March 1, 2023
Emotional State: Straying from the Curve
Writing
I’m in a Paranormal Women’s Fiction writing group, and one of the members posted a comment that PWF is saturated. That comment sent me into a tizzy for a few days. If I can’t get my books out now, I’ll be behind the curve. I don’t see 300 books in the genre as saturated, but it made me realize something.
I’m the child chasing the tail. New technology, new genres, writing to market. Every time, I am one step behind. Well, not anymore.
And I don’t mean that I’m suddenly ahead of the curve. Nope. Instead, I’m not going to bother with the curve. I’m going to write what I want to write and the readers will be there (some day). All I’m doing by chasing my own tail is creating stress and waffling about what to do next.
So, this means that the urban fantasy series I planned to write this year may not get written, for a few reasons. The first is because I was too worried it’d be too similar to other products out there. The second is because I’m struggling to figure out the second and third books of a trilogy I’m supposed to get done this year.
Instead, I’m going to focus on writing what I want to – my cozy mysteries. At least I think that’s what I want to focus on.
I’m also finding myself a bit meh lately. Meh on books (can’t find a decent read to save my life), meh on writing (too much editing maybe), meh on life.
So today, I’m doing what I want to do. I’ve done a few necessary things, like marketing posts, uploading the final book materials for my launch in two weeks, and a work call, but I’m not forcing myself to write or edit or think about books.
Sometimes, you just have to give yourself a break. And so I am. But only for today. Tomorrow I’m throwing myself back into the grind.
Maybe.