I'm doing a sudden switch this week. With Dog Show Detective finished and ready to go, it's time for me to move down my writer's to-do list, which includes a lot more editing and less starting-new-projects. (I listed my plans in 7 Tips for a Writer's Year). Now it's time to work on edits for The Costume Maker, the NaNoWriMo novel I wrote in 2009.
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| My dodgy attempt at a cover using clipart |
Not only does The Costume Maker switch me from my usual genre of Mystery to Fantasy, but it's also aimed at YAs, unlike Dog Show Detective's Middle Grade genre. How do I make the transition?
I've put away my Agatha Christie for a while and I'm devouring fantasy novels. This story is all dragons, fairies and powerful gypsies, so I'm looking at stories with castles and magicians. I've downloaded for my Kindle, some great fantasy novels (you can see them in the bar on the left), including The Hobbit. I have to admit, I've never read it before. I'm also reading some free ebooks I found on Fantasy writing and have purchased some books on the craft.
On my audiobooks I'm listening to various Terry Pratchett stories (a fairly new discovery for me), How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell and other fantasy novels. And in the movie department? Saw I am Number Four this week (lots of fun!) and tonight the family and I are settling down to The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Finally, my screensaver will change from smoke hazed PIs in trench-coats, to dragons and wizards. I may even start wearing a cloak. It's a whole lifestyle change. How about you, do you need to shift your mind to shift genre?
Wow. It's amazing how you integrate your writing into different parts of your life. I know that must stir your unconscious and your creativity to produce great ideas.
ReplyDeletewhat fun & I like your "dodgy attempt" @ the cover, I think it looks great:)
ReplyDeleteI like you cover attempt. Very colorful and full of possibility.
ReplyDeleteEdge of Your Seat Romance
Thanks Myrna - I do tend to get a bit obsessive about things and I like having themes in my life :-)
ReplyDeleteDawn and Raquel - Thanks so much, but I must admit I just used some Microsoft clipart, so not even remotely my own work :-)
Wow.. I love the cover attempt.. it's very pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy trying something new. I hope we'll soon see Dog Detective in print. I'll be one of the first to order a copy!
ReplyDeleteI'm about to make a genre shift too, and there's a lot of overlap with your choices! I NEED to see I AM NUMBER FOUR. (I've booked the sitter, so just a couple weeks) :)
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