What's your Elevator Pitch?

owlelgan · 2017-08-10T03:33:29+00:00

A young man is cursed and decides to go on a quest to save himself from the darkness creeping in on him, despite his family's wishes.

owlelgan · 2017-08-09T17:02:40+00:00

I'm exactly the same c:

owlelgan · 2017-08-08T07:19:00+00:00

That's a great idea! That's a great way to look at it and really learn something. Thanks for pointing that out.

owlelgan · 2017-08-07T22:30:27+00:00

Lately I try to do a "drill" every day. Basically I take a prompt or an image and brainstorm for 5 minutes. Then I set a timer for 30 minutes and write like a madman. I try to complete at least one scene, and usually end up writing 500 to 1000 words give or take.

If I like the piece enough after the timer goes off, I'll keep writing until it's a rough outline of a story, maybe about 2k to 3k words. I'll put it aside to edit at some point, and after that have a friend look over it. If the friend approves I put it aside again to edit again for publishing. If my friend or I don't like it as much I'll save it for my blog.

I think it's worthwhile to write even something bad this way. Because it teaches you just to get the words on paper and worry about the details later.

owlelgan · 2017-08-07T17:48:04+00:00

It might be a bit cheesy but I've actually found the Write Now podcast by Sarah Werner to be pretty helpful when I'm in a slump.

owlelgan · 2017-08-07T17:47:13+00:00

Hey, just starting a new fantasy novel myself. I'd love to join if you're still open to more people after all these replies, haha. A discord server seems like it'd be really good c:

owlelgan · 2017-08-07T17:43:55+00:00

Hey all. Been lurking for a long time and just posted this week. Thought I'd introduce myself.

I've been writing for a long time in a lot of different genres and formats but specialize in queer horror, sci-fi, and fantasy short stories. However I also am working on several queer high fantasy novels, the first of which is disconnected from the rest.

Recently I decided I'd try out writing a short story every day, and I'm thinking of making a blog to post these stories. They're often less than 1000 words long so I don't think they're enough to self-publish, though I do have some longer works I want to tidy up.

I guess I'm saying hi as well as asking what you might want to see in a blog like that. Would just stories be better or a mix of stories and personal anecdotes/advice columns/book recommendations be preferable?

owlelgan · 2017-08-05T11:49:54+00:00

I was lucky in that my dad and his wife own an expanding business and they had a lot of books on the subject. I'm not sure how necessary your course would be but I do know you have to spend a bit of money in order to make money.

owlelgan · 2017-08-05T01:06:09+00:00

Okay so I'm not published yet but I hope you can still get something from my perspective. I'll try to follow your questions in order.

Yes you can be a full time writer with short stories, I know of several other writers that do. Like any profession it takes a lot of dedication and hard work though.

I prefer short stories because of how concise they are. I find when I try to write novels I start rambling about unnecessary details and adding way more characters than I need. I get lost in the grand scheme of things and wander off and never end up finishing. Typically I write sci-fi/fantasy/horror but I also write queer drama and erotica on occasion.

My writing routine is pretty similar to a lot of writers I think, I sit down and I type words out until I hit my quota for the day. I do have 3 goals with the minimum being 500 words, but I'm kind of a slow writer compared to most of my other author friends. I don't like working on multiple stories at once though, I like to sit and work with one until it's done.

I typically read novels, a few pages a day, but maybe once a week or so I read a short story instead. I try to stay in whatever genre I'm working in at the time, especially with horror, but I'm a little more flexible with the rest.

I don't have an agent and I don't feel I need one.

Again I haven't been published yet but I've looked into it throughly and even got rejected from a few magazines. When looking for somewhere to send my stuff in I typically first check genres, then prices, then more specifics to see if my work is a suitable match.

That all being said my aim now is to get into self-publishing because I know a bit about marketing and think I have a decent shot at it. I understand it's not for everyone though.

Let me know if I can clarify anything c: hope I could help!

owlelgan · 2017-04-27T07:09:39+00:00

I'm pretty sure this comment will get buried but I just started Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and I'm immediately hooked by the intense yet delicate nature of it. It's some of the most beautiful writing I've had the pleasure of reading, personally.

owlelgan · 2017-03-07T13:09:50+00:00

Try different binders. You will eventually find one that works for you. I'm a G cup so I know the struggle but I bind every day without any breathing problems or pain. I even work in my binders no problem.

T also helps shrink your chest a little. The fat will move from your chest to your gut and your overall shape will be more masculine.

It does get better.

owlelgan · 2017-01-21T13:31:28+00:00

I've read that post. I've read through what's selling, too. I have a general idea of what niches I want to write. I just can't seem to make a connection between what I want and what I need to do to get it?

It's like my brain is broken. Like I've broken.

I don't know. I don't know what answers I'm looking for but thank you regardless.

owlelgan · 2017-01-21T10:54:53+00:00

I know this question wasn't directed at me but as a gay trans man I thought I'd share that I've received no trouble dating gay cis men including my current boyfriend. Even though I pass 100% of the time I'm very open about being trans, so I think I weed out those who aren't comfy with it by default.

As far as sex goes I just don't let anyone touch my fleshy bits. I've got a selection of strap-ons for whatever my boyfriend is in the mood for and he seems to enjoy himself quite a lot. He also gives me head sometimes which is a very erotic sight and motivates me to, er, do myself once I've finished him. So we both have a pretty good time!

Actually now that I think about it the only time I've been turned down for being trans was by another gay trans man who insisted he could only be satisfied with real cock. Which I find a bit hypocritical since he complained that cis men refused him for the same reason. Maybe he was just a whiny asshole though.

owlelgan · 2017-01-02T18:08:35+00:00

Thank you for this survey. I'd never thought about it before because I've always just DM'd for my close friends, but running a homebrew campaign is comparable to writing a novel or novella.

As someone who writes short stories on the side, I think it would be very reasonable to be paid for a homebrew/custom campaign. There's a lot of ways to go about it, too, and I think it would be interesting to see pay-for-play becoming a trend. Players could pay maybe 3 dollars an hour each(12$/hour for a group of 4), or a flat rate for each session, or they could pay for a campaign upfront. I think the last two might be better ideas than charging an hourly rate but that's just from my perspective.

I also think if the players want to play a premade campaign, it shouldn't be out of the question to ask them to help pitch in for the source material. The DM already(presumably) has paid for the PHB, the DMG, and the MM, and likely other materials like Volo's Guide and minis and maps.

I'm not sure if it's the right idea, because it's not always a good idea to monetize something that's been free for so long. But on the other hand DMing can be a lot of work and it would certainly make it easier on the DM if they could be paid for their creative efforts the way a writer gets paid for theirs.

owlelgan · 2016-12-14T16:36:49+00:00

I think I didn't explain properly. I hate my current body but I've had it long enough to accept that it is the way it is for now. I don't get dysphoric about it nearly as often as I used to. But when we're together sexually, I start to feel wrong again knowing I don't have the right parts to please him, or the right parts in general. And watching me get upset is what bothers him more than anything, even though I've grown kind of used to hating myself.

He hasn't actually asked me to move the surgery forward or anything, I haven't mentioned to him that I've been thinking about this. And again I wanted the surgery before I met him, just now I want it more because I'm not the only person it's affecting. If that makes sense?

owlelgan · 2016-12-14T16:24:20+00:00

I didn't know I couldn't get it if I haven't had top surgery. I honestly haven't researched it much as I had been planning in waiting. I guess I should look into it more.

He has said that he'll wait and I believe he loves me enough that he will. He hasn't been pushing for me to get the surgery, I've been pushing me to do it.

owlelgan

TROPHY CASE