tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37180398.post8366955191749738877..comments2024-02-12T02:28:12.317-05:00Comments on The Writers' Group: Writing Fiction and NonfictionLynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107479565926998943noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37180398.post-78866852286517254732008-03-02T22:47:00.000-05:002008-03-02T22:47:00.000-05:00What a great comment, Lynne, about pushing those b...What a great comment, Lynne, about pushing those boundaries every which way as a writer of whatever one chooses. The writers in your workshops are going to get a lot out of these discussions alone; what a great introduction to what really matters as one leads a literary life. K.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37180398.post-85329702897514326182008-02-28T12:01:00.000-05:002008-02-28T12:01:00.000-05:00Hallie,I couldn't agree more with your points, esp...Hallie,<BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree more with your points, especially since I write nonfiction and fiction. As for agents, I too have the same one for both. <BR/><BR/>Your comments validate my idea to use this conversation as a jumping off point for my workshop. Thanks for weighing in!<BR/><BR/>Anonymous,<BR/>I'm with you--it's all about the merit of the work. Boundaries are a wonderful thing, in say, parenting. But boundaries were made to be pushed when it comes to living a literary life!<BR/><BR/>LynneLynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11107479565926998943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37180398.post-85175649628962457232008-02-28T11:19:00.000-05:002008-02-28T11:19:00.000-05:00Having made the progression from non-fiction to fi...Having made the progression from non-fiction to fiction to creative non fiction, I'd say that the boundaries today are blurring more than ever, so that there is more flexibility for writers to mix up their genres without penalty, as long as the work itself has merit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37180398.post-31451818835582519822008-02-28T10:30:00.000-05:002008-02-28T10:30:00.000-05:00Oops...meant to add that my agent represents both ...Oops...meant to add that my agent represents both my fiction and my nonfiction. Not all do.<BR/>HallieHallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37180398.post-33521158128103060012008-02-28T10:28:00.000-05:002008-02-28T10:28:00.000-05:00Interesting and provocative statements... comments...Interesting and provocative statements... comments on two...<BR/><BR/>"Writing nonfiction and fiction are two completely different experiences; they can't be compared." Actually I think they can be compared and the comparison is useful. JUST FOR EXAMPLE, in lots of kinds of nonfiction writing, 'narrative voice' doesn't really factor in, and yet it's just about THE most important thing in making fiction work. Another observation: adverbs and adjectives are the essence of "telling" instead of "showing" in fiction, and generally best kept to a miinimum. In (certain kinds of) nonfiction, adverbs and adjectives are really useful in communicating complex ideas with a minimum of words.<BR/><BR/>And: "A writer limits the likelihood of success if he or she divides time between writing fiction and nonfiction." This is simply not true. And something else...nonfiction is MUCH EASIER TO SELL than fiction. Easier to publicize, too. Having said that, it is VERY difficult to make the leap from publishing genre fiction to publishing "literary" fiction. Lots of authors change their names in order to break through that particular glass wall.<BR/><BR/>Agents don't represent writers who choose to write in a different genre once signed for another.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.com