I’m not taking this book seriously at all. It’s cute, fun and sexy. Just a little 25k novella. Nothing too much. It’s a release, a cleanser, a break, and freedom. Low plot, cozy, and warm. Letting other ideas flow and float while writing a series saves my sanity. This one doesn’t even have a title yet. A himbo lamia (MMC/35), and a chameleon shifter nerd (FMC/40) have crossed paths thanks to the FMC escaping death. I have no idea where they’re going, but I know the FMC has to stay alive long enough for me to find out. Two idiots falling in love. My favorite trope. Zion and Scrap! Sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S my ass to everyone who tries to gatekeep when it comes to older FMCs and romantasy!
The Backstreet Boys! It was a dream come true. They kicked off their world tour in Vegas. My sister bought the first few tickets and surprised me. I cried. I’ve loved that boy band for nearly years.
Puritan culture is going to kill the arts. Sterility is what they seek and I loathe it. To say this generation is more sexual than the last is not only ignorant but false. To speak on sex in novels without having any knowledge of old works of fiction is absurd. I can understand if you’ve read every book on planet earth and have facts to back your claims. Then I’d say good day, sir, ma’am, ENBY you have stunned and stumped me.
But nah! Hell nah. Most who recite these points on intimacy in literature and film haven’t read enough. They haven’t researched enough or cared to. They have a ‘me’ mentality about it. ‘I don’t like this so I don’t think it’s called for’. SAD! Please, go sit down and open a book which has what you crave within those pages. There are too many novels and movies out there w/out sex for them to complain and gripe. If you wanna nitpick about the resurgence of sexuality, genitalia and nudity then fine! Has if ever occurred to them, some may be squeezing in these sex scenes out of spite?! I have written my fair share of sex scenes because of this. I have made certain in my recent works to make those characters fuck! I can’t take a world filled with this evangelical approach to all things linked to passion and carnality. Sex will sell! Nothing you can do will stop it. Even if these bible thumping Neanderthals ban erotica and ‘displays of intercourse’ it won’t put an end to this. Sex and art have ALWAYS been and will always BE one!
Once a week, I will post a new short story. Each short will come in at around 5-10k. A good portion will be romance. Sub-genre? Who knows. I don’t. As a panster, I have no clue what will come from the prompts I use until I start writing. Even then, it’s still up in the air. Typically, a character will expose themselves within minut4es, but that’s all I have to go on. What the story will be about strongly depends on the season. Yes, a large portion will be romance, but not all. I enjoy horror, fantasy, domestic thrillers, westerns and sci-fi. This will be my way of branching out, so bear with me as I explore genres I love, but have never dared to write.
CW: I write dark stories. Expect violence, explicit language, sex, gore, monster fucking, alcoholism, death, grief, murder and certain depictions of abuse. I WILL NEVER SHOW SA ON PAGE! That’s a hard boundary for me as a reader and a writer.
PSA: I WILL NEVER USE AI. I HAVE BEEN WRITING SINCE I WAS NINE YEARS OLD AND WILL NEVER, EVER,SUPPORT THE USE OF AI IN LITERATURE.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved film. I recall watching movies with everyone. It was something my entire family loved to do. My grandmother, grandfather, mom, dad, siblings, and uncles. That was our thing during holidays and birthdays. As I grew older, film became more than a form of entertainment, they transformed into a lifeline and an escape during times of peril. During the height of my depression as a young adult and a DV victim.
I’ve found movies comforting for so long and I still love them, but I don’t watch them as much as I used to. Writing has taken most of my time. I’m not complaining about that, it’s my second passion. However, I wanna get back to the good old days. Laying up, eating snacks and cramming three/four films into my day.
Movies have brought me joy, peace and an escape during the darkest seasons of my life. The same can be said about books, Fiction draws my attention like nothing else. And even if the film is based on a true story, I am still immersed in another world that’s not, reality. I love film so much and I have fallen behind. Which is why I have reserved weekends for film/tv.
Sometimes it’s incredibly hard to maintain positivity as a writer when there are so many roadblocks. Whether it be publishing issues, editing, or life in general. Things can seem quite overwhelming and dim, but I tell you what? Your stories are worth every hard hour spent drafting and editing.
Those long days when self-publishing seems impossible will pay off. Today, tomorrow, next year. Doesn’t matter. Point is, if you don’t quit, you’ll succeed. And honey, SUCCESS is you killing your word goal for the day. It’s finishing your cover; completing that last round of edits. Hell, SUCCESS is finishing the book.
NOT EVERYONE DOES.
Success looks different for everyone. Every step in your author journey is a success. Triumph is when you press PUBLISH, it’s when the first review comes through. What it says? Who cares! Take those small successes and claim the win, love. You’ve committed yourself this extremely personal endeavor and created something gorgeous. This path can be arduous, solitary and beautiful. Creating worlds is our thing, it’s what we do. It’s what we love! Remember why you’re doing this. When impossibilities stack, take a break and breathe.
