Mistresselysia
Scribe
I have been writing fantasy for years, and have been a member of various writing communities over the years, ranging from game modding to fanfiction to novel writing. However, since taking my writing a little more seriously over the last couple of years (since I decided to actually write a proper novel with a real intention of getting it published, rather than just mucking about), I joined a 'serious' *puts on serious face* online writing group who took their critiquing very seriously *looks even more serious*, and I was quite shocked at how roughly they treated the members who wrote fantasy (and yes, this includes me).
Basically, according to them, fantasy writers are all overwriting-aholics with a severe adjective habit. We describe too much, emote too much, tell too much and gorge ourselves on melodrama. We don't so much look at the world with rose-tinted glasses as purple ones, and we need to be told this at all and every opportunity. And if you disagree, well, that's because you're a filthy fantasy writer and you don't know any better! Damn you and your wizards...
In response, I wrote a blog about how, if I took their advice, I felt I wouldn't be writing what my audience wanted - that is, lovely fantasy, full of things fantasy writers expect. And that, in trying to fulfill their expectations of what 'good writing' is, I ran the risk of potentially writing myself out of my chosen market. A lot of the fantasy writers came out of the woodwork to support my view - that as a genre, fantasy has its own set of writing rules that were slightly different from, say, literary fiction or crime thrillers - and it was interesting to realise just how many people who were offering critique on fantasy pieces had never picked up a fantasy novel, ever (not even LotR, which I thought you had to read to qualify as a functioning human being!).
So, to put this rambling post to bed - has anyone else ever faced this? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you agree that there are genre conventions within fantasy that do sometimes fly in the face of what other people may consider 'good writing'? Or is that just me making up excuses so I can indulge in my description habit?
(Btw - this is why I sought out a dedicated fantasy writing forum in the end - I got fed up of being told to basically not write fantasy... so thank you for existing!!)
Basically, according to them, fantasy writers are all overwriting-aholics with a severe adjective habit. We describe too much, emote too much, tell too much and gorge ourselves on melodrama. We don't so much look at the world with rose-tinted glasses as purple ones, and we need to be told this at all and every opportunity. And if you disagree, well, that's because you're a filthy fantasy writer and you don't know any better! Damn you and your wizards...
In response, I wrote a blog about how, if I took their advice, I felt I wouldn't be writing what my audience wanted - that is, lovely fantasy, full of things fantasy writers expect. And that, in trying to fulfill their expectations of what 'good writing' is, I ran the risk of potentially writing myself out of my chosen market. A lot of the fantasy writers came out of the woodwork to support my view - that as a genre, fantasy has its own set of writing rules that were slightly different from, say, literary fiction or crime thrillers - and it was interesting to realise just how many people who were offering critique on fantasy pieces had never picked up a fantasy novel, ever (not even LotR, which I thought you had to read to qualify as a functioning human being!).
So, to put this rambling post to bed - has anyone else ever faced this? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you agree that there are genre conventions within fantasy that do sometimes fly in the face of what other people may consider 'good writing'? Or is that just me making up excuses so I can indulge in my description habit?
(Btw - this is why I sought out a dedicated fantasy writing forum in the end - I got fed up of being told to basically not write fantasy... so thank you for existing!!)