Wednesday, November 4, 2020

#IWSG Why I Write Speculative Fiction

ISWG

November 4 question - Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write.

Why do you write what you write?



I write to honor the ancestors. I was told that this is what the purpose of my soul is in this life, to share our stories in a new way. 

But sometimes I also write just for fun or to hone the craft. 

I like the Speculative Fiction umbrella because gives me a good amount of room to write all the types of stories that interest me.

Speculative Fiction diagram


It doesn't list myths and legends on that diagram directly, but it's in there. (🤔 Fictional stories about characters that are probably fictional, or at least that can't be proven to be non-fictional.) 

I'm working on Book Two in my Existence series right now as part of NaNoWriMo. I might have to work on Book Three as well, since I already have a bunch of chapters done. We'll see.

Are you doing NaNoWriMo? https://nanowrimo.org/participants/j-lenni-dorner Buddies welcome!

If you haven't yet read about the latest Twitter scam aimed at writers, of which I was targeted, be sure to check out this article: https://operationawesome6.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-cautionary-tale.html

18 comments:

  1. That's great that you feel such a purpose in your writing. I write fantasy too though I may try a mystery after I finish this series. Good luck with NaNo. I'm not doing it but am trying to write more.

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  2. I wish I had more time to write! December may be a better month for me. Time off from school. I love speculative fiction. So many options.

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  3. I love that you write what interests you, what calls to you to share with the world. What a wonderful way to approach writing. And, of course, for fun. :)
    Thanks for the tip RE Twitter. I've also added you on NaNoWriMo. It's my first time! Good luck and good words for the month. :)

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  4. Great diagram!
    Thanks for the tip about the twitter scam - scammers, grr.
    Happy NaNoWriMo Writing!

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  5. I love that you write to honor the ancestors :)

    Rachna Chhabria
    Co-host IWSG
    Rachna's Scriptorium

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  6. I'm so glad you've found such a calling to share your ancestors' stories but also write just for fun. I have never read or written speculative fiction, but it sounds interesting.

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  7. Sharing your ancestors stories is wonderful. You appear to be a very busy writer. Best of luck with all your endeavors.

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  8. Our soul is to share stories in a new way. That is awesome.

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  9. Best description ever, and the most honest reason! Love it!

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  10. Great explanation of why you write.

    I’m a NaNo rebel, but if you want to have a buddy who’s breaking all the rules and mostly there for the cookies, I’m in. Wait, what? No cookies? Dang.

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  11. I quite liked that diagrammatic representation. And good luck for NaNoWriMo. I find all those who go for it, very brave.

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  12. No NaNo this year due to school, but good luck on finishing the current book and moving on to the next!

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  14. I don't NaNo, but I cheer on those who do. Try this idea to speed up your drafting:
    http://melissamaygrove.blogspot.com/2013/11/speed-writing-eleventh-hour-help-for.html
    Good luck with your writing, and thanks for visiting my blog.

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  15. Old stories are best because they are universal and timeless. All new stories are actually reworkings of old stories. In our humanness what other stories can we come up with? I like the speculative genre because it unleashes the imagination to query what if and what might be next. Stories like 1984 have held up because there is so much truth in them as well as warning. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is really listening to those warnings. Or like insanity we keep doing the same things because we hope the outcomes will eventually be different.

    I wish you well with NaNo. Maybe I'll do it again someday, but I need to start writing more and get back in that mode of thinking.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  16. I don't understand scammers - going to check out that post!
    Honouring the ancestors is a powerful reason to write!

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  17. Love that diagram and that way of putting why you write. I never thought of history falling in the penumbra of speculative fiction but it does, doesn't it? How fascinating! Thank you for doing all you do.

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What is your favorite fiction genre to read?