Outside M Comfort Zone

[WyldKarde]

Hmmm, I might use the title of this thread in a story.

In any event, I'm trying something different for the Survivor contest and I've got my first feedback. I was curious about where to go from here.

Originally, a fellow writer dared me to take the Survivor Challenge and write in every genre Lit offers. The assumption was that I couln't do it. Never one to back down from a dare, I went ahead and started writing.

However, instead of writing my usual stories, I decided to stray outside my comfort zone and write the types of stories I never write, for various reasons. The first attempt didn't go as planned and now I'm reconsidering filling my page with stories that don't represent my writing.

However, writing these stories that have themes I don't usually explore has improved the stories that do represent my writing.

So what should I do, experiment with my writing and get honest feedback or simply use the experience of writing them to improve my writing and present that instead of my self-appointed "homework"?

I've got a track record of deleting stories from my library that I don't like regardless of how well-received. Should I cut the fat and keep the lean, juicy smut, or should I put it all up there, take my knocks for what doesn't work, and hope that what works redeems me?

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I wrote in Survivor Last year. My personal goal was a story in every category. I did it, turning down 3 immunities in the process. I found the challenge wonderful. I wrote in genres I never thought I could write in. . .including gay male, mind control, erotic horror. . .

I took the comments and learned from them. Some I knew . . .okay, this is not my greatest work, but I did it. Others I thought, wow. . .I may have a knack for this and ended up writing more and more stories in a genre I never thought I would touch.

I say, write, complete your challenges, whether they are yours or mini-goals you may have.

After the one in every genre, I went for closing the poetry categories and then concentrating on genres I knew I could reach 10 in with no problem. Never push a story, it'll flow if it is meant to be.

Good luck in the Contest.

~ Red

 

[cloudy]

So what should I do, experiment with my writing and get honest feedback or simply use the experience of writing them to improve my writing and present that instead of my self-appointed "homework"?

If you always stay in your "comfort zone," you'll stagnate, because growth is impossible when you never try anything new.

How boring to basically write the same plotline over and over and over, ad nauseum. You do realize that if you don't experiment some, that that's what you'll end up doing, right?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

You people don't know this, but I tried the Survivor thing back in 2002. It wasn't called that then. I found there are catagories I niether absolutly cannot write nor wish too. Hence...

 

[WyldKarde]

Yeah...I'll complete my personal challenges, but I'm not going to try writing stories I wouldn't like reading. I tried that and already, I dislike the results.

My whole thing with erotica originally was that a lot of the stories are dull and motivated by little more than the money shot at the end of the rainbow. A friend of mine, who inexplicably makes serious cash writing stories like that dared me to try it. The results were mediocre at best.

Long story short, I decided that was a battle it wasn't worth my time to win and I immediately re-immersed myself in a new story.

Now this is where my hesitation came in. The resulting story I wrote to cleanse myself of my earlier claptrap is actually better due to stepping outside the box. Unfortunately, the story I wrote "outside the box" is easily worse than most of the crap that pushed me into my "far left of center" erotic writing.

No character development, only hinted at a backstory, gave my characters no motivation. While I usually call my stuff "smut" as a joke, this one was really just that. Just a porno with a contrived plot that only served to get my characters in the sack.

Yeah..I'll step outside my comfort zone and push the envelope with my writing, but I'll keep the experiments to myself. I think I can stay true to my personal challenge of trying to write in different genres without tossing aside my hard-earned writing style.

Thankfully, the one I'm working on now challenges me without betraying me. It's something I wouldn't have tried without a push, but it's still "my" story.

Now all that's left is to get rid of that "bored housewife needs some black dick" story. I guess I wouldn't have tried to write something "dark" without it, but the story itself is without merit.

 

[WyldKarde]

I think I've got my mojo back.

 

[jomar]

You people don't know this, but I tried the Survivor thing back in 2002. It wasn't called that then. I found there are catagories I niether absolutly cannot write nor wish too. Hence...

So you clarified what you do very well. Did the excercise improve overall skills?

I've been trying out different styles and categories and it's been fun.

 

[starrkers]

I signed up for the Survivor contest to test my limits too.

Think I've found 'em.

Haven't completed anything I've tried outside my normal range. Except the romance entry (I'm not a romance fan, but judging by the comments, I can write it ok).
Big problem - I can't seem to write ANYTHING at the moment, even my favoured and fun stuff.

 

[jomar]

My whole thing with erotica originally was that a lot of the stories are dull and motivated by little more than the money shot at the end of the rainbow. A friend of mine, who inexplicably makes serious cash writing stories like that dared me to try it.

I'm interested in hearing more about serious cash for stroke stories. Seriously.

Now this is where my hesitation came in. The resulting story I wrote to cleanse myself of my earlier claptrap is actually better due to stepping outside the box. Unfortunately, the story I wrote "outside the box" is easily worse than most of the crap that pushed me into my "far left of center" erotic writing.

Are you saying you suck? Or are your expectations high?

No character development, only hinted at a backstory, gave my characters no motivation. While I usually call my stuff "smut" as a joke, this one was really just that. Just a porno with a contrived plot that only served to get my characters in the sack.

That's most of the stories on Lit (cue cheesy music). I think it's kind of a fun challenge trying to write a quality stroke story that has more going on underneath the surface. Not saying I succeed.....

Now all that's left is to get rid of that "bored housewife needs some black dick" story. I guess I wouldn't have tried to write something "dark" without it, but the story itself is without merit.

No, do the bored housewife wanting BBC, but make it fresh. All of this stuff has been done to death. The challenge is to raise the bar somehow.

 

[WarLordwrites]

Hmmm, I might use the title of this thread in a story.

In any event, I'm trying something different for the Survivor contest and I've got my first feedback. I was curious about where to go from here.

However, writing these stories that have themes I don't usually explore has improved the stories that do represent my writing.

Greetings

The stories that don't work for me go in my "dead file"

Sometimes bit and pieces come out to add to another story but mostly they are just mine to peruse and learn from.

Its good to stretch but if the result is just "too different" then by all means put it away until you like it better

Enjoy the journey

WarLord

 

[slyc_willie]

I see it this way . . . .

Writing something you don't like to write, nor particularly want to, makes you explore your dimensions as a writer. A cheeky phrase, I know. But what that means is that you do something outside of your norm, away from your patterns, and when you return to those patterns, you may find that you have new ones.

Thus the story that came out better at the expense of one that truly sucked ass.

Every time you write, you're digging just a little deeper inside yourself. You may not like what you uncover, but whatever is there, is a part of you.

I say, post it all, suffer the trolls and beat-downs, but above all, enjoy the evolution of your writing.

I've been doing this for twenty-one years. I'm still learning.