Chatter Post: Writing Talk

[k_a_webb]

 Hey, everyone. :) I want to thank you all again for your enthusiasm for Origfic_Bingo. It was great to send out so many cards.

This is my first ever chatter post, so I'm going to keep it simple. I'm pretty sure you would have talked about this before, but it's been a while, and, of course, there's the chance your interests have changed since the last time. So, what do you write, and why do you write it?

I write speculative fiction. Most of the worlds I work in are fantastical, because I love to world build. World building is easily my favourite part when it comes to starting off with a new world, and I like to always try to do something, so the one thing you aren't going to find are your traditions elves, dwarves, or halflings. I do have some fae, but they're... well, they're my fae. I have some soft sci-fi worlds I'm beginning to play in too, which is fun, but I don't think I'm ever going to write hard sci-fi. I just don't have the brain for the science. Then I also like to dabble in ending the world, and with dystopias. With these I also like to do something different, because, well, it's fun. When I'm writing I am writing for fun, at least when it comes to my website, so I try my best to enjoy everything I do as much as I can.

How about you?

Comments

[konsectatrix]

Hi to you too! I write fantasy, essentially urban fic based in 80's philly and occult punk based in ny during the same timeframe. I like playing with established tropes. Most of it's been infused with what I've learned about actual magical and occult traditions and my own practices.

I started writing about 16 yrs ago because I had kids and couldn't work as an animator; writing was something I could do entirely on my own and whenever I got the chance. Then it kinda ate my brain and I hardly draw at all anymore. Once we finally get settled in the house we're renovating, the plan is to finish up my remaining drafts and get them submitted for publishing (I say this in part to remind myself! It's been three long years getting to this point.).

[k_a_webb]

That sounds so interesting. :) I look forward to, hopefully, reading something of yours.

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. It's always been my thing, even when I was just sharing it with friends at school. That's why I have my website now. I love to be able to share what I've written with people. :)

[ladybrooke]

Hi! I write fantasy and realism for the most part, along with the not genre of anthropologists (you all know how Tolkien loved linguistics and it's in almost everything he wrote? That's me, but with anthropology). I experiment with a lot of other things, but those are the main ones. I write them because they're fun, and also because they're what I'm good at and have ideas for - I know at least something about them, I know nothing about say, mechanics.

[k_a_webb]

I would love to read anything you write. :) Anthropology has always been something that's interested me.

Fortunately I have someone who has a science brain in my life, so I often use him for research. :D Without him I would have no idea about a lot of the things I would quite like to write about.

[ladybrooke]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading anything you write, too. :) Strangely, I had no idea what anthropology was until I went to college, got put in my first class because it had open spots and the person advising me suggested it, I thought I would hate it, and then...well, to sum it up, I begged the anthropology professor to sign me into an upper level class and signed up for the other intro level class the next semester and after four years gained the honor of having taken more anthropology classes and internships then any other student he's had in almost 40 years of teaching. I'm not sure how he didn't take off for the hills after me. :P

I'm glad you have someone with a science brain for research! :D Those are good people to know.

[kay_brooke]

I write mostly fantasy and soft science fiction, and for much the same reason: I love worldbuilding, and I love putting characters into those worlds. My main weakness is actually plot, because I kind of leave that until the end. :D

[k_a_webb]

I've always loved your stories. I don't always get around to reading them when you post them, but I want to get better at that. Me and plot are often not friends either. I'm either character focused, or world focused, so plot just seems to miss out. :D

[rootsofthestories]

I write a lot of contemporary/urban fantasy because it is what comes to me most often. I have a few soft science fiction ideas in my brain too but a lot of it is under some kind of fantastical umbrella.

As for why I write it, I guess I do so because it's what makes me happy. I feel like there should be more to it than that but well, it's what I got right now.

[k_a_webb]

I find the same when it comes to fantasy. Normally, if an idea comes to me, it will have some form of magic in it. :)

That's a great reason to write. I write for the same reason, mos of the time. If it didn't make me happy I know I wouldn't still be writing now. :)

[spindle_ella]

A mixture of urban and high fantasy (it's a multi-verse, so characters can cross from one type of world into another) for one set of stories, and post-apocalyptic soft-sf/fantasy combo for the other (I fell into the idea of telling the classic 'humans try to recolonise the earth' from the mutants POV).

I write to get it out of my head, lol.

[k_a_webb]

That sounds so great. I love throwing people from one world to another, although I often do that via crossovers and AUs. :) Your mutants POV sci-fi sounds brilliant. I'd love to read it.

Yeah, I know what you mean. If I have an idea then there are times when it will take over, so I have to write it down, just to stop it from being there all the time.

[spindle_ella]

I've always loved world-crossing; I think Diana Wynne Jones's Chrestomanci books imprinted on small!me. Oh, awesome, I'll have to try to get some plotting done (it's kind of a shared world-building thing which started as human-POV before a couple of us went 'wait, opportunity here', so it's, um, the sprawling mess you'd expect when a couple of people who like to procrastinate by world-building really get a feedback loop going). But new-fae is exciting!

The worst is when one scene's stuck, just on repeat with different nuances. People laugh when authors need to fact-check with a fan, but I'm like "yeah, that's me: what version did I go with in the end IDEKLOL").

I apologise if this is nonsensical I'm operating on nosleep.

[craterdweller]

I'm new to original fic so not exactly sure which genre yet but likely sci-fi/fantasy or mystery. I've been cutting my teeth in fan fiction but thought I'd test the waters.

[spindle_ella]

I say smush all three together and go wild, but I'm not known for sensible writing decisions.

[craterdweller]

I like it!

PS I am drooling over your icon lol

[spindle_ella]

lol, it's a very useful question XD

[samuraiter]

As far as originals go, I write high fantasy, seasoned by romance. Been working on the same fantasy world – at this point, more of a universe than a single world – since I was very young, and I see no reason to stop now. As for why, well, it's just the thing that I write. *shrugs* I'm not sure there really is a reason. It's just there, and I build on it.

[nathanialroyale]

I write mostly high fantasy, been working on the same world and stories for fifteen years. In life I'm a Historian who has also studied religions so I tend to get a little too deeply into my world's past and world building to ever get the novels on paper themselves. But I ultimately don't mind as I enjoy the world building almost more anyway.

But at some-point I do want to get Nate's stories done, I love the kid and I want other people to know him too. But perfectionism mixes with University stresses and adult responsibilities. I was hoping to get writing done this summer but two major surgeries are ahead so I don't know. It will come when it comes.

[clare_dragonfly]

I write all kinds of fantasy, some science fiction, and sometimes more realistic mystery and/or romance pops out. I guess my writing follows my reading, which is similarly lightly eclectic! (Except that I read way more nonfiction than I read.)

I also love worldbuilding, and seeing how different characters interact, and... everything!