Wednesday, June 8, 2011

How Writing Has Changed Me by Missy Jane


    Please welcome Guest Blogger Missy Jane, fellow EC author!
     I’ve always been an avid reader with a wild imagination. As a child I used to make up stories, but never tried to put them to paper until I became an adult. At first, I wasn’t writing to get published. I was writing for myself, to get the story out of my brain so I could stop obsessing over it. That changed in 2008 with my first publishing contract and me along with it. I’m a different person now in many ways and most of that is because of what I write. I began with my love of fantasy and paranormal, but it didn’t take long for sexual overtones to take the driver’s seat. As an erotica reader there are things I’d seen in print that made me blush, cringe and frown in disbelief. As a writer? Well, let’s just say I now know a whole lot more than I used to. Research isn’t always boring.
     So, I was thinking over ways that I’ve changed since writing became a big part of my life and this is what I’ve come up with:

             1. I don’t blush as easily anymore. I was raised in a household where sex wasn’t just a dirty word, it wasn’t a word at all. I’ve joked with my mom that I don’t know how in the hell I learned about sex at all. But I have four children so obviously…
          2. I’m more honest with myself about a lot of things. If there’s anything the editing process should teach a writer, it’s to be thick-skinned. No one’s perfect and editors are good at pointing that truth out from the first. I LOVE my editors. I’ve been very lucky to work with smart, funny, easy-going women who know their job well. They make me look good and that’s a definite plus in my book.
3.      3. I’ve become a typo snob. My editors might argue this point since I still make mistakes. However, as a reader I’ve become much more critical of the printed words I’m paying for than I was before going through the editing process. Typos now jump out at me and can sometimes disrupt my enjoyment of a book. Sigh…if only they had my editors.
        4. I know more about sex than my husband. Though he was a jock and I was a band geek, I can easily say that through research I’m more well-versed in things sexual than my stud-muffin. I haven’t actually told him that, but I think he’s figured it out. Neither if us have mentioned it and he reaps the benefits of my knowledge. It’s definitely a win-win.
    Has reading a certain genre, or reading in general, changed you as a person? Is there a particular book, author, or topic you’ve read that had a definite impact on you as a person? Comment with your answer below and include your email address. All comments are entered into my Birthday Blog Tour contest. Good luck!

    Missy Jane is a paranormal and erotic romance author published through Samhain and Ellora’s Cave. Free samples of her work can be found at her website: http://www.msmissyajne.com
*Make reading a guilty pleasure…*

9 comments:

booklover0226 said...

Hi, Missy.

For years, I read only vampire books. Vampire, vampire, vampire. Then some online friends suggested a m/m mystery. I was a bit skeptical but decided to give it a try and am glad I did.

By taking that "leap" I was introduced to other genres that I was missing out on.

I still enjoy my vampire books but I also enjoy so many more...

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Jolene and Family said...

LOL, I loved this post and I loved learning more about you. When authors open up about their lives it really brings me as the reader in a little bit more and makes me feel more connected to them.

Growing up I read a lot, mostly Dean Koontz, V.C. Andrews and some Stephen King, a little Daniele Steele and throw in The Thorn Birds and Bridges of Madison County. After graduating, I got married and became a mommy. 8 years and two more kids later, I some how lost myself in the mix and didn't know who I was outside mommy and honey. Deciding to pick up reading again was huge for me, but I didn't know where to go, so I stuck to the usual and picked up Dean Koontz. But, I was grown and it didn't hold my attention anymore, so I looked elsewhere and tried to navigate the bookshelves unsure of where to go. The first few books I picked up were fiction, The Shack, Reservation Road, The Road. Though I enjoyed the stories, It didn't really do it for me. That's when I came across Larissa Ione and Adrian Phoenix. Grabbing them off the shelf opened a whole new world for me and it finally gave me what I was looking for. It was the romance genre that hooked me, paranormal, UF, Contemporary it all grabbed me. Those two authors are important to me because they gave me some of me back and released some of my stress. Lora Leigh's Nauti boy series was my first forray into erotic romance and after reading those books and delighting in how much I loved that extra spice it also opened me up to more new authors and books and it's hooked me even more. There is nothing like finding a book that leaves me breathless and totally turned on and my husband reaps the rewards when I all but pounce on him when he get's home form work :)

Author Missy Jane said...

Tracey, nice to meet you! I'm so glad you took that leap too. Of course, there's definitely something to be said for sexy vampires ;-)

Jolene, thanks so much for sharing! I'm glad you find me interesting enough to follow my tour, lol. I COMPLETELY understand about losing your sense of self when in "mommy" mode. And my hubby also reaps the rewards when I'm "researching" a new project ;-)

Thanks for the comments, ladies!

mariska said...

Hi Missy,
i think i'm kindda late with the Birthday blog tour { Happy Birthday ! :)] still thank you for sharing more of your life with us.

Reading is my hobby, And I was starting to read books in English, about two years ago. usually i read magazines or harry potter series :) Many things has changed. I know so many genres when i read English books. and one of the new for me author is you, Missy :)

Author Missy Jane said...

Welcome Mariska! Thanks for sharing and for being a reader of romance in any language :-)
You're not too late to enter the contest. I'll choose a winner later this afternoon (4ish CST)

Angie said...

All I can say is......You are soooo talented!!!!! Love you bunches

Siobhan Muir said...

Reading erotic romance has changed my approach to sex with my husband - and he certainly appreciates it. I have a mug that reads "My husband benefits from my reading habits" and I think we both have. Reading romance has given me a greater appreciation for communication between people - the fun of the conflict in the story is not fun in real life and seeing new ways around them has helped me tremendously!

Siobhan
nevadfoxATgmailDOTcom

Author Missy Jane said...

Angie, thanks!! (blushing now) ;-)

Siobhan, that's wonderful to know. Reading and writing romance definitely broadened my horizons.

And now it's time to choose today's winner...
(drumroll as I hop over to random.org)

And the winner is...
JOLENE! Congratulations!!!!
I think I still have your mailing address unless you've moved recently ;-)
Going to email you now.

Thanks everyone for your comments! Next chance to win is tomorrow :-D

mj said...

One more time!
Mara
marajbrandon@earthlink.net