Need some unbiased opinions over here.

[Troy]

I don't really see any issue with it but you really just need to continue with what you enjoy. If you really don't want to write the erotica then don't do it or just write it for your lady friend and that is it. If you really want to test the waters you could always just send something out to publishers and see what the reaction is like. If it is very positive them you may as well give it a shot, you are still producing a novel it is just a different genre to what you expected.
[MENTION=2061]zigglerHEEL[/MENTION] Have you ever thought of going through a company like Self Publishing and Print on Demand Company - Xlibris Book Publishers UK They are a company that allows you to self publish and they actual print the book for you and help organise it all. Someone that I went to school actually self published two books through that website. [MENTION=3342]monkeystyle[/MENTION] you could go the same route if you wanted as well, self publish the erotica under a pseudonym and then through this method you would be able to sell some and at the same time it would be a lot more difficult for people to find out who wrote it.

 

[zigglerHEEL]

I don't really see any issue with it but you really just need to continue with what you enjoy. If you really don't want to write the erotica then don't do it or just write it for your lady friend and that is it. If you really want to test the waters you could always just send something out to publishers and see what the reaction is like. If it is very positive them you may as well give it a shot, you are still producing a novel it is just a different genre to what you expected.
[MENTION=2061]zigglerHEEL[/MENTION] Have you ever thought of going through a company like Self Publishing and Print on Demand Company - Xlibris Book Publishers UK They are a company that allows you to self publish and they actual print the book for you and help organise it all. Someone that I went to school actually self published two books through that website. [MENTION=3342]monkeystyle[/MENTION] you could go the same route if you wanted as well, self publish the erotica under a pseudonym and then through this method you would be able to sell some and at the same time it would be a lot more difficult for people to find out who wrote it.

Yeah Troy, I've looked into several self publishing companies.... main problem is the cost, I've been looking for someone to back me financially but haven't had any takers as of yet.....

 

[NotReallyaGoodUN]

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.

Also an excellent point. The universe doesn't reward people on principle. Good for us if we are naive enough to buy into the fantasy that it does, but I've seen enough lives destroyed by that illusion.

 

[Troy]

Yeah Troy, I've looked into several self publishing companies.... main problem is the cost, I've been looking for someone to back me financially but haven't had any takers as of yet.....

I just had a look and I was surprised at the cost that some of these companies were charging and then they take a fair chunk of the profit as well. Hopefully you can find someone to back you to get your book out there.
[MENTION=55]Big Red Jericho Punk[/MENTION] I remember you writing a book did you get it published in the end?

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Kevin O'Leary said it best. "Money has no morals, ethics, or emotion, the only thing that matters is the pursuit of the all mighty dollar"

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

I just had a look and I was surprised at the cost that some of these companies were charging and then they take a fair chunk of the profit as well. Hopefully you can find someone to back you to get your book out there.
[MENTION=55]Big Red Jericho Punk[/MENTION] I remember you writing a book did you get it published in the end?

No I didn't because I went to Croatia for 3 weeks literally a few weeks after I finished it. It was more of just an independent project that I mostly e-mailed me to people and gave out about 20 copies. In a few years, I'm going to do another one about my college experience. Hopefully, I'll have more connections when it happens.

 

[We Are Legion]

Also an excellent point. The universe doesn't reward people on principle. Good for us if we are naive enough to buy into the fantasy that it does, but I've seen enough lives destroyed by that illusion.

Gotta disagree on this. If your only agenda is to make money despite your own dignity, you're no better than a whore.

Make sure you've exhausted all your other options before you get involved with that industry. Diving into it with abandon simply because it sells is short-sighted and reckless and you are taking a serious risk with your future by doing so. Despite common belief among more-industrialized parts of this hemisphere, money is not the most important thing in the world and you will learn that the hard way by producing smut.

 

[NotReallyaGoodUN]

It's not really an issue of dignity for him because he's already considering it. He's just disheartened by the fact that he would have to sacrifice his dream for something.....that most people wouldn't want to do.

As you stated yourself, there are plenty of non-sleazy ways to make money, but if all his other options are exhausted...(That was partially my inner cynic/Dr. House speaking)

Me? Wouldn't do it. I was just making the point that just because he or any of us want to be the next Aldous Huxley, doesn't make it so.

 

[monkeystyle]

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.

That's exactly what I was thinking. And while publishing under a nom de plume would be nice. If it ever somehow got popular then that would fall apart pretty quickly in this day and age.

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!

My lady friend's friend is in the process of getting a children's book published through connections she made while going to school. I've been told through the lady that she would be more than happy to help me get connected and that is actually the main reason why I am so hesitant. If she's willing to hook me up then maybe I don't want to burn that chance on porn, you know?

Use the pen name "Alan Smithee" lol

I was thinking Lance Goodthrust tbh.

@zigglerHEEL Have you ever thought of going through a company like Self Publishing and Print on Demand Company - Xlibris Book Publishers UK They are a company that allows you to self publish and they actual print the book for you and help organise it all. Someone that I went to school actually self published two books through that website. @monkeystyle you could go the same route if you wanted as well, self publish the erotica under a pseudonym and then through this method you would be able to sell some and at the same time it would be a lot more difficult for people to find out who wrote it.

That's definitely an interesting idea and one worth looking into. It's expensive but we're planning in getting a place together when she gets back so that will free up quite a bit of disposable cash. I've also been meaning to look into e-publishing but that's definitely putting the cart before the horse.

It's not really an issue of dignity for him because he's already considering it. He's just disheartened by the fact that he would have to sacrifice his dream for something.....that most people wouldn't want to do.

As you stated yourself, there are plenty of non-sleazy ways to make money, but if all his other options are exhausted...(That was partially my inner cynic/Dr. House speaking)

Me? Wouldn't do it. I was just making the point that just because he or any of us want to be the next Aldous Huxley, doesn't make it so.

You just nailed it on the head.

The worst part about it is that writing this ish just comes so damned easily. (hurr hurr) I've been working on it as maybe just something for her that I can get printed and bound and maybe giver her for a birthday or anniversary present and it's actually kind of angering how easy this stuff is to write in comparison to the other stuff I've been working on.

 

[zigglerHEEL]

was thinking of starting a new thread for this topic but it does have specific ties to this one so......... I've just recently re-edited my novel/novella for the 100-150th time and my wife is crazy insistent on me being more proactive with trying to get it published..... I don't know if [MENTION=3342]monkeystyle[/MENTION] is still active on the site but if so, was wondering if he's had any success with his work or made any forward movement whatsoever..... anywho, where I'm at is I don't really have the funds to self publish and 90% of the publishing agencies I've sent it to have sent it back unopened, and the ones who have opened it have said (of course) they like it but can't publish it at this time.................... so, here goes, would anyone on here be interested in reading what I have and giving me an honest opinion of what I've got.... I trust my friends and family who have read it but would any of them really tell me if it's absolute shit?? If I'm gonna pony up the coin to self publish I want it to be worth it and I won't know for sure unless some completely unbias people read it and rip me to shreds.....if interested, respond here and I'll hit you with the premise and we'll go from there

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

It could keep your creative juices flowing while you're taking a break from your novel, cant really comment on it supposedly destroying any credibility though, smut sells.