(romance is another word tossed about by Writers and those who comment on them).

And yet, ask them about "romance" as in writing it, and watch their dainty little selves shudder. The irony is, going to a romance genre conference, and no one will put down another genre, whereas go to a multi-genre conference and the attendees, be they aspiring or publishing professionals, have no qualms about slagging on romance, as a genre.

I still remember attending a multi-genre conference where I was seated at a luncheon beside a very earnest girl-- I'd noticed her throughout the weekend: sensible haircut, small pearl earrings, the same gray, pinstriped suit every day of the conference, just slightly different button down shirts in shades of black, white, and gray on each day.

Me? I think of writing as being a creative field as well as a professional one, so I have fun with what I wear. I think that day I was wearing a floral dress and my hair was up in a ponytail—very 50s retro vibe to it. Anyhow, here we were, seated with several older men at the table. Earnest Young Woman (EYW) began asking everyone at the table what they wrote. Almost uniformly, the men were writing military histories or oddly enough, poetry. Not a one of them had a clue how the publishing industry worked, which was one reason they were there, so props to them. EYW then said, "Well, after all the workshops and seminars this weekend, I'm having a bit of a hard time classifying what I write, but if I had to say, I'd put it as mainstream fiction with literary leanings." That's when she turned to me and asked what I wrote.

I answered, "Romantic women's fiction." I swear, she scooted her chair a few inches away from me as if she thought I was going to give her romance cooties or something. She said to the table at large, "Well, you know, I think I'd like to be shelved where readers will find me," with this wink, wink, nudge, nudge tone to her voice, implying that of course, real readers wouldn't be caught dead in the romance section.

I shrugged and said "Well, with romance accounting for over fifty percent of the mass-market fiction share, I dare say readers will be able to find me. With so many novels flooding the market right now, I think that ups my chances that a reader will discover my work than someone writing mainstream fiction with literary leanings."

That's when one of the military history guys leaned across the table and said, "Over fifty percent?" and after I nodded said, "Damn, I think I'm writing in the wrong genre."

I normally don't get that snooty about genre classification—personally, I think they're a monumental pain in the ass—but at the same I don't much care for anyone casting aspersions on my abilities as a writer when all I'm doing is the same thing writers have done throughout the ages, which is write what I love.

< /steps off soapbox>

I keep trying to encourage co-author to go into romance. Oddly, it's where he's most comfortable, creative, and...fluid I think is the word I'd use to describe it.

I just wonder how it would go over, having a man enter that playing field. Or am I ignorant? Are there any men writing in the genre?

Dear god. I need platitudes to get through the next two chapters. Tim isn't picking up his cell, and he's usually the one who will tell me I'm brilliant for 5 minutes so I can get through the worst.

Are there any men writing in the genre?

There are more than a few, Allyson-- several in collaboration, many on their own. Thing is, there are plenty of male authors who write romance, except it doesn't get called "romance." It gets called clever, sensitive, fiction. (Nicholas Sparks, Charles Martin) A lot of it's not even good romance (again-- see, Nicholas Sparks) but because it's written by men, gets a certain measure of respect and attention that the same book, if written by a woman, never would.

If his writing leans that way, he should certainly give it a try.

I like the computer better because I can get the words down closer to the rate that I think them. My handwriting is terrible, and I've printed everything handwritten for over ten years now, and I just can't move fast enough to be anything but frustrated.

Yes, "sensitive." Look, a man with feelings! It must be great!

Nicholas Sparks makes me feel like I'm walking across a theatre floor where a dozen sodas have been spilled.

Nicholas Sparks makes me feel like I'm walking across a theatre floor where a dozen sodas have been spilled.

When I was in San Francisco for the Romance Writers of America conference back in July, a couple of friends and I escaped to the nearby movie theatre to go see Dark Knight. During the previews, they were showing the trailer for Nights in Rodanthe and all of us leaned forward because hey, Diane Lane, Richard Gere, who can do a decent romantic leading man, beautiful setting, looked like a touching story... until they got the end of the trailer and the voiceover intoned, "Based on the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks."

Hand to God, all of us simultaneously slumped back in our seats with the most disgusted noises.

I am amused.

I went back to writer-readers on Library Thing--slow work day, looking to indulge some intellectual masochism--and I found the guy who was most adamant about how true, important writing can only be done on paper.

He's become so tired of publishers not appreciating the transcendent art he produces that he has bypassed that process and now puts everything on his website. But, he assures us, he's struggled with every word. Afer all, "What experienced authors can teach us most is just the sheer amount of work and strife and pain the writing life entails. Aspiring scribes should be under no illusion--years of anonymity, a marginal existence, often accompany a life devoted to the arts. Success and rewards will be a long time coming (if at all)."

I know, I know, I need to stop obsessing about this guy. But he's just so dedicated. His wife and kids go camping without him, they watch videos without him, because his Muse demands so much of him. (She's the one with the job, by the way.)

Ah, the heck with it. I've got WIPs on my hard drive that I could be working on instead, and this quiet day won't last forever.

Oh god, link me? I could use this guy as my own personal muse of putting my fucking shoulder to the wheel before I become him.

Here's the thread I most recently looked at.

[link]

Look for CliffBurns. He's in several places. You'll know him when you read him.

This guy is AWESOME, Connie. I'm trying so hard to not LOL at my desk. Totally cheered me up.