Oh my! I have had quite the writing day. I started at 4:30 and ended at 2.6k! Every day isn’t so great and that’s okay. Yesterday was a bust, and I don’t care. This book was fun to write. I’d be on schedule if I kept to the 40k goal, but I’ll be going over by 20k. Listen, it’s still a feat for me. At 60k this is the shortest novel I’ve ever written. When you’re used to 100k+ this feels like a snippet. But again, it was fun. And I plan on writing another cozy, low-stakes novel at some point. There was no pressure. A TINY external conflict, autumn vibes and romance. The spice factor sits around 2/5. Normally I keep things piping hot at 4-5/5. Three to five sex scenes. Two quickies and three sessions are where I most comfortable. My WIP had none of that, but it feels good. The amount of sex and intimacy fits the story. Do I miss the nasty, thigh soaking sex scenes and drama? Yes, yes, I do. I will not give up my high stakes/spice, thick plot books. I can’t quit gritty paranormal romance, but I’ll return to these cute, fluffy waters at least once a year. If only to give my dark mind a break for a spell.
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Helloooo starshine! With my writing day complete I can breathe easier. I figured this cozy 50k fantasy romance would teach me a few things and I was right. I’m learning to stick my goals and make them count. For years I’ve tackled huuuuge projects. Novels with a 90k+ WC. I’m talking high stakes paranormal romance/urban fantasy series with extensive world building. I’m used to detail. Where, when, why and how. Thick plots with lengthy backstories. Worldbuilding is an integral part of any story, but this short, low plot adventure has taught me to keep those details short and sweet. Light and tight has been a challenge, no lie. From a long writers pov, this is an excruciating lesson. I don’t have a 90k words to play with. Typing ‘the end’ at around 45k seems unfathomable. I keep thinking, ‘I’m missing something, this is too short, it’s too fast, not enough backstory, what about this or that’. But I’m learning here, this is a fun journey, though nerve wracking at times. Right now! I’m going to watch the Mandalorian and Ahsoka while enjoying sticks of cheese! I hope y’all have had a wonderful day and are chilling!
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
Some who enjoy external will find low stakes a bore. I love low or high, it doesn’t matter to me. But I will say, after reading cozies for a long time. even they, have some form of conflict. Without the internal struggle there’d be nothing. What is this character’s goal in life and how will they get there? What’s stopping them from getting it?
Sally wants to bake bread. She kneads a lump of dough until her hands hurt. Satisfied, Sally throws it into the oven.
Cool. But you know what would be awesome? Conflict.
Sally opened the flour jar and gasped. She was out. With only pennies to her name, she couldn’t afford much else. Most nights all she had was a warm loaf of bread to fill her belly. A five-mile hike to the market was her only option, and quite risky with an approaching snowstorm.
WILL SALLY STARVE TO DEATH OR RISK HER LIFE?
Will she get injured? Will a charming passerby help her, or will she perish in a blizzard?! I don’t know, but I kinda wanna find out.
Here I go, jumping into the unknown. Leaving fear of failure, and criticism behind, I’ve started my journey as an author. I have twenty-five completed novels that no one has read. Since I was nine years old, writing has been my solace. It’s where I find peace during times of grief, and sorrow. I write when I’m stressed, I write when I need an escape and solitude.
Creating a new world is an exhilarating experience and I love it! From grade school short stories to middle school poetry, and high school screenplays, I am here, writing full-length novels! For the past five years I’ve been hard at work honing my craft, in whatever way I can. I tried to write my first novel at nineteen, but I later dropped it. At twenty-two adulting had begun its siege to try and destroy all I hold dear, like my imagination. I emerged as the victor, thank fk! After life failed to push my passion aside, I marched onward and kept writing, but never once had I thought about ever publishing.I was writing for me, a fat black girl who loved Paranormal Romance and NEVER saw her type represented. I wanted to read about women who looked like me get the strapping vampire, or be the head mistress leading a coven, or be the one mate that werewolf desired above all others. It’s rare to read about women like me who is both the love interest and a preternatural being. And I reallly wanted to read that! So, I started writing and haven’t stopped since. For quite a while, I was totally fine with never putting anything out into the world, because I am terrified of negative criticism.
Despite my fears, I am ready, prepared, and excited for this new adventure. I know it won’t be filled with rainbows and sunshine all the time; I don’t expect that. I just wanted to choose courage, and confidence for once. I’ve spent years doubting who I am, what I’m capable of and my art. I’m done with that, and over the whole idea that somehow what I write isn’t worth a read or two.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
J. T. Frost 