I'm all for stretching my style and stepping outside my writer's comfort zone, but there's one genre I've never attempted (and want to): Steampunk. Steampunk, for those unfamiliar with the category, is a sub-genre of science fiction and speculative fiction, and is characterized by elements of fantasy. The style gained popularity in the 1980s, when sci fi writers played the 'What-if' game with these types of questions: What if we'd figured out how to explore space one hundred years earlier than we did, when steam power was prominent? What would Victorian Age spaceships look like? How would giant leaps in technology, if they occurred in the 19th century, have changed history?
The imagination needed to write successful Steampunk blows my mind.
My son enjoyed Larklight, by Philip Reeve so much that I told him I'd read it when he was finished, so we could discuss it 'book club-style.' At the time, I'd never heard of Steampunk. I was immediately captivated by the seemingly regular characters in such an unusual setting. It's about an English brother and sister duo, who live in a Victorian house that's actually a spaceship orbiting far beyond the moon. The story opens when a gentleman arrives for a visit, sparking a terrifying yet marvelous adventure that includes space pirates, giant spiders and a universe in peril. My son and I highly recommend it!One of these days, I'm going to try writing a Steampunk tale. It'll take some mind expanding I'm not sure I'm capable of, but who knows? Maybe the right inspiration will set off a muse-rattling explosion in my head.
In the meantime, I'll enjoy the imaginations of others already brave enough to imagine a Steampunk'd world (and maybe feel inspired!):
Artist Bob Fett has done some amazing series of Steampunk images. His historical artwork is equally impressive. For some Steampunk/Cyberpunk/Historical Fiction inspiration, view more of his work HERE.
And, maybe images like these (these are not the work of Fett, btw) will spark my imagination:
How about you? Have you tried Steampunk? Is there a genre way outside your comfort zone you'd like to attempt?
51 comments:
WAAAAAAY outside my comfort zone. But enjoy it. And I am obsessed with 'Bladerunner' - always have been, always will be. Mary McDonald is interviewing a guy that has written steampunk. You might want to have a look. She's in my followers, if she's not in yours :)
Wow, those are lovely pictures! I have tried steampunk, but I know I haven't got it quite right yet. That work is going on the back burner until I read more about it. It's such a cool subgenre. I think you should try it :)
I always wondered what Steampunk was! Now that I do, I would have to say it's outside of my comfort zone. I would never be able to write anything that creative.
~JD
Way out of my realm, as well. I'm way to, well anal, to be able to bend rules quite that much, lol. My "trapped inside the box" brain just doesn't go for it. Good for you for [thinking about] attempting it one day, though.
Thanks for that recommendation; it really, really sounds like something my son would love! Question: He's 8, is it okay for that age, do you think? (He is on the 4th Harry Potter, so reading level isn't an issue...just content.)
Steampunk sounds like so much fun! I've never read any of it but I've always been fascinated by it, so the recommendation is most welcome, thanks :)
I don't know if I could write it, though, I'd have to read some first.
Jessica~ Bladerunner rocks! Thanks for the heads up about Mary's post. I'll check it out!
Aubrie~ I'll bet you'd do a great job with Steampunk! Your sci-fi is fab, so I argue you have the imagination for it :))
Justine~ LOL, me either!
Tara~ My son read Larklight when he was 8 or 9. Your son will love it! And if he's reading at the Harry Potter level, he'll have no problem with Larklight.
Ellen~ I'm with you, I'd have to read much more of it before attempting it myself!
I LOVE reading steampunk. And watching it in film or even animation.
I think it would be a little beyond me to write in the genre - because I am very detail oriented and would not be comfortable making up technology if I couldn't explain it in a way that worked.
I'd love for you (or anyone for that matter) to try your hand at it though Nicole. I bet you'd write something great!
Today's guest blogger is Rachel Alpine!
I love those shoes!
I've dabbled in steampunk, but I don't really have the sensibility for it. Though I suppose the Butterfly's Poison world is pre-steampunk - you've got mad scientists, their inventions just aren't that whacky-futuristic yet.
