Same world, different story?

[Finchbearer]

Do you write exclusively in the same world, or do you just write different stories set in different worlds or the real world as we know it?

Do you stick to just one genre?

I’ve already written in an historical setting, a real-world historical fantasy setting, and then a story based in its own fantasy world.

I recognise that it would probably make me a more appealing ‘sell’ - should I ever wish to go down that avenue - to stick to one overall theme, and so I’m left wondering what others do.

 

[Mad Swede]

I write in a fantasy world, and so far I've always written in the same one. Not out of any concious choice, it's just worked out that way.

 

[pmmg]

I have two story worlds. One is my old rpg game world, the other for my big story. I use the rpg one for most short stories, but if its really good and no one would know, i might fit it into the current one.

I do tend to think its better to develop one over many. Least till the series is done.

 

[Prince of Spires]

I recognise that it would probably make me a more appealing ‘sell’ - should I ever wish to go down that avenue - to stick to one overall theme, and so I’m left wondering what others do.

Write what you love.

And finish what you start.

I think those are the only two "rules" that really matter. Being easier to sell is only something that matters if you want to make this a full-time job. And to make this a full time job, you need to follow those two rules. If you don't finish what you start, you have nothing to sell. And if you don't love what you do then why bother? There are way easier ways to make money than to write.

What's more, if you are going for a writing career, then you can expect to write a lot of novels. Even just 2 novels a year over 30 years is 60 novels. There will be variation in there. If only because the interests of the market shift. You can write 60 novels in a single universe, or write them scattered across multiple. Or you could even go for an in-between option, where each has its own universe, but they are somehow connected. Similar to what Stephen King and Brandon Sanderson are doing with their universes. Each option has best selling authors in there. And if it's too different, then you can always just create a new pen name and publish under 2 names. There's no rules against that.

As for what I do, I've got 4 different world so far, each with their own rules and magic. I'm toying with the idea of secretly linking them all together. But that's for a future project.

 

[pmmg]

I am shooting for about 10 novels, lifetime, but more if it hits me. I have two big stories in my (one in progress). After that, I dont know what I'll do. Maybe go back to guitar I dont think I will quit my day job, but I'd not mind if there was a small fan base. Anyway...two story worlds. I will try to resist the urge to merge them.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

I started out writing angelic fiction, which became fantasy (epic and urban), and sci fi (space opera and urban). Then this year I've just started out in detective. In fact I'm just finishing off my third detective work. They say write what you know, and these are the things I read and watch and love. I also never used to write sequels, but a couple of years ago I started the first Barton Villa, and now my fifth is half way done.

In my view it's a mistake to pigeon hole yourself and say I write this, or that. Or I want to stay with this world or spread out. It's better to just write, let the words flow, and wonder about what comes out later.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Hmmm, so far in the same world with related but different stories... I may have to stick to that to get them all done before I die. With screenplays, I've written Urban Vampire comedy, westerns, cozy mystery, and a noir hitman piece. I'd love to novelize all of them, plus others... But, I will have to reach a happy point in my epic series before going there.

 

[Chessie2]

Do you write exclusively in the same world, or do you just write different stories set in different worlds or the real world as we know it?

Do you stick to just one genre?

I’ve already written in an historical setting, a real-world historical fantasy setting, and then a story based in its own fantasy world.

I recognise that it would probably make me a more appealing ‘sell’ - should I ever wish to go down that avenue - to stick to one overall theme, and so I’m left wondering what others do.

The one grain of advice that I've found to be true is to stick to one pen name per genre. Besides that, you should write what you like but also keep the storytelling formula in mind. The formula you use will depend on the genre you're writing. In all, to keep readers in mind. We all expect a certain 'something' when we read a particular book. So long as you keep that in mind, I think you will have more entertaining ideas than you could write in a lifetime!

(As for me, I write romance and don't deviate from that, so I have one pen name. All of my published titles are historical romance but I no longer write in that subgenre. I only write elven romance now. )

 

[ThinkerX]

My 'Empire' series takes place on three separate planets, though action on the second takes up only about 75% of book five, with mentions elsewhere, while planet three gets maybe three chapters and few references in book six.

That said, the 'Labyrinth' series (first two books more or less 'done,' third needs to be written) take place in a different part of the main world.

'Exiles,' a two or three book series, is set on the third world - currently I have a 160,000 word rough draft for that in dire need of revision. What sets world three ('Aquas') apart from almost every other fantasy world out there is its geography - it is an ocean world whose dominant land mass is a sort of 'ribbon' 20,000+ miles long that wraps around the entire planet - but is seldom more than a few dozen miles across.

Worth mentioning, I suppose, is the 'Eldritch World,' a rotating but tidally locked planet dotted with 'eldritch races.'

