An announcement about my future publishing on Literotica

[YmaOHyd]

Monetization of hobbies is the death of joy

I might do the same if it meant a living wage, and they might have a large enough following to achieve that. Wish 'em the best of luck with it. More people like content than like writing, I think.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Okay, now you're just kicking sand in my face.

Monetization of hobbies is the death of joy

 

[MelissaBaby]

Monetization of hobbies is the death of joy

People have asked me why I don't monetize my stories.

Man, I've already got one job.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Monetization of hobbies is the death of joy

Ordinarily I'd agree with you. But in this case, I realized a year or so ago when someone suggested I publish outside Lit for money, that I'm going to write this stuff anyway. Why not get paid for it? My publisher knows this is a hobby so there's zero pressure. I finish a story, do a reformat and create a cover (which I'm enjoying artistically on it's own) and after that it's the publishers problem. After sales on a story subside, I publish it here and enjoy the readers responses. I'll never be able to quit the day job, but it's still fun.

 

[cw5523729]

three pages of oral into vaginal into anal into oral into vaginal, followed by two sentences of 'gosh, I wonder what happens next.' It's kind of sad.

Obligatory: ewwww

 

[MillieDynamite]

Unfortunately, my ghost work is where most of my money comes from.

People have asked me why I don't monetize my stories.

Man, I've already got one job.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Ordinarily I'd agree with you. But in this case, I realized a year or so ago when someone suggested I publish outside Lit for money, that I'm going to write this stuff anyway. Why not get paid for it? My publisher knows this is a hobby so there's zero pressure. I finish a story, do a reformat and create a cover (which I'm enjoying on it's own) and after that it's the publishers problem. After sales on a story subside, I publish it here and enjoy the readers responses. I'll never be able to quit the day job, but it's still fun.

I think the expectations and pressures are fairly different when you're doing a crowdfunded model, where supporters pay now for future content, than a traditional publication model, where an existing product is sold. You write when you want to, finish a thing and package it for the publisher; you maybe don't have quite the same rigorous expectations of two stories a month, one of which must star Character X and Character Y because that's what the monthly Patron Poll says. And if they don't deliver, suddenly it's refund request time.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Obligatory: ewwww

 

[PennyThompson]

@YmaOHyd @MelissaBaby @MillieDynamite @Rob_Royale

oops, maybe I should have said that in Controversial Opinions

 

[MillieDynamite]

Making money is always less fun than spending it.

@YmaOHyd @MelissaBaby @MillieDynamite @Rob_Royale

oops, maybe I should have said that in Controversial Opinions

 

[ChloeTzang]

I think you mean this as a 'they, that one author' and not as a 'they, popular authors,' which I think some people took it as.

I don't know who you mean, but I can think of one quite popular author whose writing has regressed a good bit over the course of their time here. I think that regression coincides with moving to crowdfunding and feeling as though they have to fulfill a content pipeline for their supporters. Every few weeks new content must be delivered, so every few weeks there's a new set of physical attributes attached to a name picked from the 2006 Top 50 Girl Names (USA) list, one page of setup and three pages of oral into vaginal into anal into oral into vaginal, followed by two sentences of 'gosh, I wonder what happens next.' It's kind of sad.

I know what you mean. I actually looked at Patreon and then thought "no way" for exactly that reason - when I have to churn stuff out the quality and the stry just goes downhill and you do it by rote. Its why some of my series have continued for so long - when you are no longer enthused by them it becomes a chore rather than a pleasure to write them. Churning out formulaic stuff is just soul destroying.

 

[iwatchus]

Unfortunately, my ghost work is where most of my money comes from.

Do you still enjoy writing? If so, it's been good for you. If not, that sucks.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Unfortunately, my ghost work is where most of my money comes from.

I hear you. Believe me, I know I am lucky enough to be pretty financially secure. Selling stories wouldn’t be the worst thing I ever did to get by.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Like PSG, FIH, Lovecraft, the ones people go at it with for strong opinions.

I've never really gotten into it with Emily. i only recall two interactions with her.

The first was when I made a harmless joke about multiple boring generic character names that she used in a story and she took offense and had a tiff. The second was when she forgot to change accounts and replied as Emily on one of her other accounts and I was one of several who caught her on it and she promptly disappeared for a year (as if there is something wrong with having alt accounts) which I thought was funny.

If we've had any other interactions, I honestly do not remember, so she really never had to 'put up' with me. (shrug)

 

[MillieDynamite]

I love writing my own stories. What makes me money, not so much, but one has to take the bad with the good.

Do you still enjoy writing? If so, it's been good for you. If not, that sucks.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Hate to burst your importance bubble, but her disappearance had nothing to do with you.

I've never really gotten into it with Emily. i only recall two interactions with her.

The first was when I made a harmless joke about multiple boring generic character names that she used in a story and she took offense and had a tiff. The second was when she forgot to change accounts and replied as Emily on one of her other accounts and I was one of several who caught her on it and she promptly disappeared for a year (as if there is something wrong with having alt accounts) which I thought was funny.

If we've had any other interactions, I honestly do not remember, so she really never had to 'put up' with me. (shrug)

 

[iwatchus]

I love writing my own stories. What makes me money, not so much, but one has to take the bad with the good.

As long as it doesn't destroy your joy in your own writing it's just another job, which is a necessity of life.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I've never really gotten into it with Emily. i only recall two interactions with her.

The first was when I made a harmless joke about multiple boring generic character names that she used in a story and she took offense and had a tiff. The second was when she forgot to change accounts and replied as Emily on one of her other accounts and I was one of several who caught her on it and she promptly disappeared for a year (as if there is something wrong with having alt accounts) which I thought was funny.

If we've had any other interactions, I honestly do not remember, so she really never had to 'put up' with me. (shrug)

Got busted on an alt? That's funny.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Monetization of hobbies is the death of joy

For many, yes. Certainly not all. And for some writers, it's not a hobby. It's who they are.

 

[PennyThompson]

For many, yes. Certainly not all. And for some writers, it's not a hobby. It's who they are.

I didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable, sorry

I think it's amazing that some people can make a living at writing! if you can intersect your passions with your talents with the ability to make a living, that's the coolest thing in the world.

but any time i engage with a creative hobby or interest IRL, inevitably a friend or a family member will tell me that i should put it on Etsy or sell it at a farmer's market or turn it into a patreon.

i'm never going to be a professional make-a-living erotica writer, or knitter, or miniatures painter... these are things that give me satisfaction and joy because of the creative act and because it feels good to give them away and see other people enjoy them. i've got a job that pays my bills, i don't need another one

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Hate to burst your importance bubble, but her disappearance had nothing to do with you.

Not specifically me, no. So, hate to burst your bubble, but I don't care.

 

[EmilyMiller]

What wonderful advert for AH this thread has become . Again, I’ve got zero interest in fabricated drama.

I’ll probably post my analysis of malicious voting separately and link to it from here.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Me either, or neither, whichever is correct.

Not specifically me, no. So, hate to burst your bubble, but I don't care.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

What wonderful advert for AH this thread has become . Again, I’ve got zero interest in fabricated drama.

I’ll probably post my analysis of malicious voting separately and link to it from here.

 

[cw5523729]

or sell it at a farmer's market

Wait, hold up - I can sell my porn at a Farmer's Market next to the stand with organic radishes and locally sourced honey?!

BRB, gotta get to work on my rolling cart