Well, I have had a perplexing week. If I had to pick out a word for this week, it would be “effort.” If I had to pick out a phrase for the past 7 days, this week could be summed up by saying “I won’t know until I try.”
I am still working on my sultry novella set in Jamaica, but I had to change directions a bit. When I began working on the story, which I am about 4,500 words into right now, or roughly half-way done writing, I had the goal of writing it for the sole purpose of submitting it to a certain e-book publisher known for their provocative prose. I just wanted to submit something to them to see what would happen, and in hopes I might reach a wider audience.
Since I’d experimented with writing a more sensual romance in my forthcoming release Love, Simplified, I thought I could write what is essentially erotica. I tried it. It didn’t work. But at least I took the leap. I am still going to finish the story, but on my terms.
I had a long talk with my husband earlier in the week and he basically told me I shouldn’t write something with the goal of making it fit someone else’s ideas. I take his advice about my writing to heart, as he is almost always my first beta reader. As soon as the words left his mouth, I realized how right my hubby was.
So, the short version of this somewhat long story is, I’ve wrote a few hundred words since Sunday, but I don’t consider the past few days a bust. I just think of it as a learning experience.
Amanda Bretz 
Sometimes there is a little voice inside of me that nags & talks to me when I try to write something that doesn’t feel right. I’ve learned to ALWAYS listen to it. You have a voice that is perfect just like it is. I’ve read your published books and enjoyed them. You write well, and I’m sure you could succeed in selling erotica books too. Whatever your decision, it has to come from the heart, and most important, whatever you write should be a reflection of you.
Thanks, Diane! That’s a lot of what Brandon told me, too. I’d rather write a book my way & sell less, than write “what sells” & feel like an imposter.
It sounds like you had a great “aha!” moment realizing that your best path is writing your stories your way and not to fit someone else’s ideas. That’s a great realization–congratulations!
Kim, well said! Thanks for the encouragement and cheers to aha moments :-).
Isn’t it funny how sometime you just need someone else to say something and you realise, that deep down, you’ve been thinking thw same, you just needed somone else to say it.
A few hundred words is better than none!
Thanks :-). And yes, sometimes all it takes is a little feedback!
Getting words out is always a good thing. Even if those words count towards “learning” and not towards “being published and making money” that’s still a good thing.
Thanks, AmyBeth :-).
Hi, Amanda – I’d like to nominate you for the Thought Provoking Blog Award. I hope you will accept. Please pop over to my blog and check out my latest entry.
Thanks Doug! 🙂