Before I Was a Romance Writer by Kait Ballenger

”You did whhhaattt?” is usually the first response I get from readers when they hear that once-upon-a-time before I became a full-time romance writer, I was a professional bellydancer by trade.

To be fair, I wasn’t only a professional bellydancer. I held a few strange jobs before romance writer finally became my official title. My husband and I live in a small town in Central Florida, which let’s be honest, doesn’t boast the world’s greatest job market. We’re only a hop, skip and a jump from Entertainment/AmusmentPark-landia: formerly known as Orlando, so when I finished my undergraduate degree and got married shortly thereafter, I knew I couldn’t afford to be picky when it came to jobs in the service and entertainment industry. Plus, to be truthful, being a bellydancer is great fun, it didn’t pay too badly, and I had been studying it as a hobby for years prior! And did I mention the gorgeous sparkly costumes and fun props? I own several swords, ya’ll. 

Anyway, in my crazy job list, I’ve worked as a bingo caller/activities director for dementia patients, a phlebotomist (aka a real life vampire), an adjunct English and business professor, and a professional bellydancer (and instructor) all before settling on romance author. Sound kooky enough?
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​So how does my experience as a dancer have anything to do with my writing? Well, I’m glad you asked.

Here’s 4 ways being a professional bellydancer prepares you to be a romance author:

1. You’re used to performing in front of large crowds of people
Sure, when you write a book you’re not technically standing in front of an audience, but if you plan to publish that book, you might as well be. In time, that book will reach readers and that’s when the performance really begins. Every time I sit down to write a new book in my Seven Range Shifter series, where the sexy heroes are cowboys by day, wolf shifters by night, I try to keep that performance aspect (aka what my readers would love to see in mind). It’s that mentality of performing for your audience of readers that helped create some of my favorite moments in my newest release, book 3 in the Seven Range Shifter series, Wicked Cowboy Wolf. Like an adorable teacup pig by the name of Tucker who I just know readers are going to love (and who, by the way, is real and owned by my mother).

2. You’ve learned to accept criticism with grace.
Not everyone is going to love your books, the same way everyone is not going to love every dance you do, every costume you wear, every prop you add to your performance, every song you choose—and you learn that that’s okay. Your books (or your performance art) shouldn’t be for everyone. You find your audience. Not everyone will love the idea of cowboy wolves or paranormal romance with a western twist, though I certainly do, but if you’re the type of reader who loves dark, sexy paranormal romances ala JR Ward with a hint of occasional witty banter, and you don’t mind a western twist being thrown in, you might love my cowboy wolves too ;-)

3. You know how to be devoted to constantly bettering your craft.
I strive for every book to be better than my last, just like a performer is constantly working to maintain, hone, and perfect dance skills. I used to spend hours practicing certain moves for my bellydance performances, now its hours perfecting my craft and writing skills via workshops, podcasts, tutorials, etc.

4. You’re used to people looking down on or not approving of what you do.
Just as we romance readers have all heard that our genre is little more than bodice-ripping guilty pleasures (newsflash: it’s not- it’s smart, feminist fiction written by, for, and about women), bellydancers hear all the time that they are little more than glorified strippers (newsflash: they’re not, it’s a legitimate dance form deep rooted in Middle Eastern culture, and legitimate dancers keep their clothes on at all times). Haters might hate, no matter whether you’re a romance author or a bellydancer, but we here at Romance Reads know that when you can find your own personal happily-ever-after, whether it be in the pages of a steamy romance novel like Wicked Cowboy Wolf, or on the performance stage at Ali Baba House of Kabobs, you deserve that little bit of happiness for yourself.
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Dance on and read on, Romancelandia!
Xoxo
Kait

Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2N4JcY6
B&N: http://bit.ly/2SX2oLb
Apple: https://apple.co/2QSgZVn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/37F2rz6
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2QRs7C5
BAM: http://bit.ly/2QXae4P
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