(Note: I put this in Writing Questions because it has to do with style or writing topics)
I'm going to throw out three names:
1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George R.R. Martin
3. J.K. Rowling
I would say these three names are probably the biggest in the fantasy genre (although it could be argued that Rowling is YA or some such). However, I find that even though these names are huge, some people simply don't like them. Either it's their characters or too much description or whatever.
So as writers, we want to get as many readers as possible, right? Does that mean we have to avoid writing about certain topics or certain styles because it may bother certain people or alienate readers?
One thing I hope to accept myself in 2014 is that not everyone is going to like my writing. So I'm going to attempt to be more daring and not box myself into what is expected of me as a fantasy writer. Hopefully, this will lead me in the right direction instead of worrying my writing isn't good enough or some people won't like it, it will encourage me to follow my vision and do the best with what I have.
So how about all of you? Some questions:
1. Do you just accept that some people won't like your writing and forge on with your vision or do you strive to write in a way to reach the widest audience possible, perhaps sacrificing what you truly want to write?
2. You can of course have both, but how would you go about achieving this?
I'm going to throw out three names:
1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George R.R. Martin
3. J.K. Rowling
I would say these three names are probably the biggest in the fantasy genre (although it could be argued that Rowling is YA or some such). However, I find that even though these names are huge, some people simply don't like them. Either it's their characters or too much description or whatever.
So as writers, we want to get as many readers as possible, right? Does that mean we have to avoid writing about certain topics or certain styles because it may bother certain people or alienate readers?
One thing I hope to accept myself in 2014 is that not everyone is going to like my writing. So I'm going to attempt to be more daring and not box myself into what is expected of me as a fantasy writer. Hopefully, this will lead me in the right direction instead of worrying my writing isn't good enough or some people won't like it, it will encourage me to follow my vision and do the best with what I have.
So how about all of you? Some questions:
1. Do you just accept that some people won't like your writing and forge on with your vision or do you strive to write in a way to reach the widest audience possible, perhaps sacrificing what you truly want to write?
2. You can of course have both, but how would you go about achieving this?