Recommend an Author

rutger5 said:

And it's fine to challenge people's intellect if it is also entertains them but there are also times someone wants a light, fun read or in some cases something sexy that stimulates their libido or even provides them stroke material.

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This part is mostly where I'm at, both as a reader and author. I recently posted a story I consider somewhat "literary" in Erotic Horror (where I had no idea how that would play) but I'm also currently working on a 3rd chapter of a newish series that I consider to be complete unrealistic silliness, where the characters are only lightly developed and are primarily there to prompt sexual scenarios. My current April Fools entry (in E&V) is neither extreme -- a serious attempt at solid characterization of a shy, voyeuristic woman without sacrificing on a sexy, fun payoff.

The reality is that although it all has to meet certain standards (which the red H, rating, etc. help with, but are by no means authoritative), there's at least some range to what I write and look for as a reader, in terms of where the writing stands on a spectrum of highbrow to lowbrow. Depending on my mood, I guess. I have thought about the impact that might make on me as an author, in terms of setting expectations for readers who follow me based on one or another story, but I usually shrug it off.

At any rate, I like threads like this because I enjoy reading recommendations, and usually assume (at least with this crowd) that they meet the minimum requirements to be worth my time. That said, I do also appreciate qualifications on recommendations as the OP provided, to give me some sense of the type of story/author I'm about to look at.

Gentleman_G said:

which sounds condescending towards the other writers.
Seeing your reply, I thought I'd better point that out for you.

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I do have a bit of an acerbic personality at times and I agree with you both. In retrospect, I can see your point.

RocketLauncher said:

I do have a bit of an acerbic personality at times and I agree with you both. In retrospect, I can see your point.

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Before you apologize too much...

You are far from being the first author to characterize the body of work published on Lit in less than glowing terms. Maybe if you'd used a two-word description instead of simply stopping at 'drivel' it wouldn't have triggered a response. I'm trying to remember some of the descriptions other author's have used:

simple-minded,
repetitive smut,
unredeemable porn.

and many more.

I'll admit to intentionally posting stories that are largely free of above-the-belt content. That isn't all I've written, but I've written some. And that isn't all that's on Lit, but it's a big part of it. There are readers who want more, but there are more who don't want to be challenged by what they read.

And of course, as authors, we tend to give the audience what they appreciate.

NotWise said:

...

And of course, as authors, we tend to give the audience what they appreciate.

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Personally I can't agree with that statement. I give the audience what my Muses think I should write. My Muses are fickle, contradictory and often just weird. The readers get given what I write. If a few like the story? That's a bonus.

I don't expect anyone, including me, to like everything I have posted.

oggbashan said:

Personally I can't agree with that statement. I give the audience what my Muses think I should write. My Muses are fickle, contradictory and often just weird. The readers get given what I write. If a few like the story? That's a bonus.

I don't expect anyone, including me, to like everything I have posted.

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I'm with you, Ogg. I am pleased when people like what I write, because of the sense that we have made a connection through my words. If my words are insincere, that connection means nothing.

I would rather have a few readers who take something of meaning from my writing than thousands who fap and forget it.

Well, then there are two authors testifying to why it's a tendency and not a rule.

NotWise said:

Before you apologize too much...

You are far from being the first author to characterize the body of work published on Lit in less than glowing terms. Maybe if you'd used a two-word description instead of simply stopping at 'drivel' it wouldn't have triggered a response. I'm trying to remember some of the descriptions other author's have used:

simple-minded,
repetitive smut,
unredeemable porn.

and many more.

I'll admit to intentionally posting stories that are largely free of above-the-belt content. That isn't all I've written, but I've written some. And that isn't all that's on Lit, but it's a big part of it. There are readers who want more, but there are more who don't want to be challenged by what they read.

And of course, as authors, we tend to give the audience what they appreciate.

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Slow your roll there.....I like being referred to as Drivel.

RocketLauncher said:

I do have a bit of an acerbic personality at times and I agree with you both. In retrospect, I can see your point.

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Its interesting because the general opinion of lit is its low quality and part of that is its a free site and some equate free with can't post anywhere else.

In fact. a quick story, I was working with someone on a project and they were enjoying my writing and somehow we got on the topic of lit and they said it was a jerk off site and hack writing to get off too.

