T.G.I.M.

Thank God it's nearly Monday! It's been a long weekend, and I'm tired. I'm always relieved when Monday rolls around again. The normal routine starts over and things settle down so I can actually get some work done. Writing work, that is.

I've been giving a lot of thought lately to the word "unique." Editors are looking for western romance manuscripts that are unique. Well, what does that mean exactly? If something is unique, it's one of a kind. Kind of hard to wrap your head around in terms of writing a romance novel. How can anyone possibly write something that's never been done before? There are only so many plots and variations. The only thing different is the individual author's voice. Besides, based on past experience, while they say they want something completely different, that's never been done before, they also mean they want it to be the same. It must fit the normal parameters, or it will be an oddball that they wouldn't know how to market with other books of its kind. So what the heck do they really want? I think it's a case of, they can't put their finger on it, but they'll know it when they see it.

Who knows. This is the age-old question that's driven writers batty... well, for as long as I've been part of the writing community. It's a question I've wrestled with for the past eleven years. Maybe I should go back and read my own blog post where I advised, Write what you feel passionate about.

All I know is, I'm deep into a manuscript and have several more waiting in line. I have no idea if any of them would be considered unique. The only thing that makes them different is my voice and style. That all I can do, and I think it's a little late to start in on the vampire gunslinger idea Jan suggested I do a while back.

Devon