Monday, May 2, 2011

Create your socks off!

Happy Monday!!!

Phew! The challenge is over. I loved the A to Z challenge, it really bonds us together as a blogging/writing world and just allows us to meet some fabulous people along the way!!!

So hello to all my oldies (yes, you're still fab) and to all my newbies! You are all rockstars and I'm glad you stopped by!!!!

So obvioulsy I know that you can all create your socks off but I want to start my Monday off with writing fun and what better way then to chat about just being creative in whatever genre or style you perfer.

As you all know I do love to write fiction, my speciality being Young Adult fantasy and Adult chick lit. I guess you could call me the jack of all trades. Could I dabble in creative non-fiction as well?

I do love to write what I feel and just have fun with it no matter what it is. I think often times we focus too much on what an agent will like and what all new writers (and old forgetful one's) should remember is that you should first write for YOU. Agents love the characters YOU fall in love, the voice YOU create, overall they're looking for YOU and what you're capable of.

That brings me to my next project. I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone and walking on the wild side... Non-fiction. Lately my curosity has led me to the world of non-fiction, devouring the said section in my local Barnes & Noble. It seems I might have an interest in creative non-fiction. Who knows, maybe it'll lead to agenthood. But if it doesn't at least I can say I dabbled in it, and in writing I think that's what matters most. Just enjoying the ride.

Have you ever crossed the world of creative fiction over to creative non-fiction? What project are you dabbling in?

43 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

I haven't but after completing a massive amount of research for a fiction book, I felt like I could write a nonfiction! And I think creative nonfiction would be fun!

Miranda Hardy said...

I haven't dabbled in non fiction, but it's on my list of things to do. I'm working on a YA fantasy at the moment.

Samantha VĂ©rant said...

I pitched my agent non-fiction, a memoir. But we're putting that on hold for now. We'll see what I have up my sleeve. Could have something to do with a mutant. Or not.

R.M. Hepler said...

I haven't tried non fiction before..but I AM working on a suspense novel for the first time. My normal genres are fantasy, scifi, and lately supernatural. Oh and I had a failed satire experience a few years ago.

Jessica Bell said...

I totally agree. You should write for you. I just finished saying this on Katie Mills' blog.

Yep, I did dabble in creative non-fiction. Thought I'd be good at it, but realised it wasn't for me when all I wanted to do was embellish the truth so much that it all ended up being a lie. But I tried! It was really hard. Good luck. Let me know how you get on!

Liz P said...

I have not ventured into non-fiction, however I do play around with fiction genres other than fantasy. I think it's good to be an "expert" in one genre, but to also be able to write in others (especially since you can combine so many of them too!)

I agree with you - we as writers should write for us and not worry about what's popular in the market now. For example, vampires have no appeal to me, so I won't be writing any vampire books anytime soon (even if that meant a much better chance of being published). I want the books I publish to be works that I'm proud of and that are important to me.

Good luck exploring creative non-fiction. I'll be interested to hear how it goes! :)

Sarah said...

I'd much rather stick with fiction, though there's a not of non-fic out there that really fascinates me. Good luck with your foray into that genre!

Christa Desir said...

Oh, I would love to try creative non-fiction but am terrified of what my family would say! Good luck, Jen.

Also running a contest on my blog for Amazon/Starbucks gift card! Thru May 6 if you or anyone is interested. www.christadesir.com

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Other than blog posts, nothing I write is non-fiction.

Ellie Garratt said...

I've crossed over to non-fiction just once when I was asked to write an article for a small press publication I subscribe to. I did rather enjoy it but fiction is what I love.

I'm intrigued to know about yours, though. Tell us more!

Ellie Garratt

Samantha Sotto said...

Write what your heart leads you to. It's the only way to go. Good luck with your new project! :)

Sommer Leigh said...

I took a lot of creative non-fiction classes when I was in college and entered into some NPR contests. Was never picked, but it was a lot of fun. Creative non-fiction is really weird and as difficult as fiction but in a different sort of way.

I think it is good to write outside our comfort zones. That way we are always building and changing and adding to our talents. Who knows what creative non-fiction might inspire someday down the road?

Lindsay said...

I think it's great to write outside the comfort zone.

I've not dabbled in non-fiction much, but it would be interesting if I found a subject I liked. I love researching stuff!

Anonymous said...

Good luck to you and congrats on crossing over to uncomfortable waters. I think that's the only way you grow as a writer--when you tackle new things.

Angela said...

It's always good to experiment.

Rhonda Albom said...

Good luck with your new project, and congrats on finishing the challenge.

Amy Saia said...

I dabble with memoirs, and hope to do some creative music writing—like biographies for musicians—but not yet. Still gotta get through this fiction thing! Best of luck to you though. You'll be great at it!

Creepy Query Girl said...

