Has anyone ever noticed how we are surrounded by media that promotes us making our dreams come true? I keep hearing the theme song for the new(er) Pokémon, series ‘Journey starts today…’ playing around in my head.
Hmm, actually maybe it’s not all media, just what my son consumes…
Anyway, when we’re working towards a goal, or a dream for us romantics, it can quickly become all consuming. To the point where we can begin to feel guilty and like failures when we aren’t able to dedicate as much time as usual to achieving that goal. This is kind of where I am at the moment; I’ve mentioned regularly about my new job and the training, blah, blah, blah… and though I’ve had a few moments of inspiration and managed to release one story this year, I find myself getting anxious because I fear my dream is sliding through my fingers like sand.
I can’t get off the train I’m on, it’s the source of my financial stability. As the crippling cost of living rises, I’m not afforded the luxury of turning down opportunities to make more money. However, I feel frustrated because I genuinely (perhaps delusion-ally) believe my books will make a living income if I can just get enough of them out. But the time I need to dedicate to get them there would leave me with a huge gap of time where I got no muneh. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for the child services conversation where my son explains, ‘It’s okay, Mummy is going to start buying food again as soon as she’s famous for writing her sex books.’
But here’s what I’ve started to realise; slowing down does not mean stopping. Yes, my traction is slower, but this is only for a year. I can’t allow my frustration to develop into defeat, I’m not done.
Delays are inevitable, but if we allow ourselves as writers or dreamers to give up when life slows us down, the only guarantee we have is that we really won’t make it. We have to try not to get to caught up in the moment and remember that this is all part of the journey. (Which, according to Ash and his pals, starts today-ay.) There will be good years and bad years, and they’ll all make compelling stories for when I’m so highly regarded I’ll be asked to do a Ted Talk on what it takes to be smut writer. Watch this space.
Myley Cyrus famously sang, ‘Ain’t about how fast I get there, ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.’
I don’t know how appropriate it is for me to make a ‘it’s the cli-MAX’ joke here, but I’ll leave it with you all to play with at your leisure…
I like it as a title, it’s more subtle than what I usually go for. Besides, Mr Strange vetoed ‘Lake Flaccid,’ ‘The Legend of Booby Creak,’ and ‘It Came in the Lake.’
Hello, readers!
Welcome to another post where I talk shamelessly about my latest story release. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of fun, puns and plugs! (Plugs for my story, not like, the anal kind.)
So, I decided to explore a few different tropes that I could stretch my writing muscles with in this story, and I hope they all translate well. First, I’ve set the story in the mid-nineties, a time where everything was about slashers and horrors and cliches. I enjoyed this because, even though it’s subtle, I had to find particular nuances to make it work, and there were pitfalls I needed to avoid too. You have no idea how hard it is to remember that your characters can’t just update their Facebook status to #sadtho every time one of their friends dies, since they didn’t all have mobile phones.
Speaking of cliches, if you read my story you’ll hopefully enjoy the very obvious ones I’ve threaded in. The characters are meant to be a parody of the horror films that debuted at that time, so they’re very blatant in their roles.
Okay, on to the good stuff: the alien-monster sex. So, yeah, this is was new for me. I ended up doing a lot of research about aquatic mythological monsters, popular representations of similar figures, even a little about alien races and theories behind where they are, where they’ve come from etc. I always do this when I write a story because I just feel more secure in the idea that things just make more sense if there is some factual foundations in there.
I also read a lot about kinks surrounding monsters, merfolk, aliens etc and tried to portray the allure with as much understanding as possible. I hope it comes across.
I actually had Mr Strange read the paragraph where I describe the monsters cock and then draw it based on my description so I could see if it looked like what I had pictured.
It did not. So, I went back over this a few times, trying to ensure it sounded strange but still attractive. I think I got there after a few tweaks.
Get it? It just took a little tweaking of the monster dick to get where it needed to be? This is exactly why Mr Strange gets to veto my titles. And won’t play Pictionary with me anymore.
The long and the short of it (honestly, I don’t even do this on purpose!) is my new story is now available on Amazon on a free promotion for five days. If you download it I’d love a review so I can get your take on it!
