A lot of times we read, "this shouldn't be in a romance," or "a hero needs to be rich/CEO/duke," or "a publisher will never buy that story because of A, B, and C." Well, those are a bunch of requirements and if you so hapen to be a writer whose story has a "rulebreaker," your first reaction might be, I'm screwed because NYT bestselling author said that this is unbelievable.
Or you might be like me, who thinks I'll prove you wrong and writes the book anyway because I just knew I had something. If I had listened or believed that rock star heroes don't sell, I would never have written As You Wish.
Don't let the "rules" or naysayers stand in your way. Just trust yourself, your gut, and your story. And if you've broken the rules, spill.
Or you might be like me, who thinks I'll prove you wrong and writes the book anyway because I just knew I had something. If I had listened or believed that rock star heroes don't sell, I would never have written As You Wish.
Don't let the "rules" or naysayers stand in your way. Just trust yourself, your gut, and your story. And if you've broken the rules, spill.
18 comments:
Bravo to you, Tiffany! I often talk to new writers who talk to me about the rules. And I tell them the only rule is to write a fantastic story that an editor and then a reader can't put down. I think you're living proof of that, my friend!
Oh, yes, Anna. Remember back in the day (like about 5 years ago) there was this 'rule' you couldn't write about courtesan heroines???
Love the cartoon, btw!
Oh, Anna, this is Ely's post. But we vixens are known for breaking the writing rules :)
Breaking the rules scared me at first, cause I thought I just have to write this story, but it's so different that it might never sell.
It just goes to show me that you gotta go with your gut.
Ely, LOVE the cartoon!All I know (and you do too, because you were there from the beginning)is Paradise scared the crap out of me, and it sold.As a reader, I know I'm a bit tired of the usual fare, and I hope others are too. As Iris Brown, my madam in Paradise-soon-to-be-renamed says, "I daresay rules were meant to be broken, else I wouldn't have a business."
And wow! Both Anna Campbell and Christine Wells! The Vixens are honored! (I guess that would be honoured, right Kris and Tiff?)
The 'rules' are only guidelines to help until you can fly solo.
After that you should aim for the stars.
A rock star hero?!
I'm not reading that, unless he happens to be a beetle.
Though on second thoughts perhaps I might take a peep...the author is after all pretty special!
I think Aussies use the old Brit spellings too! LOL
Yes, very honoured! LOL
Break those rules, Ely. I trust your gut!
It's like you can hear the voices in my head, Ely. LOL! It's taken time, but I'm with you. I've heard all of those "This-will-never-sell-you-can't-write-about" rules. And everytime, the voice in my head would yell, "But it's good!" I'm just now finding the courage to let others hear that voice.
Write the story you want to write and to hell with the rest of it!
PS: That cartoon is priceless!
Whoops! Got my Vixens mixed up. I'm sure I came across from a mention of the post by Tiffany - I am a bear of little brain today, cleary ;-)
Hey, Brit spellings rule!
Actually, I used to be a good speller but I'm sort of caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment because of the translantic spellings!
LOL, sorry, Anna.... I just say Brit Spelling, only because Canada is still commonwealth... I think... Wait, are we? LOL I'm not so sure. We still have a Governer General, and pay taxes to the Queen... someone with better politics knowledge (Kris) help me out here! LOL
:) *g*
I turn of Canada speak in my writing, but not usually anywhere else. But the odd time my agent pulls out her ruler and says, HEY AMERICAN Spelling please. :) CAuse sometimes I just have no idea how a word might be spelt a la American. I see I'm rambling. LOL
Tiff, I know exactly what you mean. And yeah, Canada is still part of the Commonwealth! Hope you stay that way - I like the fellow feeling it engenders. Some American spelling still takes me by surprise - what about plow for plough?
Wow, both Anna and Christine...just awesome. And speaking of Christine Wells, I was lucky to win an ARC of WICKED LITTLE GAME and absolutely love it. Buy this book when it releases!
Tiff, what Anna wrote is so true---HB is a fantastic, rule-breaker book that kept me turning the page.
And no worries about the mix-up with the names.
Maggie, I remember begging to read Paradise, and you sent it with an email basically stating what you just wrote in the commnts. You were such a silly goose because I knew I would love it and I did.
Q, I hope if As You Wish is published that you do read it. I promise that my hero is not the atypical rock star; AYW is not about celebrity but about redemption, family, and the healing power of love. But, really, if it does get pubbed, I'll send you a copy. :)
Thanks, J.K.
Terri, I'm so with you. To hell with the naysayers. I know that when I went with my gut and embraced my voice that it's why I was able to write AYW. It's so hard to block out all the reasons why not; however, the reasons why to write AYW were so much stronger. AYW, in many ways, was a huge leap of faith. I hope to read your book one day!
Also, one of the reasons why Toni Blake's ONE RECKLESS SUMMER worked so well for me was the characters were normal people that you would come across in real life.
You Brits, Aussies, and Canadians with your special spelling. :P LOL
And so sorry about my typos and lateness in responding today!
Oh, boy, the spelling trips me up all the time. To the point where I don't know whether to write US spelling for my blogs or not and I probably vacillate between the two.
I have US spellcheck on my computer in case I forget but losing those 'u's is becoming second nature now.
Yep, Anna, I think Tiff has the posts feed to her fb page, which is where I jumped over from.
Ely, great post! And thanks for all the love on WICKED LITTLE GAME. I'm stoked that you enjoyed it so much.
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