Looking For Advice From Another Author

[stevemike08066]

I've been posting stories on here for the last 5 years, and, my stories get good feedback, but, I take notice some people can be really negative...

I'm looking for advice from an author on how I can improve my stories...

I tried contacting a couple of authors, but, none got back to me....

Please, I'm looking for some help here...

Please PM me with any advice

[sr71plt]

Are there common threads in the negative feedback? If so, that might give you some indication what needs done (if anything). I don't think that asking for general advice from other authors is going to get anyone very far.

[TE999]

Originally Posted by stevemike08066

I've been posting stories on here for the last 5 years, and, my stories get good feedback, but, I take notice some people can be really negative...

I'm looking for advice from an author on how I can improve my stories...

I tried contacting a couple of authors, but, none got back to me....

Please, I'm looking for some help here...

Please PM me with any advice

Unless said criticism is of a coherent and reasonably literary nature, I would simply ignore it; this would include comments such as 'You should have done this or that' and 'Why was X so mean to Y?'

You should write to please yourself. When you are satisfied with what you have written, then it is ready for dissemination. In trying to please everyone, you will please no one. Enjoy writing and ignore the trolls.

Originally Posted by stevemike08066

....I'm looking for advice from an author on how I can improve my stories...

You might try the Story Feedback forum. Post a link to a story you want critiqued. On the other forums, if you post a link to your stories page in your signature line, then lazy fucks like me don't have to go search the Authors page to find your work. Here's how to do it.

http://forum.literotica.com/showthre...=358426&page=3

Post 60 shows how to add a link to your stories or story page in your sig line.

[xelliebabex]

Originally Posted by TE999

Unless said criticism is of a coherent and reasonably literary nature, I would simply ignore it; this would include comments such as 'You should have done this or that' and 'Why was X so mean to Y?'

You should write to please yourself. When you are satisfied with what you have written, then it is ready for dissemination. In trying to please everyone, you will please no one. Enjoy writing and ignore the trolls.

I think TE999 said it best

There are some categories where you are going to get negative comments regardless because the readers are split into two camps as to what should be submitted in that category e.g. LovingWives or Non-Consent/Reluctance.

I take on the negative comments and see if they truly apply to me or if they are made by people with a badly skewed slant on the world where we all need to be a homogenous variety of kink. Even the mega popular(I can't work out why) 50 Shades does not appeal the everyone's sense of romance/kink.

I think you just have to like the story you write and accept that it wont appeal to everyone because... if we all liked the same thing the word would be a very boring place :wink:

[NaokoSmith]

I think first piece of advice is put a link to your submissions, or the story you most want feedback on, in your signature so lazy people here can go straight to it.

You could also get a volunteer editor. I have an editor, not from here though. She has done amazing things to my writing style and I made a new friend too. I also edit for some people and I really enjoy that and learn a lot about writing from that, since I edit for people who write very different things to me.

As Pilot says, if there are things people are saying repeatedly. that'll give you a clue as to what to start considering addressing. However, it's sometimes only when someone sits down and goes through your piece in detail with a large red pen that you start getting it. I write very differently now to how I did when my editor started.

I had a quick look and I see you're getting top 3s and 4s as ratings. Those are good scores so you should definitely keep writing.

[stevemike08066]

Thanks for all the feedback guys....I really appreciate it!

[kbate]

I chose one of your newer submissions as a test read,

"Madison's Story Ch. 01".

It began much like a penthouse letter and moved on into porn movie sex and degradation.

You told me three times about 34c breasts. Wow, I'm drooling for 34c breasts.
You told us she was 'fit and trim' but a paragraph later she was displaying a 'bubble butt'.

She meets a guy for the first time and he stares at her boobs and asks "What size are those titties?" Is this for real? Can you hear the resounding sound of the slap and the door slamming as she leaves?

They sit for 'a couple hours' in a coffee and bagel shoppe and you cannot take more than a few words to describe it? This is a first time and meeting story and blind date and you just skipped everything to jump to (yes) popping the 34c boobs out of her bra.

