Rosey Lavender

The question: Hi! I'm {insert name here} and I'm a first-time writer. My problem is, I really don't know how to get started. Any advice for a first-time writer looking to write their first novel? The typical  answer: "Just do it." Okay, stop right freakin' there. Not only is that not GOOD advice. It's not advice! Just do it? Who the hell do you think you are? Nike? A person who doesn't know how to drive ... do you tell them to "just do it"? Lord, I hope not! If you don't know the answer to this very important question, quit typing down words to validate yourself or make yourself feel "smarter". Stop trying to appease this thing inside your head that convinces you, "Well, you're a writer, so tell them 'just do it'. It's short, sweet, and to the point." The longer version of "just do it" is: "Well, if you wanna write, just write!" No. Just ... no. This isn't good advice either. Som...

Hey, guys! Here are some of my upcoming projects. I'm working on manuscripts right now. I have to go through and do some editing and rewriting, and it's coming along. Not as quickly as I would like, but still... I'm trying to decide which road (publishing-wise) will be best for my brand of stories. I'm an erotica writer. I also have my toe dipped into a children's book (different pen name) and a book on pop culture and my experiences with it. There is also a biography in the works and a self-help-style thing that may just wind up being a blog. I don't feel I have enough material for it to be a book. If I decide to go with an agent, hopefully, there will be one who understands and shares my vision. When I write erotica and romance, I don't always keep just the woman's perspective. I try to show things from the man's point of view as well. I like to show what people are thinking, how they are feeling, and what they are going through. When you watch a m...

So, on my writing "journey" (that seems to be a popular word people love to use these days), I didn't know just how hard it could be to find a target audience. Even having blogs aren't as easy as they seem. You make content and hope for the best, often seeing no results. How do you stay positive and encouraged when you can't even seem to find others who think like you? You know thousands (perhaps even millions) are out there, but you just can't seem to locate them. The internet is a vast universe all its own. How do you locate "your people"? This is the struggle I have with YouTube. This is the struggle I have with WordPress. This is the struggle I have with Smashwords. Now, I wonder if it'll be the same here. I long to build my community. I just don't know how to put myself out there more to FIND my community. Meanwhile, I keep writing. I write my stories and hope for the best. I long to have my writing touch the hearts of many. Anyways, the...

So, this is my first post, ever. Well, on this site, at least. I'm Rose. I'm almost 45-years-old and it took me until a few years ago to take myself seriously as a writer. I have two eBooks published on Smashwords.com and I'll add the links to those stories when I'm done here. I'm a little nervous, but I really want to get my name out there. I use my writing as an outlet for my anger, sadness, and past trauma. In addition to turning people on, I think if people really read between the lines (pun intended), they'll get to the heart of what I'm doing and saying. Ya see I was married from 1998 until 2003. He filed for divorce in 2007 when he decided he wanted someone else. I didn't walk away from the marriage (though, I probably should have). He did. Our kids don't really even think of him as a father anymore. Yeah, I guess that's sad, but they aren't sad about it. They were angry for a very long time. Our oldest even tried to forge a relationsh...