Questioning (help request)

[JM]

Hey guys. Just going through one of those thoughtful moods at the moment and I'd like a little advice. Not sure if I'm just having a moodswing or some other random neurological spasm but writing this out usually helps and I trust you guys to at least be honest if not a complete ego boost (which you usually are).

Having a few self doubts towards my future so any help would be great.

NaNoWriMo was a complete faliure; although that was somewhat justified with the new work/love interest/location. The whole thing just got me wondering if I could actually get it together enough to write a complete book.
I've got 40,000 words of post-apocalyptic fiction that I started late in highschool (which I haven't touched since), honestly I have no idea if it is worth trying to finish it. Is there even a market for that stuff anymore? I love the genre with a passion (read Down to a Sunless Sea, it will make you scared to get on a plane for the rest of your life), the idea of trying to make it work just fills me with uncertainty.

The next little problem I've been considering is the lack of market for Cyberpunk. You were right about this, Marianne, the Sci-fi genre as a whole is tricky enough to sell but CP just seems to keep people away which is strange considering the sudden rise in Steampunk fame. Some of my stuff seems to be shifting to the surreal/mystery/darker genres, should I keep shifting till I find something that sells or just keep pushing what I love and hope to get Parrish type luck?

The last question is on whether or not it is possible to succeed in two completely different artistic mediums at once. I love photography the same way I love writing, they both focus on creating specultive ideals and can evoke similar responses but in regards to succeeding in either industry you need to go in completely different directions.
Is it worth trying to persue both or should I just pick one and run with it? And if so how do I choose when they both fill me with such energy?

Well it has helped just writing this out, this stuff would have just stuck in my head otherwise. Any advice you guys could give I would love.

Thanks guys.

IM

[Chirugal]

*hugs* Big questions, Jamie. And I so know how you feel, especially with the writing. I know I can technically do it, but I'm just not disciplined enough to research/plan/develop the universe I write in. Yet, anyway.

These are my opinions:

* Write what you love. Anything else won't come as easily, therefore it won't be as arresting, and publishers won't take as much notice. IMO, anyway.

* Play around with different genres/styles if you want to. There's no point in trying to stay formulaic/go with trends, cause it takes so long to get a novel into print that what's popular and flying off the shelves right now - mainly Stephanie Meyer and Dan Brown clones, as well as stuff about zombies, from what I can see - probably won't be by the time yours gets published.

* NaNo is unrealistic, if you ask me. Okay, yeah, it's possible to write 50,000 in 30 days, but that's assuming you have no social life, no commitments and possibly no job. Unless you're prepared to go without sleep for some of the time, you won't be able to meet the deadline. Don't get me wrong, it's great for people to try, and it can really jump-start you to work on a bigger project that could eventually be published. But I see it as more of a motivating tool than a goal to be attained Or Else. Don't beat yourself up about it.

* If something's written well enough, subject to the right publicity, it'll get attention and sell. I hope. *crosses fingers*

* I'm not sure about the writing vs photography thing... I can't see that it'd do any harm to pursue both for a while, and see if one of them takes off in a marketable way, but I don't have two conflicting interests, so I can't really comment. Hope you figure it out!

[stellar]

My partner has done NaNoWriMo twice and completed on target. If you don't see your other half for a month, that's where they are...

I started it as well, but fell flat. I went to MDP's talk at Supanova Perth this year and agree more with the approach that if you can just keep writing consistently despite the obstacles that life throws in your way, that is a better approach.

I went on a long holiday earlier on in the year with the intention of getting work done in the down time-hotel rooms and the like, but it never produced anything I would want to take credit on. End result-you are the person that needs to set his own timetable.

As far as producing something readable and sellable at the end of it is concerned, write about something you can be passionate about. Why produce something mediocre just because it is the in genre right now? God knows producing a novel is a slog, why not do something you are less likely to hate at then end of it.

My 2c worth.

[marianne]

I'm pretty much on the same page as Stellar and Chir. NaNo is great but not suitable for everyone. I couldn't do it - too many family commitments.

Re the photography/writing... pursue them both until one takes over you more than the over - you'll know when the time comes to make a choice. IMT anything creative stimulates anything creative, if you know what I mean....

Consistency is the key to writing. Don't try and write the perfect thing, just try and write a readable thing. Something engaging. That's all I do anyway.

Re cyberpunk: yes it's hard to sell - but if what you've written is engaging enough it will find a home.