I was in DC last week when a book by one of my favorite authors – one I had pre-ordered so long ago I had forgotten when to expect it – was delivered to my Kindle. I was aglow with delight, since I had all kinds of time in my hotel room at night, not to mention on the plane, to read it.
But alas, within the first chapter I knew it was not going to live up to her other books. The whole thing was flat, the conflict felt forced. It was, in a word, boring. I was sorely disappointed, seeing as how this particular author only releases one book a year.
When I got back from my trip I talked to Abby, my friend and critique partner, and told her what I thought of it. Now, she hadn't been happy with the author's last book, whereas I loved it. But because Abby loved her other books, she had still planned to buy the next one. And in fact, after we talked she even bought the one I had just condemned, because she had to see for herself. So, after talking about all the ways in which it was lame, we agreed we'd still buy her next book.
Below are the brilliant insights that came out of these discussions:
1) If you love an author enough, you will give her multiple chances. One not-so-great book isn't the end of the love affair. This is a very reassuring thing if you are an author, since not everyone is going to love each book you publish.
2) It's possible to become too comfortable with what you are writing and lose the very thing that romance readers count on you for. Many romance authors, ones I love, succumb to this at one time or another. Whether they write too many books in one series, write too often about the same sorts of characters and stories, or are just pressured to publish too many books, it's easy to see how it can happen, especially over a long career. Abby and I made a pact that we will not let each other publish anything sub-par. We don't want to ever phone it in or not be excited about what we're writing, and we also want to have long writing careers that stand the test of time.
3) To keep things fresh, writers need to challenge themselves, step out of their comfort zones, and try new things. This is perhaps especially true with writers who produce books very often. It's no easy thing to maintain freshness and originality when writing one or more books every year. We re-committed ourselves to writing books in different romance genres and/or writing about people or situations that are challenging, scary or not usually done.
4) If, come a certain age, we are no longer interested in writing about sex (God forbid), we'll be honest with ourselves and each other and move on.
How do I plan to keep it fresh, you ask? I think after I finish the Sin City series I may try my hand at another historical. Some time ago I began one that takes place in and around Reno and Genoa, Nevada (where I spent my honeymoon) shortly after the Civil War. It features a spinster mail-order bride (I love a good spinster romance) and a jaded, wandering ex-US Marshall (Timothy Olyphant anyone?), and I have always meant to get back to it. After that, who knows. Paranormal. steampunk, new adult? I'm up for anything.
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