Wednesday, September 6, 2017

IWSG - CHALLENGES





Question: Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in?



Yes, when I wrote Ever-Ton, now in the anthology Parallels:Felix Was Here, my entry for the IWSG speculative fiction challenge in 2015. I’ve always loved science fiction; my brother was an avid reader and I’d sneak his paperbacks when he wasn’t looking. He didn’t like to share.

I love a challenge, did the research and was surprised by the story that formed. My muse was working diligently then?
Now, today, not so much! I’m in a bit of a slump, due to outside influences. You know that thing they call life, but I do see the light at the end of this long, long tunnel.

Does your muse cooperate?





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24 comments:

dolorah said...

My muse can cooperate so much that I'm overwhelmed with all the ideas and research, lol. I always just love it when I have an idea that grabs me and I can spend hours or days immersed in a story.

Denise Covey said...

I hope life treats you kindly again, Yolanda, so you can get back to writing!

Laura Clipson said...

I think it's important to try writing in other genres - you never know what you'll be good at. When I first started writing, I would never have guessed that one of my best genres is horror. You don't know until you try!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad you did try writing science fiction!
Life sometimes sucks that way, doesn't it?

Cathrina Constantine said...

Yolanda, sorry to hear you're in a slump, but your muse will return. So enjoy the break!

Julie Flanders said...

I'm glad to hear you are starting to see that light at the end of the tunnel. I hope life improves for you soon. Take care!!

Chemist Ken said...

Maybe I'll surprise myself and manage to submit something for this year's anthology. I hope life lets up on you soon.

Pat Hatt said...

Never know what one's muse can come up with. Hopefully life lets yours back out to play soon.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Yolanda - glad to read there's light at the end of that long tunnel ... good luck with getting your muse back - it will come ... just time as life goes on. Take care and with lots of thoughts - Hilary

emaginette said...

My muse has been very kind to me over the years. Keeps me on track and pushing forward. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Christine Rains said...

My muse doesn't always cooperate, but she does give me the greatest surprises!

Sadira Stone said...

My muse usually cooperates, but she sulks if I neglect her for too long. This season of family visits has been tough on my writing progress, but I'm moving forward.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Maybe you'll be up for trying the new anthology then.

Misha Gerrick said...

I'm sorry your life has gotten in the way, but I'm glad that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

My muse is being fickle. At the moment, she's straying faaaaaaaar away from my novels and pushing me into poetry.

Chrys Fey said...

I'm sorry to hear about your slump. It seems that slumps are going around in the writing world. I've been in one for a long time. I thought I was out of it last month, but life put me right back in it. I hope you get out of your slump soon.

Rosemary Johnson said...

Everyone seems to be in a slump at the moment. Just keep going, Yolanda. It won't come back unless you work at it.

Deborah Drucker said...

I have been working on a longer story from my last WEP Challenge. Some days I just did not think I was interested in it and now I have completed a first draft. I know I still need to go back now because there are some changes I would like to do and to put the whole thing together into a smoother flow. For awhile I felt maybe it would go nowhere. It still needs work. I have had days when I just was not into writing for sure.

Nilanjana Bose said...

My muse has her moods, haha. Not a fan of her tantrums! Have to navigate around them as best as I can.

I liked that whole anthology much - Ever-ton was a great read, so were the others. Wishing you a speedy return to writing, Yolanda!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Sometimes my muse cooperates and sometimes I have to clear space and time and then trap my muse with timed writing exercises.

Donna B. McNicol said...

My muse has been fickle recently but I'm whipping her back into shape. LOL!

BTW, you and your blog have been nominated by me for the Liebster Blog Award. Check it out:

My post: https://dbmcnicol.blogspot.com/2017/09/blog-awards-and-thank-you.html

Beth Camp said...

Maybe writing to another challenge will help you balance your writing with those other commitments that have taken you away from writing. Your note here made me want to go see what other anthologies IWSG may have coming up. Meanwhile, every day, know that your writing even a short journal entry (in a Word doc, if not a physical journal), can help you jumpstart your writing -- or dream. Best, Beth
http://bethandwriting.blogspot.com

klahanie said...

Hi human, Yolanda,

Darn, I accidentally deleted my comment. Forgot what I'd said.

I do know, that despite the slump you've been experiencing, based on your environment, you will embrace the pawsitive aspects that will be discovered from it all. It will inspire you with your writing and the challenges will be tackled.

I surprise myself with my writing by just managing to type on the peeboard, um, keyboard.

You, my amazing human friend, will continue to immerse yourself with the magic of the written word.

Pawsitive wishes,

Penny 🐶😃

Unknown said...

Writing slumps happen. It's good that you're feeling optimistic and can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sure you'll get back to writing soon. I'm brand new to the IWSG and to blogging in general, so this comment is coming late as I check out all the participants' posts. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm over at www.katherinekarch.com. :)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Stupid life with it's challenges and headaches. Tell it to back off and let you get to work. (I'm having my own love-hate thing going on with reality, lol)