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GallagherWitt
Over 90 days ago
Female, 43
Japan
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by Jillicious
Well, I've obviously upset a few people. I would like to apologize to you for that.

I guess not being comfortable with your own genitalia has no emotional connections at all. I will cherish this lesson learned.


Thank you for being willing to learn from this. smile Many people are not, particularly with issues such as this, so your willingness speaks volumes about your character. :)
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Keep the money.

I DO write for a living, but there are certain lines I won't cross. If an editor wants me to write something that's not my thing (rimming, for example), sure I'll write it. If it's something that squicks me out so badly it makes my skin crawl? No. Not gonna happen. That would remove all my enjoyment of the writing process, and I'd quite frankly rather go back into customer service -- hell, RETAIL -- than write porn, scat, etc.

Also, if a publisher was publishing that kind of thing, I would seriously question my desire to continue working with them. I already have a few publishers on my personal "do not submit" list for this very reason.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
YES. They're awful. I know some people get them as a result of negative reviews, rejections, etc., and once in a while I do, but usually it's just a moment of "No, really, I suck" for no apparent reason. The Band-aids help. biggrin


I get the 'I suck for no apparent reason' ones myself. Those are frikken hard to deal with.


Those are evil. They are the main reason for my Ego Band-Aids. I've been told it's stupid to have it now that I have a writing career, but honestly? I think I need it more now than I did as a beginner. lol
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
*finally stops staring at pic Morgan posted*

Quote by sprite
See what happens when we let new people in? they hog the limelight… here I am, a quarter of the way through my subtle campaign to win Ms Hawke’s heart and suddenly, I find myself replaced by… a witty banterer! *kicks at the carpeting* fine, then. I can tell which way the wind blows (currently, north to south, perhaps south east, not sure without taking compass outside with me). *shakes fist* curse you, Ms. Gallagher! Btw, are you single? Interested in having a fling? Into girls who dress up as giant space chickens? *giggles* i come with references, too!


What? What? It's not my fault!! She DRAGGED me in here. By my EAR! I swear it!!

Not single, I'm afraid. ;)
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by stephanie


Leather, Eh????

NOW I'm interested.....

XXXXX

SF


Hell yes. I'm all about leather.

Well, writing about it. Oh, and pictures of it. Men in black leather? NOM. Hell, women in leather. NOM NOM NOM.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
There's a topic?


There's supposed to be. Oh well...!


Hmm. A topic.

*thinks*

We could talk about....cheese.

Wait, no, this is an erotica forum. Perhaps...um...

Leather. Leather's always a good topic.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
They're quite nice!! I mean, it sounds kinda silly, but they REALLY are nice to have around on those "OMG I suck" days.


I get those too, and they're crushing. They can freeze all my work up really bad. It's frustrating.


YES. They're awful. I know some people get them as a result of negative reviews, rejections, etc., and once in a while I do, but usually it's just a moment of "No, really, I suck" for no apparent reason. The Band-aids help. biggrin
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
Done!


Yay! (Topic? What topic?)


There's a topic?
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
Coming from you, that's an awesome compliment, and I am currently pasting it into my Ego Band-aids file. WHAT? I know, I'm pathetic...lol


It wasn't a compliment. It was the Truth.


Thank you. smile

Ego Band-aids file...? Oooo... I need one of those too!


They're quite nice!! I mean, it sounds kinda silly, but they REALLY are nice to have around on those "OMG I suck" days.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
Quote by MorganHawke
Yep. Service with a Smirk, that's you.


I'm adding that to my signature...


You really ought to!


Done!
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
Ahh, good point. Triple-duty sex...I like that. biggrin

You're a damned fine writer. OF COURSE the sex in your erotic stories is going to have more than one function. You're nothing of not Thorough.


Coming from you, that's an awesome compliment, and I am currently pasting it into my Ego Band-aids file. WHAT? I know, I'm pathetic...lol



The kind of life "I" enjoy, definitely.



AAAAAAMEN. :D
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
*rubs hands together and giggles maniacally*


Yep. Service with a Smirk, that's you.


