Need some unbiased opinions over here.

[monkeystyle]

Right, so apparently I'm getting back into this forum thing more than I thought. Being stuck at home makes it easy too, I suppose.

Anyway...

So I need some unbiased opinions because there is no damned way that I could possibly ask my friends about this without it coming back to haunt me in one way or another.

Okay. So I've been working on this novel now for about 6-7 years. It's been really tough going and I've decided to shelve it for the time being.

A couple of weeks ago I was online talking to my lady friend who sadly is out of town for a job until mid May. So you can imagine the kinds of frustrations that crop up in situations like those.

So without going into too much detail we were talking about couple's stuff during one conversation and it started to get pretty heavy. She asked me what I was going to do when I saw her and being the literary motherfucker that I am decided to improv a little erotica for her.

So, I did my thing and she loved it. She told me that she had read a lot of smut in her life but what I had written was the best she had ever read. She then proceeded to share my little improv with a few of her friends who apparently agreed. I was embarrassed as hell but she told me that it sucks that I'm shelving my novel but I should write some erotica in the mean time and try and get it published.

So here's where my dilemma comes in. It's not a terrible idea but ever since I was a kid I've wanted to write a great novel and the very notion of writing pornography is just so goddamned disheartening. It feels like I'm giving up on the 'A' dream and settling for, well, not what I had expected.

What would you do?

 

[Mick Donalds]

Dear Penthouse, I never thought it could happen to me..

 

[Dale]

Do what makes you happy, forget what everyone else thinks.

 

[We Are Legion]

You should give the novel a chance first because once you get involved with smut, there's no going back. No one credible in your field will take you seriously ever again.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

Do whatever makes you feel good, pretty much what Dale said. But I personally think you're a filthy person for even thinking about it. :Young:

 

[zigglerHEEL]

You should give the novel a chance first because once you get involved with smut, there's no going back. No one credible in your field will take you seriously ever again.

this is very true in many, many cases but not always... a reason some great writers have used "pen names" is so that they can write in different genres (including ones they may not be proud of) and not have their works compared, or their name drug through the mud...however nowadays with this internet thing, it is much harder to keep your true identity hidden....

All that said, as a writer with a finished novel that has been sent back unopened more times than I can count, ANYWAY you can get your foot in a publisher's door is TOTALLY worth it. I am at the point where if I had the money I would absolutely dive into self publishing because I am tired of hearing how much the few publishers that have actually read my manuscript enjoy it, before they tell me that they aren't interested in publishing it at this time... So Again, if writing some erotica is a means to getting a deal with a publisher, by all means DO IT!

 

[NotReallyaGoodUN]

^Didn't The Great Gatsby get rejected 100+ times before it was published? Not saying we are equivalent to F.Scott Fitzgerald, obviously. Just a point.

You should give the novel a chance first because once you get involved with smut, there's no going back. No one credible in your field will take you seriously ever again.

This, pretty much. It's basically an issue of ego vs reality, do what suits you, if you have any aspirations of becoming an actual author/writer/journalist, I wouldn't do it.

It's kind of difficult to not be unbiased, but I wouldn't do it if I were you. It's your call. Remember what Legion said, as long as you are okay with nobody in the publishing business ever taking you seriously again. Why not try to get a writing gig at a local newspaper or something? Then again, I repeatedly keep reading that print media in the west is not only a sinking ship but is ablaze as well.

 

[zigglerHEEL]

oh yeah, most authors are rejected countless times before breaking through and I don't plan on giving up anytime soon.... My point I was making above is that if he can get in with a publishing company writing some erotica then he's already in the door and that same company will be much more willing to read other things he brings forward.... The biggest problem in all of this is that publishers only except manuscripts from new authors for a period of 1-2 months each year and during that time they recieve thousands and thousands of writings, most of which are never even read and immediately sent back. Then, only a small handful of the ones they read are chosen to be published (if any are).... so, my overall opinion is if you can get published then by all means do it because realistically the chances are very, very slim no matter what you are submitting

 

[Rated R Superstar]

What if you make money off of it though? I'm sure there are some erotic authors who have actual novels out. You never know man.

 

[Mick Donalds]

Use the pen name "Alan Smithee" lol

 

[Defiant]

You could try writing it without publishing it, just as a creative exercise.

 

[We Are Legion]

Yeah pen names don't protect you anymore. If you write stories about naughty female inmates getting fucked by game wardens, then try to become a CNN journalist 10 years later, the first person you piss off with a story will track you down an air out all your dirty secrets and discredit you. That's why I say it's probably a better idea to try the legitimate work first before resorting to what you're considering. I'm not saying you'll definitely get exposed, but would you bet your "dream career" on it? Or are you just a little frustrated right now and wanting cash? If cash is what you want, there are other less-sleazy forms of work you could do in the meantime.

 

[Slim]

Keep working on the novel. The erotica could just be some sorta creative thing that you do on the side for fun. Keep your lady friend happy. Not really look to get it published but just keep it in that small group of people. But pretty much keep the novel going. At least finish that dream. Especially after investing so much time and energy into it.

 

[BDC]

You should give the novel a chance first because once you get involved with smut, there's no going back. No one credible in your field will take you seriously ever again.

I gotta agree with Legion. It's all according how serious you are about serious writing. I could do Smut too. I'm just a tad on the spiritual end to enjoy doing it. You know...what you can do verses what you should do,...lol...BUT if you do it, use a different name, for sure. I'm writing scifi to horror fiction under the name BDC. My religious fiction will be under my real name. Same kinda sitch for you my friend.

 

[Deezy]

Fifty Shades of Grey was poorly written and made like a bajillion dollars, what is smut anyway? Relative meaning I suppose, eye of beholder type of thing.

MAkes money, go for it. There are millions of unpublished manuscripts out there, if you find a niche, milk the fuck out of it. Nobody is looking for the next Hemingway or Bukowski anymore.