Why Do We Write Anyway?

3/15/2015

Why Do We Write Anyway?

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Hi all,
Thanks for all the great comments I've been getting and for checking in, weighing in, and offering your thoughts. I thought I'd start writing a little more on this blog as I work through my Natalie's Edge Series and a few other projects.

The road has been rocky and not at all what I thought it would be when I decided to publish Natalie's Edge. I had been writing for Literotica for a while and thought, "This is crazy. I should try to make a little money off of my 'hobby'." I'm sure you've all felt that way. But what I'm learning is that writing cannot be a hobby if you actually want to make some kind of living out of it.

Writing is more like an obsession than a hobby for me and always has been. It won't just "go away." I have characters speaking to me constantly, ideas popping up at the absolute wrong times, and fantasies as well as realities dying to have their tales written. Sometimes, my characters write their stories, and I have no real control. I can go back and edit their stories, to 'appease' the people who might be offended, but then I lose the organic process that is writing for me. Of course I have an outline, a general sketch of where I think the story will go, the climax perhaps, but ultimately, once I get 'in the zone' and start to write, anything can happen, and I let it.

Maybe we all have darkness in us, deeply pushed down because of societal boundaries just dying to be expressed. Maybe it's pure fantasy when we write. Maybe it's the things we know we need to say but can't really say them in our normal crowds. Whatever it is, I can't stop writing my stories.

My tales will never be pure erotica. Never just smutty sex scenes full of ménage and unsafe sex and romps for titillation only. That's not my cup of tea and you won't find it from me. The mind. The psychological. That's what keeps my blood pumping.

So while my stories will never be sweet romances with perfect characters. They will always be romantic. Perhaps darkly so, but I can't help it. I'm a romantic at heart.

Where do you hope your characters will take you?

13 Comments

anonymous

3/15/2015 03:27:40

Well, Rb, I've followed you for awhile. Your stories hit every bone in my tiny body. But I have a question for you. You always write about teasing, tickling. I happen to love that. I want the truth: Is that your reality, fantasy, why do you always write about that? DON'T STOP. ;)

3/15/2015 04:03:00

Thank you, R.B. I enjoy learning about you. You're such a mystery to me. I'm slowing trying to figure you out...

Stephen

3/15/2015 04:31:03

Your stuff on literotica is way darker than the published book. Were you afraid to go that dark with the series?

R.B.

3/15/2015 06:09:24

Hi!
And thanks for the comments/questions. I'm in a day of full-on editing, so I will respond more deeply later today or tomorrow. To Stephen, I think with the novels, I was going for more character development. The literotica stuff was/is more in-your-face--I wasn't really worried about a storyline or development or realistic love elements. I was just having fun.
The story of Michael and Natalie is more developed. But yes, I can't lie. I did worry about the darkness. I still do. I don't know how to categorize my novels. They don't fit dark erotica because there's no violence but straight romance and the romance lovers are offended. I'm walking a fine line here. I need my own category. Any suggestions.
Originally, this was one long stand-alone novel. I'm glad my publisher convinced me to split it up. It gives me time to consider where I want the story to go.
The second one starts all sweet and calm and maybe even a little boring. But by the end, it takes a really dark turn. So much so that most agents wouldn't take me on. I've toned the scene down a bit. You can tell me what you think after you read it. Some will hate it. Some will love it. Some won't think it goes far enough. I'm just trying to be true to the characters. Talk soon!

Natalie Webber

3/15/2015 09:15:56

I can certainly identify with writing being an obsession, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who has characters talking in their head :)
I do think everyone has a darkness within them, but some people keep it hidden wheras others express it in various forms - art, theatre, story writing. I see writing as a way of exploring the darker side of humanity in a 'safe' way - the imagination knows no bounds.
I may be in the minority here but I've never been offended by a fictional character. If a character behaves a certain way it's just who they are and the author is telling their story.
I'm rambling on a bit here so I'll finish off by saying i love your writing and please don't tone down your darker characters too much - in my opinion it's better to offend people with your writing and get them talking about it than to have them be completely unmoved by it. :)

R.B,

3/15/2015 13:26:48

Beautifully said, Natalie. And you're not rambling...at all! You're extremely thoughtful and I always look forward to your thoughts.

Writing finds us, I think, we don't find it. It's a blessing and a curse. :)

3/16/2015 11:57:04

Very true, there's no escaping once writing finds you :)

S.D.

3/16/2015 01:46:44

Will Book 2 be on preorder?
And honestly rb you keep talking about darkness. I hope Michael gets darker...GO FOR IT! :) I'm beggin you.

Shall Remain Nameless :)

3/16/2015 02:54:30

Everyone keeps talking about Michael. I want to talk about Natalie. One review I read on GR said that she was a doormat. I say to that person that they have never felt the passion of being swept off their feet. I feel sorry for that person. I related to Natalie so much. It brought me back to a very tumultuous relationship. It was so real. I felt every emotion she had. Everyone talks about independent women,etc. I get it. But I just believed Natalie. I felt for her. I liked that she felt pain like that. SO REAL. I loved her. As for Michael, he was a big, fat dick. And I loved that. I loved it because deep down you knew he was just madly in love and didn't want to admit it. He was strong but weak inside. I want her to just scoop him up and make him feel whole. I know she will because deep down Natalie is the strong one who's not afraid to admit her feelings. Maybe I am taking things personally and maybe I'm rambling a bit as someone else said but I hate when people make judgements abougt how a person should behave. I like the realistic version of romance. I can't wait for the next books. How many are there?
Oh...and the sex you write. Ridiculously intense. Fan needed.

3/16/2015 11:55:09

I was taken aback by the doormat comment too. I also liked Natalie, her experiences felt so raw and real to me. I think you've hit the nail on the head about Natalie being the stronger of the two. I'm desperately hoping for a happy ending for them (but I am a sucker for happy endings! )

3/16/2015 05:02:37

Not me. I thought Natalie was a whiny bitch. Still loved the book but I hope she gets what's coming to her. She's a little liar. I don't care how long her legs are!

3/17/2015 14:21:18

Perhaps we should make teams. Team Natalie. Team Michael. I do enjoy your comments. But I agree with those who say Natalie's not a doormat. I don't see her that way...I too just see her as she is, full of flaws.
New topic coming tomorrow. Hope you'll all chime in again. Any topics YOU want to discuss?

Leslie

3/18/2015 00:48:09

I write too (but too afraid to share). I think of writing as that horror movie. You love to watch it from a distance but wouldn't really want it in real life-- (didn't Natalie say that in the book?). Plus (sssh again) it makes me wet and horny. Maybe I do really want it?

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