Meme: Themes. In writing.

[brightlotusmoon]

Question of the Day: If you're a writer, what are the themes in your writing? If you're not, what themes would you like to see explored more in your favored brand of fiction... or what are you sick of seeing?

Themes:
The paranormal, supernatural, and extraordinary in everyday life.
Contemporary fantasy, science fantasy, psychic protagonists. Suburban fantasy.

Sick of seeing:
Hardboiled, snarky, cocky, self-proclaimed tough chicks who whine and bitch about gender roles. Prime example: Anything by Laurell K. Hamilton.
I'd love to see soft, anxious, careful protagonists who slowly gain specific strengths without needing loud weapons, cocky attitudes, or snarky snarly quips. Or screaming sex (with any gender).
Also, oh for gods' sakes, enough with the vampires. Amendment: Enough with the hardboiled, snarky, cocky, self-proclaimed tough chick vampires who have loud weapons, cocky attitudes, and snarky snarly quips. And screaming sex with perfect males. I really want a vampire who has no clue what she is doing, who is scared and worried, and who spends most of a book without attitude or snark.

Adult urban fantasy has lost some of its appeal due to being so formulaic. Two exceptions so far are Seanan McGuire's October Daye series and CE Murphy's Walker Papers series, which both very quickly won my heart. Yes, Toby Daye and Joanne Walker are private detectives. But they are not "typical" of the above type. They are soft, anxious, cautious. They're sweet and scared and they sometimes don't know what the hell they're doing. They're not falling in love everywhere. They know how to protect and defend and fight but they don't shove it in your face. They make massive mistakes and get slapped down and they don't always learn well. They wonder who they are and what they're doing. They are awesome. Urban fantasy needs more characters like Toby and Joanne. I wish for them to one day meet and have lots of coffee.

Comments

[greenwillow27.livejournal.com]

I really want a vampire who has no clue what she is doing, who is scared and worried, and who spends most of a book without attitude or snark.

You are going to love Jonathan... when I get this thing published. And if it's okay with you that the lost, confused, sometimes whiny, a little too dependent, miserably unhappy vampire who finds himself on an unintentional Hero's Journey is a guy.

;o)

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Even better that it's a guy! Urban fantasy has apparently ignored the plight of the whiny, lost, miserable MALE protagonist for a while.

[lovefromgirl.livejournal.com]

*shyly* Can I pass your Toby praise to Seanan herself? From what I gather, she takes these things as great encouragement to write more, more, more. :-)

My current heroine is a divorced lady making her way in Edwardian times. She's very femme; in fact, only one character is especially brash, and she's a dressmaker who's been looking after her sister for years, so she's kind of had to develop a skin. My divorcée, though? Typist for an absent-minded professor, over whom she watches like a guardian angel/housekeeping goddess. I LOVE HER.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, absolutely! She's on my friends list, but I didn't think about actually showing this to her. Go ahead and do so!

I like your heroine!

[sidheblessed.livejournal.com]

This. Completely this.

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

Have you read Kat Richardson's "Greywalker" books? They definitely step outside the mold as well. And I assume you're already a Charles De Lint fan...

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

No, and HELLS YES.

I shall now look up Kat Richardson.

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

She's on lj, too: katatomic