...wouldn't be the best way to start an introduction, but I've certainly opened conversations with worse.

Imagine me doffing an imaginary cap in your general direction. I gave up doing those wild arm swinging theatrical bows because everyone complained that it made me look sarcastic. In my opinion, the point was getting across fine, but it's not a great first impression I guess.

Anyway, I'm Laevus, or Richard if you prefer.

I only decided a few years ago to try and make a career from writing and have recently got to the stage where I'm going to be sharing some of my first few stories soon. I've spent a long time swotting up from books, learning through trial and error and working out every way possible to get it wrong. So far so good.

Now is the point on my journey where I have to embrace the evil that is known as 'socialising'. In the physical world I don't know anyone even remotely interested in writing and I could do with interacting with some like minded people to help the motivation, discuss literary topics and share the things I've picked up on my travels so far. I enjoy helping others, and if I've found a good resource or learned something that I think will be useful, I'll be glad to share it.

Having a look around with a trial membership first, but on a quick glance I'm already liking what I see. If I fall asleep in the corner, just give me a nudge from time to time (and bring me cake please).

So far, I've got a website nearly ready for inspection (that will be shouted about in due time) that has (or will have soon) flash fiction, short stories and a novella on. I've got some extremely detailed ideas for a fantasy series that I'm frothing at the mouth to write, but after blowing out 55k words on the first book and realising the story sucked, I'm playing it safe at the drawing (writing?) board with that idea for the time being.

Don't be dissuaded by the first mention of fantasy as I'm not only going to be writing about geriatric cross dressing staff wielders. I write the genre that fits the idea. Mostly speculative so far, but the central theme I seem to be hitting is 'thought provoking' with maybe a darker twist than most.

And yes, I can also talk too much if left alone for long periods of time. The imaginary cap is being doffed again, so leave me be. Then I can write something constructive rather than pretending this adds toward today's word count (an idea not helped by the word count in the bottom right)

Welcome to WW, Laevus.
Hope you have fun here, 
G

Mostly speculative so far, but the central theme I seem to be hitting is 'thought provoking' with maybe a darker twist than most.

So, do you have a word for your genre? I have a wip that doesn't fall neatly into a standard genre. Speculative is the nearest. Slipstream is okay. Magical Realism, maybe. But they're not quite exact enough and I'm still on the look-out. 

Anyway, welcome, and it's good to read an introduction from a new member. 

I've seen warning signs about making sure to fit your writing into a genre and make it clear early on so readers know what to expect and won't be disappointed. I don't mean to sound like I know better and that I'm ignoring the countless years of experience and good advice from others, but I'm still finding my feet and letting the ideas flow. Having to remove cerrtain ideas or rearrange things because it doesnt fit into genre X feels like a restriction and a waste.

I don't mean to sound like I'm writing a modern day romance that suddenly turns into a fantasy horror. More that I haven't settled on a single genre across all my ideas, and not sure I will.

Instead, I'm finding it's the theme that's tying my ideas together at the moment. Most of the stories I've written so far have had several layers to them. There's the main story that seems simple, but if you think about the meaning more or read between the lines, there's a different message in there. It might be written in a light tone with a hint of amusement, but it's more serious underneath.

My main project so far (a large WIP and will be for some time) should be 'high fantasy' as I'm doing a lot of world building. It'll be quite dark at times too, but until I've finished the first rough draft of book 1 (of 5), it will be hard to fully classify.

Otherwise, severral are in modern times with a twist of the strange, one WIP that is historical naval fiction with a rather bleak outlook and another one that is gut wrenchingly miserable, real life and character driven.

Overall, I'm not trying to categorise myself or make myself fit something. I'm just writing, learning, enjoying and seeing what happens in the process.

HI Richard,

it's great to have you on on WW - you should find plenty of like minded people here :)

Welcome to the site, Laevus. I hope you enjoy your time with us. I'm wondering if you managed to resist the temptation to include the above in your daily wordcount!

Unfortunately I had to due to spending the early part of the evening swearing at technology (cloud storage synching on a tablet). Shhh though and don't tell anyone and I might get away with it.

Hi Laevus, and welcome to WW.

I think the thing about not "breaking the rules" for your genre is really about not disappointing the readers who bought your book because they're looking for a certain set of satisfactions. As long as you deliver those satisfactions, then you've got quite a bit of freedom in what else you do: what other satisfactions you deliver. The trouble starts when you start wanting to do something "other" which cuts across and weakens the things that the core of your readership want. Which is really what the command to "read widely in your genre" is all about: the more those satisfactions work their way into your own consciousness, the better and more intuitively your imagination and writerly sense will integrate the genre pleasures and the new, different stuff into an integrated whole.

FWIW, this is my take on the issue:

http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/crossing-genres-the-perils-and-pleasures.html

Plus, the further towards the literary end of the literary-commercial spectrum you're working at, the more all these boundaries dissolve. (Though other hard-to-sell-nesses take their place, of course)

Thanks for the advice Emma. It is something im trying to be careful of, which is why I want to share and get feedback early. Had positive feedback from the people that have read my stories so far, but im taking it with a pinch of salt since I know them and they might just be acting nice.