While chasing the famed whale, Ishmael said, ‘To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be who have tried it.’
Well, what did he know? That guy was nuts!
Take care,
Strange
P.S. Can anyone spot the cameo of one of my other main characters hidden in this story? 😉
Okay, so I’ve been at this gig for a while now and, since I started out, I’ve learned some helpful tips that I thought I’d share. I should point out that these are about independent, self-published books, so may not be relevant to everyone.
I’d also like to preface this by saying that, though I trained in writing at University, it was a very broad course covering all kinds of writing, not just strictly creative. So, I am in no way an expert, and I’m sure there will be things in this list that some of you will respond with, ‘Show, don’t tell? That’s amazing- write that down for me Strange!’ Before promptly slapping me in the face with your notebook.
With that said, here are my top (amateur) tips for writing erotica:
1) Show, don’t tell.
Just kidding! Though seriously, that shit is pure gold. Can you believe I only heard that phrase about a year ago? If you’re new to writing and haven’t been introduced to that concept, look it up, it’ll change your life.
1) Write what you know.
Sounds obvious, sure. But, if you’re anything like me, you’ll get through a few chapters of writing before you realise you actually don’t know as much as you may have thought. I’m not saying anyone here isn’t very intelligent, I’m sure you all are. But what if, for example, you decide to write a sexy story based in some incredibly exotic location, then you start describing the setting only to remember you’ve never actually been to Brazil and you can’t really draw enough information from the penultimate Twilight film to describe the setting.
With that in mind, write what you know. If you want to set a story in a really exciting location, try and draw on things that you’ve experienced in places you have been. Don’t limit yourself by needing specific details, build a story around the specifics that you have experienced and would want to experience again. Went for a great meal in your home town? Describe it as if you were explaining it to someone from another country who had never tried it. In love with the view from a local landmark? Write about it a if it’s the most unique and exotic thing in the world.
2) Research what you don’t.
Again, seems obvious. And, if we were talking about most genres of fiction, I would say it was. But I know when I started writing erotica I relied heavily on things I had already experienced as the broad basis for my stories. I mean, you’ve either had sex or you haven’t, right? It didn’t occur to me straight away that it was a good tool in my box (mind out of the gutter people. I’m tryin’ to be academic here!) to get some research to empower my stories further. For example, when I wrote the last instalment of Beast of Backar – The Hunt – I ended up doing loads of research about the Russian Revolution, stolen artefacts etc, and it didn’t even take me that long. But it gave the story so much more depth and the erotic parts were all the more enjoyable for it.
3) Literally everyone always judges books by their covers. Always.
Come on, be honest; we all do it. Before you publish anything, look at what books that are selling well have on the cover. What makes them stand out? Take notes, it definitely makes a difference. Also, think about what you look for when choosing a book. Would you pick up an erotic story if it had a picture of a giant penis on the front? Well, then don’t put one on your cover!
3) Brush up on your skiiiiiiiiiiills.
Not everyone who writes has had the money to attend loads of courses. That’s okay, but there are endless free resources these days that you can access for free to help you up skill yourself. I follow loads of blogs and vlogs from established and starter writers to learn as much as I can about my craft so that I’m always improving. This also comes back to the cover design- if you don’t know how to create a professional and appealing cover, look it up. I promise these things will be well worth your time.
4) Manage your expectations
So, you’ve researched your story, you’ve got well rounded characters and exciting settings. The sex scenes are hot and steamy. You’re ready to start your new life as an erotic author. Goodbye, grind! Goodbye office friends I never really liked that much!
Yeeeeaaaaah. Don’t print your letter of resignation just yet. I hoped I would be making enough money from my stories within about six months for me to quit work and write full time from home.
Stupid girl!
I made a grand total of £8 in the first month and the money just kept trickling in. Two years later, well…let’s just say I’m not living it up like E L James. There are several reasons for this in my case. (The writings fine, by the way. 🤨) BUT – first of all; who da hell are you? You’ve got to work up and build a name for yourself. Once you’ve had a fair few titles out that have done well, people start looking out for you, but that takes time. Also, if you publish through Amazon like I do, the percentage they take is, frankly, outrageous. But I console myself with the knowledge that at least my work is being read, where if I went through traditional means, it quite possibly wouldn’t. That’s not to say you shouldn’t use traditional publishing, you gotta do you after all.