I've always wanted to try to write a steampunk story, but I haven't gotten there yet. I do have a mystery that I'm working on set in the Victorian era, so I considered adding steampunk elements to it, but the mystery itself has little need of flying ships and such, so I think that sort of idea will have to wait. I do think it is good to try new genres, even if they are outside your comfort zone. I think it helps you grow as a writer. So, if you do write one, good luck!
I haven't turned Steampunk yet, but it's on my to-do list. I wouldn't really consider it outside of my comfort zone, though. One of my good friends is obsessed with steampunk; a lot of what she writes is in the genre, plus she's made a good many steampunk objects, like the ones you've shown.
I love to go on Etsy.com and look at the steampunk stuff!
Oh, and also Goodreads has an ongoing list of the best Steampunk novels; don't know if you've checked it out or not, but it's good!
I've heard of Steampunk but never really knew what it was - thanks, I learned something new today. I'd say that Steampunk would be way out of my comfort zone but I've always thought of writing a mystery/thriller. Perhaps one of these days.
Pullman's His Dark Materials series is technically steampunk also.
I can't come up with the plots or kewl gadgets that make this genre what it is. I'd only do steampunk with a co-author. My specialty is teen angst and fractured family relationships. :-)
I haven't tried steampunk yet but I'm getting very interested. I need to read a couple more books though!
I'm writing two YA novels that involve world building, and it's really difficult. Since machinery/technology is not my strongest skill, I may just have to enjoy reading steampunk, which I do.
I want to learn more about the genre, as I think it's about to explode. Still need to pick up Leviathan to read.
Oooh, you have sparked my imagination!! I've heard of steampunk for a long time, but never quite knew exactly what it was, thanks!
A little too out of my comfort zone but sounds very neat!!! Very intriguing! I'd love to hear how others handle it!!
Awesome pictures. I think steampunk would be cool to write. Go for it!
I've never tried steampunk, though I'd like to one day.
I have to say, those are the most kick-ass heels in the world.
Everytime I hear the word steam punk I get a mental image of one of those goth kids with the hair spikes and black lipstick holding a teapot as steam pours out of their ears. Weird I know. That's how my brain works. I've never tried steampunk and to tell the truth am a little intimidated by the genre. I think it takes more imagination than I possess or something.
Oh my. That Abe Lincoln poster is the awesomest thing since awesome was invented! I want. I can haz?
That said, I'm keen to try steampunk myself. It's just sooo cooooool!
And outside my comfort zone? Apparently MG writing is outside my comfort zone. I know. Surprising.
You are so cool, Nicole. I admire your courage and willingness to try new things. I enjoy steampunk. It intrigues me. Maybe I can muster a little courage of my own and give it a try. (On a very small scale and for my eyes only, of course.) Have a great weekend!
I've always been intrigued by steampunk, but I've never written anything in the genre (and probably won't until I'm a much more experienced writer.) A trend that I find interesting is taking something modern and "steampunking" it. There's a whole collection of figures of "Steampunk Star Wars", where the characters are modified based on a downgrade of technology. It's really neat!
I've never even heard of it. Interesting!
I enjoy reading steampunk and watching steampunk movies...
but writing it is WAY outside my comfort zone.
I can't write science fiction either. I just don't have that kind of imagination. I wish I did.
Awesome pix today! (those shoes are working for me!)
Happy Weekend,
Lola
I've never heard of Steampunk. You're blog is full of all kinds of new interesting ideas for me!
I write dark humor and would really like to write a historical novel about ancient Mayan culture. Now if I could just figure out a way to make that darkly funny...
Steampunk interests me as well. I like the artwork and costumes. I haven't read any steampunk yet but I do have Leviathan by Scott Westerfield and I'm planning on reading it soon. Don't know if I want to write though - maybe someday, but you go for it if you want to.
It's extremely far from my comfort zone, and I'm still trying to understand exactly what it is. People are fascinated by this aesthetic but it hasn't become coherent for me yet, what with all the gears and weird spaceships and goggles and such. It may take a little time :) Good for you for wanting to stretch your comfort zone and give it a try! You should go for it!
I like reading it. I'm not sure I'm creative enough to write it.
And I just checked my library for Larklight and they have it! Yay!
