Don’t Give Up on Finding Your Voice
I stared at another email from my agent, informing me that a publisher had once again passed on my manuscript. Dejected, I wondered how I was ever going to get over the seemingly 100-foot-high publication gate guarded by mysterious, faceless people my agent was corresponding with. The feedback she kept passing me was incredibly vague – my book just “wasn’t for” the person in question or “didn’t quite captivate” them. What was I doing wrong?
This was many years ago. At the time, I was trying to be a YA fantasy writer in a sea of such writers. After several years of working with that agent and failing to get three separate YA books through the publication gauntlet, I amicably parted ways with my agent and took some time to re-center myself. I focused on other things, like my career. And off and on, I kept writing.
Eventually, I found the inspiration to try writing romance – something I’d dabbled with in the past but never seriously pursued. After self-publishing a sweet contemporary romance, I turned to writing more steamy paranormal romance and finally found my writing home (yes, my home now includes some level of smut). Instead of trying to write something that was popular, I wrote to entertain myself. I included the most random of plot points (like a three-headed Pomeranian hellhound) – whatever would make me laugh. In doing so, I found my voice as a writer.
It only took about 15 years.
If you’re an as-yet-unpublished writer and not sure what your “brand” is, I would encourage you to set aside worries about what’s popular in the market right now and write only for yourself. If there’s a genre you love to read but struggle to write, don’t write that, either. Find the type of story you both love to read and write, then tell yourself that story. Your voice, like mine, might be a little quirky. But I guarantee it will be authentic.
And authenticity might just sell your book.
I DREAM OF DEMIGODS
By Alexa Sullivan
Blurb
Ro Baird can't cast a spell without setting her own pants on fire—until she kisses her hot new boss, Alex. Suddenly, she's able to access her magic…sort of…and she now has a familiar, who may be more trouble than she is helpful.
Alex Kouris happens to be a soul-stealing demigod of the Underworld. He claims he's trying to leave the life, but can she really trust a man whose magical talents are manipulation and charm? When Alex enlists a shady ex to help him, Ro must risk her heart and her life to save him and humanity from Hades’s evil scheme.
Can she harness her true power to set Alex and herself free?
Bio
Alexa Sullivan writes humorous, contemporary paranormal romance. Inspired by her previous career in IT,, she imagines a world where the mundane meets magic—and where vampires and werewolves have regular jobs. Oh, and there are cats, too. She lives and works in the beautiful state of Oregon, where she sets all of her stories. When not writing, she can be found hanging out with her husband, walking her cats on a leash, and watching far too much Bravo reality TV.
Socials
Website: https://www.alexasullivan.com/
Sign up for Alexa’s Newsletter: https://www.alexasullivan.com/subscribe
Instagram: @alexasullivanromance
Buy Link: https://mybook.to/ufacndK
Wonderful blogspot! Following on Instagram!
ReplyDeleteGreat feature! Congrats on finding your voice as a writer.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLove getting to know you Alexa! My previous career was healthcare IT. Wise words about finding your niche! If you're not comfortable with what you're writing your readers will know it!
ReplyDeleteNice to know I’m not the only one who took a circuitous route to publishing. :) Thank you!
DeleteI totally agree with this statement, Alexa: "Find the type of story you both love to read and write, then tell yourself that story."
ReplyDeleteI Dream of Demigods was a great story! Looking forward to more in the series. All the best!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
DeleteGreat advice, Alexa. Your book sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteThank you!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice, Alexa! Write for yourself--write what you like. Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post. It's great when you find your voice. I love the paranormal world as well. So many possibilities. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!
ReplyDeleteWhat a story of perseverance. Kudos to you for not giving up. Susie Black
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post! Thank you!
ReplyDelete