5) Stick with it!
Following on from the last point, don’t give up!What separates the writers who can write full time and the ones that can’t (other than actual ability in some cases) is that they stuck it out. At first you’ll be like, well duh. I can write forever! But when you actually publish all those ideas that had been burning in your brain for years, that’s when the real work starts. Finding new inspiration, investigating what’s selling, keeping up the standards. Yeah, your hobby is now your job, and that changes things. This is when you’ll know if it’s really what you want to do. Me? I’m just now at the point where I’m making about three figures a month even when I don’t release anything, which I’m very proud of. And yeah, it’s hard, but I’m sticking with it until the AI’s price me out of the industry.
6) Try not to take reviews to heart.
Unless they’re good. Then let them inflate your ego to totally disproportionate expanses!
Seriously though, I’ve had a few reviews that stung. I’m not pretending that I’m the best writer in the world. I’m not saying my books will change your life. I had an idea and I just put it out there in case someone else might enjoy it. Problem is, if you put something into the public sphere, you have to accept that people are going to comment and may be quite harsh: it just comes with the territory. If you can’t handle the heat, best you get out of the kitchen. Also, there have been times when I’ve learned something from my less than glowing reviews, and I take that as a positive.
Well, I think that’s pretty much it from me at the moment. All in all, I love what I do because I get to be creative and saucy all in one outlet. I hope this has been even a little bit helpful for some of you.
Check back again soon for more ground-breaking revelations from a somewhat established indie sex-writer.
This is more of a quick update than anything else, but I’m finally in a headspace for writing again and I’m so excited that I needed to share!
Since starting my new job role in the later part of last year, I’ve been a lot busier at work. This is something that I’ve been wrestling with; I never expected to progress in that job, I mostly just show up so I can support my family and pay for a house to write smut in.
Secretly though, I am passionate about certain aspects about my job, and I was offered an opportunity to have an impact in an area I really care about, so I took it. I’ve mentioned before that the role comes with longer hours, extra responsibility and a Masters level training course. As a result, my stress levels have been through the roof and my writing capabilities have been almost zero.
This weekend though, I submitted my first assignment, and it’s like my brain was suddenly freed of a massive weight. I had a clear direction for my story, and banged out 1,000 words in less than half hour. I’m now really excited about the way it’s going.
I also designed my entire kitchen remodel, new garden landscape, loft conversion and created a state-of-the-art Pokemon Zoo with Playmobil for my son. The last one was the most impressive.
What about you, dear readers? How are your ventures coming along?
Joseph Chiltern Pearce said, ‘To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.’
It feels like it gets longer and longer between posts at the moment, but that’s largely because I’m moving slower with my writing too.
I’ve mentioned before that I’ve got a new job which actually comes with a massive training course alongside it, so I’m pretty damn busy at the moment.
And let’s not forget that we have officially entered the craziest time of the year: Holiday Season! My family celebrates Christmas and I’m sure we all know just how much that gets in the way of everything else. Have I done any writing today? Nope; I’ve been busy wrapping presents for neighbours I don’t know and relatives I don’t like. Ho, ho, ho!
To be honest, I’m so charmed by the season since I became a Mum that none of the annoying aspects of it bother me at all anymore. I was even blasting the Christmas radio station (oh yeah, that’s a thing) in my car the other day. When I see my boy writing letters, looking out for reindeer, decorating a tree, baking cookies…frankly, you’d be hard pushed to sour my eggnog.
Anyway, back to writing. Because I’ve had to slow down in pretty much every aspect of my life to balance it all, I’ve actually had to look a lot more closely at my writing to make sure I’m using my time effectively. As such, I’ve found another weird niche that I’m quite good at; erotic horror/sci-fi. I’ve done a few stories in this genre before, mostly because the occasion (Halloween) called for it.
