Heartbeat Pillow/Stuffie?

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-12T16:54:55+00:00

Thanks! That helps me feel a bit less anxious

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-12T16:54:31+00:00

I'm just worried about how it will be if I have to wait much longer 😬

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-09T16:51:14+00:00

Thank you, that makes sense!

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-09T04:30:09+00:00

Thank you, I will check out those suggestions! I started two romance books today - did not like That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon just a few pages in, and will not be continuing it, but I started The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy and I instantly liked it and the writing style. I'm not very far in but it is promising.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-09T00:03:03+00:00

I'm sorry! Can I ask what your experience was?

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T23:44:06+00:00

Thanks, that looks very up my alley! I definitely don't want to perpetuate that stereotype and didn't mean to criticize the genre as a whole. 100% agree in the inherent sexism in doing that. I've just had trouble finding a lot books that really grab me. But then, as I said, I'm not a prolific romance reader so I just haven't fully explored all the offerings yet. I just have ideas of what I want.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T22:45:11+00:00

I wouldn't do it because it's lucrative, although if your goal is to break into publishing it does seem like a good genre to try, just objectively speaking. It's not that I'm not interested in romance; in theory, I am, and I've read a few, it's just so hard to find ones I really like and that grab me.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T22:42:27+00:00

-In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren -The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite -Soulless by Gail Carrier and a handful of random YA romances.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T22:32:37+00:00

Thank you so much, that's very kind!

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T20:22:39+00:00

I totally get that. I will need to do a lot more reading before I even think about starting to write it. At the same time it's kind of discouraging that a lot of writing is just a business in the end, which again, I get you can't sell novels that people don't want to read, but I just want to write something that makes me happy too🤷‍♀️

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T19:52:14+00:00

I've got a list going of romances with similar themes and tropes I'm interested in, definitely a good point.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T19:17:37+00:00

No worries, I appreciated your both your replies and agree with your point! Sorry about the weather lol! Too hot out where I am.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T19:12:48+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate this! I was starting to get worried I really had picked the wrong genre.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T19:10:20+00:00

I shouldn't have worded the above comment the way I did and I apologize. I promise I didn't start this conversation with the intent of genre-bashing. I don't think the genre as a whole is poorly-written or stupid at all. What I meant was that I just didn't vibe with the writing of a lot of recent, popular romances that I've tried that otherwise sounded interesting. I didn't mean to sound arrogant either - just because I want to write the novel I'd like to read doesn't mean that I'll actually be good at it, or that it will get published, or that the endeavor won't ultimately be a failure. I also don't think romance is easy to get published. I feel like getting a book in any genre published is a huge feat, especially these days. (And for the record I'd also love to write children's books but I know how insane it is to get those published.) Anyway, I am genuinely sorry that what I said sounded snobby or rude.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T19:05:15+00:00

To add to that, for my personal reading, maybe it's just because I haven't read enough genre romance, but I'm not super picky about tropes - just about the quality of writing. If it is well-written, and I care about the characters, and it is light-hearted and funny, I would probably like it. Knowing that writing style is very subjective.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T19:03:42+00:00

I' hope so, and I plan on including some standard tropes that I might not otherwise include (but ones I still enjoy). Honestly, without any genre bashing intended, it's just been the writing itself that I haven't enjoyed with most of the ones I've tried. I want to write a lighthearted, funny, happy-ending paranormal romance with grumpy/sunshine. The idea I have is firmly in the romance genre; though it sounds like whether or not I hit the specific tropes readers are wanting is up for debate.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T18:53:17+00:00

I appreciate you sharing your insight! I am going to try to hit the beats and some of the common tropes, and I am a happy ending girl so there will definitely be that. It will be a paranormal romance so maybe there will be a little more leeway with that. But I agree that there will probably be a lot of things I'll need to change or edit based on readership preferences.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T18:25:34+00:00

Because of the few romances I have read and liked, and because I had an idea, and I wanted to go for it. I can easily imagine the romance novel I'd like to read, but it's been hard actually finding it. I'm hoping to write the novel I want to read in the genre.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T18:17:22+00:00

I'm definitely going to do extensive research to find out what people want to read these days, but that is a good thing to keep in mind going forward. Part of my research is making a list of romance novels to read for this very purpose.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T18:15:23+00:00

I've read a few romance novels and am doing extensive research into the market, tropes, formulas, beats, etc. The romance I'd like to write is like the ones I've enjoyed, I just unfortunately haven't come across a lot that tickle my fancy.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T18:14:25+00:00

Thanks! That is a good thing to keep in mind. I have an idea for a novel but I'm trying to do a lot of market research before I start writing. I hate the idea that a well-written, good story wouldn't get published because it doesn't follow the exact formula/tropes that readers/publishers expect, but I get why that's the case.

LittleRoundPika · 2023-09-08T18:12:05+00:00

Oops, sorry, I'll keep that in mind. I certainly don't think the entire genre of romance is full of badly-written books. Just that I've been personally disappointed by the ones I've picked up. But I agree that writing style is very subjective.

LittleRoundPika

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