  Mystery
This week: Finding Your Voice Edited by: Gaby  
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A romance is a courtship story. In the 19th century, the definition of the romance genre was an escape from daily life that included adventure and love and battle. But in the 20th century, that term changed, and now it's deemed only a love story, specifically a courtship story.
~ Diana Gabaldon
The genre of fantasy is about magic and occult characters.
~ Shawn Ashmore
I think the novel is not so much a literary genre, but a literary space, like a sea that is filled by many rivers. The novel receives streams of science, philosophy, poetry and contains all of these; it's not simply telling a story.
~ Jose Saramago
Focus in on the genre you want to write, and read books in that genre. A LOT of books by a variety of authors. And read with questions in your mind.
~ Nicholas Sparks
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Have you ever been in a situation where you plan something and are set on doing one thing but in the end your entire plan shatters and you do the complete opposite? Well, does it ever feel that way when it comes to your writing?
In the past few months every time I even thought of writing, I'd turn my head the other way. Same with reading. Inspiration became nonexistent. The need to write evaporated and yet I knew that it's what keeps me going, what keeps me sane. Sometimes you have to force yourself to do things. But what if you can't even decide what to write about? What if you can't figure out what genre suits you best?
A friend of mine and a fellow WdC-er posted a note on the newsfeed just recently specifically about those particular concerns. When you feel at a crossroads and aren't sure of your own writing potential, the following questions arise out of the corner where writer's block takes residence.
 How do you decide on writing in one particular genre and realize that you truly enjoy it?
Most writers write in the genre they prefer reading but that isn't always the case. There are times when one figures that one genre isn't enough or we're just not meant to write in a genre we enjoy reading books in. The key is to realize that and open up yourself to all sorts of genres. You cannot know whether or not you like something until you try it. That means that, just because you enjoy reading mystery novels doesn't mean you'd be good at writing them.
Keep writing in order to reach a conclusion. Different genres, even when intertwined, can make that  light go on and make you realize that you've found what you were looking for all along. Don't hesitate and don't be afraid to discard something that you feel in your heart doesn't work for you. Only through writing can you find the answer to a question like that.
 How did you find your own writing style?
I believe that the writing style comes from you and your own personality. Even the darkest corners of your mind can come forth and show your true writing nature. You cannot force such things nor can you fake it. Just because you admire an author and their writing style doesn't mean that you should or can even copy it. It wouldn't sound real and you'd feel forced to reproduce something that's hard to do in the first place.
Your true nature shows through your writing style. That's all it is. Your voice, your thinking, your characters. You are free to explore whatever you want and the thoughts you may never voice in reality may come forth in your writing. Everything you question, anything you're unsure of, will create your particular writing style.
One thing you can work on is to improve your writing, but not your style. You cannot sound like Shakespeare if it's not you. That would just be extra work unnecessary for your writing endeavor. Listen to yourself. That's the only voice you need that will lead you to your style.
 How do you stay true to your beloved genre and to yourself?
Once you figure out the answers to the first two questions above, this question should answer itself. Writing about things you enjoy in the genre you have a knack for is all that you need. Right? Yes. All that's left over is to edit, edit, edit, and you guessed it! Edit.  That might bring a dark cloud of doubts where you second guess everything you went through, but you have to believe in yourself in order to trust yourself to keep going. Even if that includes many editing sessions down the road.
'Til next time!
~ Gaby  |
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Loosely based off of white torture; 'RAMJAC' is taken from Kurt Vonnegut.
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Mystery: June 20, 2018 Issue [#8963]
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