When did you last find something really sexy...

As I just ranted about over at EREC, I write what interests me to write. Until I learn to write het I'm not going to be making a living at this anyway, and I've got the royalty statements for ten books to prove that entertaining myself seems to entertain other people as well.

However, I *do* cruise the "submissions wanted", because I find they can be useful inspiration in themselves. And I went through a period last year of at least thinking about everything that showed up at ERA, essentially as a writing exercise. Must get back into that again.

Excellent question.

I must be Veinglory's mirror image, b/c I can't write in the categories that sell, and can only write what I, myself, would enjoy reading.

I've done what Jules said, too, trolling for calls for submission and sometimes having fun ideas that I wanted to write, except that when I wrote them, it was clear they weren't right for the market that was asking for the submission. Actually, that's what happened with the short story, Chocolate Widow, that's running at Ruthiesclub.com this week, except the experience has a happy ending, b/c while I'm still convinced it wasn't right for the anthology that inspired it, I did find a different market where it was right.

But I do think it's a perennial chicken-and-egg (or market-and-story) question: do we write to market or do we write what we have to write and then hope to find a market for it? It's not quite that black and white, b/c we can keep certain guidelines (word count, tone, etc.) in mind as we write.

JD

I wrote a short story that I was planning for a specific market, but it came out over 300 words too long, so now I"m looking for something else. But only the length was what made me think of the market; the plot is something that I find intriguing.

veinglory said:

... and use it in your writing? I get this feeling I am too quick to write in the categories that easily sell--not exploring what I really think is hot. And isn't that the real source of inspiration?

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I discovered the feeldoe a few months back, and quickly added it to my WIP. It's the ultimate kink-neutral role-reversal toy.

More recently, I found the perfect 1920s flapper image and was driven to knock out a vignette for it and post it on my blog.

I write whatever I feel like writing. I'd have better sales if I wrote towards a specific market or category. Fortunately for me, 3somes are hot right now, and I like 3somes.

I usually start writing with a certain market in mind then it twists into something completely different. Thats what happens when you have a warped imagination. Oh and to answer your question last week.

veinglory said:

... and use it in your writing? I get this feeling I am too quick to write in the categories that easily sell--not exploring what I really think is hot. And isn't that the real source of inspiration?

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The last time I used something I thought was really sexy in a piece, was in the piece I presently have posted at Erotica-SYW. When I first heard of the famed '69 position', I admit I was highly aroused by the idea.

So I guess I'm the type who writes whatever I find to be exciting. Whatever I personally would enjoy reading, is usually what I also write. I know some people think it an unprofessional attitude, but honestly if I'm going to make money writing, I think I should be writing something I find enjoyable to read.

And for some reason, Oral never seems to get old with me.

KimJo said:

I wrote a short story that I was planning for a specific market, but it came out over 300 words too long, so now I"m looking for something else. But only the length was what made me think of the market; the plot is something that I find intriguing.

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KimJo, 300 words is so little that if you'd really prefer it for the market you originally had in mind, I'm sure we can find 300 words to trim. (Have you tried getting rid of 'the'? )

Post it at SYW (and remind us here that you have) if you want our help with a little snipping.

Maryn, glad to help

Maryn, thanks. I'd like to do that, I just have to remember to get the password for SYW... which I think I'll PM Veinglory about now. I've read it over several times and so has my beta (who's also a writer), and neither of us could find anything to trim, but I'm sure people here could.

KimJo, appreciating it

When did you last find something really sexy...

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30 seconds ago.

when i looked in the mirror.


BADUMP





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