I then informed them I'd written here for several years

But some of my stuff here is hack, I'm not pretentious about anything.

Reading is subjective. Lit offers a wide variety of kinks and styles and one person's drivel is enjoyed by someone else.

There is a lot of crap on here. But good stuff to. The sites so vast its hard to weed through and the ratings can be so skewed and worthless they don't help all that much.

I've seen top list stories that are just...bad. I wonder if a new person comes here and reads that will they think..."Okay, this bucket of suck is in the hall of fame? How bad is the rest of this site?"

I don't think it's elitist to say there's lots of crap on this site. There's lots of crap on this site. In life, crap is the rule, not the exception. Most of what Hollywood produces is crap. It's just plain common sense that a site with over 400,000 stories, submitted mostly by amateur authors, is going to be filled with crap.

But there also are many stories that, while maybe not "literary," are lots of fun. This site attracts many authors who may not have the writing skills to catch the notice of a publisher, but who are great story-tellers or have great imaginations. I come to this site more to read fun stories than to find great prose, although I also enjoy authors who have style and story-telling skills. I've been reading stories on Literotica for over 15 years, and I've barely scratched the surface of the stories to enjoy here.

SimonDoom said:

I don't think it's elitist to say there's lots of crap on this site. There's lots of crap on this site. In life, crap is the rule, not the exception. Most of what Hollywood produces is crap. It's just plain common sense that a site with over 400,000 stories, submitted mostly by amateur authors, is going to be filled with crap.

But there also are many stories that, while maybe not "literary," are lots of fun. This site attracts many authors who may not have the writing skills to catch the notice of a publisher, but who are great story-tellers or have great imaginations. I come to this site more to read fun stories than to find great prose, although I also enjoy authors who have style and story-telling skills. I've been reading stories on Literotica for over 15 years, and I've barely scratched the surface of the stories to enjoy here.

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There are also authors who have started here because it was easy to post stories but their writing skills increased over time, with practice and care.

And some of my early stories posted here are crap. I leave them posted as a reminder of how bad I writer I could, and still can, be.

I'm not claiming most stories here are good literature let alone great literature. My point was more prompted by this is a thread to recommend writers one likes rather than to bash others. RocketLauncher can praise AwkwardMD, in this case, without saying most stories are drivel, that opinion doesn't make AwkwardMD's stories any better. And while many here on AH and across the readership as a whole may think the majority of the stories on the site aren't great we might differ greatly on which is which. One's trash is another's treasure.

ChloeTzang said:

Well, I look at anyone who favorited me coz their tastes are obviously just superb and I see who else they've favorited and that's given me some good leads

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That can be true but in at least one case I clicked on an account that had favorited me and they had favorited over 1000 others and there have been times I've read a comment on a story I enjoyed that I agreed with 100% and thought that reader is smart. Then I read another comment by them on a different story and thought - wait they must be nuts.

rutger5 said:

there have been times I've read a comment on a story I enjoyed that I agreed with 100% and thought that reader is smart. Then I read another comment by them on a different story and thought - wait they must be nuts.

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* Note to self: When making proper comments, send them in private, unless you want people to think you're nuts.

oggbashan said:

Personally I can't agree with that statement. I give the audience what my Muses think I should write. My Muses are fickle, contradictory and often just weird. The readers get given what I write. If a few like the story? That's a bonus.

I don't expect anyone, including me, to like everything I have posted.

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And nicely put, Ogg.

oggbashan said:

Personally I can't agree with that statement. I give the audience what my Muses think I should write. My Muses are fickle, contradictory and often just weird. The readers get given what I write. If a few like the story? That's a bonus.

I don't expect anyone, including me, to like everything I have posted.

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I write whatever is in my head. Once in a while I even share it.

We like Kousakacomplex in i/t and DreamCloud in romance.
-MM

Wkd_Macey said:

Like a lot of other people (I assume), I came here looking for good quality erotic stories, and while it's fair to say I found a lot of works that appear to fit the genres that interest me, it's also fair to say that quite a few of those works aren't particularly well written. I found I was spending a lot of time reading work which I quickly found disappointing.

During my relatively short membership in Lit, I've spent a lot of time searching for stories that not only stimulate the mind sexually, but also hold your attention by 'involving' the the reader in the scenes themselves.



