If 2014 was about learning, 2015 is about focus
I started out in publishing writing what I wanted to write.
I wrote fast paced, action-packed stories full of heart and readers responded
well. I didn’t hit a list or sell a million copies or anything, but GRAVITY and
HOVER did hit #1 in teen sci-fi on Amazon, which with series like the Hunger
Games and Divergent in the world, this was no easy feat! So, I saw some
successes. The problem was that I didn’t really know what I was doing. Ha! I
wrote with no knowledge of what worked or didn’t. I made mistakes, but I also
learned from them. Win!
2014 then became my year of learning. Learning how I write,
and what I do best. I now know my strengths are voice, dialogue, and emotion. I
tested myself, which is good. But I also made a decision to try to write the
way others write in 2014, and that title ended up being my worst selling book. Le
sigh. Still learning!
So, I now know I’m not a smexy scene writer. Sure, I write
romance and there is plenty of romance in my stories, but I can’t start with
the smexy. And I refuse to write simply for what sells. Again, back to my
strengths—emotion, heart. I love writing contemporary romance with Southern
settings, because I’m Southern and I love all the crazy quirks of the South In
fact, all my stories are set in the south—even GRAVITY. Bet you didn’t know
that! :)
I now know I write good fast paced, action-action stories.
And I love them! So I wrote another YA sci-fi, but this time I decided to
infuse a heavy helping of the romance I love. The heart! And now that I know
what I’m doing, know how to structure a story, the writing just flowed. It
became fun again!
So, for 2015, I’ve decided to do a few things
differently—learn from my 2014 successes and mistakes. I’m going to write what
I write and not worry about what anyone else is doing. This is the only way the
story will resonate, and it’s the only way I will truly enjoy what I’m doing.
I wrote 4-5 books in 2014. For 2015, I’m again slated to
write 4-5, but this time, I feel 100% confident in what I’m doing and what I’m
putting out there. I’m excited! And I even managed to add in a passion project
that I love so very much. Look for that title in October 2015 from Bliss. :)
So that’s me. 2015=Focusing on what I do and being okay with
how I do it. I’m anticipating a wonderful year, and hope the very same for you!
I feel so very blessed to be able to do what I love, and that is all thanks to
you!
Thank you for walking with me through this crazy world
called writing. It’s a heck of a lot more fun with all you beside me. :)
Happy New Year!
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