Seeking advice

[blackeyedprince]

I understand that this is a bit sudden, but...

If you were looking for a writer's pseudonym, what would you consider a good fit?

Just nothing sounding like a nickname for a mercenary or gang member, please.

- Kell

Comments

[blackeyedprince]

I mean, I'd like you to hear your opinion, but I doubt it's the kind of book you usually read.

I'm writing a dark romance with a lot of fawning on couches and desperate declarations.

I planned it as a joke first, but then we went to Hayle, I saw how many of those sell in the bookstores. I thought maybe that's a way to earn some money that doesn't come from being a show monkey for the crown. And we really need money...

[techmaturgy]

Erotica? No, not usually.

[blackeyedprince]

Saints, no! Just romance. Nothing explicit. [yet] I have my limits on how much I'm willing embarrass myself for the cause.

[techmaturgy]

[He doesn't believe you.]

Yes, hence the pen name. I understand.

[blackeyedprince]

[and he shouldn't... Kell doesn't know this yet, but he be cajoled into much more stupidity than he'd ever admit. Won't be caught dead admitting he actually liked writing.]

Exactly. Needs to be sufficiently... eh....

I don't know. Just needs to feel right.

[techmaturgy]

Well, that's why you're seeking a cultural consult.

[blackeyedprince]

Precisely.

I realized that anything I come with probably will be too specific to me, but if I ask other people I can combine several suggestions and end with a better result then if I sticked to my idea.

[techmaturgy]

Well, if your goal is to convince the authorities that the book is legitimate, that's probably wise.

[blackeyedprince]

Possibly. I also might be overthinking what started as an excuse.

[but he's perfectionist. he's organically unable to half-ass literally anything he starts working on. also a coping mechanism. occupying himself with the most idiotic outrageous idea out there.]

[techmaturgy]

Just a bit, yes. The authorities are really going to follow up on this?

[blackeyedprince]

They probably won't, but I figured out this doesn't need to be a one off excuse. You can explain a lot of suspicious behavior by 'but I'm only doing research for my book'.

I did notice that Thorne is more prudish than my home country of Arnes. So as an excuse, it's embarrassing enough to discuss in detail they just might let me be. And I'm not too proud to make a fool of myself, if it can let me have or do something I want without getting myself or someone close to me in trouble.

[techmaturgy]

Well, I wish you the best of luck. It could become a very lucrative career.

[blackeyedprince]

Thanks. It better be. I'd rather not be ruining my reputation for nothing.

[techmaturgy]

What is your reputation? In Thorne, I mean.

[blackeyedprince]

That guy that makes fancy tea.

I'm not famous like you two, so there's not much too lose. I do like that I can go unnoticed most of the time.

[techmaturgy]

Oh, I'm not famous.

[blackeyedprince]

That's interesting, because anyone who's from Free Cities that I happen to ask at least heard about you. Both of you. I thought that's how famous works.

[techmaturgy]

The Summoned are a small community. That doesn't count.

[blackeyedprince]

True, they are. I most certainly don't know everyone, even in Thorne, but also I am not going out of my way to know every single Summoned. I usually rely on Rhy for this.

[techmaturgy]

Agreed. That's what Jayce is for.

[blackeyedprince]

You have to play to people's strengths, and that's definitely his.

[Don't worry. He won't tell you phrased it like that. Though, knowing Jayce, he's probably well aware.]