Progress Report

Maryn · Dec 11, 2006

I forget if I even announced that I finished what I hope will be my final rewrite before marketing my WIP. I had four betas, three of whom praised version four but didn't have much specific input, just a few tweaks.

However, one beta had a lot to say on the first quarter of it. It stung a bit, but in looking at the work dispassionately, I had to agree. The whole thing needed an overhaul. I applied his suggestions to a total rewrite.

What's cool is that although I truly thought it was ready for sale at version four, version five is decidedly better. My super-beta is giving it a once-over just to be sure, but I expect that early in 2007 I'll be seeking a print publisher and starting a sequel. I haven't felt this good about my erotica in a long time.

So how is your current erotica coming along? Share any triumphs, challenges, problems, slumps, whatever's going on--maybe we can help. Even if we can't, we can sympathize and support while you work through it.

Maryn, who's going to the store--anybody need anything?

MargueriteMing · Dec 11, 2006

Congrats Maryn, it's cool when you know you've really improved your work. It's deeply satisfying.

I'm working on a rewrite of my first short story, which I posted in the erotica share your work. In some ways I'm having the same experience, my characters have gotten a lot more interesting by adding more interaction. The story has lost something though that I'm not happy about. The original had an element of voyerism and an internal tension to it as the protag wrestles between her recklessness and desires on the one hand and her professionalism and getting the job done on the other. I'm not sure I can keep both elements in the same story.

James Buchanan · Dec 11, 2006

I'm trying to crank out a novella by the end of january and another short. I keep getting stalled on my writing.

I have outline and research on what was going to be a hopi based submission for a fairy tale line up due jan 15... it's already bigger in scope then that so I'm headed for novella

about 4k into a cop novella, which is going a little supernatural, but hey. Part of a sub to Kensington - we all figure if it doesn't fly, our regular publishers will likely take them.

about 1/4 through the third novel in a series. The first comes out Feb, the second May, so I have to crack on this one too. Books 4-8 all have bits done and looks like I'll be working those as well.

And I need to do a cop short for another antho.

Then I've got book two and three of Nicky/Brandon also about 1/4 written each.

I think I may have too many irons in the fire.

MargueriteMing · Dec 11, 2006

Muse

The muse is out, I wrote 2 poems tonight and posted them to the critique board. Still stuck on my story, maybe it's a sign I'm going in the wrong direction.

HA! Someone liked my poem that took me 5 minutes to write! YAY! It's nice when lightning strikes from the heavens and you capture it.

veinglory · Dec 11, 2006

I got distracted from one werewolf novella to another. I was trying to write one of the very hot contemporary stories I think sell best. But as soon as I switched to semi-hot high fantasy I wrote 10,000 words, just in a day and half. It may be over angsty and cliched but it's what I like to write. So there, LOL

MargueriteMing · Dec 11, 2006

Got to go where the muse leads you.

veinglory · Dec 11, 2006

My muse obviously wants me to be poor.

LilaDubois · Dec 11, 2006

veinglory said:
My muse obviously wants me to be poor.

LOL. Your muse must hang out with my muse who is secretly evil and wants to make sure I never quit the day job for writing.

LilaDubois · Dec 11, 2006

I spent a lot of time obsessing over writing a 10k short for a free anthology. While not profitable it put me in an anthology with a lot of other authors who already have fan bases. My hope is that they will be enraptured by my story and wait breathlessly for my book to release in January.

It's fun to dream.

JulesJones · Dec 12, 2006

I'm going to finish this 61,000-words-and-counting novella today. I _am_ on the last chapter. I _will_ finish it today. I'd better, because I'm getting on a plane tomorrow.

MargueriteMing · Dec 12, 2006

Heehee, when I want to dream I buy a lottery ticket. Here's a tip, buy it early, it gives you more days to wait in anticipation and hope and dream, more bang for your buck!

Susan Gable · Dec 12, 2006

I just got my first erotica rejection for a 1200 word piece.

Susan G.

JulesJones · Dec 12, 2006

The first draft is finished, at 61,602 words. Now I can go and pack.

veinglory · Dec 13, 2006

To ad Susan, but you need a few rejections in every genre so you can tell your story of struggle and triumph later

Jules, I think you may be steadily outgrowing the 'novella' category LOL

Maryn · Dec 13, 2006

Susan Gable said:
I just got my first erotica rejection for a 1200 word piece.

Susan G.

I saw on HGTV how to wallpaper with any paper with ink that won't run. You're going to need a lot more!

If you don't mind saying--and we understand if you do--what sort of story was rejected and by whom? Did they give you any sense of why they didn't want it, or encouragement to try them again with something else? Because we know you can write, so the odds are that what you wrote was fine, just not what they sought.

Maryn, silver lining specialist

Susan Gable · Dec 14, 2006

Maryn said:
If you don't mind saying--and we understand if you do--what sort of story was rejected and by whom? Did they give you any sense of why they didn't want it, or encouragement to try them again with something else? Because we know you can write, so the odds are that what you wrote was fine, just not what they sought.

Well, they did say I could submit other stuff in the future, so they didn't say my writing was so bad I should go away and never darken their doorframe again.

I think I wasn't quite literary enough. I think my piece had more of a genre feel to it (big surprise there. <G>) than a literary, and while I wouldn't say this market was extremely literary, that's what I think might have been my main problem.

The big problem is I'm a genre writer. I'm not a literary writer. I don't think I can change that. So maybe that's not the right place for me to target. I honestly thought my story was better than some of what they had posted. <G> My tastes run differently than theirs, obviously. Nothing wrong with that. It's a question of finding the right target that works for me as a writer. That usually increases the odds of success. LOL.

Susan G.

Maryn · Dec 15, 2006

It does seem that tastes and preferences get in the way of marketability a lot in erotica. Reading the magazine or sampling the publisher's novels seems even more necessary than in other genres.

Otherwise, you run the risk of sending a magazine that has square-jawed heroes in forest clearings making passionate love to women nude but for cloaks your story about dwarves, rubber chickens, and trampolines.

Maryn, reminding you that trampoline safety means using a spotter

MargueriteMing · Dec 15, 2006

Hmm, speaking from experience dwarves are too short to spot, trust me on this.

Progress Report

Maryn

I Tried

MargueriteMing

James Buchanan

MargueriteMing

veinglory

volitare nequeo

MargueriteMing

veinglory

volitare nequeo

LilaDubois

LilaDubois

JulesJones

MargueriteMing

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

JulesJones

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Maryn

I Tried

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Maryn

I Tried

MargueriteMing