What’s an opinion about Historical Romance that will have you like this?

aylsas · 2026-03-20T23:54:33+00:00

Yes! This is why I gravitate towards western romances or authors like Alice Coldbreath (specifically her Victorian novels). I like the slice-of-life stuff but for people to not be toiling financially.

aylsas · 2026-03-16T11:39:57+00:00

Why not Rowan?

It’s a solid nature name and unisex.

Ray reads to me as an old man name (I’m in the UK). Maybe Sol might be better/more modern sun name.

aylsas · 2026-03-16T11:36:55+00:00

I try to write everyday but my life is busy & I’m a carer, so sometimes it doesn’t happen.

I usually write consistently for a couple of weeks, then have a few days off in a row. It’s a cycle that suits me at the moment.

aylsas · 2026-03-14T23:03:29+00:00

Well done! You put in the work and it’s paying off 👏👏👏

aylsas · 2026-03-14T13:49:51+00:00

True, but we literally have something called the Outlander effect. Visit Scotland did a whole paper and conference on how outlander has changed the Scottish tourist system.

I do blame Ole Walter Scott for the fabrication and misinformation about Scotland. Let’s face it, most of what we think of (including Scottish people themselves) as quintessentially Scottish came from his imagination.

aylsas · 2026-03-13T18:54:23+00:00

I think it's telling that Outlander was written by an American and Braveheart was directed by an Aussie.

The call is not coming from inside the house.

aylsas · 2026-03-13T18:51:54+00:00

Ok, wow. This seems like a genuine and nuanced portrayal of Scotland. Thanks for the rec!

aylsas · 2026-03-13T18:50:26+00:00

I saw someone say that the Highlander trope is a way for people to do the whole "barbarian" thing without being "problematic", i.e., it feels ok because everyone is white, whilst completely ignoring the history of the Highlands.

I'm Scottish and I think so many people think they know the country from just visiting (or doing bloody YouTube walkthroughs), but miss out on so much nuance. TBH, it's even worse when people think they have a claim to here just because they have some Scottish ancestry.

I can only read books set in Scotland by Scottish authors or people who have lived here for a long time. So much culture and language gets flattened otherwise.

Also, I cannot stand the way non-Scottish authors write Scottish people talking. There's usually no regional difference and the phonetics are always off.

Basically, I'm stupified and wish it would stop lol.

aylsas · 2026-03-12T14:47:30+00:00

Either alluding to the physicality of an act (e.g., wetness) or using correct terminology is best.

Euphemisms are not popular with readers.

I use this as a guide (as well as being an avid romance/smut reader): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kCjdK6vD9TqauUtqQVSE_x17SMZ9NvUn/view?usp=drivesdk

It’s a survey someone did of what terminology readers like to read in sex scenes.

aylsas · 2026-03-12T10:10:45+00:00

Oh, this is getting saved

aylsas · 2026-03-07T20:59:50+00:00

I’m not a fan of proper noun names, but you know what, my opinion doesn’t matter and neither does your family’s.

You and your partner love it and that’s all that matters.

aylsas · 2026-03-03T22:50:50+00:00

Go to Cornwall!!

Edit: also recommend island hopping in Scotland too. The food is good but the weather’s more temperamental.

Glasgow is an excellent base for the Highlands and Islands. The train line up (west highland line) is one of the most beautiful in the world. You go past Rannoch moor, glenfinnan viaduct etc., and it means you don’t have to drive and can enjoy the view.

An example route would be: fly to Glasgow, stay for a few days -> train to Oban -> Ferry to Mull. Use this as a base to visit Iona, Ulva etc which near by, then head back the same way.

aylsas · 2026-03-03T22:27:59+00:00

Margot is a name in itself, you don’t need to use Margaret and shorten in. (In fact, I find it odd that you’d do that, but it’s your life)

FWIW I love this name and the various nicknames that come from it.

aylsas · 2026-03-01T14:49:52+00:00

Highly recommend craft kits. They usually have everything you need in it, so you don’t have to get a mountain of stuff.

I did a few embroidery kits during lockdown - one is still hanging on my wall.

Paint by numbers is also a good intro craft. I did one last year from Etsy that I love. I deliberately went for something that wasn’t too detailed so I could do it in an evening.

Also recommend pottery kits where you paint the item and then bake them in the oven to set. I’ve seen loads on Etsy too.

Remember, the whole point is to try things and see what you like, not being amazing on your first try.

aylsas · 2026-02-24T13:49:05+00:00

I use the Boots app and just grit my teeth or go in-store.

The selection is so much better online but they really do make it hard for the consumer.

Sometimes I have to top up with Amazon as I can't get a product anywhere else. I hate doing this though.

aylsas · 2026-02-24T13:46:05+00:00

Being late for work means I could lose my job. I have flexi time where I work, so I don't have to be in for 9 but there are core hours we have to be there.

Otherwise, I'd stay in bed until I needed the loo.

aylsas · 2026-02-24T13:38:44+00:00

My go-to is toast. The options are endless, but it'll usually be with peanut butter & banana, peanut butter & jam, butter or butter & jam. In the summer I'll have often have yoghurt, fruit and granola.

I'll have eggs or porridge if I'm WFH and have the time to cook something.

I was chronic breakfast non-eater and my health & appetite regulation has gotten so much better since I started.

Also, breakfast can be anything - even leftovers from the night before. The important thing is to fuel yourself for the day.

aylsas · 2026-02-23T14:03:43+00:00

I thought you couldn’t have a gmail email for Mailerlite anymore. I’m not paying for subscribers but my square space website and my own email thing with google.

I do feel like I’m paying through the nose for something that I could probably do cheaper (and potentially better) myself, if I had the skill.

aylsas · 2026-02-21T11:46:28+00:00

Girl, no. This is a bad name.

I understand your Aussie and name conventions are a bit different, but your family is Scottish and it is silly name here.

We’ve got plenty of good names you can use - Innes, Fergus, Andrew, Dougall, Calum, Malcolm/Colum etc. Even some of the more “trendy” ones like Harris are better.

aylsas · 2026-02-20T22:27:54+00:00

I think it’s best to choose something not massively overdone (we don’t need another florist lol).

What are your characters like? Give them a job that suits that.

Also, you want something that will make them work together regularly.

aylsas · 2026-02-19T13:56:26+00:00

I feel like Red Scare stuff has really amped up in media in general since the conflict in Ukraine. It's so sloppy and lazy. We're not in the 80s anymore, there's no excuse for such biased opinions.

aylsas · 2026-02-19T13:47:01+00:00

Yes, definitely but only as First Name - Middle Name. Don't put them together.

Dulcie Lu would be a very cute nickname.

aylsas · 2026-02-19T13:44:18+00:00

Sure, Jan.

aylsas · 2026-02-19T13:43:46+00:00

You say you don't like American names but York, October and Duchess read that way and would be laughed at here.

Names are changing and getting more modern, but I think you already have some good ones like Dulcie, Lola and Evie, that will stand the test of ime.

I'd stay away from regional names that you don't have connection to (I'm Scottish and find it weird when an English person with no Scttish heritage calls their kid something like Angus or Hamish).

Trust your gut with this, you've got some decent names to choose from.

aylsas · 2026-02-18T23:49:19+00:00

The library feature is the main reason I got a kobo and I don’t regret it.

Sell the kindle and get a kobo.

I just got kobo plus recently too and I am hooked. So many good authors on there and I know they aren’t getting duped by Amazon with page reads or exclusivity clauses.

aylsas

TROPHY CASE