As most of you know, I've been working rather frantically on my latest project which I just turned into my agent. So until I have revisions or something to work on from her, I don't have anything else to do on that particular project. However, since I am still enjoying my four writing hours a day, I am returning to the book that was my first priority until my latest book came along. This one, actually, from the famous final Crapometer of the dearly missed Miss Snark.
Now, it's the same genre as my last book, but the voice is totally different. I spent most of my time yesterday just re-reading through it, because I have to recapture that voice if I am going to be able to finish this thing at all. So I'm really doing some gear switching. I think it's going to be fine, but it made me wonder how you all go about switching gears. And how drastic are your gear switches? Do you write series? Do you write searate books within the same genre? Are you a genre dabbler? Is it easy and refreshing to switch gears (I think I am falling into that category) or is starting a new book like pulling teeth? You tell me.:)
Ciao!
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All of my books have a very distinct voice. I do what you are doing now; re-read until I feel ready to jump back in. It IS refreshing and fun!
I also listen to musical scores while I write. I know some people can't listen to music when they write, and I couldn't listen to anything with words, but I can usually find one score that really "feels" like each book.
I listen to it almost every time I sit down to write which serves a dual purpose; it drowns out the inevitable loud music, laughing, and arguing of my household and also puts me instantly back in the mood for that story.
I can be away from my last book for months, but as soon as I put my headphones with "The Village" on, I'm back in that place. Ditto for my latest project and the score for "Batman Begins".
Aprilynne,
Some people would say that I switch major gears. I already finished the first book in my urban fantasy series, and now I'm rewriting my action/drama screenplay. So, not only do I switch genres, I switch writing mediums as well---only because I like both. If I have a story to tell, it always comes out in whatever form it's supposed to---novels, short stories, poems, screenplays...
I actually have to switch gears or my voices start to blend. I wrote a YA chick lit and then started on another. Both were first person and I just felt like I wasn't developing the new character - she sounded too much like the one I'd just put away. So I started on a project that was much different - first person present and very literary. It really helped me jump into the new project.
It is refreshing to switch gears...but I don't write. I do other things. Sometimes its hard, especially when one gear involves a HUGE test, but I have to really focus and concentrate. I have to put time aside for the gear to rest. :) My brain gets tires sometimes. Well, off to switch some gears! Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to the results!
:) KC
Just wanted to say howdy and I hope al is going well for you on BOTH projects - and you'll hear some good news soon! With summer coming up I expect the next weeks are going to be quiet but you never know.
Oh, yes. I loved that one when I read it. Great voice, great setup. I'll love to see where you're going with it.
I too am wondering how the "baby" project is doing?
Much aloha to you!
you don't have to switch gears, honey. just try to be yourself, and if you're anybody who matters, you'll find your voice rather than pretending to invent one to suit your projects. do we want writers who have to be a different person to fit society's or an agent's mold? you should break free of their trap, and one day, if you believe in yourself, you'll find yourself, which so far seems to have eluded you. I'm just kidding, of course. I don't care if you use so many voices you sound like an out of tune choir singing bad hymns in the summer rain.
Thanks for sharing, everyone. It's always fun to let you guys have control of the blog once in a while.
As for the baby [project, it's coming every slowly. :) I am due in 13 days and will put up pics as soon as the little guy is born. (Hehe,. I still go to the gym 5 days a week and I'm getting some really, really funny looks.:))
@RS:
Sounds like you don't know what "voice" means. Voice is the heart and soul of the book. Books are edgy, or soothing, or tense, or other things, or a combination of things. If you wrote a high fantasy with the same voice as a cold-war spy thriller, you would only have one readable book--at best. A good author may only have one "voice," but then, that author will not write a wide variety of genres well.
I doubt anyone else will respond to you since you're obvious trolling, what with your thinly veiled (and baseless) insults and your condescending (but somehow completely senseless) advice. But I wanted to respond to ensure that no one reading your comment would accidentally take your words seriously, because it is clear that you don't even know what "voice" means in this context.
Um...Maprilynne knows what voice is.
I say post under your name and not as an anonymous entity -- then restate your premise coherently.
*cough* well, the person who said all that about voice... read the first line. It says "@RS" a reply to another comment, not maprilynne's post. (BTW, I didn't write the anonymous post. Just pointing that out.)
OK so I can't read...
my bad.
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