Are there any ideas that intimidate you?

[Comicality]

 

Is there a genre or a collection of ideas that intimidate you as a writer? Things that you're afraid you won't get right if you write it out? And if so...why? I'm curious.

 

For me, it's fantasy. I don't know why, because I have a lot of fantasy ideas, and I've done a lot of sci fi and horror before...but I'm really hesitant when it comes to writing fantasy stories. It's like...a huge blindspot for me, and I want to get past that. I'd LOVE to write a fantasy story someday soon. But yeah...I feel a bit intimidated by the idea? Do any of you guys feel that way? Not just about fantasy, but about any topic or genre. I'd love to hear how you get around that. IF you get around it at all.

[Mikiesboy]

Intimidate is a strong word. 

I've written stories in a number of genres, sci fi, horror-ish, a few paranormal things, romance, drama, etc., but there are two things i'd love to write; an amazing horror story and super who-done-it. I'm not intimidated, but i want to learn how, or figure out how they are done. Granted, I haven't looked into either too deeply.

 

I've read plenty of both. I have characters on paper for both. But like everything i do, i want it to be the best that i can make it. So maybe some research is in order.

 

And likely notes, and lots of them. 

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Mikiesboy

[CassieQ]

Genres that are completely out of my realm can be intimidating.  I can totally do light fantasty, paranormal, romance and feel okay about it.  But If I had to do a hard sci-fi novel or mystery, that would be extremely challenging.  I'm currently working on a story that heavily involves the police and crime, which is thoroughly kicking my ass, but I'm determined to finish it....eventually.

[comicfan]

Fantasy, sci-fi, romance are all fine for me. However, give me a period piece, Western, or God forbid, a war story and I'm out of my element. As an English major, I've read many period pieces. The research doesn't bother me, but setting the tone and getting the details right would drive me to distraction. Westerns, again, due to a lack experience. You can create a flying dragon and explain how it feels, yet no one can clock you as having the details wrong. Write about riding a horse, the tack, and how it feels after a day in the saddle, and people everywhere will tell if you get a detail wrong because they live it. Finally,  war stories make me uncomfortable.  I have difficulty seeing, add in a weapon that must be aimed and I'm doomed. Now add moving targets and bullets aimed at me, well, to be honest, I'm completely lost. I haven't been a soldier, and it feels wrong to ask one what it is like to kill, barely survive, and live with the aftermath to get it right for a story. Almost anything else I can research and create, but those, well I just can't seem to strike the right tone when attempting to write them, so, I stay away from them.

[VampireMystic]

 

 

23 minutes ago, comicfan said:

Fantasy, sci-fi, romance are all fine for me. However, give me a period piece, Western, or God forbid, a war story and I'm out of my element. As an English major, I've read many period pieces. The research doesn't bother me, but setting the tone and getting the details right would drive me to distraction. Westerns, again, due to a lack experience. You can create a flying dragon and explain how it feels, yet no one can clock you as having the details wrong. Write about riding a horse, the tack, and how it feels after a day in the saddle, and people everywhere will tell if you get a detail wrong because they live it. Finally,  war stories make me uncomfortable.  I have difficulty seeing, add in a weapon that must be aimed and I'm doomed. Now add moving targets and bullets aimed at me, well, to be honest, I'm completely lost. I haven't been a soldier, and it feels wrong to ask one what it is like to kill, barely survive, and live with the aftermath to get it right for a story. Almost anything else I can research and create, but those, well I just can't seem to strike the right tone when attempting to write them, so, I stay away from them.

 

He's just bullseyed all the moving targets I've been trying to hit to reply here. 

 

For myself, I have to add something that may seem strange. The real world. I don't mean the old show on MTV. This, right here. Our world. 

 

If I had a nightmare where I was being chased by a genre, it would be a high school.

 

Or maybe the zombies of fanfiction ideas I've had. I recognize when it's done well. That feeling of rightness, that even though what they're doing is outside of the original material it's still within the nature of the characters as I perceive them. 

 

 But I can't do it. I cannot climb inside another person's characters and drive them around. At least not without it ending in fireballs and insurance claims.

 

 Yes, I noticed I didn't elaborate on that high school thing, too XD

Edited March 2, 2018 by VampireMystic

[Page Scrawler]

Historical fiction, or realistic fiction that relies heavily on current events. Science fiction that involves actual physics, chemistry, or conventional space travel in some way. In other words, anything that might require a great deal of research to back up one's facts. Like the story I'm currently working on, which takes place in the 1970's. Since that was about twenty years before I was born, I have no idea what was "hot" or "in-fashion" back then. The Beatles or The Bee Gees? Funtasma or Fly London shoes? I don't friggin' KNOW!!

