Niche Titles and Dark Times

[PurpleXanmal]

You know, I write a lot of dark and niche content, then wonder why I don't do great. So I was going through the different series I wrote and realized that my series are just not very palatable. You have things like "The Hero is Perfect" where it takes place in a rape game simulator made by a horny masochistic Goddess.
You have The Godling and Her Husband which is about a woman with soul powers who believes she is a 1950's housewife and lives in what equates to a superhero world in today's 2026. Then you have stories like Lucas which are lighthearted, but extreme harem and lots of off-screen sex.


As I am going through my titles, I have come to a sobering conclusion. I may... have a problem. So I started a new series called "The Tyrant's Rose" and specifically avoided nudity, sex, and going too dark.... The prologue starts with the MC having conquered the world and enslaved everyone. Great start to a family-friendly event... haha!

My original first title did the best, and it followed most of the basic fantasy beats (Her Majesty Tamaneko)... except Tama is a nudist who hates clothes, Saki is a void-possessed Kitsune who charms and mind controls people. Both of them are extremely violent... and that was just volume 1. Volume 3 somehow amps it up into slavery and greed and city conquering.


But seriously, I am starting to worry I am incapable of writing a feel-good story.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Get used to it, lol.

Depending on your tastes, you will shake your head at some of the...
1.3 zillion views in one of your genre tags.
you look at the cover.
you read the blurb.

and you sit back and realize it.
"This? Is hooving my ass up between my shoulder blades."

As I said, get used it.
As I track my progress (if i even could grace it by calling it progress, lol)
I end up looking at covers, reading blurbs...

it will either dishearten you, or fill you with grim resolve.

PS - this place wasn't nicknamed smut-hub for nothing.
If I sit back and pick out my "I think best work"...
that's one that has perhaps the least number of views.
and one I always thought didn't have enough of what I thought it should have...
well? that's the only one I got that's doing a slow-burn on the rankings.
I wouldn't have picked it out of my catalog, guessing what had a chance.
but? that's the one so far.

PPS - yeah, that one has heavy smut content. what can you even do.

 

[PurpleXanmal]

Get used to it, lol.

Depending on your tastes, you will shake your head at some of the...
1.3 zillion views in one of your genre tags.
you look at the cover.
you read the blurb.

and you sit back and realize it.
"This? Is hooving my ass up between my shoulder blades."

As I said, get used it.
As I track my progress (if i even could grace it by calling it progress, lol)
I end up looking at covers, reading blurbs...

it will either dishearten you, or fill you with grim resolve.

PS - this place wasn't nicknamed smut-hub for nothing.
If I sit back and pick out my "I think best work"...
that's one that has perhaps the least number of views.
and one I always thought didn't have enough of what I thought it should have...
well? that's the only one I got that's doing a slow-burn on the rankings.
I wouldn't have picked it out of my catalog, guessing what had a chance.
but? that's the one so far.

PPS - yeah, that one has heavy smut content. what can you even do.

How sad and disheartening... Welp, On my way to write and publish my 7th book!

 

[TinaMigarlo]

How sad and disheartening... Welp, On my way to write and publish my 7th book!

*never mind*, not taking the bait.
lol
@PurpleXanmal :

Okay, I took the bait.
I figured with sweet snark such as that...
I gotta see what that user is up to.

Yeah.
you got a little fire going on your three series up on your page here.
Good job. Glad you found some success.

word to the wise, though... your *link* to your RR novel(s) ?
returns a 404. maybe you didn't copy paste it right, or I don't know.

 

[Sylver]

I feel you on that front lot of stories that I'm jelly of here on Scribblehub. You got stories all about SEX SEX SEX with basic character development and the plot is building a harem in different ways, and the story gets massive views and a large number of readers following and commenting every time.

And yea I get very jelly! I write smut too! I like my smut as the frosting on the cake and not the main appeal. I'm appreciative of the audience I have, just sometimes you can't help but compare. I know I can be a good writer, I just need to attract that audience and practice my skills and story telling.

 

[MC-Stories]

I've tried to write smut, only one problem, i suck at sex scenes, i can never get into the right headspace, when people thin sex, i think torture, and not the sexy kind.

 

[PurpleXanmal]

*never mind*, not taking the bait.
lol
@PurpleXanmal :

Okay, I took the bait.
I figured with sweet snark such as that...
I gotta see what that user is up to.

Yeah.
you got a little fire going on your three series up on your page here.
Good job. Glad you found some success.

word to the wise, though... your *link* to your RR novel(s) ?
returns a 404. maybe you didn't copy paste it right, or I don't know.

Which ones? the ones on my profile? Also, what bait? I was specifically stating that All my stories are dark and fucked up. They are! and that every story I have tried to make positive, I have failed. It IS disheartening. I was trying to be upbeat.

I feel you on that front lot of stories that I'm jelly of here on Scribblehub. You got stories all about SEX SEX SEX with basic character development and the plot is building a harem in different ways, and the story gets massive views and a large number of readers following and commenting every time.

And yea I get very jelly! I write smut too! I like my smut as the frosting on the cake and not the main appeal. I'm appreciative of the audience I have, just sometimes you can't help but compare. I know I can be a good writer, I just need to attract that audience and practice my skills and story telling.

My best story is 'The Hero is Perfect' and it is the only 1 of the three with actual sex scenes and smut. I got someone to comment on every single chapter though! So they really liked the story!

I've tried to write smut, only one problem, i suck at sex scenes, i can never get into the right headspace, when people thin sex, i think torture, and not the sexy kind.

I mean, I was pretty bad at first, and it's really hard with Aphantasia. But I learned it's mostly about describing the event in a sensual way then adding physical descriptors of the act.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

@PurpleXanmal :

you can see it highlighted. I right-clicked... "open link in new tab", and...

as you can see, on the address bar... its finding the USER (you) just not that particular item you linked to.


PS - I was teasing. You said "welp, off to publish my 7th book now..." and I went off to see how well you're doing. (which as I reported, was quite well)

 

[AliceMoonvale]

I may... have a problem. So I started a new series called "The Tyrant's Rose" and specifically avoided nudity, sex, and going too dark.... The prologue starts with the MC having conquered the world and enslaved everyone. Great start to a family-friendly event... haha!

My original first title did the best, and it followed most of the basic fantasy beats (Her Majesty Tamaneko)... except Tama is a nudist who hates clothes, Saki is a void-possessed Kitsune who charms and mind controls people. Both of them are extremely violent... and that was just volume 1. Volume 3 somehow amps it up into slavery and greed and city conquering.


But seriously, I am starting to worry I am incapable of writing a feel-good story.

"It's not too dark, but everyone is ensalved."

Just re-read that whole section to yourself and you'll answer your own questions and concerns.

You do have a problem. Probably a mental one, as a fellow mental problem haver.
But, If you struggle to make a story that isn't about sex, or rape or slavery, it might just be a you problem.

But Idk, I'm not a rocket scientist unfortunately. Hope that helps.

 

[PurpleXanmal]

"It's not too dark, but everyone is ensalved."

Just re-read that whole section to yourself and you'll answer your own questions and concerns.

You do have a problem. Probably a mental one, as a fellow mental problem haver.
But, If you struggle to make a story that isn't about sex, or rape or slavery, it might just be a you problem.

But Idk, I'm not a rocket scientist unfortunately. Hope that helps.

Your not a rocket scientist?! But that's the bare minimum to be an author! Readers expect a PHD in all STEM fields before you are allowed to publish a book!