IWSG FEBRUARY 7, 2018 Living In Secret Worlds
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INSECURE WRITER’S SUPPORT GROUP
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Writer’s supporting, encouraging and learning from each other. Post on your own blog about your struggles, your triumphs, and your successes. Talk about your works in progress the good, the bad and the ugly or some other writing relating topic on your mind. Read others, interact, comment, and grow within this wonderful author community. Every month there is an optional question for those who may need help figuring out what to post about.
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[themify_box style=”orange question”] OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: What do you love about the genre you write in most often? [/themify_box]
Speculative Fiction describes best what I write right now.
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What is Speculative Fiction?
Speculative fiction is a broad category of narrative fiction that includes elements, settings, and characters created out of imagination and speculation and not based on reality and everyday life. It encompasses the genres of science fiction, fantasy, science fantasy, horror, alternative history, and magic realism.
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I love story. Growing up, I was an only child so story entertained and gave me companions. Story has always felt like a friend to me. These authors have given me some of my greatest inspiration for the genres I write in and inspired me to write for more than just my own pleasure. I write because I love to read. I have always been a voracious reader; I read a bit of everything really.
I lean toward sci-fi, sci-fi fantasy, urban fantasy, any fantasy really. I love these genres because it allows me to disappear within it and experience other or alternate worlds. I write because I like experiencing my characters, the storytelling craft and entertaining others with my stories. It is like a secret world that exists alongside ours. I like being part of it.
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Queen Moxie by Hank Quense
January Storytime Blog Hop
February 20, 2018 @ 20:04
Thanks for defining speculative fiction. That term is thrown around a lot, but I’ve never really been sure what it meant until now.
I’m an only child as well. I wonder how many of us became storytellers by default?
February 12, 2018 @ 01:25
I like your words for Spec-Fi.
February 11, 2018 @ 02:52
Speculative fiction: “a secret world that exists alongside ours.” I’ve never thought about it in that way. Interesting. Also makes me think of the endless possibilities that speculative fiction offers. Wow, it boggles my non-speculative fiction brain. 🙂
Happy Writing!
Writer In Transit
February 10, 2018 @ 18:01
Speculative Fiction is defined by what it’s not defined by; a particular genre. SF incorporates elements from many genres and presents them in a way that makes sense to the reader. Or not. I like to color outside the lines and this is wahy i’m drawn to SF.
February 9, 2018 @ 07:17
Here’s a question for you… Did you read the SW novels that continued the story from the original trilogy? If so, did you like the turn of events it took in the later years (like the Yuuzhan Vong war and that)? I actually stopped reading the books because I felt like they were detroying the story. It was just always so depressing.
February 8, 2018 @ 19:04
I like it how you see speculative fiction: “a secret world that exists alongside ours.” Yes, it’s so for me as well, and that’s why I write it.
February 8, 2018 @ 14:38
I understand exactly what you mean. My characters start off as strangers, grow into friends, and sometimes it even feels as if some of them are family.
February 8, 2018 @ 11:24
I like how you said you disappear into/within your favorite genres. 🙂
And yeh for voracious reading!
February 8, 2018 @ 10:41
I understand making up stories as a child. The best thing about writing is we can still enjoy making up new worlds and places. Such a joy. Thanks for sharing your fave authors too.
JQ Rose
February 8, 2018 @ 08:54
I grew up an only child as well and always lived vicariously through the stories I read. I firmly believe that’s the main reason I love writing so much. A lot of the books you listed look interesting. I’ll have to add a few to my TBR. Great post. Hugs, Eva
February 8, 2018 @ 07:57
SpecFic is the best! All sorts of possibilities in both reading and writing. It’s escapism at its best and so fun to live in a different world for a while 🙂
February 7, 2018 @ 23:39
I do enjoy speculative fiction, both writing it and reading it. I’m less on the sci-fi end and more on the dark fantasy/horror end, but I’ve enjoyed all the types of worlds.
February 7, 2018 @ 19:21
Juneta! I loved your description of a “secret world” and it’s also true that we experience what we write as we write it! I love that as well! Happy #IWSG’ing and looking forward to April StoryTime BlogHop! <3
February 7, 2018 @ 16:29
I don’t write sci-fi, but I love to read it. The worlds and characters are so much fun to explore, and there’s always a touch of possibility.
February 7, 2018 @ 18:13
The touch of possibility is what makes it so fun I think.
February 7, 2018 @ 16:28
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.
