Thanks for the input! Looking up Edward gorey now I can see exactly what you mean, also it seems he drew a bookshelf in this exact style while illustraing for HP. Lovecraft stories (Which are definitely inspiration for me too) , so now I feel like I've somehow ripped him off! I get exactly what you mean about objects blending into the background, at times I wish I could take away with my pen as well as add to an image. I've been experimenting with different line thicknesses because I usually stick to one uniform thickness which is boring and awkward.
Ever tried using one of those pencil sets that have black charcoal pencil, a white pencil, and you can draw on colored paper, and use the white pencil for highlights? Seems the kind of thing that might work well with your visual style. Would probably need one of the harder pencils, though, way up on the H scale. And I think last time I went to an art store they made pens that could actually write white on dark paper.