I accepted an offer that paid me $400 a month for a 288-page manuscript. Soft porn. It was easy as long as you intermittently tossed in some sex. Sex is a major part of almost all novels today. I developed my style, got paid on time, and learned the fundamentals of characterization and plotting. Nothing could have been easier.

Now, before you get all excited, your future readers will not be interested in, nor should they be, how you learned and improved your craft.

Times have changed. Today, nobody cares who your characters sleep with. They want stories that will be page-turners. In other words, they can’t wait to see what’s on the next page, in the next chapter, and a gratifying coda.

There are certainly other ways to hone the work, but a beginner will not be judged on his or her writing education. Later on, when you become a successful novelist or biographer, your readers will be interested in your work, not how you learned. You might enjoy writing porn, and believe me, there is a big market for it, and it pays well. Good porn writers are earning six figures annually.

I’m reminded of what my son often reminds me: “Dad, times have changed. Society today is a lot more liberal.”

I am always available on Gmail to answer any questions you might have. So don’t hesitate to give me a hoot and a holler if you need help. Just sayin’.

rustystrait@gmail.com

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