In the June 2005 issue of “O” (thank you Jo!), Oprah interviews Jon Stewart. They are discussing The Daily Show’s move into politics and Jon says something that’s been digging at me for days.
It was a conscious decision to move to relevance – to make the show something people care about. (…) I thought, This can’t be how I live my life. So I decided not to give a crap about what anybody else thought anymore. I did what I wanted to do, with like-minded people who’d bring passion, competence, and creativity to it.”
Beyond the RWA hoopla, when I read on non-RWA author loops disparaging remarks about erotic romance from romance authors, how such will “degrade” the genre (yes, I read this tonight, sigh), it makes me realize how truly uneducated many authors are about what constitutes an erotic romance. (You know, all that stuff like love and commitment and an HEA?)
And, you know what? I don’t give a crap about what anybody else thinks anymore. I truly don’t.
Read what Melinda Jane Harrison says. Read what Sheila Kelly says. Sheila says she’s not a role model. She’s full of shit. *g*
Here’s the thing. None of us who write need to give a crap about anything beyond #1) pleasing ourselves, #2) pleasing our readers, and #3) pleasing our editors and publishing houses. That’s about it, yes? And I have a WHOLE lot of pleasing to catch up on, so if you see me here anymore this week, you have permission to whip me, beat me, hurt me bad. *gg*
I’ll be back asap!
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You’re right! I keep telling these new writers. It’s the EDITOR that counts. It’s the reader. Write what you love, but know your reader and don’t do anything but what your editor says. Write something bold. It might be a winner. Good grief! You go in a room, you sit down and you write your heart out. It’s hard work, and you love it. You learn the craft. You revise and revise. You finish. End of story.
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#1) pleasing ourselves – IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!
#2) pleasing our readers – (and me!)
Take care, and do what makes you happy.
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take care of alison. Get some rest.
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I may end up quickly becoming a non-joiner. There are a number of authors who are–even locally–and I’m understanding more and more why.