Genre wandering while you write?

[ColtonWrites]

Does anyone else have this problem? It might be because I am trying to write to particular taboo.

But I set out to write a story. I pick a premise that's got heavy R/NC potential- a POW and his captor, a wanted fugitive and a bounty hunter, a pirate and her prisoner - and start writing.

And then-


I write a romance novella, with exploration of consent often as a central theme.


This keeps happening to me.

 

[Rob_Royale]

And let it run wild! Don't sweat it! When this happens it's usually some of your best work because you just let it happen organically with your own appreciation for that type of story.

 

[Duil2]

Does anyone else have this problem? It might be because I am trying to write to particular taboo.

But I set out to write a story. I pick a premise that's got heavy R/NC potential- a POW and his captor, a wanted fugitive and a bounty hunter, a pirate and her prisoner - and start writing.

And then-


I write a romance novella, with exploration of consent often as a central theme.


This keeps happening to me.

I understand that one. Mine are the same in that I can't seem to resist the MCs falling for one another and, in my case, having a HEA.
Unfortunately, I've yet to find a solution for it. I've had to just accept the stories that emerge as the right ones.
IRL I'd have to say that I'm a romantic so that could be part of the problem because I suppose deep down I want to believe that love will conquer all and humans can find a way to navigate the toughest of situations and find a way back to trust or friendship or whatever.
In my case I think it's just that I don't want to contemplate a scenario where there is no chance of reconciliation or the MCs overcoming whatever challenges they're faced with.
Sorry, probably not particularly helpful.

 

[Paul_Chance]

I don't think I ever have. I write from a plot, so the wandering is minimal. If I start to feel the desire to wander, I'll start about story with the elements I am trying to wander into.

I think when we wander, as authors, it is usually a function of our subconscious, wanting to write a specific story. Write that story and the desire to wander goes away, in my experience.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Three words: trust the process.

When you execute an idea, sometimes it ends up going down a different road. Let it happen. Stories are like living beings: you have to let them breathe on their own.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Inspiration knows no limits.

You get inspired to write a story about "X". Along the way the inspiration changes to "Y". Embrace the change.

 

[ColtonWrites]

And let it run wild! Don't sweat it! When this happens it's usually some of your best work because you just let it happen organically with your own appreciation for that type of story.

You're not wrong. What was supposed to be heavy dub-con with a Dominant turned into a really cute love story between two soldiers who didn't know how to communicate. Like, at all.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

My current WIP, "Shiny and New," was supposed to be an angry-sex story about a bad customer having her attitude changed by a domineering store clerk.

Currently it's a sweet lesbian romance.

 

[SimonDoom]

This does not happen to me, but I think it's kind of cool that it does for you. It shows a lot of imaginative and erotic flexibility. I say, run with it. Let your story run wild and figure out what to do with it after it's done.

You have an inner creative voice that is telling you, Get out of my fucking way. I would listen to it if I were you.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Write where your muse takes you.

But I suspect that Non-Consent and Romance aren't going to play well together - (even if it isn't, and I'm hoping that it isn't, a romance between aggressor and victim) - Remember that you are making important promises to readers with the first sentence, paragraph, chapter and so on, and if the beginning reads NC then Romance readers aren't going to stick around - and NC readers are...well, I'm going to quickly draw a veil over what NC readers are after and just say they probably won't be satisfied.

 

[ColtonWrites]

Write where your muse takes you.

But I suspect that Non-Consent and Romance aren't going to play well together - (even if it isn't, and I'm hoping that it isn't, a romance between aggressor and victim) - Remember that you are making important promises to readers with the first sentence, paragraph, chapter and so on, and if the beginning reads NC then Romance readers aren't going to stick around - and NC readers are...well, I'm going to quickly draw a veil over what NC readers are after and just say they probably won't be satisfied.

Yeah - what I write typically ends up firmly in the dubcon-turns-enthusiastic-consent romance style. No different from a lot of mainstream bodice-rippers, really, but its not the same kind of enthusiastic consent from the start that some people prefer.

Usually what ends up happening is a situation where someone has all the power and chooses not to use it.

But different tastes for different folks, I think.

 

[TheRedChamber]

Okay, gotcha.

Given that you seem happy with the end point, its interesting that you seem to want to start 'harder' and then talk yourself down.

 

[ColtonWrites]

Okay, gotcha.

Given that you seem happy with the end point, its interesting that you seem to want to start 'harder' and then talk yourself down.

I enjoy *reading* harder noncon. I set out to write it and realize that I dont want to actually torture the characters. Which means they have to be enjoying themselves, a little bit. And then I fall down a rabbit hole of "what would have to be true for someone to actually feel safe enough to enjoy this situation?" I end up really liking both characters, including the one that "should" be the antagonist.

And then I usually get caught up in the story.

 

[TheRedChamber]

The process works!

 

[Katie_Mae]

Write where your muse takes you.

But I suspect that Non-Consent and Romance aren't going to play well together

Why? It's rather popular, no?

 

[TheRedChamber]

Why? It's rather popular, no?

There's non-con and then there's non-con. It sounds like OP is writing the type that goes well enough with Romance (of the bodice ripper Beauty and the Beast type, maybe?)

 

[Katie_Mae]

There's non-con and then there's non-con. It sounds like OP is writing the type that goes well enough with Romance (of the bodice ripper Beauty and the Beast type, maybe?)

I read a lot of non con. I meant I was confused about why you said non con and romance wouldn't play together. Just considering how popular non-con/romance is (also known by other names so they can be mainstream).

 

[Rob_Royale]

(also known by other names so they can be mainstream).

Stockholm syndrome?

 

[Katie_Mae]

Stockholm syndrome?

I meant genre names. Eg "dark romance" etc.