new genre!
Grunsday--The Eighth Day sounds awesome!!
DeleteYay for fresh ideas. It's wonderful getting awesome feedback. Good luck with this project.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Couldn't live without fellow writer friends!
DeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI just stopped by to check out your blog. I've signed up for yet another year of the A to Z Challenge and look forward to reading many, many posts next month...;~)
Take care,
Donna L Martin
www.donnalmartin.com
author of THE STORY CATCHER (Anaiah Press 2015)
coauthor CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: ANGELS AMONG US (Simon & Schuster 2013)
Working on April's challenge WAY ahead of time this year.
DeleteNight at the Museum meets The Matrix? You caught my attention. And congrats on finishing your book. It's the greatest feeling in the world, isn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so glad! Now, to catch an agent's attention;-) Soon, but first I must finish final edits. Yes, each time I finish, I realize how foolish it was for me to worry when writing the first draft.
DeleteHello Jennifer. Congratulations on your writing and blogging achievements. I am visiting from the A to Z Road trip. I enjoy Mark Twain's writing. Just wish I had more time to read all about his home patch. Sue’s Trifles
ReplyDelete