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.
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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:
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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
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https://authoranchor.com
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