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You know, writing gay smut for a creative writing class in a conservative small town might prove to be an effective fitness program when you’re trying to outrun the hordes of pitchforks ...

This is Canada, DP. Our angry mobs favour the hockey stick.

This Jefferey episode drafted (to be #5), onto #6. Will likely proofread/post #5 later next week.

I love the idea of a creative writing class, just for the pure educational value of it. Learning is always valuable. But for me and people like me, it’s not an option for feedback for two reasons. Price is the first one. Personal interest classes generally run $100 and up. Actual programs will run a lot more than that (where I am). There are online free options, but those are best for independent learning rather than getting any honest feedback. Second reason is simply the subject matter. If I were to write a story for a class, I would not write the sort of things I prefer to write. I wouldn’t write anything close, because gay-themed smut does not seem like an appropriate subject matter for a creative writing class. I certainly wouldn’t have the balls to put one of my stories forward even in an open-minded university environment, much less in a very conservative small town lol. So the class could be awesome for honing skill if one can afford it, but perhaps not ideal for the sort of feedback we’re griping about lacking.

Yep, definitely, that’s why I generally scope out the publishers/self-pub sites, looking at everything, to see if they’d even fit on content. Based on what I’ve seen, self-pub is likely the best option, but that means hiring an editor. Well, when it’s time to move into that, I’ll be doing my research to find good editors that aren’t too picky (or open minded).

I’m no longer in the class-taking mindset (kinda got burned out after finishing that masters). And I still have trepidation because of the content that I am writing, be it a writers group, an editor, or a publisher; those under-18 tags and some religious bigotry too. Of course, my material’s not yet to that publishing point, so there’s that. (I need to revise and get the main story moving along before I’m confident on all the points where my various stories intersect.) There are countries where the mere fact it’s “under-18” is illegal. Others will decline it’s because its sexual. So, some publishers just outright ban under-18 for those reasons. Some will avoid it for philosophical/religious reasons. And that’s before we get to portrayal/presentation/taste.

I just tried it myself, and was able to add a story from my Currently Reading list to my Recommended Reading list, and it appears in both lists. I’m not quite sure where this went wrong for you, but I was able to do it just now.

I’ve collaborated on a story with someone I think twice in my life, the last time maybe 15 years ago. And I miss it. I found it creatively fun. But I’m not the sort of person who can collaborate with just anyone, and certainly not with a stranger; it’s too personal an experience for that. I’m probably just odd that way. And I’m sure some writing styles would clash too much to collaborate to create a seamless story. But I do miss it.

It might also make an interesting plot-line for a story in its own right, too. “Alvin and his boyfriend Buford thought they were hiding their torrid relationship while going to Wacko State in Texas. Until Alvin grabbed the wrong thumbdrive for his creative-lit class and uploaded the story to the school server without reading it first...

You would know your personal circumstances far better than I. You should also be as “comfortable” with your publisher as they are with you, at least in my opinion. If your publisher does not want your work for the reasons you described, their printing your work might actually be WORSE for you than not. If your work was published by such a publisher, and the Westboro Baptists or others of their ilk came after you, you would truly know what “loneliness” feels like when they “cut and run.”

Exactly. I would guess that part of the issue would depend on how much of the “action” is portrayed directly, and how it’s presented.

One possibility that might be available for some is to take a “Creative Writing” class at their local community college. This will at least enhance your core writing skills as well as potentially give you a “pool” of “peer-reviewers.” If the Professor is a good one, and likes your work, you may also find at least some editing help, provided the Professor believes his time is not being wasted. Desiderius Price, with all the pure muck, trash, and hell that comes “over the transom” at any good literary agency or publishing house, an author needs whatever advantage they are able to find to “make the cut” to their editors. While actually hiring and paying an editor would be a substantial if not extreme commitment to the quality of your work, finding fellow writers who are willing to invest the time into YOUR work, and whose work is at least as good as if not better than yours can also get the quality up high enough. Of course, your work may not be “accessible” enough for commercial publishing, but that is a separate issue. BronxWench, You have made it. You have been published on the merit of your writing alone, without having to pay MONEY on top of the work of writing itself. As an author, you spend as much time promoting your work as you do creating and editing it. The biggest difference between a “vanity” publisher and a “conventional” one is who owns the three cases of books in the back of your car as you go from bookstore to swap-meet to convention trying to get people to buy your book. The publisher always pays themselves first. Since I don’t have a “signature file” handy, I guess I’ll put something amusing below manually. “Tito’s Vodka—because everyone knows you drink vodka for the flavor.”

watched phantom of the opera and came to realize that he is just missunderstood. hes not bad. i guess he is the reason i like all the bad guys. hmmmm

I have never had my work pre-edited. Honestly, I’ve never even really had a beta reader. My fandom stuff is too obscure for most people, and I’d need to find a beta who’s willing to read original fic that might be MM, or maybe MF, possibly fantasy-based, post-dystopian, alternate historical, or just plain controversial. I’m all over the place as far as settings and content.

I’m not discounting the rest of your post, but as a twitter conditioned person this really spoke to me! AFF, give me a heart to click!