I HAVE BECOME EVERYTHING I HATE.

[freyalorelei]

...I just realized, to my horror, that the strongest influence in my writing style has become....

(Brace yourselves, weak of heart.)

Laurell K. Hamilton. *thunderclap*

In a rare burst of creative inspiration, I was up until 4:30 in the morning writing what has evolved into a murder mystery with elves, and I say "murder mystery" in only the loosest

Comments

[gunblade_girl]

The name thing is a pretty cool coincidence!

Dude, I'm pretty sure there's a decent sized fanbase for what you're describing here. I'd read it.

[aylix_green]

I would, too...

Also, the random naming is awesomeness!

[freyalorelei]

Speaking of family. :D You're probably the only one I wouldn't be ashamed to show my work!

[freyalorelei]

See, that's more or less what I figured, but most even vaguely reputable mainstream-ish publishers like to see a thing known as "plot" in their manuscripts. Maybe I could sell it somewhere like Ellora's Cave, much as I'd hate to go that route. Gods know they publish enough porn as it is.

I just really, really want a fanbase for these characters, because I think they're awesome and I think other people would think they're awesome, and how cool would it be to see fan art and fic and cosplay of something I created? And I have VERY specific visuals for them, to the point where (and here's where the sad LKH similarities creep in) I can look at clothes or books or housewares in stores and think, that is TOTALLY something Evalloch or Valerian would wear or have! I HEAD-SHOP FOR MY CHARACTERS JUST LIKE LKH.

Simply put, I'm a fangirl for my own world, and I want other people to squee with me! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

[sinanju]

"... because not only is a good portion of it straight-up porn that my family could possibly read..."

This is what pen names are for. Your family need never know that Smutty McSmutwriter is you, unless you tell them.

I write and publish all my porn smut erotica under a pen name. I don't actually keep my pen name a secret; I figure that if my Southern Baptist parents/siblings want to read it, that's their lookout. But I could.

[freyalorelei]

Well, aylix_green is my real-life cousin, so at least one member of my family knows. :)

I would definitely use a pen name, because I do plan to be a technical writer as an actual career, and my real name is nearly identical to that of a Newbery Award-winning children's author. I've considered dropping the first name and using my middle and last, but the result sounds like a romance novelist...which considering my output, may not be the worst route to take.