As I’ve become more serious about writing, I’ve started experimenting with new genres. I began with short stories and features and then ventured into flash fiction and I’m currently taking an online flash fiction course with Kathy Fish, a well-known flash fiction writer.
I only started blogging this year and although not a genre as such, it’s a wonderful way to practice different types of writing while providing the opportunity to connect with other like-minded people in the blogosphere.
I’m also halfway through a novel, which I’m going back to next week. This is probably the genre which most overwhelms me, partly because of the length, but also because structure is not my strong point and I must admit to feeling slightly apprehensive at the prospect of organising such a long story.
Another thing I’d love to have a go at writing is haiku. I very much enjoy reading them – love the brevity and the unwritten meaning behind the words, and having spent some time in Japan, the genre resonates with me. In the book, ‘Writing and Enjoying Haiku: a Hands-On Guide,’ by Jane Reichhold, the author aims to show how haiku can

bring a centred calming atmosphere into one’s life, by focusing on the outer realities of life instead of the nagging of the inner mind

I’m hoping that writing haiku will therefore have both a positive effect on my emotional well-being, while helping me to improve skills of subtlety and word choice when writing.