Trying to get started here!(Long post)

lovecraft68 said:

Hey welcome aboard and glad you enjoy my stories.

The answer is a very simple one, just write, just do it and get it up here and don't be discouraged if the first stories aren't huge hits, it takes a while to get an audience and get going sometimes, but you have to start somewhere.

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loquere said:

Don’t worry about what others will enjoy, write for you. You simply share what you enjoy with others. You don’t get paid for this; your only incentive is your enjoyment. What others think should not even be a tiny bit of concern to you.

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BDKane78 said:

Speak of the Devil

That is excellent advice. I have been checking the FAQs and have been an avid reader for a long time. I guess getting started is the big step. Usually, I feel most people know how the story will end before everything else

I have multiple stories kicking around in my noggin. My big thing is that I want to make a great story and create larger submissions rather than smaller in size.

I did not see the size limit, doubtful I will hit it, however Iam curious what would a good length be? And how to make sure the format is displayed correctly.

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lovecraft68 said:

There is no limit in how long a story can be. There are stories here over 30 lit pages long(so over 100k)

As for preferred length....many say its 3 lit pages, but most of mine are in the 6-8 page range and I get plenty of reads here so its really hard to say.

My advice would be don't worry about any of that stuff and just write the story you want to write and as time goes on you'll get a feel for what works well and not so well.

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Gorza said:

Hi BD Kane,

Welcome into the open. I've only been here since August, and have managed to get three stories published so far. Yes, do write for yourself, otherwise it's a chore. Yet writing is also communication: think about your readers. It's great to get feedback from readers who tell you they were really turned on by one of your stories. You can write your stuff and submit, but you'll fare far better if you find a good editor. Such an editor will wheedle out those little errors, but also give feedback on what works and what doesn't. Head over to the Editor Forum and have a look around, or ask and see if you find anyone with whom you'd like to work.

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sr71plt said:

Sorry, not passing my Freddie sniff test yet. Remains to be seen.

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GforGraham said:

What formatting, this is just text stories.
Editing can be by someone willing to help, see editor forum here. Else just proof read it yourself 3 times at least as this should pick up 90% of your errors.
Who cares what others think of your story. If you try to write to satisfy others you will fail as the story will not flow. It comes from your imagination, nobody elses.
Don't try to aim for any length. I think one lit page is about 3500 words? And this is prob about 4 A4 pages. Of course this all depends on font and spacings and length of paragraphs etc. Let the story flow, especially during first draft, do not stunt yourself. Editing your story you can add or take or change or throw it in the bin. It is your story.

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GoldenCojones said:

My advice on formatting / editing is to mind the grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Don't put extra spaces where they don't belong and don't get too fancy with it. I always put an extra line between paragraphs, not sure it that is required but it helps with readability.

You have read other stories on the site. Think about what made the story easier to read and do that. Think about what made the story harder to read and don't do that.

When you are submitting, before hitting the final button, read over the preview and make sure it looks good to you. Remember that you are putting something out there that reflects on you and you are worth making a good impression.

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loquere said:

I also recommend turning your comments off when you submit stories.
My stories aren't a democracy, only opinions that matter are mine.

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loquere said:

I also recommend turning your comments off when you submit stories.
My stories aren't a democracy, only opinions that matter are mine.

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Handley_Page said:

On the other hand,
Just occasionally, you may get a comment of a very practical nature which might actually help you do well, or better.

Beware the trolls.

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FortySixtyFour said:

Welcome and I hope to see stories from you soon! Around this time last year I started writing my first erotica story, and I'm only about seven short chapters in. I'm sure you'll pass me by in no time at all!

The advice that I would give if I could go back and do it all again for the first time..

1) Plan a rough outline. As a writer it's frustrating for me to keep writing the present when my mind is so excited to get ahead to the good parts, but your pacing will be all over the place if your story is nothing but skipping ahead to the parts you're excited to write. The outline isn't a set-in-stone-law and shouldn't be, but it's a loose guideline that'll help keep your overall story on focus.

2) Proofread. If you write something out five different times, proofread it ten times. Not just you, either, find another interested party to help you go over it. More than homonyms, grammatical knots and outright typos, reading over it again can help you tweak-and-fine-tune sentences to help them flow better, convey a better feel for the moment, or deliver the same information while using less words.

3) Sit on it. Patience. No matter how excited you are to submit something and get others reading it, sit on it for at least a night. There's a lot of nights where I'm thinking "done enough!" and want to just get it into the submission system and out of the way, off the drawing table. Sit on your story overnight and read it again, slowly and carefully, in the morning. Since I've started doing this I've almost always ended up finding major problems or working in major improvements. Sometimes it's just changing a single line of a character's dialogue to give a whole conversation a different meaning, sometimes I'm changing the character perspective, chopping half of the dialogue for a later conversation, working in a montage of other actions amid the talk to break it up.. you get the idea.

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BDKane78 said:

I am not weak willed and I enjoy all forms of critism that employs decent logic. I will keep comments open for thesotry. I would be naive if I thought there wouldn't be negative aspects.



Thank you for the well thought out advice. I will be sure to keep this content in mind for sure while writing.

I started my first story up last night. I think I am up to 1 page of Lit and 4 pages on google docs. I can already see much needed room for improvement. Starting sentences with pronouns is a constant habit I have.

Really have to brush up on my grammar and punctuation. I have my story basis and my characters worked out.

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