But having this time constraint has meant I’ve had to write what comes the most naturally to me, and it seems that the weird stuff is just pouring out of me uncontrollably. It’s my first high school party all over again!
So, I’m currently working on my new Erotic short, tentatively named, ‘Slime Lake.’ Though the title may yet change. It’s an erotic horror and a loving homage to the films I loved in the 90’s. It’s a little tongue in cheek, and a little tongue in anus.
Sorry, I’m in that kind of a mood.
On that note, I leave you with a quote from a British politician who absolutely would not have ended up starring on I’m A Celebritity…
‘Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.’ – Winston Churchill
It should be noted, he was a big drinker, and ‘failure’ may have been code for ‘pub.’
And by that, of course, I mean I’m writing a story about a mythological creature made of stone. Yup, Strange is writing about gargoyles!
Why? What did you think I meant?
Yes, readers, I’m really delving into some very niche tropes here, but hear me out! It seems that monsters and demons are the new vampires- people are really into it.
And here’s the other thing, they’re not alone. I’ve always found mythological monsters sexy too, but I figured I was the only one, isn’t that always the way with kink?
Funnily enough, I recently downloaded the Disney+ app for my son, and one of the recommendations was a show from the 90’s called ‘Gargoyles.’ I was so excited! I’m like, ‘I remember watching that show, I loved it as a kid/preteen. Come on, nostalgia!’
Anyway, ten minutes into watching it I suddenly realise that I wasn’t actually as invested in the storylines as I had thought. But I was completely captivated by ridiculously ripped, long-haired lead gargoyle, Goliath. Funny how you don’t realise what shapes your indulgences as you grow up, huh?
I’m also using this as an opportunity to get my teeth into a new style of writing; gothic. I’m having a lot of fun playing with imagery and personification to set the scene. Check this out:
The moon was waxing, almost full, but hidden behind a thick blanket of dark, angry clouds. The rain beat down upon the earth like stones, spiteful and sharp. The lightening was the only source of brightness, and it seemed to cackle madly at the irony of it’s fleetingness. No, it had no comfort to offer the humans it illuminated.
See that? Am I gothic AF or what? #sodark #strangeandelvira4eva
That’s one of the opening paragraphs; Mr Strange was very specific on what he wanted to see in this one, ‘Give me dark, brooding, storms, all that good stuff.’ And when I read him what I had written so far, his answer was, ‘Well, it’s good…But where’s the humour?’
Needless to say, I had an answer for him, but it’s not appropriate for this platform.
In other news, my straight novel is also coming along nicely, if veeeeery slowly. The main characters are literally just about to start their journey. It’s been hard trying to manage my pacing appropriately to such an epic word count, but I’m getting there. It’s weird having so much time to develop and get to know my characters, usually I’ve seen their best side, worst side and backside by now.
At this point, even I don’t know exactly how my characters are going to respond or how things are going to play out. My main concern is, how much do I like the characters? Usually I’m in love with them by now, but because I’m having to flesh the story out so much more than usual, I’m genuinely a little unsure. I like how I picture them in my head, but is that coming across yet in the story? Will people be invested in their development, rather than the face value? I guess time will tell.
For now, dear readers, I leave you with this quote from the aforementioned Disney series;
Goliath: Courage. Virtue. Struggling to do what is right. Gargoyles and humans want to believe that we are always in control. That we can aide our loved ones in any crisis. But there are times when life mocks our ride. That is when we learn humility, and that the greatest of our strengths is to persevere.
It’s happened, my new story ‘Sweet and Milky’ is available on a free promotion right now!
Writing this story was pretty challenging in the end, not because of the content, but because of the word count. Mr Strange and I set out the parameters for a story before I ever put fingers to keyboard; and this needed to be around 8,000 words, and a lactation/Hucow theme.
Well, that’s nice and broad, no problem, right? When I wrote ‘The Wife and the Call Girl,’ I had a similar scope to work with and I figured this would be much the same. What I didn’t consider was that in TWanCG, it was a long build up to a single sex scene. ‘Sweet and Milky’ is slightly more complex.
