u/SushiSab

I'm looking for a 21+ writing partner to develop a dark fantasy novella set in the 1820s, centered around a slow burn romance between a human woman and an entity capable of taking human form.

Our protagonist is a young sculptor who despite the limitations and expectations placed upon women in the period, has managed to establish herself through private commissions and artistic connections. Seeking solitude to work, she rents an old, secluded farmhouse on the edge of a rural village. The property is said to be haunted though she dismisses the stories as superstition. There she begins encountering a strange but charming man who seems to live somewhere nearby. He's fascinated by her sculptures, spends time with her, helps around the farmhouse, and gradually becomes a comforting presence in her otherwise isolated life. Their relationship would develop through quiet conversations, shared meals, walks, artistic discussions, and the intimacy of being two people largely removed from society.

At first I'd like the story to feel light, romantic, and almost fairytale like.

He's peculiar, but in an endearing way; she's lonely but fiercely independent, and for the first time she feels genuinely understood. However, little inconsistencies would gradually begin to surface. He knows things he shouldn't, doesn't quite understand certain human customs, seems strangely attached to the farmhouse, and becomes increasingly uncomfortable whenever she talks about returning to the city or inviting others into her life. Eventually she discovers that he isn't human at all: He is an entity that has existed in the surrounding wilderness for far longer than anyone realizes, and the human form he's wearing is something he has learned to imitate, or perhaps took from the previous home owner. The affection he has for her is genuine, but so is his inability to understand human boundaries, his protectiveness slowly becomes possessiveness, his fascination becomes obsession, and the farmhouse that once felt like a sanctuary begins to feel like a cage. I want both characters to be flawed and believable, with the relationship gradually shifting from gothic romance into something toxic, unsettling, and psychologically disturbing rather than becoming a straightforward monster romance.

I'm especially looking for someone who enjoys SLOW BURN character development, atmospheric historical settings, gothic horror, psychological tension, and morally complicated relationships. I'd also like the 1820s to actually matter, social expectations surrounding women, artistic careers, class, marriage, travel, correspondence, rural life, and the limitations of the period should naturally influence the story without overwhelming it. I don't necessarily envision a happy ending for this, I'm leaning toward something tragic, bittersweet, or deeply unsettling, where the warning signs become obvious only in hindsight.

If you’ve made it this far and you’re still interested, thank you! I’d love to get a little glimpse of your writing style before we dive in. If you’re up for it, write a short passage that you could imagine fitting into this story, make something up, surprise me! It doesn’t have to follow the premise exactly, I’d just love to see your style, your character work, and how you handle atmosphere and tension. :)

Thanks so much for taking the time to read!!

I work as a personal assistant and concierge for two well known public figures. I live close to them, and I don't have a formal employment contract. My schedule is unpredictable, and I usually get one or two days off each week, depending on what they need.

so the problem is that I've reached a point where I can't actually enjoy my time off. Whenever I'm away, I'm constantly worrying about whether my replacements are handling things properly. Unfortunately, that anxiety isn't unfounded, there have been multiple situations where different replacements have made serious mistakes and I had to be the one to fix them.

Today was another example. My replacement had been told several times that the guests were leaving the villa and that they only needed to collect a single alarm key. Instead, he took the entire bag containing all the spare keys, garage remotes, access fobs, and other important items. I was three hours away on vacation and still had to spend my time sorting everything out because my client became extremely anxious and worried about the situation.

This has become a recurring pattern. Every time I'm on vacation or even just off for the weekend, I can't relax. I feel like I have to stay glued to my phone. Every notification makes my heart race because I immediately assume it's another work related problem. I've even assigned unique notification sounds to both of my clients so I know when they're messaging me, but they sometimes give my number to other people they want me to coordinate with, so any notification could end up being work and an emergency.

I'm currently supposed to be on a two week vacation, but I don't feel like I'm on vacation at all. I don't feel comfortable making plans, booking hotels, taking day trips, or doing anything that would make me unavailable, because I'm constantly expecting that something will go wrong and that I'll have to fix it remotely. Despite months of training, my replacements continue to make basic mistakes, and I no longer feel like I can truly disconnect from work.

It's gotten to the point where I genuinely experience heart palpitations at different times throughout the day, simply from anticipating that another work issue is about to happen.

(And before you ask: Yes, it's really well paid and I don't want to quit. I want to know how to handle this anxiety)

I work as a personal assistant and concierge for two well known public figures. I live close to them, and I don't have a formal employment contract. My schedule is unpredictable, and I usually get one or two days off each week, depending on what they need.

so the problem is that I've reached a point where I can't actually enjoy my time off. Whenever I'm away, I'm constantly worrying about whether my replacements are handling things properly. Unfortunately, that anxiety isn't unfounded, there have been multiple situations where different replacements have made serious mistakes and I had to be the one to fix them.

Today was another example. My replacement had been told several times that the guests were leaving the villa and that they only needed to collect a single alarm key. Instead, he took the entire bag containing all the spare keys, garage remotes, access fobs, and other important items. I was three hours away on vacation and still had to spend my time sorting everything out because my client became extremely anxious and worried about the situation.

This has become a recurring pattern. Every time I'm on vacation or even just off for the weekend, I can't relax. I feel like I have to stay glued to my phone. Every notification makes my heart race because I immediately assume it's another work related problem. I've even assigned unique notification sounds to both of my clients so I know when they're messaging me, but they sometimes give my number to other people they want me to coordinate with, so any notification could end up being work and an emergency.

I'm currently supposed to be on a two week vacation, but I don't feel like I'm on vacation at all. I don't feel comfortable making plans, booking hotels, taking day trips, or doing anything that would make me unavailable, because I'm constantly expecting that something will go wrong and that I'll have to fix it remotely. Despite months of training, my replacements continue to make basic mistakes, and I no longer feel like I can truly disconnect from work.

It's gotten to the point where I genuinely experience heart palpitations at different times throughout the day, simply from anticipating that another work issue is about to happen.

(And before you ask: Yes, it's really well paid and I don't want to quit. I want to know how to handle this anxiety)