Insecure Writer’s Support Group

It’s once again time for our Insecure Writer’s Support Group post! As I just received another form rejection, it’s a good time to rethink insecurity.

I did get a nice personalized rejection last month for one story, though, and the editor said to send him something else next time they had an anthology call out. So that’s good. But form rejections are the pits. You have to wonder if they even read the whole story (or novel) or if they just read the first little bit and made up their minds they didn’t like it for some reason.

It’s hard to stay confident when you’re just getting rejection after rejection. I have to remind myself that I’ve sold plenty of stories (just not science fiction ones) so I can’t be a horrible writer. Maybe I need to write myself a motivational Post-It note…

April 7th’s question, if you’d like to answer it, is:  Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?

I am a risk-taker. I’m taking a risk just shifting from historical fiction to science fiction, which seems a much tougher market to break into. I also do like writing about controversial subjects like the LGBT situation, racism, bigotry of any sort, and climate change. I’ve also taken a risk and written a story in second-person POV (haven’t sold it yet … it may be too risky for the current market) and a novel in first-person POV by a former member of a hive-mind society (tough to do!).

I think you need to take a few risks if you want to produce something rare and truly memorable. You’re not going to stand out from the crowd by sticking to what’s “safe” or what’s always been done. Stick your neck out and take a few chances.