I'm adding that to my signature...
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
I was, shall we say, instigating. Not nasty, not vicious, but definitely stirring the pot to get a rise out of people. So yes, I richly deserved the ban. And yes, I found the entire thing insanely amusing. I'm shameless...


You just named all the reasons for why I love you, and brought you in here. smile


*rubs hands together and giggles maniacally*
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
I haven't gotten myself banned from anywhere yet, so I should be okay. Well, there was that ONE time, but I richly deserved it. biggrin


That must have taken quite a bit of effort on your part. I just can't see you being nasty without a damned good reason.


I was, shall we say, instigating. Not nasty, not vicious, but definitely stirring the pot to get a rise out of people.

So yes, I richly deserved the ban.

And yes, I found the entire thing insanely amusing. I'm shameless...
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
Agreed, agreed, 1,000 times agreed. I rather like the approach of making sex necessary to reach the goal. One of my own books is pretty much a non-stop sex-fest. If I recall correctly, it's something like 4 sex scenes for every 1 non-sex scene. But every scene is necessary for the main character to reach the other end of her character arc, which is getting from "sexually-frustrated with no clue how to change it" to "confident enough to know what she wants and get what she wants." Each sex scene is a step away from her shy, naive self and toward her bolder, more confident self. There was simply no other way to show that journey.


In this one, sex is not only the Goal but the Cause, the Reason why the story happened. BECAUSE she didn't have the confidence to get the SEX she wanted, she embarked on a journey that Also helped her grow as a person. So, in this case, Sex did Triple-duty in your story.


Ahh, good point. Triple-duty sex...I like that. biggrin

Again, Sex isn't merely the Goal but the Cause behind everything that happens in your story.


Kinda sounds like life in general...*snerk*
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke

Fine, fine... But truthfully, I don't think you're rude enough for that.


I haven't gotten myself banned from anywhere yet, so I should be okay. Well, there was that ONE time, but I richly deserved it. biggrin
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by Jillicious
Why would I be interested in a man who takes estrogen and has obvious emotional issues?


Obvious emotional issues?? I can understand if you're not attracted to transgendered people or cross-dressers, but to paint them as having emotional issues is rather ignorant and quite offensive. Many transgendered people and cross-dressers are quite well-adjusted, especially once they've come to terms with their gender (and how to express it, change it, etc. so their appearance matches their mind). Most of those who have emotional issues, in my experience, are those who are struggling to reconcile their identity/appearance with a society that condemns them, misunderstands them, judges them, etc. Imagine if your mind and body didn't match, and society judged you for trying to do what you could to make up for the discrepancy. Gender is a huge part of our identity. The fact that people are willing to take hormones and have major surgery, all with requisite risks and side effects, should tell you JUST how much a gender identity issue can affect someone.

If you're not interested in dating such a person, no one's twisting your arm. But "obvious emotional issues"? That's...I have no words.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Very well-said on all counts.

Quote by MorganHawke

Making sex part of a story's plot is MUCH harder. An easy way is to make sex necessary to get to their goal. However, the Best way is by making Sex the CAUSE or the RESULT of everything that happens in the story.


Agreed, agreed, 1,000 times agreed. I rather like the approach of making sex necessary to reach the goal. One of my own books is pretty much a non-stop sex-fest. If I recall correctly, it's something like 4 sex scenes for every 1 non-sex scene. But every scene is necessary for the main character to reach the other end of her character arc, which is getting from "sexually-frustrated with no clue how to change it" to "confident enough to know what she wants and get what she wants." Each sex scene is a step away from her shy, naive self and toward her bolder, more confident self. There was simply no other way to show that journey. Similarly, I have another book in which sex scenes (progressively more intense kink scenes, specifically) are used to help a woman past previous trauma. She's a survivor who wants to reclaim her sexuality from the traumatic past experience, and in her situation, having a trusted male friend ease her back into sex is the way to go.

