Years ago my reading habits might have been best described as predictable. Certain authors within certain genres lined my bookshelves. I knew what I liked and I clung to it pretty tightly. There were times I deviated from the norm but they were rare and rather unimpressive.
My habits slowly began to change with the advent of Amazon’s Kindle. Suddenly it became easier to take chances. Reading samples or even free downloads allowed me to take more risks with authors and subjects I might have skipped right over in the past.
When I started writing I knew without question it would be contemporary romance. At the time it was what I read almost exclusively. When my reading tastes changed I tried to convert that to my writing, too. After all tons of authors successfully write and sell in different genres. The past few months I let my writing take a different direction. After a solid start things started to slip. My desire and discipline began to wane. I tried to push myself to soldier on and complete two works-in-progress that I started in the fall. Now I’m stepping back. Last week I put them in my ‘on hold’ file. I’ve never done that at this stage before. It wasn’t easy but I know it was right, for now at least.
Tuesday night while I was on the treadmill the song Home by Phillip Phillips popped up on my playlist. You probably know the lyrics because it’s hard to turn on the radio and not hear them. If you get lost, you can always be found. I’m taking these words to heart because I think they’re true. Yesterday I wrote the first chapter of a contemporary romance with a sports theme that’s been percolating in my brain since Christmas. Suddenly I know my way again and it feels good.
About Rita Oberlies
Great post, Rita! I’ve also found lately that writing can turn difficult when your mind shifts a bit to something new, but you’re still working on things you planned before. Not because the books are bad, but because your focus has moved. I’m glad that you’re giving the contemporary with the sport theme a try, sounds like a lot of fun!
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Rita Oberlies Reply:
January 18th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Thanks Tiffany! I’m really hoping I keep my focus this time. Incomplete stories stay with me longer than I would like:-)
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Hi! Great post!
I’ve been going back and playing with one of my first incomplete stories for years. Sigh. I really need to just let it go, but I still think one day, I’ll figure out how to fix it and it will be great. Right now I’m reading heavily in mystery and thrillers but trying to write contemporary romance. My focus keeps shifting off the romance and onto adding a suspense thread. I know some writers don’t want to read too much in the genre they are currently writing for fear of unconscious bleed over, but I think for me that may be the way I need to go. Go back to reading mostly contemporary romance so I can keep the focus, feel of a contemporary romance while writing that first draft.
Good luck with your new contemporary!
Kim
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RIta Oberlies Reply:
January 21st, 2013 at 7:05 am
Letting go is so hard. I’m glad I’m not the only one that struggles with it. I’m actually doing what you said…limiting my reading to contemporary romance for now. Hopefully it will help me keep my head straight:-)
Rita
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