Am I the Asshole For Abandoning My First Love, Fantasy?
Hey there, howdy! Welcome back to another enormously entertaining episode of Am I the Literary Asshole?, an advice column that runs on Steel Reserve and Writer’s Tears. I’m your host, Kristen Arnett, and I’m about to head off to the
Dear friend, you have written in to seek guidance on a matter that has been weighing heavily on your mind. You once held a deep passion for the genre of fantasy, both as a reader and a writer. However, recently, that love has faded, leaving you adrift in unfamiliar literary waters. You have turned to contemporary and historical fiction, as well as memoirs and narrative nonfiction, finding solace in their prose and stories.
Yet, when you attempted to begin a new contemporary novel, your creativity seemed to wither, unable to produce anything worthwhile. You wonder if you should return to your roots in fantasy, despite your current lack of enthusiasm for it. I am here to offer you some advice. First and foremost, be gentle with yourself during this period of self-discovery.
Remember that as a writer, you are also a human being, and humans are constantly evolving and discovering new aspects of themselves. Dorothy Allison, a renowned author, once stated, "Change, when it comes, cracks everything open." This change that you are experiencing is a natural part of your growth as an artist. Instead of forcing yourself to create a new work that you believe should be a masterpiece, allow yourself to explore and experiment with new ideas and genres.
Embrace the uncertainty and allow your creativity to flow freely. In time, you will find the project that resonates with your newfound interests and passions.
Written by urgent.news from Literary Hub's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