Wow, sounds interesting! Writing steampunk sounds like a great way to exercise the imagination. I may have to try it just for fun!
BTW, I love your blog design, Nicole! It's so clean, easy to navigate, and eye-catching!
Steampunk looks interesting but I can't see me writing it. Murder mystery seems to be it for me. I might like to try a murder mystery "cozy" some time.
I've never read steampunk by I'm wildly intrigued by it. I hope you try it :-)
It's been around since the 80's? Where have I been? Maybe I just wasn't familiar with the term. We Midwesterners are typically behind, but not that far. I don't think people around here call it that. A girl was reading a book that sounded a bit like this steampunk thing, but she hadn't heard of that term either. I can't write something I don't understand. But, I am willing to read it.
I enjoy Steampunk - I'm currently working on a YA steampunk mystery. It's not super technical - but if I keep writing it, I'll stretch my wings more the next time.
Steampunk is so far from my comfort zone I'm pretty sure it has a different area code.
Other genres I would consider beyond my level of coziness -- sci fi, fantasy, romance (well, maybe not romance) crime fiction, and paranormal anything.
I love steampunk!! I heard of it a few years ago (like, the only moment in my entire life that I was ahead of the trend, let me tell you) and I have loved it ever since. It's a BLAST to write, so if you ever do attempt to write a steampunk story, I bet you'll have lots of fun!
Thanks for the information! I've heard that term used quite a bit lately, but I wasn't sure what it meant. Wow. I agree it would take great imagination to write a steampunk novel. Have fun writing!
My interest in steampunk is recent, and I haven't read many books in the genre. However, I really love it. I even attempted to write it, once, but yes, the imagination required for it? I really don't have.
A genre outside of my comfort zone I'd like to attempt is sci-fi, perhaps; it'll be a step up in the hardcore sci-fi ladder from steampunk. :)
I've never tried my hand at Steampunk although I've been tempted, particularly when I see those juicy calls for submissions from the anthologies that are soliciting Steampunk. (I just can't resist those anthology markets). Maybe one of these days.
If you do give it a go, I'd be very curious to hear about your experience with it. It sure sounds like a challenge.
Love that you're trying it on for size! I haven't (yet), but I'm reading Westerfield's Leviathan right now and the genre is tempting me...
Love the photos - especially the shoe one. Too cool.
I've always wondered what exactly steampunk is but I was too lazy to research it, so thank you for the explanation! It's not really something I feel the urge to try, although it does sound really interesting.
I've never read steampunk but I have to try!
You have such a lovely blog, full of interesting stuff to read.
Hugs Marinela x x
No genres out of my comfort zone I'd LIKE to attempt, but many that I should. Actually, that's a lie. I'd like to conquer fantasy fiction (ergo, my Firt Page Blogfest entry).
Um, definitely want to read steampunk now. Especially after looking at those paintings! Right now I'm writing a YA sci-fi. At first, the transition from fantasy to sci-fi felt way outside my comfort zone. But now, I couldn't imagine writing in another genre. It's funny how our genres tend to choose us. :)
I know I've said this before but you really do have such a lovely blog.
I've never read steampunk but I need to! Thanks for this explanation.
Steampunk is the coolest name for a genre. I can't say I'll never try writing it, but you never know! Thanks for stopping by and following! I love your blog!
Steam punk is a really cool name for a genre! I was just talking about this at lunch on Friday with my writer friends.
I remember four years ago talking to a fourteen year old boy about writing a possible story with Abraham Lincoln, lazer guns, time travel, and dinosaurs. I told him to write it. Now I see the steam punk genre is becoming so popular and it makes me think of that kid, hoping he wrote that book.
Thanks for a great post that brought back some lovely memories.
Jai
I've always wondered what steampunk is - thank you for the very thorough explanation! I'm still in love with the genre I'm writing at the moment, but my genre-of-choice seems to evolve over time, so I'm sure I'll be wanting to try some other new and exciting genre in the future - trying new genres is good for the writing muscles, anyway.
i think the steampunk hat on my blog answers your question...
I'm so excited for you! Steampunk is awesome, straight up.
I wish I had the balls and an idea for steampunk because I loves it.
I'm excited for you!!!
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