Now that I'm a published romance author, with two books accepted and hard at work on the third, there seem to be a few misconceptions I need to clear up. Mostly, these are misconceptions of acquaintances, neighbors, and various assorted other folk. List style because it's easier:
1. No, I am not rich. No, my husband won't be retiring from his job. No, we aren't moving to a mansion. I know Castle (on ABC) is fun, and that he's a wealthy writer type following the PI around, and I know that Stephanie Meyer and J.K. Rowling probably never have to lift a hand to do dishes again a day in their lives. My reality is a bit different.
2. Okay, now go to the bookstore and tell me what you see. I'll wait……..yes, TONS of books. Do you know who any of those authors are, or do you just know Meyer, Rowling, and Stephen King? Most writers are not wealthy. Please drop this misconception NOW.
3. Yes, I write romance. No, this does not mean I wear a feather boa, or crank up the whips and chains when I want to do a little research. I have written romantic suspense too — do you think I researched murders by committing them?
4. I love my husband. I am not thinking about trading him in on a cabana boy, no matter how much I might joke about it.
5. I am not famous.
6. Yes, I have a literary agent. No, I can't ask her to read your work just because you know my second cousin.
7. Same goes for my editor. I'll tell you what I know, I'll tell you how I got to this point, but I can't give you the secret handshake because there isn't one. Or, if there is, nobody bothered to tell me.
Why do people believe these things? Wish I knew. And I'm sure I'll have to deal with a few more misconceptions as time goes by…..
What misconceptions have you encountered as a writer? Or even as a reader of romance novels? You know the ones — those books are fluff, that's not literature, how can you read that junk, etc… And what would YOU tell those clueless folks if you could?
Wait, so that was the CAT you were talking about trading in, not your husband! Oh!
And don’t worry about #3. I won’t tell anyone where the bodies are burried. 😉
Thanks. You can always count on a priest for discretion. 🙂
Oh, I wasn’t supposed to say anything about that?
I’d better be careful, I could end up as a character in a future book. *gulp*
Can I be cheeky and add “strangers who ask me for a free book?” I’m not talking about the ones I give away on the blog or anything, I’m talking about “Hey, you wrote a book? I don’t read those, but can I have one? And one for my sister too?”
Umm, see Lynn’s points #1 and #2. My kid’s gonna need braces and a college education.
(And thanks, Lynn, for buying the book, even though you’d read it before!)
Oh yes, I forgot this one! I don’t get it as much as you do, I’m sure, because the book’s not out. But I have had people ask me if I’m going to give them a book. Uh, no. I’m giving them away to my readers on this blog, and at events, etc. But not to random strangers who don’t actually read romance in the first place!
Lynn… I plan to buy your book and then send it to you for a signature… Yep… It will have a place beside my “Beowulf”
😀
So far my biggie has been that people think having a manuscript requested by an editor automatically equals a sale. They want to know when and where they can buy my book. Wel, er… she has to buy it first.
And don’t worry, the trade-in details are safe with me. 😉
Oh yes, I remember that too. I stopped telling people after a while. In fact, I stopped talking about writing all together. I got really tired of the well meaning, but excruciating to me, comment: “Hear anything on your book?” 😕
LOL, thanks for keeping the plan secret. 😉
I hear a lot about writers who have trouble getting to the chair and putting their hands on the keyboard. I am reluctant to confess that I have the opposite problem. That’s all I want to do, especially in the first draft stage, where everything is whirling around in my head and I need to get it on paper. Now! Before I forget! That’s the stage I am in now and this is not always a good thing. I need to dust, clean the bathroom, and go to the bank because I do not have one penny of cash in my wallet. On the other hand, who cares? It’s not like I’m going anywhere to spend money, at least not willingly. Who needs toilet paper? Right now, there is a moving truck wheeling its way toward me with a whole load of furniture I inherited. I have about five million things to do to get ready for it. But my hero just whispered something in my ear.
Hi, Jean! Well, I do wish I had your enthusiasm to sit down and write. But it’s hard going lately, and I think that’s because the story is so deeply emotional that taking myself into those places bothers me a bit. I think it’s absolutely cool you have the opposite problem! Hey, your hubby can buy toilet paper. He can go to the bank too. 😉
Several of my family members asked me this after learning about my GH final, “So you’re FINALLY gonna sell a book?” 😆 Nope.
Sigh, there it is in a nutshell. Unfortunately, when you don’t write, you don’t understand how this works. I was the queen of low expectations — for my family, I mean. I always told them about the people who wrote for 20 years before selling, etc, and hoped they’d take the hint. 😉
I haven’t really had anyone say anything about me reading romance novels.
That’s fabulous, Nicole! Who needs that anyway? I’m glad no one bothers you about your reading choices! Yay!
I’ve had people (some really close friends who read nothing, romance or any other genre, believe me , they’re just not book people) question my decision to give up my job and write full time.
They think I did this on a whim. They don’t know and don’t want to know how much energy and time I put into this. I think one of them is even embarrassed by the whole thing, because her husband mentioned my writing blog once, and she said she likes to not learn about such stuff (What Such Stuff?) because her impressions of people change.
What the h*** does that even mean? How can you judge someone w/o knowing what they’re talking about? 😈
The sad part is she’s absolutely wonderful person in every other walk of life. 😕
So, I stopped to talking to most people about my writing although it makes me feel like they don’t really know me at all. 😥
Sorry for the rant.
Oh Sri, hugs. You just can’t let what other people think change your path for you. The moment you sell, they will suddenly see you as legitimate. I say this from experience.
Hang in there! And no apologies allowed. Your rant is quite appropriate!
Eventually you’ll find some like-minded people… it just takes time. (hugs)
I have met my best writing friends when we had some literary classes in college.
Yours, Cyn
Mark, hmm, I could probably think of something for you in a book……
Still think YOU need to write the steamy seminary novel. 😉
Oh, boy, I’d better behave.
Yeah, right. I’m more likely to write the steamy starship novel where things blow up… Literally.
There is a market for steamy starship novels. 😉
Me, published. That’ll be the day.
It could happen. 🙂
Hello, this is God speaking…You should start researching romantic scenes with your husband.…(active participation only)
….pay no attention to the man behind the curtain… 😉
You are ridiculous. Soon, I shall have to ban you. 😈
Hey… I’ve been your friend for years 🙄 and you still aren’t going to introduce me to your literary agent. LOL
Ooops just another one to add to your collection.
I am so happy for you.
Cyn
LOL! But my agent would be all wrong for you. You write different stuff than she represents. Have you tried Agent Query? I honestly don’t know a darn thing about agents outside of romance. If I did, I’d tell you what I know. 🙂