For my part, I would like to nominate MelissaBaby as my first 'Top Author'.
Melissa's Mini-series, My Fall and Rise, appears to me to be very professionally written.

The prose is carefully constructed and the descriptions are detailed and precise. Melissa has an uncanny gift of being able to 'draw' the reader into the scene, and you can almost feel her pain and suffering as she takes you with her on her journey to hell and back. It's fair to say that the subject matter is not one of my favourites, but I had only to read the first chapter and I was hooked.

11 out of 10 from me
Thanks Melissa

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MelissaBaby? I read that series too. Not my norm. I Loved it.

MindsMirror said:

We like Kousakacomplex in i/t and DreamCloud in romance.
-MM

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I second DreamCloud. It's such a shame he won't post stories anymore due to someone selling his stories on Amazon.

Captainnumnuts said:

MelissaBaby? I read that series too. Not my norm. I Loved it.

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Thank you very much. I appreciate your praise and the affirmation that I am not many people's "norm".

MelissaBaby said:

Thank you very much. I appreciate your praise and the affirmation that I am not many people's "norm".

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Isn't it cool to know your fan base is growing?

Thanks Everyone

SimonDoom said:

...
But there also are many stories that, while maybe not "literary," are lots of fun...

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I try to be both - but I'll be the first to admit I'm still learning - literally (at Uni ) - and some or my work can tend to lean toward the darker side of naughty

MagicaPractica said:

There are also authors who have started here because it was easy to post stories but their writing skills increased over time, with practice and care.

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I think that has to be me - at least looking for the inspiration and feedback to improve

ChloeTzang said:

Well, I look at anyone who favorited me coz their tastes are obviously just superb and I see who else they've favorited and that's given me some good leads

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Lol Yes, but I have to admit to (being new here) having added a few people as Favourites because I couldn't see how to mark a story for Read Later (so that's not always a clear guide)

MindsMirror said:

We like Kousakacomplex in i/t and DreamCloud in romance.
-MM

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Thank you MM (for getting back to the plot )

I recall a thread back in my lurker days (pre-2013) where the OP addressed the disparity between good writing and high scores. In particular he listed a number of authors and stories that didn’t have high scores but were exemplary in every other measure. He gave explanations of how masterful each author was and why he thought they weren’t more popular among Lit readers.

I read a few of the stories, and they were some of the best writing I’ve seen on Lit – maybe not my cup of tea as far as erotic stimulation in every case; but all lived up to his praises. Since I hadn’t registered on Lit at that point (could someone trace my user name back to me somehow?), I couldn’t easily fave the stories or post, but I wish I had.

Hi All.
I'm resurrecting this thread in honour of a writer I have been chatting with for some months now.

His handle here is Malraux.

He submitted a piece of work about a month ago, which I consider to be nothing short of outstanding, and I'd like to share it with everyone.

From what I already knew of the scenario, I didn't believe I would find it all that interesting - but how wrong can you be? It's something of a weepie, but it was so moving, and compelling to the point of almost consuming me - I couldn't put it down, and even now when I re-read it, I find myself getting choked (no pun intended - one of the characters is particularly well endowed - lol )

I had been in contact with the author for some time before he published it (he said it took him 13 months to get it all together), so I started reading almost out of a sense of duty - It turned out to be the best thing I have read for as long as I can remember.

It is not only engrossing, but also extremely complex. I found I was having to re-read parts to recap things I had missed or misunderstood. I should warn you though, it is quite long (8 Lit pages) and there isn't much sex in it. having said that, it is well worth the time it will take, if you like very well constructed work with realistic situations, that both flows and gels.

To give you an idea of how well it was received, it attracted over 300 comments in less than two weeks online. If you should decide to give it a try, I'd suggest you set aside a few hours to do it justice. I don't think you'll be disappointed

Click Here:
Then Surely We

I'd like to recommend Arthur Smith.

Oh no. Sorry. I think I mis-read that. I thought it said 'Recommend an Arthur'. Oh, well ... here's Arthur paying a small tribute to the late great Linda Smith. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQZHYiQRqsA

I would also recommend Malraux. He/she is an excellent writer and it's a treat when his/her work is published.

Following up on Sam's suggestion, I'd recommend Dudley Moore's Arthur. Excellent film.