As I was writing, I realised that, at least from my perspective, the eroticism in this story came from the transition of the protagonist becoming a Hucow. I seriously enjoyed exploring this idea, but it was hard to fit everything I wanted into my limited word count.
I had to really hone the writing down to include very key points and elements, it was a great exercise in not wasting words and I feel like I managed to bring the whole thing together pretty well.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, ‘Strange, you claim to research your books very thoroughly…do you now own a bell choker?’
Well, readers, I won’t go into detail but I can tell you that I now have a themed bikini that will raise some eyebrows next time I’m around the pool.
In the end, I’m very happy with the product, and it seems to be being well-received so far so I’m hoping I’ve done the fetish justice. Not to brag, but I’m currently #1 in the Sci-Fi erotica chart on Amazon. Take that Mills and Boon.
Mason Cooley said, ‘Moo May represent an idea, but only the cow knows.’
I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself! If you’ve read my most recent posts, you’ll know that I’m currently working on a full, mainstream novel that is still underway as we speak. That been said, mama still needs to bring home the bacon, and the relevance to the animal puns will soon be revealed!
I’m still writing shorts alongside the novel but for obvious reasons it’s now taking longer to get them written and published. This is also why it’s been a while since I released a post on here.
In the interest of trying to stretch my story writing muscles, I’ve been exploring yet more new kinks to write about, and this time, you can bet the farm that I’ve found a good one. At least, I think it is.
My new story falls within the genre of Hucow(ism?) with some subtle undertones of mind control or manipulation. Again, some of the more risky themes in today’s ‘Cancel Culture’ world but, as I’ve said before, what goes on for a consenting adult reading a fantasy story…
I love a bit of light mind control in my erotica, personally. As a sub, the idea of giving up even your ability to make decisions for yourself seems like the ultimate act of submission, and appeals to my kink in that way. I know it’s different for everyone, that’s just how my freak manifests itself.
The Hucow thing, however, is relatively new territory for me. It is a theme that rears it’s head (I can’t stop myself!) fairly frequently in the D/s realm and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t taken a casual stroll around the pens. I mean, from my perspective, if submitting your mind is submissive, submitting your very humanity has got to have some appeal. And in many ways, it does.
The other angle that I have enjoyed it from, is that of a curvy woman. I’m size 10 now, but it’s been a long, hard fight to get there. I’ve always battled my weight and as a teenager I was very self-conscious about my body. What I love about Hucow stories is that it often empowers women with a fuller figure, making large breasts and hips an object of worship rather than scorn.
On top of which, the Hucow fetish often gets paired with a ‘thick and juicy woman’ preference, even acquainting itself with feeder/feedee tropes. Not to mention lactation which then can blend into the DM/lb scene. So there’s a huge scope for exploration depending on which way you lean.
So, yeah, it’s a pretty diverse topic. I’ve enjoyed researching the kink, reading the stories and coming up with my idea, but most of all, I’ve enjoyed exploring how this particular kink appeals to me even if it isn’t my immediate go to.
K M Strange: Growing as a person while getting people off since 2020.
This story is about half-way written at the moment. I’ve had a few road blocks along the way but, hey, no point crying over spilled milk! I’ll keep you all posted on it’s development and let you know when I have a release date.
Someone once said, ‘Your sexiest body part is your mind.’ Well, I have news for that someone; ‘I’m hot now. Suck it.’ 😎
Take care,
Strange
Disclaimer: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You are the sexiest version of yourself when you believe you’re sexy. Don’t let other peoples opinions (or K M Strange’s tongue in cheek humour) ever make you doubt that. 😘
Hello, readers and a very Happy New Year to all of you!
(I know I’m the last out of the gate with this, but hey, fashionably late is how I roll.)
So, I feel like most of us can agree the last few years have hardly been the best. You know, globally. I daren’t even say, ‘I didn’t have a great year,’ because I fully expect to hear a roaring, ‘No shit, Strange!’ from the world in response.
I did actually have a few personal, non-COVID related grievances though. I mean, it’s still not a competition, but let’s just say I’m now the oldest living woman in my family at the tender age of 30-something.
Closer to 30. #justsayin.