And then, at the apartment with a blind date she jumps right into anal followed by oral, neither of which she has done before? I'm sorry but I am having some difficulty with the premise.

To me it appears that you watched a porn movie and decided to translate it into a Lit submission but didn't bother to think about wrapping a real story around the idea.

[stevemike08066]

My stories are all fantasy, I never said my stories are anything but fiction, if you don't like my stories, my suggestion is don't read them, but, don't sit here and blast me

[luvthedesserts]

Originally Posted by stevemike08066

My stories are all fantasy, I never said my stories are anything but fiction, if you don't like my stories, my suggestion is don't read them, but, don't sit here and blast me

You asked for advice, he gave it. No reason to get defensive. I know it’s tough to take criticism, but it is the only way to learn. Everyone has different tastes and styles they prefer. You can’t please everyone. And it’s never wise to try.

[stevemike08066]

I always get defensive when somebody blasts me...

[Handley_Page]

Originally Posted by stevemike08066

My stories are all fantasy, I never said my stories are anything but fiction, if you don't like my stories, my suggestion is don't read them, but, don't sit here and blast me

But how can you learn to write better with out some straight criticism?

There's been a lot of debate lately about writing the size [in your case quoting 34C]. Most of us seem to reckon there are better ways; a nice handful perhaps?

All our stories are fantasies [although there are those readers who imagine them all too true].

Remember that the stories on the board are STORIES, not the layout of a short porno film. Take time, for example to read several, particularly ones with a high score (4.5+) and then analyse WHY it is a good story.
It's taken me ages to work that one out!

[stevemike08066]

I 'll try that, thanks...

[sr71plt]

Originally Posted by Handley_Page

Remember that the stories on the board are STORIES, not the layout of a short porno film.

Well, I, for one keep looking for that e-mail saying, "We produce porn films and have seen your stories and would like to make them into movies."

[kbate]

Originally Posted by stevemike08066

My stories are all fantasy, I never said my stories are anything but fiction, if you don't like my stories, my suggestion is don't read them, but, don't sit here and blast me

So much for 'looking for advice'; that was a simple critique, not a blast.

I pointed out inconsistencies and weaknesses which cause many people to either ignore your story or to vote low. When a fiction runs into suspension of disbelief problems - then the story loses cohesion and becomes tedious.

You will be pleased to know that I won't read any more of your work and won't PM to offer assistance.

[stevemike08066]

See now that's advice.... Thank you!

I just thought you were being snarky....I meant no offense by what I said, I get defensive a lot...

[kbate]

Originally Posted by sr71plt

Well, I, for one keep looking for that e-mail saying, "We produce porn films and have seen your stories and would like to make them into movies."

Your Gay Male Valentines day contest entry would make a fair porno if you can only compose some truly shitty music for the Buster scenes.

Raymond Chandler noted that plenty of mediocre genre writing gets published while mediocre literature is never published, then cited several awful murder mysteries that were best sellers, and autopsied their flaws, most of which shoulda been lethal to sales but werent. Readers like what they like, critics like what they like, publishers like what sells, and theyre all different.

I looked at a list of the most beautiful women on Earth, and none of them are on my list.

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Originally Posted by stevemike08066

I've been posting stories on here for the last 5 years, and, my stories get good feedback, but, I take notice some people can be really negative...

I'm looking for advice from an author on how I can improve my stories...

I tried contacting a couple of authors, but, none got back to me....

Please, I'm looking for some help here...

Please PM me with any advice

You're very lucky to be getting good feedback. I get very little. I've worked hard to improve my writing. I have problems which make it difficult but it's getting better. I try to be adventurous. I don't see the point of being a copyist. I don't choose subjects like incest that I regard as being cheap.

I think you should know you're not alone, that almost every one here craves useful feed back. It's valuable and it's wise not to be defensive when that feedback is not abusive and is sincere. Indeed, defensiveness demonstrates that feedback is useful to you only if it agrees with you and that will compound your problems. One has to be sincere in the wish to improve one's writing- that is the essence of it. It's not about converting everyone to your form. So, smile and be thankful to all those who have tried to help. In doing so the rest of us will benefit because people will be more inclined to offer their help again.