I haven't written non-fiction yet but I've been told I should do something on living in france.

Michelle Merrill said...

That's awesome Jen! I haven't thought about going to non-fiction but that's because I'm just kind of afraid of it. It's good to experiment in a lot of genre's. My most recent thoughts have been turned to dystopian, which I think is extremely hard to pull off in the believable side. I haven't written any yet, but the thought is planted and might grow :)

Jillian said...

I love non-fiction!!!!!

although fiction is fun too. I guess it just depends on my mood, but there is just soemthing so great about the truth!!!!

Colene Murphy said...

Oh! How exciting! Good luck with your new project!

Arlee Bird said...

Thanks for all your help in making the A to Z Challenge a huge success!
Now we can get back to the business of getting more sleep and normal blogging--what is normal blogging anyway?

As for the creative non-fiction, it's a genre that I enjoy reading and I have been keeping a few running ideas going over the years that I would like to get to. In fact maybe I would be better off focusing on that more than fiction.

Good luck with your non-fiction endeavors!


Lee
Tossing It Out

Hannah said...

I've never written creative non-fiction...not counting blogging, of course.

I journal and that's enough non-fiction for me.

Kristine Asselin said...

Good luck with your foray into nonfiction. I've written a bunch of nonfiction as work-for-hire and it's been great. I recommend it as a different kind of brain stretch!

LTM said...

is "creative non fiction" like that Three Cups of Tea stuff??? LOL! That got the author "in hot water."

homg... awful, I know. I actually heard that line on NPR.

I haven't dabbled in NF, but I have dabbled in other sub-gs. good luck to you, missy~ :o) <3

Abby Minard said...

Oh wow, nonfiction is a whole other beast for me. Although I have heard there is not enough YA nonfiction out there. If you could do that, it'd be awesome. Our librarians are always saying how there's not enough. Maybe someday, if I'm an established fiction author, I may dabble in some nonfiction. Good luck, Jen and I know you'll tackle that with style, like you always do :)

Thomasina said...

I've thought about writing non-fiction but I don't want to start that project until I get through with my current one, which is taking me forever because I haven't written in a long time (can't you hear Reagan yelling at me because she's not getting enough attention lol).

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Girl, I have no doubt you could rock the non-fiction world. Go, go, go! :-)

Connie Keller said...

I've done some short memoir pieces that have been published, but I prefer fiction. Are you thinking memoir?

Dianne K. Salerni said...

After I did all that research to write We Hear the Dead, I briefly considered writing a non-fiction book about the forgotten, dashing, 19th century Arctic explorer Elisha Kent Kane. (Especially since he was from my home state and there might have been a market for a non-fiction children's book about him.)

But other projects diverted me, and besides, my husband is sick of hearing about EKK. Hubs clenches his jaw when the name comes up and mutters, "Him again. Grrr..."

Nicole Zoltack said...

Oh... creative non-fiction. Have fun with it!

Jennifer Hillier said...

Non-fiction? GO JEN!

I haven't dabbled in much of anything outside thrillers and horror, but one day I dream of writing a big, fat, juicy romance novel. There. I said it. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I've got a nonfiction idea that's nibbling at my brain ... and has been for several years now. One of these days, I should plan it out and see if it's viable! Good luck with yours :)

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

I wish I could write non-fiction. But I know exactly what would happen. Before I'd know it, my protagonist would be sent back in time and out the window would go the non-fiction. ;) Good luck to you, though!

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

What a cool thing, dabbling in non-fiction! It's a natural thing for me (being a sciency person) but not the creative non-fiction part. I haven't given that a whirl (so much), but I'm actually considering it as well... :)

Claire Goverts said...

I did a little creative non fiction back when I took a creative writing course. It was fun and I'd like to try it again sometime.

alexia said...

I haven't, but my uncle has published several creative non-fiction books about a variety of subjects.

Stina said...

I don't even know what creative non fiction is. So I think that answers your question. :D

Michael Di Gesu said...

I'm with Stina, Jen.... What is creative non-ficion?

Good luck in your endeavor... You really have a zest for everything in life, don't you?


I love that about you!

Dee said...

it's always a good thing to challenge yourself every once in a while. With what I create, I definitely enjoy doing this outside of my norm, then I can at least say I tried it.

Michelle in a shell said...

Ohhh sounds exciting! Good luck "out of your comfort zone". It never hurts to try something new!

Jo Schaffer said...

I think the last time I wrote any non fiction (not counting journaling) was in college.
It can be fun, actually. I dig research.

Donea Lee said...

Wow - creative non-fiction, huh? Jen, I love that you have an idea and you attack it full force!! Your passion just shines. :) I have never thought about non-fiction as, aside from memoir, I think I'd need to be an "authority" about something... which, I'm not. Although - I guess that's what research if for, right? I applaud the endeavor - best of luck!!