Romantic Confusion

Okay, I have to admit it here and now – the whole genre/sub-genre/classification thing, that seems to predominate the romance sector of the literary world, is confusing me.

I thought I wrote romance.  Then I found out that what I write is termed ‘paranormal romance’ (cause I generally write about a variety of creatures you won’t find down the back of the couch).  Okay, seems simple enough you say (I hope you’re saying that or I’m going to look like a right idiot).

Yes it is simple.  However… here is just some of the rest of the menu: single title, category, erotica (which is not the same as erotic, which is different from sexy), contemporary, romantic suspense, romance with paranormal elements, paranormal with romantic elements, sci-fi with romantic elements, romance with fantasy elements or you can have a paranormal romantic sci-fi fantasy with other elements (possibly a small iguana named Ignatio).

I’ve had to ask (quietly, with much embarrassment) exactly what people were talking about when they’d mention something.  For e.g. I thought YA was something to do with a Village People revival (and being the abbreviation generation the middle two letters had been cut).  Steampunk completely confounded me – did it have something to do with an industrial laundry run by punks?  Single title – well, wouldn’t a book only have one title?  Did we have to give our work two?  Why hadn’t I heard of this?  What the heck is contemporary as opposed to urban – and can you have both?

Now I have a handy printout so that when someone mentions they’re writing an ST contemporary romance with paranormal elements aimed at the YA market, I actually know what they mean.

And, after much deliberation, I do believe I may be writing an erotic paranormal action romance with human elements.

Otherwise known as a book.

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Help! I’ve Lost My Hero…

I’ve written before on this blog about secondary characters taking over.  The first time it happened wasn’t so bad, as the hero and heroine weren’t interested in each other.

So I was rather grateful for my secondary character to step into the role of hero.  He’d been trying to take over the story anyway, so it was a simple case of substitution.  With the added bonus that my former hero suddenly emerged as a far more interesting character.

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Violent Romantics

Violence and romance just don’t mix.  (Disbelieving snort).  Of COURSE they do!  I’m sure the sceptics amongst you are pondering this question.  Until you remember all the romantic tales that involve violence.  Ah…hello!  Romeo and Juliet anybody?

I’ve been thinking about this one… Why does a story carry so much more emotional punch if there’s a fair bit of violence involved?  And I mean where the violence is not necessarily linked to one particular romantic relationship either.

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A Savage Tale

A while ago I mentioned an ms (manuscript) I was writing about vampires.  At the time it was the bane of my existence as the hero didn’t like the heroine and the best friend had the hots for her instead.

After having a tiny moment (1 hour) of screaming, swearing, denial and lying in a ball sobbing, I succumbed to the reality that I’d have to change the hero.  But that was just the start on this 130 k behemoth, I mean, manuscript.

So my vampires got shelved and I started a new story.

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Last Minute Love

What better way to inspire myself than to create a new category on my blog?  ‘Cause there’s only so much I can talk about sensuality, love and paranormal creatures.  Or writing for that matter (though I suspect a rant or two may slip into this category).

And dear God (or deity of your choice), I’ve promised myself I’ll write four blog entries a month.  Naturally I’ve not done anything and it’s the end of March.  This is following the great (and I believe worldwide) tradition of ‘Leaving Things ’til the Last Minute’.

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Sexy Sig Sauers

Despite the title, I prefer Glocks for my heroes.   A big broadsword never goes amiss and you can’t beat the old bow and arrow for a good clean kill.

What’s this got to do with sensuality?

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Epic Speed

Sometimes when you start to write a story you think it’s going to be short and sweet – but without realising it – the piece turns into an epic.  Suddenly you have the rising music and the sweeping story line, not to mention the secondary characters who start to demand their own tale be told.

As I mentioned in the last post, I’m currently writing about an angel.

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Split Paranalities

Am I a vampire, werewolf or angel this week?  Writing three books simultaneously can lead to that sort of existential confusion, but it sure beats the dreaded writer’s block!  And who doesn’t occasionally wonder what it would be like to be a paranormal creature?

To be entirely truthful, I’m editing one story, expanding a second and starting a third – because why not pile more on my already heaped writing platter?

Getting into the groove of a particular wip can be difficult – especially when you hit the wall creatively.

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