[Timothy M.]

Poetry   I couldn't write poetry to save my .... - and I'm totally in awe of those who do.

[Brayon]

35 minutes ago, Timothy M. said:

Poetry   I couldn't write poetry to save my .... - and I'm totally in awe of those who do.

Same here. The ones I did post here, I asked GA to delete them months ago they were so bad.

 

Aside from Poetry, I think writing Historical Pieces, FanFiction in some realms, and Erotica in general. I'm always self-conscious when writing two guys getting in on. I'm not into a lot of Fetish stuff, personally, so when I do write sex scenes, they tend to be fairly vanilla. Mainly, because I don't want to offend someone that might be into what I'm trying to write about. I've come to the conclusion, that Fade to Black is the best way to go.

[Mikiesboy]

Hmmm lots of worrying being written here. I say try things, don't let fear limit you. Research, consider, talk to people and consider some more.  Write a test piece see how it feels.

 

I've never had a horse, never ridden one but one of my best loved characters was one, and the horsey people said i nailed it. I'd write about being soldier...there's a lot about being one you can read. Then you have to consider how you would feel...you have to write how you best imagine yourself there...i've never been in a wheelchair..i have been broken, near death and in the hospital, but never in a wheelchair, or thinking maybe i'd never have sex again, but i wrote about it. I was told i did it right.

 

Why can't you? 

 

read, read, and read some more.. think about how you would feel, how your character would feel in the situation you're thinking of... i'm sure you can do it... write bravely!

Edited March 2, 2018 by Mikiesboy

[Daddydavek]

5 hours ago, Timothy M. said:

Poetry   I couldn't write poetry to save my .... - and I'm totally in awe of those who do.

 

Good poetry is really remarkable and I stand in awe of those who can write it.  Rhyming is not poetry.  Limericks can be fun but they are not truly poetry either.  I have listed almost every genre of writing as interesting me on the site, but not poetry because unless it is really good, I find it nothing short of tedious.  

 

 

[Headstall]

I've been thinking about this posting for a while now. I read all the posts and they, and the question, got me thinking about how I feel... or more accurately, why I feel the way I do. I wasn't going to respond because my simple answer was just a 'no, I'm not.' Anyone who knows me understands I do go on... and on... so turn away quick, before I start rambling.   

 

I always wanted to be an artist, from the time I could hold a crayon. I was always drawing, and I ended up qualifying for a new and experimental (for the time) five-year scholastic art class in high school, along with nine other wannabe artists. I was good, and my intention was to go to OCA ( Ontario College of Art) and become an art/history teacher, and attempt to be a productive artist on the side. It seemed a good plan, and I was accepted, but as what happens to many of us, life got in the way. For most of my adult years, my creativity was stifled. I filled the void here and there with woodworking, design, the occasional (very occasional) painting or drawing, and construction and renovations of my own homes. Poor substitutes in the overall. I don't ever recommend cutting off such an important part of yourself... easier said than done, I know.

 

You're probably wondering what this guy's (my) point is. I found writing at a later stage in my life. I began writing my first story in January of 2015. This is my art. Writing has become my art. This is the outlet for my creativity I've always craved, and I'll be damned if I let any part of it intimidate me. Scare me? yes. Intimidate me? Hell no!

 

The creative process is beautiful... the engaging of my imagination, the research, the agonizing over word choice, the piecing together of a mystery, or simple human drama, the long hours at the keyboard, the interaction with readers, even the unrelenting voices in my head. Fulfillment. Yes, as I said, I get scared... terrified even. Any time I post something, I worry, because like a painting or a statue, it is a part of me, the artist who was once the little boy with the crayon. I put it out there for public display and accept the consequences, but that's what you do as an artist... and that's what we all are... Artists with a capital A. So I say be scared if you want... it tells you how much writing means to you, but don't be intimidated. It's stifling... and that my friends, is the enemy.  Cheers... Gary....

