On writing romance novels
Apr. 8th, 2026 06:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowazaleaThis morning I'm having my Laos Meung Honeybee tea, but the caffeine just hasn't hit yet.
I have changed into my 40s in that all I can think about is sleeping in. Lying in bed, I persuaded myself to get up by reminding myself there are three days in the near future I can sleep in: Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.
The last two afternoons, I have been going to a coffee or tea shop after work and writing at least one page before I go home. But today, I'm going to go straight home after work. I'm starting to feel tired and burned out already.
This week, I have been reflecting on how easy and enjoyable it was for me to write in the afternoons after school in junior high and high school. Even in college, I wrote entire novels. I feel like I didn't spend that much time studying. But I passed. I wouldn't change anything about that. But what happened? My first couple of jobs, I continued to write. It really ebbed noticeably in the early 2010s. And I've written since then, but it's been a real effort. I tried to look up some stuff about it being harder once you get older, but all I found were articles and posts swearing that it doesn't change at all, and people get more creative when they get older because they have more experience. Huh. Maybe it's just me then.
But I do have higher standards for myself and my environment. I spend my mental energy planning meals and chores. I don't feel free to daydream about characters in the absorbing way I once did. I might forget something. And I do. If I make a conscious effort, I can do it.
What brought it on was looking up about some Harlequin romances, and remembering how I had wanted to and planned to write for that line for so long. I made some submissions in college and early work life. I always thought I would be a romance writer. When I think of... just not letting that happen, I feel some panic. I've got to think of where I would want to submit to, though. Harlequin is still around, but it looks to have diminished over the years.
I have changed into my 40s in that all I can think about is sleeping in. Lying in bed, I persuaded myself to get up by reminding myself there are three days in the near future I can sleep in: Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.
The last two afternoons, I have been going to a coffee or tea shop after work and writing at least one page before I go home. But today, I'm going to go straight home after work. I'm starting to feel tired and burned out already.
This week, I have been reflecting on how easy and enjoyable it was for me to write in the afternoons after school in junior high and high school. Even in college, I wrote entire novels. I feel like I didn't spend that much time studying. But I passed. I wouldn't change anything about that. But what happened? My first couple of jobs, I continued to write. It really ebbed noticeably in the early 2010s. And I've written since then, but it's been a real effort. I tried to look up some stuff about it being harder once you get older, but all I found were articles and posts swearing that it doesn't change at all, and people get more creative when they get older because they have more experience. Huh. Maybe it's just me then.
But I do have higher standards for myself and my environment. I spend my mental energy planning meals and chores. I don't feel free to daydream about characters in the absorbing way I once did. I might forget something. And I do. If I make a conscious effort, I can do it.
What brought it on was looking up about some Harlequin romances, and remembering how I had wanted to and planned to write for that line for so long. I made some submissions in college and early work life. I always thought I would be a romance writer. When I think of... just not letting that happen, I feel some panic. I've got to think of where I would want to submit to, though. Harlequin is still around, but it looks to have diminished over the years.
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Date: 2026-04-08 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-09 01:55 pm (UTC)