 

[Finchbearer]

The one grain of advice that I've found to be true is to stick to one pen name per genre. Besides that, you should write what you like but also keep the storytelling formula in mind. The formula you use will depend on the genre you're writing. In all, to keep readers in mind. We all expect a certain 'something' when we read a particular book. So long as you keep that in mind, I think you will have more entertaining ideas than you could write in a lifetime!

(As for me, I write romance and don't deviate from that, so I have one pen name. All of my published titles are historical romance but I no longer write in that subgenre. I only write elven romance now. )

I just use my name across all, but not published anyway. I would say my stories are so far all written in a historical context, even the fantasy ones. Curious to know more about your books?!

 

[Prince of Spires]

I think it's also a genre thing. For Romance, the subgenres are odly specific, and apparently readers very much stick to those subgenres. What I mean is that MM Shapeshifter Werewolf Romance is a legitimate genre. And it's percieved as very different by readers from other Romance genres. This is much less the case in Fantasy. You have Epic Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. Those are the big ones. A few smaller ones are things Steampunk. But even something like Sword & Sorcery is often just lumped into Epic Fantasy.

But the distinction is nowhere near as strict as in Romance. Which means it's much less important to differentiate your writing between the different subgenres.

 

[Gurkhal]

I've tried to write in the same world as a way to develop that world through stories.

 

[Finchbearer]

Have any of you set your stories in our world?

 

[Gurkhal]

Have any of you set your stories in our world?

Yes, in my early writting I wrote several short fiction stories, about a A4 in length, set in our world. And more recently wrote, and then deleted, a story called "Dog Soldier" which was set in Manchuria in 1904.

But for different reasons I have ditched writing historical fiction in favor of fantasy with a very low magical content.

 

[Finchbearer]

But for different reasons I have ditched writing historical fiction in favor of fantasy with a very low magical content.

Oh interesting, I love both history and fantasy, so it is the obvious choice of direction for me, but it takes a LOT of research to write convincing historical fiction, so I have written historical fantasy fiction with as you describe a low magical content. But I am delving into what could be described as epic fantasy, saga like, but no other races other than human unless you count mythical beasts and ancient Gods…which is more inspired by history.

 

[BJ Swabb]

So far what I have written have taken place in two different worlds due to the two different styles of fantasy. My first world is all about superheroes so they have their own world, and my actual book series I am currently writing takes place in a fantasy medieval world of magic, mythical creatures and knights.

 

[Finchbearer]

I think it's also a genre thing. For Romance, the subgenres are odly specific, and apparently readers very much stick to those subgenres. What I mean is that MM Shapeshifter Werewolf Romance is a legitimate genre. And it's percieved as very different by readers from other Romance genres. This is much less the case in Fantasy. You have Epic Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. Those are the big ones. A few smaller ones are things Steampunk. But even something like Sword & Sorcery is often just lumped into Epic Fantasy.

But the distinction is nowhere near as strict as in Romance. Which means it's much less important to differentiate your writing between the different subgenres.

I always have a love interest subplot within my stories but I could not call my genre romance. And romance is a fickle genre with many getting romance confused with erotica.

I once read a Reddit thread (as you do) with someone explaining how they earned £90,000 over three years writing ‘romance’. Well they managed to earn money because they were writing mucky novels! They are always going to sell. Not my thing at all. I’ll write what I love at the risk of not making my writing a success commercially.

 

[Gurkhal]

Oh interesting, I love both history and fantasy, so it is the obvious choice of direction for me, but it takes a LOT of research to write convincing historical fiction, so I have written historical fantasy fiction with as you describe a low magical content. But I am delving into what could be described as epic fantasy, saga like, but no other races other than human unless you count mythical beasts and ancient Gods…which is more inspired by history.

Thanks!

I agree with the need for heavy research for writing historical fiction. But I also feel a love for both historical fiction and for fantasy.

Two of the reasons as to not write historical fiction for me is that I would get drowned in research and never get around to write the story. Just researching a fantasy story takes a lot of time before I can get around to write my story.

And then add to that I wouldn't like my story to get ditched because I was refering a footwear in south-western Scandinavia three years before its been archaeologically confirmed to have been used there. This is second is a hyperbole but I think you get my point.

 

[psychotick]

Hi Chessie2,

I have to disagree with you on the pen names. Best advice I can give is one name or one pen name period with only minor exceptions. The single exception (almost) is if you write completely contrary genres that readers will never accept from the same author. For example if you write children's stories and porn. Otherwise stick to the one.

The reason is simple. The best promotion you have for your work is your name. You do not want to dilute that promotion under any circumstances. So if you write say three books per year in three different genres and you use three different names, your readers, most of them at least, aren't going to realize you've written three books. You only get the value of having one name out there for readers to remember assuming most readers stick to the same genre. But if you use the one name and they search your name, some of them will say - "hey, I know that name and I liked that book. Maybe I'll try this one." I mean how many readers out there will see a romance by Stephen King and say - "it's not my thing but I'll try it this once!"

Cheers, Greg.