Your simple writing tips

[TheLobster]

Ron does seem like he would ejaculate loudly.

As his stick was a solid 14" unicorn made of willow, it would sure be weeping.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Hmm, okay. This is my advice for story openings.

1. Never begin a story with an info dump.

2. If you want to open with a description, make it brief and colorful.

3. For Lit stories, it's best to open with a scene where something happens, some dialogue or action that puts the reader into a scene and grabs their attention (but not sex, except if you open with a wet dream)

4. Avoid lengthy introductions and explanations why you wrote the story, etc. If the introduction must exist, make it brief and useful (announcing some kinks that might not be for everyone). If you still want to put a lengthy explanation for why you did something, leave it for the end of the story.

 

[SimonDoom]

And don't forget the classic:

View attachment 2553230

"Hermione, get back in your seat!" Snape sniped.

 

[WittyUserName]

I sometimes think there isn't enough discussion about writing in this sub-forum.

So... let's change that.

What are your simplest, easiest to implement writing tips?

My first one - use the weather to set the mood.

Main character is in a bad mood? Mention the rain outside.
Main character is happy? Mention the sun coming in through the window.

Mine: You can't please everyone, so write what you'd enjoy reading. There's an audience for it.

 

[NotWise]

There's been a lot of good tips, but my preference in these things is to talk about the ideas rather than listing them and walking away. What's good for one person is often not good for another, and what's good in one story may not work for another.

There is one I'd add because I haven't seen it mentioned. As in most everything else, if you want to be good at writing, then you have to work at it.

 

[Erozetta]

Have fun.

If you aren't having fun, what's the point?

 

[XerXesXu]

That's an interesting approach that could produce eye-catching openings. I'm not sure how I'd fit that into my goals, which are very character-oriented. I usually use my opening sentence or paragraph to introduce characters rather than themes.

Let your character say something that dramatically encapsulates your theme. It's not a case of 'either, or'.

 

[filthytrancendence]

Let your character say something that dramatically encapsulates your theme. It's not a case of 'either, or'.

Filthy turned to @NotWise slowly, his eyes narrowing as he gazed over the bridge of his aviators.

"Either XerXesXu's gunna turn up and say something pithy, or he isn't. Only time will tell."

 

[NotWise]

Let your character say something that dramatically encapsulates your theme. It's not a case of 'either, or'.

That's possible, but I'm imagining how that would work in my most recent story. The theme is depression and suicide...

 

[NotWise]

Filthy turned to @NotWise slowly, his eyes narrowing as he gazed over the bridge of his aviators.

"Either XerXesXu's gunna turn up and say something pithy, or he isn't. Only time will tell."

Was that pithy enough? I think we're still waiting.

 

[filthytrancendence]

Was that pithy enough? I think we're still waiting.

Well, the dramatic reveal comes at the end, of course.

 

[NotWise]

Well, the dramatic reveal comes at the end, of course.

It was foreshadowed several times. It would be possible to put one of the foreshadowing scenes at the beginning as a cold open, but, but, but... That would drive readers away even faster than the bar scene with the guitarist.

 

[filthytrancendence]

It was foreshadowed several times. It would be possible to put one of the foreshadowing scenes at the beginning as a cold open, but, but, but... That would drive readers away even faster than the bar scene with the guitarist.

That's just an example of how bad I am at judging what's going to drive people away, because that scene was fire.

It actually took me till the very last sex scene to realize the bullet was for holding coke. But I don't know shit about coke culture, so that's probably on me.

 

[NotWise]

That's just an example of how bad I am at judging what's going to drive people away, because that scene was fire.

It actually took me till the very last sex scene to realize the bullet was for holding coke. But I don't know shit about coke culture, so that's probably on me.

The cold open idea is gaining a little traction with me. It's a tool I've never used. The story says that Zelda's gun is new, but she is clearly not new to shooting. A cold opening could show what happened to the old gun, and why. There's an argument. Grace takes it away from her and throws it in the Seine. Cut to Alex getting out of the shower.

 

[filthytrancendence]

The cold open idea is gaining a little traction with me. It's a tool I've never used. The story says that Zelda's gun is new, but she is clearly not new to shooting. A cold opening could show what happened to the old gun, and why. There's an argument. Grace takes it away from her and throws it in the Seine. Cut to Alex getting out of the shower.

End it with Grace telling Zelda they're not going to <whatever the name of the place they were going to go to was>, but going to visit Alex instead. That'd give a tie-in to the weird look Grace gives at the first restaurant when he asks about it, which would then function as pay-off rather than just set-up.

 

[NotWise]

End it with Grace telling Zelda they're not going to <whatever the name of the place they were going to go to was>, but going to visit Alex instead. That'd give a tie-in to the weird look Grace gives at the first restaurant when he asks about it, which would then function as pay-off rather than just set-up.

Ibiza. Nice tie in. Too bad it's all too late for the story.

 

[filthytrancendence]

Ibiza. Nice tie in. Too bad it's all too late for the story.

Alas.

 

[XerXesXu]

That's possible, but I'm imagining how that would work in my most recent story. The theme is depression and suicide...

Perhaps, 'To be, or not to be, that is the question.'

 

[NotWise]

Perhaps, 'To be, or not to be, that is the question.'

This character's version of the soliloquy might start with "Hey, Sailor..." Different people cope with depression in different ways.

Anyway, I thought yours was a good writing tip. Thanks.

 

[kellyt1994]

I sometimes think there isn't enough discussion about writing in this sub-forum.

So... let's change that.

What are your simplest, easiest to implement writing tips?

My first one - use the weather to set the mood.

Main character is in a bad mood? Mention the rain outside.
Main character is happy? Mention the sun coming in through the window.

Thank you for this thread. Lots of solid advice. I have lots of weird real life experiences that I think would make good dirty stories but I'm tryin' to learn how to write.

 

[alexandra_secret]

What I was told once was that advice are important, but if you have an idea that defies the general rules of writing, you should go for it and experiment. It may not always produce something good but you might just be lucky. At worst you will have a first draft or story elements that you can reuse...

 

[Kelliezgirl]

This is great advice. If all your scenes are connected by "and then" you aren't writing an engaging story.

Also, something from Larry Niven, "All dialogue is first draft."

Normal people don't speak in eloquent soliloquies.

 

[kellyt1994]

Normal people don't speak in eloquent soliloquies.
[/QUOTE]


Generally true but I've known people who do. Not 100% of the time but I've known people I could just listen to for hours. The art of the storyteller comes through even when they're not exactly telling a story

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Normal people don't speak in eloquent soliloquies.

Generally true but I've known people who do. Not 100% of the time but I've known people I could just listen to for hours. The art of the storyteller comes through even when they're not exactly telling a story
[/QUOTE]

And those people aren't normal.

 

[Ciceri]

Pare down your language. Use simple words and avoid redundancies. Avoid cliches. If a story is cluttered with words and worn out imagery I stop reading after only a few minutes