Sci-Fi to Smut? My Genre Shift | Apr 14, 2025
It had been ages since I'd been trapped in the relentless cycle of computer-based training, or CBT hell, a place all too familiar from my military days. These sessions were once a constant, monotonous presence, but now, they rarely intrude on my life. However, starting a new job brought them crashing back into my routine. Yesterday alone, I slogged through eight of them. One module even boasted an absurd twenty CBTs on a range of topics, each more tedious than the last. This grueling in-processing devoured my entire Sunday.
As I endured this mind-numbing ordeal, I found myself distracted by an idea that had been simmering in the back of my mind: the book jam challenge. Frustration gnawed at me for not dedicating time to it over the weekend. Instead, my focus had shifted to RiftWarden, a novella I'd been pouring my heart into. I composed a song and crafted some graphics for it, feeling satisfied with its progress.
Yet, amidst the dull CBTs, I kept returning to the Bookjam concept. Could I write an entire novel in a weekend? Not just a day, but two full days? The challenge intrigued me. While working through these boring modules, I tinkered with the idea on my laptop.
The hardest part for me was relinquishing control over the writing process. I'm used to crafting every word meticulously, but this exercise demanded speed over style. My default writing style tends to be experimental and sometimes hard to follow. But for this project, it was about producing something quickly and efficiently.
I ventured into romantic suspense—a genre far from my usual interests. Romance readers devour stories voraciously compared to other genres like sci-fi or historical fiction. Writing romance seemed like tapping into a goldmine of eager readers who consume books at an astonishing pace.
The idea was simple: create stories that cater to reader satisfaction rather than personal expression. Romance novels thrive on predictable yet compelling love stories filled with obstacles and juicy secrets. It's formulaic but effective.
Despite my initial disinterest in romance, I conducted thorough research on what makes these novels successful. Using AI tools like Google Gemini, I delved into reports on reader preferences and genre expectations. Armed with this knowledge, I felt prepared to construct something appealing.
Even though this genre wasn't my passion, I saw it as a strategic move—a creatively corporate endeavor. My wife didn't share my enthusiasm for romance novels either, which led me to consider using a pen name for these books. After some debate (and rejecting Danger Lyric as too outlandish), I decided that the pen name would help separate these works from my main body of writing.
These books would be exclusive to Kindle Unlimited—a platform teeming with voracious readers primarily in the US. Though I'm not fond of being tied to Amazon's ecosystem, it's where the hungry readers are.
If any of these low-risk romance books took off, I'd know how to capitalize on their success—leveraging graphics and distribution skills to build momentum.
This venture marked uncharted territory for me—pushing AI capabilities and diving into an unfamiliar genre with business acumen guiding each step. Ultimately, it was about generating funds to fuel the stories I truly wanted to tell.
And so began my journey into the world of romantic suspense—a calculated risk aimed at balancing creative fulfillment with financial stability.
Cereus & Limnic: Escape From Okinawa | Reviewed Technical Report
Reading "Infinite Jest" pg 547 - 548
t()() "isky - "writing with symbols"
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