The Future of Tales from a Lewd Fantasy World

All right, first of all I’d like to reassure you that the next All Right! Fine! I’ll Take You! is coming later today. It’s just that I’m definitely not going to be able to finish it before leaving for lunch, so I thought this would be a good time to get this out of the way.

That being said, allow me to be insufferably long-winded about my original setting and story!

Tales from a Lewd Fantasy World started as what would’ve been an omake for an original story on QQ(back when I had the time to read those) about an isekaied man trying to make sense out of the typical hentai fantasy world. It had a couple of interesting takes on the subject that captured my imagination, but I was unsatisfied with the execution of the concept and kept thinking about how there’s far more to explore in such a premise than people just outright falling into being transformed into tropes.

Thus, the first chapter, with a protagonist who set out to subvert such a fate.

Time passed, the idea languished in my mind, and then I started thinking about the other possible elements, the things to explore in such a world, and that’s when I decided it would be a good idea (for a certain definition of “good”) to turn this into a series with loose connecting threads. As a way to make the cohesion more apparent, I would have recurring characters who would be the protagonists of their own ongoing story. Thus, the second chapter.

And so I decided that it would be interesting to have alternating chapters: short stories that would explain a particular aspect of the world interspersed with Adrian’s own quasi-novel as he went on his particular hero’s journey. Which sounds good on principle, but now that I’ve written his second chapter, I am faced with my perennial doubts.

On the one hand, I still like the idea on paper, but I think it may not be the best reading experience for you all. Part of it could be ameliorated by having more recurring characters (those from the other tales have always been meant to appear at some other time, even if as cameos or supporting cast—there’s plenty a gnome alchemist can get up to that would involve Adrian, and a witch who has, for the first time in decades, willingly called down the attention of the Never Born Gods will definitely make another appearance at some point), but maybe I should drop the strict alternation and just do the unconnected stories when I feel a particular concept should be explained.

That also leads to me pondering what merits or not more explanation. So far, we’ve been stuck on gods and demons for quite a while. I’d planned to show what my particular version of elves is like, but that’s already touched upon in the third tale, and so, if any of you fantasy enthusiasts (and hentai connoisseurs) can think of anything you’d like to see me write about, I’m open to suggestions. I don’t want to milk the concept dry, after all.

And speaking of, while I have a loose outline for Adrian’s journey (I know how it ends and some points along the way), I’m also a bit undecided on some points. I really liked his interaction with Zhandra and how they came across, but while I didn’t dislike his relationship with Elena, I think it’s clear I wasn’t at my best when I wrote it (a revision is imminent—also open to suggestions). I think the current setup is fitting, given their stories and relationship before the tales start, but, well, one of the more natural ways to introduce new characters and develop their particular concepts would be to go the harem route, which…

You all know I don’t have any issues writing poly relationships, or even comedic harem shenanigans (looking at you, Kazuma), but maybe Adrian isn’t the best person to throw at a gaggle of women with supernatural powers, given his particular, multiple issues. On the other hand, that would be an interesting source of conflict… I don’t know, any thoughts on the pros and cons? There are currently planned a couple more members for the party, but they could either not be romantically involved, be occasional flings in the whole mess, or be developed as full partners.

It’s in the air, is what I’m saying.

Lastly, there’s the issue about me wanting to publish this on Amazon for multiple reasons (financial and personal—selling books is a thing I definitely aim to do, after my last, disastrous attempt in this area). The idea has always been to sell this as an episodic thing, comic-book style, but if any of you have any ideas on how to make that more feasible (or, dare I say, successful), I’m obviously eager to hear about it.

Also, this story has been under the broad umbrella of “Chef’s Choice” on my Discord for quite a while, but, given I want to see more discussion on the subject, I’m now giving it its proper channel. Please, don’t hesitate to leave me any comments in there (by which I mean I’m eager, and thankful, for your feedback).

Rant over, we now return to my regularly scheduled freaking out about lack of sleep and missed deadlines. Thank you for reading this mess (and my other, hopefully more entertaining, messes).