Anyone who's read my bio knows that I'm a dreamer. I usually get my stories from my unusual dreams. Because my dreams are unusual, all my stories are paranormal. Funny thing happened at work today. I got a whole story from a day dream. And it wasn't paranormal. It was erotic. There was a story there. But I don't write erotic romance. My brain kept replaying the sentence over and over in my head. The story wouldn't go away. Let me start from the beginning.
I was at my computer, bored stiff, waiting for the next patient to show up. My mind started to drift. There was a woman sitting at a bar, tying one on. She was clearly agitated about something. A man she obviously knew sat next to her, worried she was going to try to drive home, so he offered to drive her. Once he got her there, one thing led to another, and the rest is history.
Now, I know I left a lot out. But, once I went to lunch, I got out the small notebook I keep in my
purse and spent the whole hour writing a rough draft. By the end of my lunch hour, I knew why she was upset, and what her relationship was with the man at the bar. I also knew her name. Kamala. What a weird name. But that's what the man in the daydream kept calling her. In the story, he's going to call her Kammi for short. Strange, but I don't know his name yet. I've changed it four times. None of the names fit him.
I have to admit, this idea is scary and exciting at the same time. I've never written anything like it before. I'm wondering if I can pull it off. Are there any erotic romance writers out there who can give me some advice? Where did you get your first idea? Were you worried you couldn't pull it off. How about all you other writers? Have you ever tried to write outside your genre? Would you even try?
I was at my computer, bored stiff, waiting for the next patient to show up. My mind started to drift. There was a woman sitting at a bar, tying one on. She was clearly agitated about something. A man she obviously knew sat next to her, worried she was going to try to drive home, so he offered to drive her. Once he got her there, one thing led to another, and the rest is history.
Now, I know I left a lot out. But, once I went to lunch, I got out the small notebook I keep in my
purse and spent the whole hour writing a rough draft. By the end of my lunch hour, I knew why she was upset, and what her relationship was with the man at the bar. I also knew her name. Kamala. What a weird name. But that's what the man in the daydream kept calling her. In the story, he's going to call her Kammi for short. Strange, but I don't know his name yet. I've changed it four times. None of the names fit him.
I have to admit, this idea is scary and exciting at the same time. I've never written anything like it before. I'm wondering if I can pull it off. Are there any erotic romance writers out there who can give me some advice? Where did you get your first idea? Were you worried you couldn't pull it off. How about all you other writers? Have you ever tried to write outside your genre? Would you even try?
holy cow, Shawn, hot pic! I say go for it...if the story presented itself to you, there must be something to it. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat Kristi says! I agree wholeheartedly. If it is calling you that strongly, then go for it. And there seems to be a huge market for erotica.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Shawn--pic and all.
ReplyDeleteGo for it! You'd never written paranormal until a couple of years ago,right?
BTW, Kamala seems pretty normal for you. I think it's pretty.
I follow Roni Loren's "Fiction Groupie" blog and she writes Erotica. It's a great writing blog, so you might check her archives and see if you can find something.
Enjoy the ride--and research--
Hi, Shawn.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who writes erotic romance/erotica (the latter under a pen name), I'd recommend you consider a workshop or two in erotic writing.
Secondly, read a bunch of erotic romance to get a handle on the heat level/plots. Quite a few publishers out there specializing in that kind of book.
Erotic/erotica blogs with short stories can also help. Check out everythingerotic.blogspot.com.
You can get most stuff online and/or Kindle (or other ebook) if you don't want it laying around your desk.
Good luck-- I think you'll enjoy branching out!
Cheers, Kelly
Kristi, D'Ann, and Margie, thanks for the encouragement! And Margie, you're right, if I think about the names I've hung on my other heroines, Kamala is normal :)
ReplyDeleteKelly, I've read quite a bit of erotic romance, but I know a workshop couldn't hurt. Definitely going to look into it! Thanks for the advice. This is probably going to be a wild ride.
Sounds as though your muse is not only present, but hitting you over the head! Follow her! :-)
ReplyDelete