Square Pegs and Round Holes

You know, if you don't fit, you just don't fit.

I tried to write a romance. Okay, it was a romantic suspense. And it looked like it might turn out okay. I did it because I was told that romance was the way to go, the way to break into publishing because it is romance that sells.

Like I said, it looked like it might have been okay. But then, what if I did break into being published with a romance. THEN I'd have to write another one, and another one, and another one. And honestly, I don't think I'm capable of writing that many romances before being allowed to write what I really wanted to write.

Plus, I would have built up a readership that expected romances. And if I ever branched out into anything else, a certain percent of those readers would feel betrayed. And the last thing a writer wants to do is to betray their readers.

So, I think the best thing for any writer to do is to write what is in their heart. I'm not saying that they should never listen to the advice of others. I'm just saying that if you really are a square peg, don't try to smash yourself down to fit into a round hole just to get published. You might be able to keep it up for a while. But in the end, you have to be true to yourself.