Edited March 3, 2018 by Headstall

[Superpride]

For me it's science fiction that involves aliens.  I think it's because I have to construct an entirely new society from scratch and do that multiple times if I want to create a galactic community of alien races.  For me personally, fantasy is easier since there are already races in folklore and mythology that can be used for a story like elves, dwarfs, mermaids and fairies that all have their own backgrounds already created by storytellers in the past.  For science fiction, there is very little of that in my opinion.  And for my science fiction story called Hero Wanted, I focus solely on the human race since there is already an established society mixed with other societies like American, Japanese and Filipino as examples.  I do have an antagonistic interdimensional race called the Colossus, but they are very mysterious and not much is known about this race in the story, and they would not classify as a typical alien race you see in today's science fiction movies like Star Trek.

 

What I like about the video game Mass Effect is it displays the alien races like the asari, salarians and turians as very homogeneous, no pun intended.  What I mean by this is that each race has a trait that defines them and most members of that races usually fit that category like the asari who very diplomatic and have the largest economy in the galaxy; the salarians who are very scientific  and are inclined to researching everything about the galaxy; and the turians who are very militaristic and have the largest military fleet in the galaxy.  It's like countries on Earth with every countries having values and cultures that make them unique like the work ethics of the Japanese people or the importance of family in Filipino culture.  I would like to do something similar to this in a story in the future with a spin of its own, but right now I feel like this genre of science fiction is very daunting since how can I create a balance between what is alien and what is human without it making it too complicated or too cliché.

[Myr]

I find writing 'normal' stories difficult.  I just don't care about modern.  It's either fantasy or Sci-Fi for me. 

Maybe a part of it for me is escapism?  I read and write to get away from normal.  And you can't let it be said that I don't go right of the rails and head for the strange places when I get away. lol.  

[Brayon]

3 hours ago, Myr said:

I find writing 'normal' stories difficult.  I just don't care about modern.  It's either fantasy or Sci-Fi for me. 

Maybe a part of it for me is escapism?  I read and write to get away from normal.  And you can't let it be said that I don't go right of the rails and head for the strange places when I get away. lol.  

More often than not, that's why I write. To escape, and to help myself out. I'm happy that people like the stuff, I've chosen to share.

[Superpride]

17 hours ago, Myr said:

I find writing 'normal' stories difficult.  I just don't care about modern.  It's either fantasy or Sci-Fi for me. 

Maybe a part of it for me is escapism?  I read and write to get away from normal.  And you can't let it be said that I don't go right of the rails and head for the strange places when I get away. lol.  

 

Same here.  I also remember learning from my creative fiction writing class that if there are no problems or worries in the world, we’d rather spend time outside rather than write how happy we are.  That’s me right there and I’m sure that applies to many others as well.  I write because there are problems in this world that I hope my writing reflects on rather than writing an ordinary romance.  Nothing wrong with ordinary romance, but for me I like some spicy to my stories along with plenty of side dishes 

[MrM]

On 3/1/2018 at 6:49 PM, comicfan said:

Fantasy, sci-fi, romance are all fine for me. However, give me a period piece, Western, or God forbid, a war story and I'm out of my element. As an English major, I've read many period pieces. The research doesn't bother me, but setting the tone and getting the details right would drive me to distraction. Westerns, again, due to a lack experience. You can create a flying dragon and explain how it feels, yet no one can clock you as having the details wrong. Write about riding a horse, the tack, and how it feels after a day in the saddle, and people everywhere will tell if you get a detail wrong because they live it. Finally,  war stories make me uncomfortable.  I have difficulty seeing, add in a weapon that must be aimed and I'm doomed. Now add moving targets and bullets aimed at me, well, to be honest, I'm completely lost. I haven't been a soldier, and it feels wrong to ask one what it is like to kill, barely survive, and live with the aftermath to get it right for a story. Almost anything else I can research and create, but those, well I just can't seem to strike the right tone when attempting to write them, so, I stay away from them.

 

Doing a period piece! I agree wholeheartedly!

That’s why I’m doing one. It’s a challenge. It’s not very popular, but it is perhaps my most work intensive story because I have to channel my knowledge of history, older culture, and language. It helps that I am a fan of Jane Austin and EM Forster:

 

 

 

[Krista]

Fantasy/Sci-fi are intimidating for me. I haven't been writing or doing prompts as I should with those to feel more comfortable either. Writing in third after writing in first for so long can feel daunting as well for awhile. Being comfortable with something is practice. If you "do it," it will become easier for you to manage. I just haven't. So those are intimidating to me as well. Also, writing a character that I like... that I know is going to die. That is also a bit intimidating, you want to do them justice and you want to have that fit the story as that is your general idea for that character.