About a month ago, I was struggling with a new story.
Not that there’s anything strange about that. Some of them flow easily, some require lotsa painful effort, not unlike pulling teeth.
The interesting thing about this one was that I realized exactly why I was struggling early on:
This story did not want to be a romance. It absolutely REFUSED to be a romance. :shock:
It wanted to be an erotic horror story, with romantic elements.
And while there’s certainly nothing WRONG with such a story (I love writing different things), it wasn’t what I had planned for THIS story. :nonono:
I actually had to set it aside to work on a proposal—-but it did make me stop and wonder…
Did I intend to remain a romance writer? Is that what I wanted to be doing 5-10 years down the road? And if not, exactly WHAT??
So I’ll throw the question out to you, since most of the people who post here are authors, or soon-to-be…
Is what you’re writing now what you see yourself writing down the road? And if not—what?
If you would’ve asked me that question four years ago, I would’ve said without a doubt I’d be a romance writer to the end of my days. Now, that road is less certain. The stories that I’m writing have romance elements, but I’d never call them romance novels. They don’t have traditional HEA’s. The focus isn’t on the romance in the story. And the biggest shock of all…I like them more. :shock: You have to go with what moves you, not with what you ‘think’ you should be writing.
Jordan, sounds like the new direction you’re taking is being well-received.
I’d say you don’t have much to worry about.
What Jordan said sweets. No I don’t see myself writing in ten years what I’m writing now, but you probably already knew that LOL
I don’t know .
But I don’t think so.
I’m not writing romance now, but I’d like to someday.
LOL Raine! I’ll know soon enough.
lol. I just wrote a similar post about my wip. I thought it was a romance with fantasy elements, now it’s looking like a 50/50 proposition. But I *know* the middle part of the book is *supposed* to take a very erotic turn. I think.
I think I’m on my way to writing what I will be writing, (if that makes any sense). Not necessarily ‘fantasy’, just *different* Romance with (whatever combination suites the story).
Cece, in ten years I see you writing anything you damn well please.
May, you’re a baby.
You’ve got lots of time. :yesyesyes:
I think I’m just curious. A lot of romance writers go mainstream. Makes me wonder if it was a conscious decision early on, or a natural development in their writing…
Jaq—GMTA, lol!! :mrgreen:
I’ll be fascinated to see how your work turns out, Jaq. :razz:
Hell Raine, I just hope to have at least one book finished in 10 years.
I have WIPs in Sci-Fi, Mystery, Horror, General Fiction, and even a children’s story. That’s why I have different pen names lined up – I think a parent would be more inclined to pick up a book for their child if it wasn’t written by an erotica author. :grin:
I have so many stories bubbling up inside me that if something doesn’t happen soon I’ll burst and Cece will be able to see the mushroom cloud from her place. :shock:
Bailey, I feel ya.
But you’ll get them out. I have every confidence in you. :waving:
I think it’s natural progression.
I think part of it is that becoming a writer tends to make us spread our reader wings a bit more, and part of it is that sometimes we get bored with what we are writing. Keeping it fresh for a hundred books takes fortitude!
I think it’s natural progression…
May, I think you’re right, for the most part…
But I think some people actually start off in the ‘romance’ field thinking it will be an easy way into the business…
I’ve met some of those people.
I could only shake my head because I’ve read hundreds of romance novels, I could discuss trends, etc with you, and I haven’t yet been able to write one.
Then I ran from them.
May—lol!!!
If only it were so simple…