Somedtimes we writers get too set in our ways. We get comfortable. We write the same stories, in varying variations of plot and character. This is true of all of us except those who write only one book.
It’s quite the paradox, Silver, but the more one pushes themselves into areas of discomfort—gently, just a bit, from time to time—the more comfortable they become.
And vice versa.
Thunk it, who’d of?
The Universe
©www.tut.comP.S. Yeah, Silver, that’s a heck of a vice versa, if you know what I mean.
I don’t want to fall into this rhythm. I mean I DO write romance. There IS a bit of a formula. Couple meets, stuff happens–good and bad, sexy times (or the hint thereof) ensue, more stuff happes, and then you get either the HFN or HEA. (Happy For Now or Happy Ever After) When you write subgenres–romantic suspense, paranormal romance, even Urban Fantasy, etc.) there is more to the formula. Yes, somebody is in jeopardy and the other half saves them. There are bad nasties that must be dealt with. There’s internal AND external conflict. There are backstories to resolve and futures to map out. It’s…complicated. Which is why it is easy to fall into a tried and true formula. Hey, this has worked before. It’ll keep working. Until it doesn’t. That’s one reason Moonstruck had a finite end. Oh, yeah, those characters show up from time to time in my other books but the guys all found The One, settled down, took their lives back, and got on with living them. And yes, I’m babbling a bit now because I’m not sure where I want to go next. Do I complain about those apparently best-selling authors who write the same book over and over, changing on the names? (There’s one NYT author who recycles her own sex scenes.) Or should I mention the series that go on and on and have to retreaded because there’s no place for the characters to go but readers keep demanding more? There are examples on both sides of that coin. I mean, good grief! JD Robb is coming out with #57 in about 2 months. And yes, I STILL buy and read every blasted one of them because Robb always adds a surpirse. The book I get bored with will be a very sad day in deed.
Anyway, my head is in ths weird space and it’s complicating my writing. I keep thinking the WIP isn’t very good, that it’s the same ol’ story (one day) or there’s not much story there (the next day) and then I’ll go back to double-check something and read a portion and think, “Damn. That’s pretty damn good!” Lord, my head is a scary place to be. LOLOL So, readers, your thoughts of a writer taking the easy way and/or stretching out a series that’s long since jumped the shark? And writers, do you find yourself in this same dilemma?
Silver James 
First, I will admit that many times I skip the sex scenes. That’s an important thing I look for- is there still a story worth reading if there is no sex? Sometimes, no. So I quit reading that author.
Second, basically all books that have an HEA follow the same type of formula. It’s the words and the journey they take me on that make them good.
You are wise, my friend! Thanks for the input!!!!
You always manage to keep it interesting and throw something new at me. I’m thinking this next book will be the same. I’ll let you know if you ever bore me. As for reading series, I usually get bored somewhere and just stop reading. Or the writer pisses me off with something they did to the characters :cough:dresdenfiles:cough: and I’ll stop reading. My dilemma as a writer was that I would get bored with a series long before my readers would and once I’m done, I really can’t write any more. Like with Once Upon a Djinn. I love those books, but I can’t write any more of them. The well there is dry.
Which character????
I think it was book 12 and what he did to the whole gang – especially Harry. But that was 13 years ago and my memory sucks for details.
Susan Rodriguez?
🤗 The Djinn books came to a natural end. Would I read more if your wrote them? ABSOLUTELY! Love that world. Will I hound you for not writing any more? Nope. An author has to know when to quit. That’s the problem. Some of them don’t. LOL