Nearly all writers have an author who inspired them to some degree. Some of my favourite authors are mavericks and have a very unapologetic style within their genre. They don't always want to give their readers what they want. They always speak their mind in their words and don't shy away from concepts other authors will usually steer clear of.
One of my tutors pushed me in the direction of AM Holmes when he decided my style was edging toward hers. I love her books Music for Torching and The End of Alice, but I wouldn't recommend them to those who are easily offended. She challenges her readers to explore the darkest aspects of humanity, and while many readers read to escape reality, I'm still prepared to spend some time in the shadows of another author's brain.
My stories almost always have a foothold in the real world, but occasionally, as with my novel Into the Other, I'll put my other foot in somewhere fantastic and try to marry the two. I was going to start the story at the beginning of Josie's life with Calder and his encounters, when she was a child, but I quickly dropped that and threw her straight into the thick of the narrative, when she's waiting to be interrogated for her crime.
The incidents leading her to meet Calder were small and didn't need to be fleshed out, since the essence of the story was her immediate predicament with Calder and the consequences of her choice to agree to his sick bargain. This throws you into the deep end rather than easing you into it in chronological order, but still illustrates the history Josie and Calder have. We don't really step into The Other until we meet Ralla many years later. But the story itself is certainly very much within the genre of fantasy above all else.
Live to Tell, on the other hand, fits into the genre of suspense more than anything. It doesn't totally fit under mystery, and it's more dramatic than comedic, but I did add some moments of humour to break up the tension. Submission guidelines will always specify what a publisher is looking for, and this can be discouraging if you feel you have something a little outside of the box when it doesn't match what their storefront contains.
Reaching a wider audience outside of your own particular genre is, to my mind, a much bigger accomplishment. One of the best reviews I ever received was my story wasn't the reader's cup of tea, but they still found it fascinating and I left them wanting more. And I've nearly made someone else late for work because my story had them too enthralled. If I can hold your attention, no matter what I'm trying to say, I've done my job as a writer. It's probably the best, most enjoyable form of manipulation you can find.
No comments:
Post a Comment