I too like speculative fiction; oh, and stories. A good story is the best thing in the world.
February 7, 2018 @ 18:12
Agreed. Thank you too.
February 7, 2018 @ 15:10
Yep, I love stories and reading and fantasy for pretty much the same reasons. 🙂
February 7, 2018 @ 18:11
Great minds *read alike* ? LOL. YUP!
February 7, 2018 @ 12:54
There are many paranormal and speculative fiction writers in my writers group. So I’m getting to understand the genre more and more. You too, Juneta, are helping in my education in this genre. All the best to you this year!
February 7, 2018 @ 13:10
Ah, that is sweet thing to say. I am glad I help. Thank you.
February 7, 2018 @ 10:57
I agree! One of the best parts of being a writer is making up your own worlds. The more fantastic, the better!
February 7, 2018 @ 12:21
Yup, yup, and yup, 🙂
February 7, 2018 @ 10:40
I love speculative fiction too! It’s so much fun.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:22
Yes it is.
February 7, 2018 @ 10:40
Creating your own companions is one of the best reasons in the world to write stories!
February 7, 2018 @ 12:23
lol, yes, a motivating one too.
February 7, 2018 @ 10:31
Yeah, I tend to get bored if the story world isn’t different from real life. Not that you can’t have good stories in our world, but it’s just so much fun being somewhere else!
February 7, 2018 @ 12:24
Agreed.
February 7, 2018 @ 10:24
I love to escape through speculative fiction too. My son’s an only child and a hungry reader. He’s very much into the paranormal stuff right now, but he always wants a healthy dose of humor with it. 🙂
February 7, 2018 @ 12:25
Yes I like humor too, especially paired in semi-realistic parody.
February 7, 2018 @ 10:10
OK, I can see why people love speculative fiction. Good post.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:25
Thank you.
February 7, 2018 @ 09:52
I had no idea that speculative fiction included so much of what I love. I think I might be a speculative mystery writer… who knew?
Anna from elements of emaginette
February 7, 2018 @ 12:26
lol, yeah, I definitely think you fit.
February 7, 2018 @ 09:12
I love speculative fiction 🙂 Now to add more books to my reading list 😉
February 7, 2018 @ 12:27
Yes, never enough gripping books and series in the genre. Give me more, more, more…
February 7, 2018 @ 08:33
Transporting to a new world has always been one of my favorite things. And it looks like we have a lot of similar reading tastes. 🙂
February 7, 2018 @ 12:29
Yeah. I love it when I share reading taste.
February 7, 2018 @ 08:28
Books were my friends growing up (also an only child) so escaping to another world was a delight.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:28
Delight. That is the perfect word.
February 7, 2018 @ 07:02
I hear you! I’m an escapest too when it come to literary works. I tend to read very widely and enjoy most of it, but there are a few genres that aren’t made for escape, and I find those are the ones that cause me anxiety and grief. Which is not why I read/write. Here’s to finding your niche and loving it!
February 7, 2018 @ 12:30
Thank you.
February 7, 2018 @ 05:07
Science fiction has inspired me.
And Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars books are the best.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:30
They are.
February 7, 2018 @ 04:36
Yes, I can see that you have found your love. Speculative fiction oozes from you. Even your website paints a picture of mystery and excitement in another world. Keep at it, Lady.
Wishing you all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
February 7, 2018 @ 12:31
Thank you. The same to you always.
February 7, 2018 @ 04:35
Thanks for sharing your influences. (So many books, so little time!)
All the best, A x
February 7, 2018 @ 12:32
Thank you. You too.
February 7, 2018 @ 04:22
Hey! Happy IWSG day! Definitely right there with you in the secret worlds.
February 7, 2018 @ 12:32
Happy IWSG!
February 7, 2018 @ 02:54
I love writing spec fic and my books run the gamut. To me, I guess it comes from my childhood of playing make-believe. Spec fic is the closest grown-up version of that. 😀
February 7, 2018 @ 12:56
lol, yeah.
February 7, 2018 @ 02:32
I didn’t have many friends growing up and read all the time. I love speculative fiction to read and write for the same reasons as you. Love escaping into a new and magical world.
February 7, 2018 @ 13:02
lol, yup.
February 6, 2018 @ 17:46
I’m getting into some types of spec fic lately. Sci-fi really interests me, in particular cli-fi. Great post!
February 7, 2018 @ 13:06
I have not heard of cli-fi will have to check that out.