Erotica doesn't necessarily need a HEA. Erotica primarily needs a climax. (OK, that pun was intended.) Unless you're talking about the hybrid of romance and erotica, which is an area I haven't really gotten into. The erotica I write is some pretty . . . um. . . intense stuff.
I've done some Beta reading for some Romance/Erotica hybrids - hmm lol I can do the climax had some pretty good romance writers show me how to write a sex scene. I never did include the scenes in my final draft but skills learned have been useful for my fight scenes. I do know the gay men that have read the scenes I have written have really, really liked them keep asking me to write a dirty version of my book lol. (and they don't mean the first draft).
I agree. Sorry guys, but I have no interest in s-p books - simply because anyone (no matter how good or bad their writing) can pay to have their work published. If a book as gone through a reputable publisher then you can trust it has some merit. That is not to say that there are not some good well written s-p books out there - I just do not have the time or inkling to sort them out.
I find some of the most original creative stories I have read have been self published. One thing reading them has shown me is how much creativity is lost when editors and publishers have had their hands on books. I watch it happen in my chat room as they get they get the edits back. Some are not that bad, but some seriously change the strong original voice of the story and it goes back to being cookie cutter. My favourite self published author is Moriah Jovan - she is amazing. Her books have strong characters, great layers, symbolism etc and she is a well respected editor and ebook formatter. If I self publish I will be on her waiting list for ebook formatting and editing - paying for her service. Although these days getting her services can be harder than finding an agent. Mike Devlin's Smith is great worth a read. I am sure Drew Campbell is excellent but Amazon is out of stock and won't send me a copy lol I started reading self published books as a result of this site and now specifically look them out - they can be a tad rough sometimes but the stories have much stronger voices and originality. I have already taken the decision that I would rather self publish than compromise certain aspects of my work.
If the editor/publisher wants you to compromise your work, you merely found the wrong publisher; keep looking and you will find the 'right' one.
Or I can get someone to edit it for me, format it properly, self publish and have total control. Having spoken to a friend who is an editor for a major publishers and several well published authors there are aspects to one of my books I may struggle to get published. It will probably be suggested strongly I change. Having decided not to change it - I have a business plan worked out for self publishing. I am going to give myself two years to get something published if that doesn't happen I am going it alone
What I write is compliance standards and technical requirements for a manufacturing company. It is quite uninteresting to most but I like it. It's a good feeling to know that the words I write keep the company I work for in compliance with state and federal requirements as well as keeping customers happy. The money is good and it pays the bills. My dream job? No way. What I want to write? No way. What I aspired to become 30 years ago when I was young and thought you really could get anything you wanted? No way. Which is why now I write fiction and am trying to stay serious about it. I was much better at it four years ago, before I sacrificed it for a relationship that went sour. Another "if I had known then what I know now" story. There are so many aspects to writing that are difficult. I thought fiction would be easy but it isn't. It's almost comparable to raising a child - exhausing, guilt-ridden, joyous, tedious, disheartening, enchanting, tiresome, and one of the best learning experiences so far. Out of all the things I can do well I hope writing is what I am supposed to do. To me, making a living means doing what you have to do to pay for your life. Having a career is what you have when you completely provide for yourself, by yourself. My guess is that is everyone's dream, and some have had the life opportunities to already be there of which I am envious. But we all get more than one dream, more than one chance I hope, and this time I'm taking it.
thanks for the info, nh... i hope you get to have that career as a fiction writer someday... romantic rose... do you have website that helps sell your work?... if so, care to share it with us, so we can see what an effective one looks like? hugs, m
I read a few months back that Seth Godin was no longer going to use paper backs for new books as digital is the future.
