December 10-25, INSIGHT is FREE on Smashwords. I’m working to make it free on Amazon as well, but Smashwords has files for all e-readers. (mobi = Kindle, ePUB = Nook, etc) Enjoy, everyone and Happy Holidays!
Are you a creative individual who occasionally gets the doldrums about your talent? For purposes of this post, I’ll use writing as the creative outlet, but the doubts can easily be attributed to anyone who engages in a creative outlet. Artist, jewelry maker, (you name it) if you put your creativity on display, it’s subject to critique. Even if only you see it, you’re often your worst critic.
You know how it is. You’re writing along, maybe having a decent word output, then take a break to check out social media and run across a scathing review of your work. Or perhaps you open the mail and find yet another rejection for your latest submission. Ack! Questions creep into your thinking.
Am I not as good as I thought?
Am I not ready for publication?
Is my heroine really a bitch? Did I not tone her down enough? etc, etc.
All of a sudden you’re wondering if you’ll ever be a success at this. You’ve let doubts creep in. The doldrums have descended. Well Sean Ferrell has a terrific post titled “Pathetic email” that you need to read. He calls the symptoms “feeling small.” What a perfect description! Even though dark background/light type sites hurt my eyes, I read the entire post. (Highlight the words and it’s not so hard on us sensitive types.)
His post is fabulous enough (How could it not be with Piglet and Pooh mentioned?) that I’m going back to read it again.
Throughout my internet travels, I occasionally run across other writers who seem to have no problem chasing the latest sub-genre du jour. I’m not saying this is a bad thing. If they can write it with all the interest and passion they’d give their favorites then I applaud them, but I don’t understand it. I can’t see myself doing the same.
Yes, I write erotic romance and it’s popular, but I do so because it comes naturally to me. I usually like the romance I read to be hot, sometimes even hotter than I write. Even so, I have no desire, no inclination to write in the same sex, GLBT, shape-shifter or BDSM sub-genres any more than I do inspirational romance. Am I shooting myself in the foot, writing wise? Limiting my pool of readers? I don’t know. I just know that right now, those elements aren’t in my area of interest where writing is concerned. My efforts to write them would probably be as palatable as burnt toast.
I read more widely than I write. I like series romance, romantic suspense, short stories, and gritty whodunnits. Other favs are romantic comedy, some YA’s and a good western romance, whether contemporary or historical. Add in light paranormals, soft sci-fi and a smattering of urban fantasy (decay ?) to round out my most popular choices.
My fiction writing thus far consists of contemporary series romance, contemporary romance with soft sci-fi and light paranormal elements (my Crainesian works), and some American frontier type historicals. If I go paranormal, the stories feature extra sensory type gifts such as telepathic communication, kinetics, ghost seers, healers or perhaps the ability to control some form of nature’s elements.
Why am I writing about all this? I guess I’m hoping there are others out there with similar tastes to mine or whose tastes include some of my favorites. Sci-fi without interplanetary travel and freaky species. Paranormal without vamps or shape-shifters or zombies. Contemporary romance, but an alternate reality. Women on the American frontier who find sex to be more than their duty to a husband.
Anyone out there find those type stories of interest besides me? I know there are because my books continue to sell, so speak up. I don’t bite…much. 😉
CAROL BURNSIDE / ANNIE RAYBURN 