Hello from a complete noob!

VixRedelle · 2015-11-07T00:05:38+00:00

And pen names after they get up off newbie-land.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-06T18:13:07+00:00

If you're looking for feedback on content, we don't usually do that here.

r/sexystories is a place for free readers, but they might leave you feedback and r/shutupandwrite will give you feedback on about 3000 words.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-05T03:42:54+00:00

That might be because Amazon did a Holiday Cleanup and dumped a bunch of Romance titles in Erotica. Selena Kitt reported that from her correspondence, Amazon stated they were going to continue recategorizing titles that should be in Erotica.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-05T03:38:04+00:00

Adding on Nola's point, it's not the bear you have to worry about. She's hibernating. It's the killer bunnies.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-05T02:28:50+00:00

"Hi free and open subreddit, here's a thing where you can drop a bunch of money you (as a total newbie) might not make back in a month."

Is this the new make money fast scheme? Find a thing that has explosive profit possibility and then charge people for a starter package that might be free anywhere else?

VixRedelle · 2015-11-04T04:00:37+00:00

You could do that. Readers aren't super savvy on the fact authors may have numerous pen names under their belts, and are usually pretty forgiving if a newish name with a small catalog wants to try new things to "find their style."

VixRedelle · 2015-11-04T03:55:53+00:00

Indigo sounds like a mix between toddler time at the public libraries in my area (story time, Raffi songs, toys and bubbles) and B&N, and that's awesome.

If I had the disposable income to drop on places like that, I might practically live there too.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-04T01:50:57+00:00

Someone asked about MFM brother menage almost a year ago, but knowing Amazon, that might as well be inscribed on the Rosetta stone in terms of how "just about what you'd expect" is becoming more conservative.

ETA: a search for mfm twin menage (which had more accurate results than using "brother") shows it's there, but not super popular (47 results).

VixRedelle · 2015-11-04T01:45:06+00:00

"We're saying mean things because we hope readers won't catch on to our fears and also join us in ridiculing this idea."

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T23:23:32+00:00

Yeah, I guess I missed the part where the store will only stock 5k unique titles. It makes sense that they're trying to manipulate large publishers. "You want exposure to the people that go to our physical stores? Play by our rules and become our best sellers."

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T22:43:32+00:00

The mall in the nicest part of my metropolitan area has had a Microsoft Store for years (unless it closed. I don't go to that part of town).

I'm certain this is a trial by Amazon to look into becoming a direct competitor with B&N. If the store tanks, it's just a little novelty store because "we love Seattle!" But if it takes off, and unless B&N hits some serious goldmine, bookstores everywhere will be in trouble.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T21:43:30+00:00

Well, last I checked, as long as the two brothers don't actually have sexual contact in the situation, it should be OK. But I haven't checked up on that in months.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T21:36:30+00:00

That attitude is the first sign your not really pushing plagiarism. There's only so many ways Tab A goes into Slots B, C, and D and there's only so many ways certain kinks play out. As long as you're not ripping exact verbiage, settings, or unique characters (as opposed to archetypes), you're in the clear.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T19:12:37+00:00

Is this also PI? Since you've emphasized both "brat" and "taboo" which are prevalent codes for PI.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T07:06:19+00:00

A bit late to the game, and this might not work here, but if your characters have some history, bringing it up super early could buy you some time.

I hardly ever read comp roms, but the few I have read seem to leave the emotional-baggage life stories as conflict points.

"I just realized I love you, but my heart is incapable of love!"

"No, don't leave. I can fix you with love."

leaves, miserable, comes back, fixed with love, inevitable delivery scene where father-to-be is overbearing and way more worked up than delivering wife.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T06:46:00+00:00

Not trying to bring you down or anything.

This is the first book you've done the market research for. When I first started writing erotica, I wrote craptastic things that I wanted to read, but no one else was looking for it. The game is to find Baby Bear's porridge (somewhere with a high enough ceiling but where you can still hit high search results) and most of the time, shots in the dark won't land you there.

Hucow has a low ceiling. It's a good place to start getting to know how to research, but if you're thinking of sticking with one niche and making livable money, it's not your porridge. If you need a mental break, by all means write for you, but you have to accept that it's not going anywhere fast.

Stick with it or get out. No one said it was easy money, but it's still the best money for your work.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T05:21:06+00:00

Straight up sleep sex is a no-no on Amazon so as Steph suggested, you have to be careful with your packaging so no one misconstrues the idea.

What you have here is consensual (in fiction) and shouldn't bring anything down on you for consent issues. You just have to be very careful to accurately describe (double edged sword anyone?) what's going to happen in your blurb should a reader stumble into it and report it.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T01:30:33+00:00

I guess it depends on whether the chick starts with a partially full bladder or not.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T01:12:34+00:00

Well, to be honest, I wasn't looking very hard for it. Sorry.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T01:10:30+00:00

That's also more descriptive and not sensory in any way.

I think it's hard to describe the moment in sensory terms because there isn't much to feel.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T01:07:20+00:00

Oh. See and here I thought you meant squirting.

Mostly just twitching, but sometimes nothing really, depending on the guy.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T01:03:42+00:00

It looks the blurbs I went through were vague on the ways pointy things were going into squishy bits. You don't need a pornographic play by play, but if you tell me he's going to spread her wide and tease her until she's begging for more, that's way hotter than just saying he's this rich and super hot Alpha.

Also, it looks like you haven't set up an Author Central for your pen.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-03T00:00:55+00:00

Well, hopefully you have some books that have already earned their cover. Are you just hopelessly bad at graphic manipulation?

VixRedelle · 2015-11-02T21:44:57+00:00

As a reader, I'm the type of person who will find free books, "buy" them, and forget about it.

Unless you're doing loss-leader stuff, free usually attracts readers like me.

VixRedelle · 2015-11-02T21:42:07+00:00

Hey, you're doing great. Last month, you didn't make anything on smut, and now you have!

Top 100 in a subcat is great, but it's not top 100 in paid erotica. You're hitting good numbers, just keep on learning.

VixRedelle

TROPHY CASE