I always seem to be coming in at the tail end of things. When I was just a lass, I joined the local Explorers post for Veterinary Medicine (because, yeah, I wanted to be a vet back then). Not long after I joined, the group fell apart.
I became active at Absolute Write a few months before the ownership shifted from Jen (who I loved) to Mac (who I didn't).
I really started to get excited about blogging when I heard an ugly rumor that blogging was passe.
And I seem to get into the swing of writing a particular genre only to find people talking about how that particular genre is dead. Seriously. Have you seen any adult dystopian running around lately? And what about the death knell of paranormal?
Ummm, yeah. The story of my life.
Back in 2002, right after I got a promotion to management btw, my multi-million dollar telemarketing firm employer decided to start phasing out my branch.
It's giving me a complex. I think I single-handedly killed the college computer club. (Okay, so that had more to do with breaking up with the president. It wasn't pretty. But still...)
I know it's not me. I think I just lag behind the curve. That Explorer post was run by a weird chick who bred French Bulldogs in her basement and the meetings always stank. I didn't have anything to do with AW's ownership change, and leaving was my choice. (AW is still going strong as far as I can tell.) D---A------ had upper management issues and my branch had a problem with honesty, so it was fated to die. And I refuse to believe blogging is passe.
As for the genres, I write what I love. So what if it's not what's hot or popular right now? When the next wave of adult dystopians hit, I'll be standing there with my manuscripts in hand. Hell, I could start the wave. Right?
Right.
And I'll be the forerunner of the rush for paranormal suspense (you know, when urban fantasy becomes old hat). Yeah, yeah. That's the ticket.
So, am I lagging behind? Or am I ahead of my time?
Only the shadow knows.
But yeah, it's giving me a complex. ;o)
Heheh, you do seem to have a string of bad luck ;)
ReplyDeleteI know everyone says blogging is dead and that you shouldn't write genres that are "out of fashion," but I don't agree. I think it is whatever you make it. If you write what you love, then keep at it! Genres always come back--and truly, I don't think they ever really leave.
I could see why you think that, B.E. - but I'm going for the glass half full option and say you are ahead of your time! AND that a good story, no matter the genre status in the world of publishing, will always find the light of day :)
ReplyDeleteAnd please don't say blogging is going the way of the dinosaur - I love blogging! I'm just too long-winded for Twitter!
Paranormal has been dying for years now. So has romantic suspense. Time travel. Erotic would never be a "above the fold" genre. Uhm...yeah. Right. The publishing industry has been trying (mostly unsuccessfully as far as I'm concerned) to predict future trends. Readers know what they want to read and seek out those kinds of books and novellas.
ReplyDeleteAs a writer, the best thing you can do is write the story that's in you, to tell it the best you can, and then let the rest fall where it may. A good story will always find a home. My career is proof of that.
As for blogging, it depends on why you blog. Me? I'm not as regular as I used to be but with 1400 blogs under my belt, I often feel like I don't have anything of interest to say. LOL
Thanks for the support, gals. You're all awesome and I really appreciate your being there for me. Neurotic me just took over this morning, but in the words of Monty Python... "I got better". I will forge ahead, doing my own thing, just like always. =o)
ReplyDeleteLmfao. My mum and I always say "I got better."
ReplyDelete