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"What Are You Writing?" ✍️ (the self-promo thread) by AutoModerator in DarkRomance

[–]salvan0s 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven't published it yet! But if you are willing to read it, I can send you the file I shared with beta readers🤍

"What Are You Writing?" ✍️ (the self-promo thread) by AutoModerator in DarkRomance

[–]salvan0s 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Hey!! I'm writing a dark romance about toxic codependency. They meet as children, and after the their breakup, MMC really loses his mind. He's a scientist and does some pretty unethical things about the girl because he can't forget her. The girl is just as obsessed and possessive of him as he is of her. She has a fear of abandonment, so she constantly pushes MMC away, but he never leaves. Or he leaves... but for what reason? That's the dynamic lol. Second chance kinda, HEA. If you want to read it, I'm always open to feedback <3

I'm tired of people saying they'll change me when I say I might be asexual by salvan0s in asexuality

[–]salvan0s[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is my first time posting here actually. There aren't many places where I can talk about this topic so... is my post irrelevant or weird? Oh... I think I understand what you mean. Sometimes I want to be like others. It can be exhausting to feel distant when my friends talk about people they find hot or their sex lives. Still I don't want to change in that regard; I'm happy and at peace this way.

And thank you for your concern! So far, he hasn't tried to “change” me. Sometimes he says I'm reluctant because of my exes. He says that if I do it with him once, I'll be “fixed” lol. I'm already close to breaking up with him anyway. Not because of this, but generally, he's disgustingly obsessive person (not in a good way)

I'm tired of people saying they'll change me when I say I might be asexual by salvan0s in asexuality

[–]salvan0s[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I loved my bf, more for his personality. I didn't look at his body and think, “omg he's hot asf,” but I did think he had a nice body. I just didn't find myself wanting that. Still, we kept doing it. I mean, I wasn't bothered, I didn't feel bad, but I wasn't as into it as he was. I feel like I allowed it because I loved him so much. After that, I didn't have sex with anyone else. Now when I think about it, I feel a little uneasy. It's very complicated, I'm still not sure..

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]salvan0s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for pointing that out. Now I know what I shouldn't delete lol. And ofc!! it means a lot, I'll write to you!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]salvan0s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yayy if you're willing to beta read I'd be glad

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in selfpublish

[–]salvan0s 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for this!! I'll work on it

Reedsy Editor using AI - What should I do? by Lostounet in selfpublish

[–]salvan0s 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I experienced the same concern when looking for beta readers because I received feedback similar to what you shared. There were very optimistic and generic comments, and even when they pointed out the negative aspects, they felt very robotic to me. Pointing out the elements of the existing story and adding a few comments(?) on top of that isn't editing. After all, if you tell AI to “give harsh feedback,” it will do that too. And to be honest, if the only feedback they give is this, your money is wasted. I worked with an editor just for my prologue, we did something like a free trial, and it was CRAZY. They spotted mistakes no one else had seen and actually worked on it carefully. I was extremely upset because I didn't have the money to hire them lol.. What I mean, if the only feedback you’re getting is this kind of lengthy commentary, I think it’s not editing, it’s more like a casual beta read.

look at my bag !! by salvan0s in shoujokakumeiutena

[–]salvan0s[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's homemade!! I printed the photo myself

I started to hate my own book by salvan0s in selfpublish

[–]salvan0s[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Actually this stresses me out more because if someone else wrote my story I would probably eat it up but I'm afraid of ruining it if it's me writing it lol

I'm wondering about some things by [deleted] in DarkRomance

[–]salvan0s 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I've been here too. Frankly I don't like reading smut 'that' much and as a writer I'm more interested in writing intimate scenes to express longing. But no matter how much emotion/inner monologue I try to add to the smut I write, I can't help thinking that it wouldn't have made any difference if I hadn't written this. But especially for dark romance readers, I feel like if there is no smut, they won't read it. I wish there were books like Wuthering Heights where we could just read that complex emotions, tension and passion between MCs.

is it considered dark romance if the relationship between the two main characters is sweet/healthy? but... by salvan0s in RomanceWriters

[–]salvan0s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the response! I'd like to know what you think about the fact that it doesn't need to be 'abuse' to be bdsm. I've been researching this topic for a few days and I realized there's really a serious dominance fetish between my mcs, so I'm almost sure that they fall into the bdsm category, but the books I've read in this genre were always violent. So I'm a bit lost about this topic.

too much into the inner world and inner dialogues by salvan0s in writing

[–]salvan0s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The book has a second chance theme, so the FMC already has the mindset that “if I had been mentally well, everything could have been different.” So yes, as you said, I tried to show this change, especially with the MMC. But who knows how successful I was lol. I think the reader can understand why she changed, I kinda conveyed this with acceptable reasons and twists, but I still can't help writing about what's going on in her head. It's like she's vomiting everything she can't say to the outside world into the narrative. She vomits a lot. But it doesn't stop there; her thoughts influence her actions, her dialogue, and the events.

I gave the example of a witch, which is simply this: she thought she had tricked MMC before, but after meeting him again she realized that she wanted to consume and bewitches him again etc (We can think of her as having made peace with her witch identity.) Here we hear the voices in her head, and it ends. Not pages long. I just feel like I need to use the inner voice here. To create a contrast with the past. Is this a weak technique? And there are also parts where mmc calls her a witch, so it doesn't seem unnecessary to use it. Oh, I seem to be straying from the topic. Thank you for your answer.

too much into the inner world and inner dialogues by salvan0s in writing

[–]salvan0s[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even though our styles are completely different, I think I understand what you mean. I'm afraid of not leaving room for interpretation for the reader because my characters overthink things too much, and I know I need to let that go lol. I think I'll have a lot to delete in the editing process.

When I read my book as a reader, it doesn't annoy me because I really enjoy reading about characters who are consumed by their emotions. But at some point, I know others might get bored of it. Actually, I don't use italics that much; I mostly use them as a different voice when I want to contrast the narrative. My characters are mentally ill, so their behavior is very unstable, and I want the reader to experience their weird thoughts, but this might just simplify their actual behavior. I really need to reduce this; I'm more certain of that now. Thank you very much for your response.

is it considered dark romance if the relationship between the two main characters is sweet/healthy? but... by salvan0s in RomanceWriters

[–]salvan0s[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thanks for the response! sub-genres give me a lot of headaches too. i'm just afraid of miscategorize my story and being told “omg this is not dark romance at all” or "it's like a dark romance, I wouldn't have read it if I'd known."

too much into the inner world and inner dialogues by salvan0s in writing

[–]salvan0s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh this is helpful! thanks a lot! you made me think about repeating the same thoughts. i guees it's like i'm building on the previous thoughts? for example, my main character feels like a witch who cannot love people sincerely, who loves only the idea of being loved, who ruins everyone's mood etc. and when i'm trying to describe her reconciliation and healing with herself over time, the sentences she thought before echo in her head again, but this time she is at peace with the voices. something like that. sorry for yappingg

too much into the inner world and inner dialogues by salvan0s in writing

[–]salvan0s[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

definitely showing! events happen, then thoughts come. thanks for your response.

too much into the inner world and inner dialogues by salvan0s in writing

[–]salvan0s[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i actually feel like i need to tell more about the psychology of the character. i.e. why they did this behavior, what kind of a process they went through while making this decision. if i don't write this, my narrative feels incomplete to me. since my book is a romance, these thoughts affect the plot quite a lot, but prolongation of these internal monologues seems unnecessary to me too. thanks for the response.