Before I get on with the post, I have two announcements:
1. I’m having some comment issues. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS. I WILL SEE THEY ARE POSTED!
2. I’ve come to the reluctant conclusion that unless I’m willing to write extremely graphic erotica, i.e., m/m/m/f/f/m/m/m/f/BDSM/fem/dom/vampire/shifter/multi-hued aliens with pokey penile appendages/dripping females/menage/multiple/dog sex/butt plugs galore (not yours, Larry/Jill) - I’m doomed to forever languish in Romancelandia, invisible, at least in terms of sales rankings and, uh, yes, money. The realization, among other things, made for a very depressing day. I thank all the gods in all the heavens for my dear friend Penny over at Penny Romance. She made me laugh my ass off when I was really dragging. I got a sneak peek at her post - your turn!
I am, I was, I will be. He is, he was, he will be. We are, we were, we will be. That.
a. And Paul, walking behind Chani, felt that a vital moment had passed him, that he had missed an essential decision and was now caught up in his own myth. He knew he had seen this place before, experienced it in a fragment of a prescient dream on Caladan, but details of the place were being filled in now that he had not seen. He felt a new sense of wonder at the limits of his gift. It was as though he rode within the wave of time, sometimes in its trough, sometimes on a crest…
b. John Grady had never seen her. Perhaps a figure glimpsed passing along a hallway. He did not know that she was aware of his existence until a week after the girl returned to Mexico he was invited to come to the house in the evening to play chess. When he showed up at the kitchen dressed in the new shirt and canvas pants Maria was still washing the supper dishes.
c. There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled forever.
d. Her first order of business, she supposed, was to find somewhere to stay for the night. She had flown into Baton Rouge that morning, conducted the business she had, then rented a car and driven to Prescott. It was late afternoon, and she was tired.
e. It was not until I had withdrawn to my own chamber for the night, that I steadily reviewed the tale Mr. Rochester had told me. As he had said, there was probably nothing at all extraordinary in the substance of the narrative itself; a wealthy Englishman’s passion for a French dancer, and her treachery to him, were every-day matters enough, no doubt, in society; but there was something decidedly strange in the paroxysm of emotion which had suddenly seized him…
f. It was the night of the Ghost of the Susquehanna. The Ghost was a shriveled little old man with a paper satchel who claimed he was headed for “Canady.” He walked very fast, commanding me to follow, and he said there was a bridge up ahead we could cross. He was about sixty years old…
g. Will was not alone in his critical appraisal of the chess game’s unhappy consequences. Joanna knew how her father hated to lose. Lord de Braose would revel in his victory, she knew, and Papa would be in ill humor for the rest of the night. It was not fair. Papa was so disquieted, much in need of distraction.
h. Besides the normal questions and gossip, there was considerable talk of the coming Gathering that I had heard Old Alec mention at the paddock. I concluded that this was an occasion of some importance, and grew more convinced by the extent of the preparations for it.
a. Dune b. All the Pretty Horses c. A Tale of Two Cities d. After the Night e. Jane Eyre f. On the Road g. Here Be Dragons h. Outlander
Tomorrow…more!
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Geez, and here I wanted to give up the erotica! I guess if I want to make money I can’t. I can’t win. lol
Love it! Not a butt plug in sight, and plenty of naughty grammatical errors.
You’re not alone, trust me the ledge is filling with jumpers who refuse to strap one on and butt-f*@k the wicked hordes back to hell where they belong… (hey that’s a good F/F/M/M/M/M book idea!) lol
XXOO Kat
*sigh* I was so hoping my move away from erotica would just bring the readers flocking to my book. Yeeeeeeah, so not happening. And grammar? UGH! My scientific mind can’t wrap around all those rules. LOL!
Amber, Julia, girls, I say, damn the critics, write whatever makes you happy! *nods*
(no butt plugs for my characters yet, either-but never say never! *laughs*) In my own manuscripts, I’ve tried to “slay all passives” as I’ve come to fondly call it. But as a reader I don’t always notice the slips (shocked aren’t you?) or necessarily see it as a stronger way to say something, just different. But I’m southern and a little weird anyway, and I know for a fact I tend to talk in passives. Sometimes, no matter how much I rack my brain, it’s bloody hard to think of another way to phrase some passive line.
The sad thing is, you’re probably right Julia. At least when it comes to e-pubbing. There are some trends going on that just have me wondering “what the hell” With some of the genres, it doesn’t matter if all the reviews are horrible, because it has a certain ‘theme’ the books will sell. I love e-pubbing, but sometimes it seems very small, only certain types of books will sell. I have no experience of the bigger NY pubs, I can only speak from what I see in this business.
Hang in there, Julia. We have to believe that our audience is out there, and when enough readers finally find your books, you’ll see things turn around. It may take way longer than you want it to, but I think that the advice that’s out there to just keep writing good books and stories and publishing them is right. And you’re not alone.
Thank you, Anthea. Yesterday was a crap day for many reasons. Feeling like a failure was one of them. I know I’m not alone, just whiny.
Delilah - seems like everyone is trying to up the ante and outdo everyone else in grossness factor. Blech.
Julianne - butt plugs for all, I say! Frankly, what I want is a compelling story and damn good characters, no matter what genre I read.
You and me both, Nina…you and me both.
Oooh, Kat…those wicked hordes! Kind of like Genghis Khan ramming the gates!
Yes, all those dang classic writers, Penny!
Hey Amber - give it a shot, you may succeed! I’m in your corner!
Heh. I’ve been all the way around the circle and seem to be back at the beginning. Trust me, butt plugs don’t sell any better than not. I’ve concluded there is really no true formula for a best seller. I write what I write. If the characters are thrilled with a butt plug, then so be it. If they’re appalled at the very idea, then we leave that particular item in the drawer buried under the holey, faded underwear.
Every set of characters is different. Perhaps if we just write….just let our characters reveal who they are…then that will have to be enough. Real people are as varied as the stars in the sky. So are characters. Some are far more adventurous than others. Some require a variety of toys and partners. Most don’t. Or if they do, they prefer to keep that information private.
When the story moves along, I have a partnership with my characters. That’s the only way I know to write. I let them tell their story.
Anny, I agree and disagree. Readers are really going for shock value these days. The shockier, the better.
Julia - sorry you’re feeling discouraged about the genre thing. It can all be so frustrating. Just know there are plenty of us out here who think you’re great!
Dear Charlie, thank you so much. Your book comes to mind when I think of quality storytelling and romance writing.