So...yeah. Sex as a means to reach a goal works.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
Awww. smile Thanks for inviting me in. And I promise I'll behave. Sort of. Sometimes. Enough to keep me from getting kicked off. Much.


Darlin', if you behave then the point of having you here would be lost. :)


Well, there are differing degrees of behaving badly, so... hehehehe

I'll try not to get myself banned, how about that?
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by SweetPenny
Quote by GallagherWitt
GSOH?


After doing a bit of Googling, it's either The Girl Scouts of Ohio or a good sense of humor.


Ahhh, okay. Well, seeing as I live about 8,000 miles away from Ohio, I'm going to assume she meant the latter option. biggrin
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by GallagherWitt
...HELLO! Morgan invited me to join her here...


Yes, I did! Hi Lori!!!
-- Lori is one of my closest friends and fellow authors. She also has a wicked sense of humor so watch out for it! I invited Lori to help field writing questions and offer alternate viewpoints and techniques. Think in terms of a Second "professional" Opinion.

Please be kind to her.


Awww. smile Thanks for inviting me in. And I promise I'll behave. Sort of. Sometimes. Enough to keep me from getting kicked off. Much.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by AppleOfYourEye
Lori & Morgan~~ Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm always up for a challenge, I don't mind having to fit my writings to someone else right now. The advice is very helpful. Thanks!!!


My pleasure!
-- I love being helpful. (It makes me feel all warm and squooshy inside.)


I'm just in it for the chicks and good karma.

(KIDDING! Glad to be of help smile )
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Whenever you can, avoid filtering, as it creates an extra step of distance between the reader and what the character is seeing/feeling/tasting/etc.

"He saw the sun rise." vs "The sun rose."
"He smelled smoke." vs "The air was acrid with smoke."
"He tasted her kiss." vs "The taste of her kiss made him dizzy."

Lame examples, but you get the idea.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Hope Morgan doesn't mind me jumping in here...

Quote by AppleOfYourEye
Morgan~~ You mentioned finding out from the publisher what they want in a book, and then write to meet that desire. How does one go about doing that?


I'm more familiar with epublishers than NY, so I'll defer to Morgan for the big publishers, but as far as epubs...look at their websites. A lot of times, they'll have calls for submissions for a specific line or an anthology. Samhain recently did one for post-apocalyptic romance. Amber Quill currently has a couple of calls for M/M stories (one is western, one is vacation-themed).

The biggest thing, though, is to read what they're selling. Familiarize yourself with their lines, their themes, their content (i.e., how graphic is the sex? how much kink? etc.). Write and submit accordingly.

Also, a lot of epubs will mention in their submission guidelines that they're especially looking for a particular subgenre. Steampunk is in high demand at a few places right now. Some are really hard up for hetero stories. Others want as much gay as they can get their hands on. Futuristic sounds like it's going to be in-demand soon too. Mix and match a little...if they're looking for gay and steampunk, write gay steampunk. If they want shapeshifters, BDSM, and beach sex, then write about shapeshifters having kinky sex on the beach. You get the idea.

If you think I'm kidding about the mixing/matching subgenres, I'm speaking from personal experience: I write mostly contemporary, both gay and straight, with varying degrees of heat/kink/drama/comedy/etc. I subbed to one publisher, and the editor came back with, "I like your writing, but I'm not feeling the story. Do you have anything else?" As it happened, I had another one waiting in the wings, so I subbed that. Again, she liked it, but this time just didn't think it would be a big seller. She also commented, "I think I'm aiming more toward M/M right now." To which I responded, "Well, funny you should mention that...", and subbed her a M/M book I had just finished. She bought it. During the course of a conversation, she mentioned that gay and menage books were really big, so I (half-jokingly) asked if she'd buy a gay menage book. Why yes, said she, a gay menage book would be AWESOME. I outlined it, wrote that little bastard in about 2 weeks, and submitted it. She bought that one too. This entire process, from the first submission to the second contract, went down in about 3 months. The books went on to be two of my bestsellers, and she's bought three additional books from me since then (one of which was a result of "Hmm, I see gay, BDSM, and menage are all popular...here's a gay BDSM menage story."). Moral to the story? Be flexible and open to writing new things, and it never hurts to ask.

