The Thriller Writer Amongst Romance Writers

I value my connection with the local writing community. When I started on my writing journey, it was the knowledge and experience of other writers that helped me to see where I can improve and how to do it. I wouldn't be the writer I am today without the other writers I've met over the years. It's my support network, and when the self-doubt monster attacks, that support network is vital.

Under ideal circumstances, writers should associate with other writers who write similar genres and enjoy reading similar stories, but that's not always possible. Sometimes, personality plays a role, as do ambitions and dreams. In those cases, there are other options available, if you are willing to reach outside your comfort zone.

Insights into my personal journey

In the beginning, I was surrounded by those who wrote speculative fiction. I was writing high fantasy, and it seemed like the group would be a perfect fit. As I developed my writing skills and became more ambitious, my philosophies and beliefs deviated too far away from the group.

A close writing buddy of mine insisted that I join Romance Writers of New Zealand (RWNZ)—and I was incredibly resistant.

"I don't write romance. I write speculative fiction and thrillers."

"But you need to surround yourself with writers serious about publication. That's the next step in your journey."

I went kicking and screaming, but I'm so glad I went. Not only have I learned so much about the publication process as a whole, but my preconceived ideas about the romance genre were blown to smithereens.

The wolf amongst the sheep

I'm not ashamed to admit that my stories are far from innocent. It's become a running joke among my writing buddies: "How many people died in this manuscript?" And to date, I have only written one story where no one died—and my friends all thought I was ill when I wrote it—until they read it and cursed at me for making them cry.

Yeah, I have been jokingly dubbed the Queen of Violence, because I take perhaps a little too much joy in blowing up entire villages. And the writers around me…

Sometimes, I feel like the wolf amongst the sheep. But this wolf has become viciously protective of the herd.

Every single writer I associate with regularly is 100% dedicated to their craft. Not only are they serious about developing their skills and writing exceptional emotionally driven stories, but they are also serious about what it will take to get their work out there.

When I joined RWNZ back in 2017, the Christchurch chapter was a mixture of those who were pre-published, self-published, and traditionally published. There was even the odd hybrid amongst the group who was both self- and traditionally published. Because of it, I was able to gain an insight into the publication process that I would have never been able to gain any other way. But more importantly, I found a group of people who understood the obsession that writing is—and they understood my ambition.

Even though I didn't write romance, I could still provide feedback on the others' stories. There were a few in the group working on romantic suspense or fantasy romance. Because of my speculative fiction and thriller background, I could comment on the tropes specific to those elements they had never considered before.

And my preconceived ideas about the romance genre…

Romance writers are successful for a reason!

I honestly thought romance consisted of Mills & Boon, but it is so much more than that. So much so, that I've discovered that my high fantasy series is actually a fantasy romance, though I would never market it as such—because of the misconceptions out there associated with the romance genre.

And something else I learned… Romance writers are business savvy. They know exactly what it takes to take that unpublished manuscript and turn it into a diamond that can feed your family.

All these years later, and I still attend the RWNZ chapter meetings on a semi-regularly, despite the fact that I don't want to be a romance writer. (I have too much fun blowing things up and killing people on paper.) Because of the level of violence within my personal writing, I'm often unable to share my stories with the others in RWNZ, but there are certain aspects of the publication journey common to all genres.

RWNZ supporting all writers—regardless of genre

There are several writing organizations within New Zealand, and some of them are genre specific. RWNZ caters mostly for romance writers, but over the last few years, I have noticed more and more other genres creeping into the mix.

Sometimes, it is an established romance writer who has turned to writing cozy mysteries (or some other genre) in recent years. Others, like myself, have recognized that RWNZ is one of the few organizations in the country who hosts regular conferences and events for members. They provide the opportunity for writers to develop their skills. And the knowledge base that is at the fingertips… So much knowledge about publishing and marketing.

With the recent changes in the publishing landscape, in a large part thanks to COVID, discussions have been bandied around about where to go to next. Even though there are no solid answers as to where the industry is heading, the support from the collective group as we navigate the muddy waters together is fantastic.

Within recent years, the dynamic of the RWNZ Christchurch chapter has changed. While there is still a healthy mix of pre-published and published authors, those who are traditionally published are no longer as active as they once were—in part because they have deadlines they need to meet. Even so, the accountability and supportive community fostered within the group is something that I found incredibly valuable and cherish.

This wolf amongst the sheep is viciously protective of the RWNZ Christchurch community.

Don't discount groups because of genre.

Writers should connect with other writers who work in similar genres. But it is more important to connect with writers who are on a similar journey to yourself. There is so much one can learn from those who have already taken steps towards publication that you have yet to take.

Don't discount the groups focused towards different genres than what you write. Just because RWNZ has romance in the group's title does not mean that romance is all that the members write. Sure, I'm one of the few in the group who has zero interest in becoming a romance writer (even though I have plans to write the odd romantic suspense and to eventually go back my high fantasy series which turns out to be a fantasy romance). There is still so much I can learn from those around me about the publishing industry.

I'm a thriller writer surrounded by romance writers. And I will continue to be so for years to come.