First Person POV

I write in first person POV, which means my stories are "I did..." and "The water brushed my toes...". I like to think that the reader might be listening to someone telling them the story.

BUT

I have people read my work and hate it with a passion. The comments are: It's too personal. You can't read a sex scene where you're in it. You can't develop characters in first person (even though she liked my hero, who was not the story teller).

It's been a huge debate for me whether to continue with this way of writing or to change. In the last 2 years I've made a commitment to continue with first person, but some days my commitment wavers in the face of strong criticism.

I want to write in the first person because I strongly believe in it as a form of communication. In reality, you only ever know one person's side to any story - yours. You hear other people speak their side, but you still interpret it your way. So, to me, first person is closest to reality.

Most romances aren't written in first person and I wonder if that's because we don't want romance to be real. We want the story where we know how each person loves the other and we fight for both of them to overcome their hurdles to end up together.

I think my romances are real... but I have to admit I struggle getting the happily ever after ending. I go for the happy for now ending - it's more realistic :)

Hope this story is true...

My Dad gave the little book of stories (Gotta Have It: 69 stories of sudden sex) that I’m published in to one of his mates months ago at a “do”. Dad wouldn’t tell him which story was mine and told him he had to guess. Yesterday he went to the next "do", and his mate returned the book in a brown paper bag!!! He told Dad he and his girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed it but he had no idea which story I could have possibly written (when he last saw me, I would have been... hmmm... maybe 15). However, they had a favourite, one about a surfer. Dad looks at him and says, “Gee, I think Cate’s was about a surfer.” Dad fumbles through the book to find me (he thinks my name is Eltink or Ellitink or something) and they stumble across me. Much to the mate’s embarrassment and Dad’s pride, it’s the same story - Pain Surfer.

I'm on cloud 9. I just hope Dad hasn't invented his tale!

Contest feedback

I entered my "black moment" into a contest and got some good scores and a not so good one... but the not so good one was the best of that kind, so that's a plus!

First person, present tense throws people completely. But I like writing like that. Do I persist or do I give in and change? I'm a stubborn thing and I like to do things differently. I think for now I'll persist.

And I need a bit more scenery and emotion. Too easy!

Now, just waiting on the contest feedback for the beginning. I hope it's as positive.

That Connection Moment

There's something wonderful about that moment when you catch another's eye and that connection happens. That jolt in your stomach, the sweat on your palms, the certainty. But how do you describe that? What does it mean? I keep trying to replay the times it's happened to me but it's such a quick event, it's difficult to capture. It's frustrating me to know in my head what it is but be unable to put it on paper.

And what do those moments mean? Are we connecting with someone we know/knew? Or is it pheromones clicking? Or is it something else entirely?