100 things #79, seeing your problems

[jana_denardo]

Sometimes in writing we have certain problems in our fiction. These problems can sometimes be hard to see. I’ve been dabbling in writing contemporary fiction and it’s not been going so well. I thought it was because it’s not my favored genre. I don’t even particularly like it but it would make me more marketable if I could write a few.

I think there is a deeper underlying issue. My contemporary stories end up slices of life, more fluff, low conflict. I think it’s because I dislike many of the things that drive contemps.

Jealous lover. Oh hell no. Extreme jealousy is not romantic to me. It’s not a display of how much s/he loves their partner. People get that way around me in life get left behind. I’m no about to glorify it as romance. It’s what domestic violence has a root in.

Coming of age. While there is nothing wrong in it, one too many literature classes on the subject soured me on it.

Enemies to lovers. Doesn’t work for me. I suppose it could happen but I find it too unlikely.

Job strife. Too close to home. I write to relax and read to do the same. I have enough of that trouble in my life to want it in fiction.

I think that last statement really sums it up for me. I think that’s why I prefer mysteries, fantasy and urban fantasy. Jealous assholes and job strife etc are all too common real problems. I don’t want reminded of them. Haunted houses, rampaging killers, ravishingly handsome fae, so it for me.

This realization doesn’t help me write contemporaries though, but it is a beginning.

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

So write a contemporary mystery?

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

it's a holiday story. these short story anthologies don't lend themselves to mysteries.

and by definition mstery means not contemporary. it's weird i know. Oddly contemporaries are the big sellers.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Huh. I guess contemporary mysteries are considered 'suspense'?

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

nope mystery that's what they're considered or mystery

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.