OK, it’s time I realize that I am an erotica writer. I gave the romance thing a shot, and I do love those stories, but I’ve come to the recent conclusion that the erotica comes more natural to me. Maybe It’s because I’m single, and I’ve never been in love, therefore sometimes writing about love makes me feel lost. Maybe it’s because I think sex is a lot more common these days than love, and that people can learn a lot of very mportant things about each other through a sexual relationship.
Then again, maybe it’s just because I’m a bit of a pervert. 
Whatever the reason, I’ve decided to let myself go with it.
What brought this on? BOUND, the erotica novel that I’m in the middle of writing for Berkley. I’ve had a couple of cp’s and friends read it, and I got a lot of negative comments about the way Joe treats Katie. Part of me thought it might be because people were expecting a romance, and this is not a romance. I admit, I’m pretty anxious about this particular novel, for a couple reasons. One, it’s for Berkley, a publisher I’d really like to establish a solid career with. And two, it’s my first single title length. (Longer and more in depth than anythign I’ve ever written)
Two very good frineds, and fellow writers, Beth, and JJ gave me a dual butt kicking the other night. A much needed one. They told me, it was my story, the editor saw something in it they liked, and to follow the story in my head. I know this. I mean, we all know that we are the writers, that we create these characters and these stories. And that after we create them, we need to listen to them. We need to tell their story, and not force the story to fit what we think it should be. But somewhere along the way, I lost track of that, and then I started to loose track of the story.
Insecurity sucks! It’s a black hole.
I had an objective reader, someone who loves erotica and is familiar with it but isn’t a writer, read what I had so far. Her feedback was very valuable. It pinpointed one very valuable thing that was missing. A small thing, but a valuable thing. Thank you, Amber!
The funny thing is, what Amber noticed, was the same thing the others noticed, she just said it in a way that made it click right in my head. Now with a clear vision of what I need to do that blends with what I want to do, (and what Katie and Joe want), and the security that what I can do (from a loving butt kicking), I can move on.
So, for now, the insecurity is gone, and I’m gearing up to let the kinkiness go. Y’all like a little kink with a good story right? :P
Joe and Katie are the couple in SHIFT CHANGE , my short story in Black Lace’s Sex In The Office. I’m working on BOUND, their full story right now, so I thought I’d show you why I’m being a bit slack in my blogging. He’s very distracting.
