Thursday, September 21, 2006

The Dirty Mistress

I have discovered something about myself. If I stray too far from historical for too long, I begin to miss it like crazy. To the point where I start to go a little crazy. I begin to talk with an accent or develop a Scottish brogue. Or I'll speak with a slow drawl and start peppering my speech with words like 'yip' and 'I reckon'. Yesterday, I didn't leave the office; I decided it was time to git along and then I moseyed on down to my vehicle. I'm pretty sure I even had a hitch in my step.

This foray into writing contemporary has taught me one thing. While I love the contemporary stories waiting to be told, and I've found some great contemporary authors I will continue to read, my first love is historical. Contemporary is--in the words made infamous on Grey's Anatomy--my dirty mistress.

It adds variety, a little spice, some fun. It takes my mind off the drudgery of historical research and manners and proper speech. It satisfies my roving eye.


But I love historical and I'll never leave it to take up with contemporary full time.

3 comments:

Melissa Amateis said...

Since I've moved on to WWII stuff more than Regency England, I guess I'm technically still historical. I don't see myself straying out of that. But the one thing I do like is that WWII has a more contemporary voice, which is easier for me to write, I think.

Tempest Knight said...

Oh I know what you mean. I'm like that with paranormal romance. I began to write a contemporary, and it was fine. But I miss paranormal romance. I always need to go back to them.

Tess said...

I'm like you - as much fun as I'm having with planning my contemp story, it's the historical that holds my heart.

That goes for reading as well.