Anyway, in a truly unique and unpredictable manner, I’m writing this post with the intention of discussing my plans for New Year and my hopes that it, and I, will be much improved.
Are we talking about resolutions, Strange? Yes, dear readers, I’m afraid we are. As well as general plans and ideas.
…still there? Anyone?
Well, for those of you still with me, let’s start with resolutions. When I was younger I used to make a list of like ten that never came to fruition. As I have grown wiser, (I think I mentioned I am the matriarch and therefore automatically the wisest woman in my family now) I make fewer, much more achievable goals. This years are as follows:
1) Eat healthier. No, seriously. Not like, eat less chocolate or whatever, I’m actually pretty healthy as it is, I’m just trying to level up. My rule of thumb is, if I can’t honestly say it’s good for me, it’s not going in my mouth. -Insert fellatio joke here.-
2) Learn a language. I love languages and I can make very polite observations in about five. For example, ‘Eyeh, Baka, ei-tai!’ Is ‘No, idiot. That hurts.’ In Japanese. Spelled phonetically lof course. But I’ve decided I need to finally be fluent in at least one.
3) Make significant progress to making writing my career and giving up my day job. That ones fairly self-explanatory. So long, London Underground!
And that’s it. Nothing too major. But all of it (barring maybe the language one,) is because 2021 taught me one thing above all else; my life isn’t of value to me as much as it is to my family. I owe it to them to live as long and as fully as I can so that my son is not left without his parents in his early-thirties.
In the short-term, I’m currently working on the third and final Sophisticated Beasts story, and it’s flowing easier than some of my previous stories already, which I feel must be a good sign. I’m working hard to apply the feedback I’ve gotten from last year, (particularly from Priscilla Bettis, a horror author who is far too talented and well-known to waste her time giving some newbie erotic author a full and thorough review for every book and yet always takes the time to, anyway. Do check out her new book, The Hay Bale, if you feel like being chilled to your bones!) to improve my writing as much as possible.
I’d love to know, readers, what are your resolutions or projects for the new year? Anything I can check out?
So, here’s to 2022. It literally can’t be worse than 2021, right? Right.
“Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings.” Jonathan Lockwood Huie coined that phrase, and the makers of the Matrix swear by it.
I can’t believe how long my Christmas story has taken me to write. This would be one of the biggest build-ups I’ve ever experienced, but it’s been more like an endless edging session.
My son has been unwell and, therefore, seriously grouchy lately. This has meant that I’m running on even less sleep than usual with pretty much no time to myself to write. This story has been written in tiny increments between toddler tantrums, usually with me daydreaming about getting a water spray bottle and giving the kid a little spritz every time he hits his cousins.
Still, I’ve finally managed to get the bare-bones done. I now need to review, edit and post, all hopefully before Easter.
When I have managed to get back into it, I’ve really enjoyed the story and the characters. I’m trying another new theme; a little MMF, why not? I usually base a lot of my content on my own experiences or fantasies, but this is actually not something I’ve really considered in great detail before.
If you’ve read my work, you’ll know I lean toward a fair amount of MFF scenarios, and that’s because I’ve been known to partake in such scenes in the past. I believe this is linked to my submissive nature. When I was a teen, I experimented with girls and, while I found the experiences beautiful and erotic, I never fell in love with any woman. When my now husband and I met, we engaged in intercourse with women together and I loved it, but this time, because I felt like I was elevating his experience.
I’m not saying this is the healthiest way of being, by the way, but it’s the way I am, and I like me just fine. 🙂
Anyway, the idea of being with another man literally makes me recoil, not because I don’t find other men attractive, I mean, you’ve seen Jason Mamoa, right? But because it would feel like an abomination against my submission to my husband.
However, in this story, the male partner has actually arranged the MMF threesome, and I must admit, I found the whole story far more arousing than I ever expected.
So, here’s my question to you, dear reader:
How to I effectively stop a three-year-old from being a jerk?
Just kidding. What I want to know is, have you ever engaged in a three way? What are your preferences?
Someone once said that three’s a crowd. I say, get a bigger bed.
K M Strange - Erotic Romance Author 