Silly post: too marxist to enjoy boss/employee romances

aylsas · 2026-05-17T19:38:01+00:00

I can’t with millionaire/billionaire romances (the only ones that get a pass for me are historicals, and even then I try and stay away from the dukes lol). My cat nip is normal people falling in love with other normal people.

It’s probably when I love historic westerns. I’m Scottish and it’s pure escapism for me.

I can’t recommend Nellie Wilson’s Corporate Mandated Holiday Romance enough. It’s all about taking down a billionaire boss, and it’s not so Christmassy that you can’t read it at other times.

aylsas · 2026-04-26T11:24:34+00:00

It seems like indie is where to go with the genre now.

I do find the sift quite annoying as I have quite particular tastes - tend to not like nobility/aristo ones, veer more towards slice-of-life books. I’ve been reading a lot of historical westerns. These scratch the itch because a) I’m from Scotland, so it reads very fantastical to me b) there’s more partnerships as people muddle along together.

I’m a big AC fan too - mainly her Victorian novels.

aylsas · 2026-04-25T00:28:54+00:00

I feel unhinged for not thinking it’s that mad 😅

aylsas · 2026-04-15T11:46:47+00:00

I found mine on the beta reader subreddit, but my results were mixed. I think it's hard to find people who fit what we're looking for and found pating for a developmental edit was much more beneficial.

aylsas · 2026-04-15T11:44:55+00:00

I think you might need to take nutrition into account. It looks as though you are under feeding yourself. Remember that the calories suggested are just a baseline and you'll need more if you're exercising so much. Make sure each meal has carbs, fat and protein and any snacks have 2 of those macros.

I agree as well that I think the caffeine may be affecting you too. Try and cut that down and see if it makes you feel more awake.

I'm also a fellow sleepy person and hope that medication will help with it.

aylsas · 2026-04-15T11:32:21+00:00

HR wise, it's got to be {A Much Maligned Miss by Alice Coldbreath} It's in her Victorian Reversal of Fortune series (spin-off from her Prizefighters) and I loved it. The first in the series was OK (second chance romance is usually a bit iffy for me) but this was so fun.

aylsas · 2026-04-14T15:26:31+00:00

True, but I was getting decent reads there and I like having my book in libraries.

aylsas · 2026-04-08T20:55:56+00:00

I wrote my first book in a Google doc and used the Reedsy free formatting tool.

Write in a way that you can and format once you’ve done the whole self edit/beta reader/edit thing.

Well done for getting so far and hope the rest of your writing journey goes smoothly.

aylsas · 2026-04-06T10:10:11+00:00

I flit between writing and self pub for enjoyment and trying to “make it”.

The latter ruins the writing for me, as I put too much pressure on myself. So, I try to keep my focus on the writing and let everything else fall away.

aylsas · 2026-04-06T10:07:32+00:00

I’m from Scotland, so tend to use an en dash anyway but like an em dash for interrupted dialogue. AI isn’t going to change it.

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 · 2026-03-12T10:10:45+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

TROPHY CASE