{"id":6313,"date":"2021-04-06T22:43:29","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T04:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pjmaclayne.com\/?p=6313"},"modified":"2021-04-06T22:43:35","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T04:43:35","slug":"taking-the-risk-in-writing-iwsg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pjmaclayne.com\/?p=6313","title":{"rendered":"Taking the Risk in Writing: #IWSG"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to another month of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. April 7th’s question, if you’d like to answer it, is:\u00a0\u00a0Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style\/POV\/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?<\/strong><\/div>\n
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Thanks to our awesome co-hosts for the April 7 posting of the IWSG!\u00a0PK Hrezo,<\/a>Pat Garcia,<\/a>SE White,<\/a>Lisa Buie Collard,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Diane Burton!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life. Go read the blog post from Monday…I won’t cover them again here. https:\/\/www.pjmaclayne.com\/?p=6254.<\/a> But when it comes to my writing, I play it safe. Unless you count the fact that I’m an Indie writer, and that’s a risk in itself. Heck, writing and putting it out there for the world to see is a risk.<\/p>\n

My writing style is pretty traditional, and I’m okay with that. I’m writing fiction, (mostly almost-cozy-mysteries) and there’s only so many risks you can take in that genre before you lose your audience. Some folks believe even the use of strong language breaks the rules of that genre.<\/p>\n

I prefer to present controversial topics in subtle ways, as part of the story and not the main plot.\u00a0 I might sneak in a casual reference in support of the legality of marijuana or have a minor LGBTQ character. My female main characters can stand on their own against a male villain. To me, those topics aren’t radical, although I’m well aware that other people feel differently.<\/p>\n

One thing I do that almost seems controversial is that although I’m not writing ‘sweet’ stories, I don’t include sex scenes. Many readers these days expect sex scenes, but I don’t feel the need for them in my stories even if they have a romantic subplot. I figure most of my readers know how it’s done, and don’t need the details. Will that ever change? Sure, it could, if the right story came along.<\/p>\n

But I doubt my overall writing style will ever change. Topics may, characters may, but I don’t see myself ever being on the cutting edge of a major writing shift. That just isn’t me.<\/p>\n

Thanks for stopping by. Don’t forget to take a look at what some of the other Insecure Writers have to say by following the links below. And, until the next time, please stay safe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n