I know I have a lot of growing to do as an author, so I'm open to all advice and constructive critisim that I can get. I hate when someone says "That's great!" or "That sucks!" That tells me nothing other than you liked it or hated it, but what about it did you like or hate. My own personal pet peeve I guess.

Thanks!!


I feel your pain. I've had beta readers who just say "I like it" or "I don't like it", but don't give me anything else to go on. It's frustrating as hell.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by MorganHawke
Quote by daniel_mcleod
-- I firmly believe that sugar-coating the truth never helped anyone. The only way to overcome any difficulty is by knowing EXACTLY what we're up against.

Forewarned is forearmed.


Quoted for truth.

I do this full-time too, and I love what I do, but make no mistake...it. Is. WORK. People who paint it all as cockshine and roses don't do anyone any favors.

It's a demanding job, I work more hours than I EVER have in my life, but I wouldn't trade this job for anything. Except maybe Jared Leto. But I'd at least have to stop and think it over.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by clonjon
all of my stories have been written from the guys point of view and i have a story idea which i think will be better written from the female point of view. what are your ideas on writing from the opposite sex's point of view?


If nothing else, it's a fun challenge! I've written as a straight woman, straight man, gay man...really, it's not that different for me either way. Men and women more or less have the same emotions, they just express them differently. In terms of sex, it's not THAT much different. Though now that I think about it, I've written so much as a male (since most of my work is M/M), it's actually a little strange for me to write as a female now. Go figure!

So, give it a try. Have someone of the character's gender read it over and go from there.
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
Quote by Dancing_Doll
Do you tend to have recurring themes (or characters) in all your erotic stories?


The only recurring theme seems to be that my characters REALLY like DOING THE DEED. Otherwise, my stories range from really dark to light and funny, depending on which way the characters take me.

Do you prefer writing stroke fiction or do you aspire to creating high end and complex literary tales?


I don't know about high end or complex literary tales, but I do try to write something a little deeper than stroke fiction. I want it to be hot and sexy, but I also want it to resonate with the reader on other levels. Whether because they can relate to the character's frustrations with life in general, or because the character has a sense of humor that jives with the reader's, whatever...I want it to be more than sex, even if the character's relationship with the other character(s) is just sex.

Does your style involve the use of humour, quirkiness, or tongue-in-cheek satire?


Oh, good heavens, yes. My characters are snarky little twits.

Do you relish the dirty details or do you prefer to leave more to the imagination during sex scenes?


Depends on the scene, the story, the characters, etc. I have some "fade to black/shut the door" scenes, and I have some kinky BDSM threesomes that last two or three chapters. Just depends on the situation...but I have no qualms about getting down and dirty in the details.

Do you prefer writing stories with romance and intimacy?


I do, but it's not mandatory. My first published book was straight up erotica, no romance. It just depends on how love and romance fit into the character's journey. Since I mostly write romance novels, yes, romance and intimacy usually come into play.

Do you mainly write true-life tales from your sexual past?


Some of my past has come into play, but I won't be specific about what/when/etc. A great many of the things in my books are things I've never done, would never do, etc. (such as gay male stuff...seeing as I'm not a male, it would be rather difficult for me to get a blowjob, you know?).

Lori
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GallagherWitt
Advanced Wordsmith
...HELLO!

Morgan invited me to join her here, so hopefully this is the right place to introduce myself. (If not, mods feel free to move it to the right place)

I'm a full-time author of erotic romance under the pseudonyms L. A. Witt (gay) and Lauren Gallagher (hetero), and I'm looking forward to joining in the discussions here. I'm no guru by any means, but I'm always happy to help aspiring writers as much as I can. I like long walks on the beach and-- wait, wrong intro. *cough* I mean, I'll be posting some stories of my own soon, too, otherwise I'll be hanging around here, no doubt making Morgan wonder WTF she was thinking associating with me in a public place. BWAAAHAHAHAHAAH

Lori
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