Here I Am

Apologies for taking so long to introduce myself, but here I am. My name is Lauren, and I'm Leigh Anna's new coblogger. (Is that even a word?) I write fantastic fiction of various sorts, and also work in the production editorial department for a major publishing company, which leads to all sorts of interesting insights as an aspiring writer. I'll do my best to be here regularly, discussing the ins and outs of writing and publishing. I think for today, since it's my first post, I'm just going to say a couple of vague, pertinent things.
First, don't be afraid. Write what you want to write, how you want to write it. It takes time to develop both a good writing habit and a body of solid writing. Be patient with yourself. Don't be afraid of writing junk. Don't be afraid of the blank page before you. Don't be afraid that no one will like your story, or that it will never sell because there are tons of books in that genre already. If you let fear paralyze you, you won't get anywhere.
Second, keep reading. I firmly believe that you cannot be a good writer without being a good reader. You need to know what's out there and what's selling. And, even more importantly, reading books helps you grow as a writer. You'll learn about story arcs, about developing characters, about good descriptive passages, about how to write a hot sex scene, etc., etc., etc.
Third, do your research. I know that if you write genre fiction there's a temptation to just say "Well, I created the world my book takes place in, so I can just make it up however I want." But the truth of the matter is, consistency is important. If you're writing urban fantasy in eighteenth-century London, find a map of the city appropriate to the time period. Look into the slang people used then. Find out what people wore. If your fiction takes place in the now, and has some real people/places/things entwined with your fiction, make sure that whatever you say about those real things is accurate. (I know researching is often not as fun as writing. But trust me. Readers notice when things are askew.)
There we go. A solid trio of things for you to ponder. Have a good weekend, everyone!