Writing Hot Takes

Hot Take: Focus on One Project at a Time

Usually when I start a project, it has my sole attention particularly if I am very excited about it. For example, when I was working on Story of Hope I journaled and wrote a chapter a day and that was it. But now I’m working on my current book (which shall remain unnamed here because I am writing it under a pseudonym) and three  novels not to mention a steady stream of poetry, short stories, personal essays and book reviews. I am definitely getting much less done now than when I  had a solo focus but I feel less pressure, less stress and less tunnel vision on one project. I think for me personally multiple projects work better. 

My take: Multiple projects might not be more efficient but for me they are more fun

Hot Take: Self publishing doesn’t count

Self publishing (paying to publish your own book) instead of signing with an agent or getting a book deal with a publishing company has been the way I published my six books. Just because I paid to publish my books does not mean I am not a legitimately published author. I have an ISBN number so it is copyrighted and registered with the government. People can buy my books on Amazon or in local bookstores. I also have my books in several local libraries. When it comes to publishing books, anything that makes your books accessible to an audience definitely counts, whether that is doing it with a company or doing it alone.

My take: Self-publishing most certainly counts

Hot Take: Fan fiction doesn’t count as legitimate writing

I have never written fan fiction. I have written erotica but even then my characters and scenarios were original. I don’t believe in taking someone’s characters and storyline and passing them off as your  own, but fan fiction can be good practice for “original” writing with your own characters and plot. Plus everyone brings something new to the table. Nobody writes fan fiction the same way. And certain characters can get a very popular audience. I would advise fan fiction writers to eventually make the jump from “fan” fiction to their own original fiction.

My take: Fan fiction is legitimate writing to a point.

Hot Take: Some people aren’t writers. They are just world builders

These people are usually part of three or so DND (dungeon and dragon) campaigns. They love creating worlds of their own with creatures, rules and kingdoms of their own. Lore is their favorite building block. Of course world building is often attached to tremendous literature like the Harry Potter series but sometimes people get stalled because they are so into the world building, they don’t want to develop an actual story. This doesn’t mean they are not writers. But it does mean that is not their first priority.

My take: Some people put world building first, writing second

Hot Take: Building sexual tension helps build suspense

I read somewhere that you have to keep the sexual tension building and building until at least ¾ through the book. Then you can give it to the audience. But if you give it up in the first half, its too close to erotica or the suspense that was connected to that part of the story collapses. One successful author who gives sex a lot throughout the book but still maintains the tension is Tilly Bagshawe. As for the ¾ suggestion, Sandra Brown respects this rule. She always delivers hot steamy sex right before the climax (she writes thrillers where the stakes are often high).

My Take: Don’t give up sex in the first half of the novel unless you know what you’re doing

Hot Take: Excessive violence cheapens a novel

I have read some very intense books. Authors like Jilliane Hoffman, Brian Freeman and Karin Slaughter have written some really gritty crime books. They are all excellent authors but sometimes I have to put a book down and wander back to it when I’m feeling safer because these books are downright disturbing. I feel like to call them crime thrillers might be too mild. However, instead of cheapening these stories I feel like the authors use violence to actually enhance the story and make it even more powerful. I mean, even Harry Potter (yes, I’m aware I’m mentioning Harry Potter again) went darker the older he got and and that only served to help the story.

My Take: Excessive violence can cheapen a novel but when it’s done right it can strengthen the story

Hot Take: Enemies to lovers makes a book more interesting

Speaking of sexual tension, it is also entertaining to see sparring enemies or rivals develop feelings (emotional or sexual) for the other person and fall in love or into bed with them. Of course we all see it coming (usually. At least if there is any good chemistry) but if it’s done well enough we don’t care.

My Take: With the right care, we like to see the enemies end up together as long as it isn’t too far fetched.