The SECRET to Original Writing

A WORDSLINGER 10-SHOT What if the secret to original writing is to stop trying so hard to be original? Writers and creators often feel pressure to make everything completely unique—from book covers and story ideas to marketing and branding. But readers don’t necessarily want something they’ve never seen before. They’re often looking for something familiar enough to recognize, but different enough to feel fresh. In this Wordslinger 10-Shot, Kevin explores the idea of being “original within constraints”—using genre expectations, familiar storytelling structures, and creative boundaries as a framework for doing something uniquely your own. You’ll learn why making your book look too different from others in its genre can actually hurt its chances, why “same but different” is such a powerful principle for writers, and how creative constraints can lead to some of your most original work. If you’re a writer, creator, or creative entrepreneur trying to stand out without confusing or alienating your audience, this episode is for you. What constraints have actually made you more creative? Tell me in the comments. Subscribe to Wordslinger for practical, experience-driven guidance on writing, publishing, creativity, marketing, and building a sustainable career as a writer. Visit the Knovelton Bookshop at knoveltonbooks.com GET 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER AT CHECKOUT WITH CODE STORYCUTS TIMECODES: 00:00 Stop trying to be original 00:43 The problem with chasing originality 01:24 Why book covers shouldn’t be too different 02:13 Readers want “same but different” 03:13 Originality within constraints 03:49 Using genre expectations creatively 05:02 Experimenting inside the boundaries of genre 05:58 Science fiction, fantasy, and The Worthing Saga 08:00 What expectations are you trying to meet? 08:48 How constraints create originality 09:28 Why boundaries can make you more creative FIND KEVIN: Find Kevin and his books:https://kevintumlinson.com Join Kevin on Substack:https://kevintumlinson.substack.com Wordslinger Podcast home page:https://wordslingerpodcast.com SERVICES FOR AUTHORS: Polish your writing and make it ready for publishing with ProWriting Aid:https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 Publish your book to every major retailer online, get your book into print and ebook, and get support the whole way at Draft2Digital:https://draft2digital.com/wordslinger Find a virtual assistant to help you market your books (and more!) at AuthorAnchor:https://authoranchor.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.