Comfort zone

So, probably revisiting some old topics in this post, for which I'm sorry. Notoriously bad Short Term Memory. But this is me talking about my writing.

In particular, writing genres and styles. As a writer, you develop what JK Rowling calls your writing DNA. It was something Lennon and McCartney were aware of - no matter what name they released under, people would hear the Beatles. Whatever pseudonym Rowling writes with, you can tell it's Rowling.

My DNA is pretty simple to me. I prefer first-person, recently-past-tense. Emotional writing, exploring characters. YA Literary fiction. That's easy to me.

I've tried to stretch it before. I tried to apply for GMTV's erotica novel competition. First life lesson in writing - I can't write erotica.

And then I got into Supernatural fan fiction, and although a lot of what's out there is high school AU like my actual writing, I found myself sinking my teeth into other projects. Some of it was stick-to-what-you-know, exploring relationships, but it wasn't all tween.

And then I got talking to Cynthia, who I feel like I owe so much to. She normally does erotica, but was trying humorous stuff on the site. She has me almost crying with laughter. We were talking about the first romance-style story I'd written and other ideas we'd had - it happens. A lot, lol - and she said she often wants more from my work. So I tried one of my new ideas, and sent her what I'd written. Cynthia's a pretty awesome editor, she nudged me pretty hard without taking away from what I was writing or writing it for me, which is the kind of relationship you want with anyone beta-ing or editing your work. I pushed myself so hard with her suggestions. I still feel proud by what she got out of me.

And then I had yet another idea from something throw-away, as I do, and I wrote it down. It's … okay, it's my first attempt at complete smut. I'm not going to link it, you do your research and hunt it down if you're intrigued. Anyway, it's unbetaed, unedited, full of typos … but it's out there. And it's had more views in one day than my other pieces … but still not had many reviews.

On a site like that, reviews are so useful for growth. So now I'm wondering if it was good but I shouldn't have rushed to get it out (not because I don't care, but because … look, I don't feel good when I read that sort of thing through. Like, my eyes get funny, I can't concentrate, I get sleepy, it's weird. Editing was out of the question) or it was good but no one has anything more to say. It's frustrating! I'm so needy, lol, but while I'm not publishing properly, I would appreciate good feedback, you know? Good as in detailed, not necessarily positive.

Still, the exposure makes me wonder if, because it does take more effort for me, I have a talent at it that maybe I should pursue? I'm still doing the one Cynthia pushed me on, so we'll see how creative I can get at it before I even consider that. Because I am well out of my comfort zone writing stuff like this.

No wonder I'm struggling with my series!