Rethinking Novels and Genres

There's a writing maxim that one should write what one knows. There's another that says that a writer should 'push the envelope' in terms of their writing. Well, I know relationships a whole lot better this year than last, and I've never written a 'relationship' novel. A few short stories, now that I think of it, but they're all in the weird fiction realm: Lazarus-like people, Jewish faeries, etc.

This year I'll go brave: fiction but no fantasy or science. Romance but nothing hard-core. 3rd person omnicient, but hovering around a single character. A book in seasons, with months as chapters. Flowers and plants play a key memetic and plot role. Characters. Love in non-conventional relationships, with committed and uncommitted partners.

I've been pretty coy about my novels in previous years. This time I will try and be more clear on some of the research details and angst of the writing process through the month. The coy factor will continue, as I'm writing this for publication (read: payment) and not just self-gratification. But the process is good to write about, and share, since I'm not alone this November, and anything I glean in the process should be shared.