Do you revisit your own stories?

[lovecraft68]

I've read "Every Dog has it's Day" by @lovecraft68 at least twice (same with his first Abigail book, I still need to finish the second to get to the third.)

You have plenty of time to catch up, I've been stuck on book four for 4 years now.

 

[Erozetta]

You have plenty of time to catch up, I've been stuck on book four for 4 years now.

Good. I mean, not good, but good for me 'cause I keep getting distracted when I try to read. This past year has been the worst for it.

 

[WhiteTailDarkTip]

Good. I mean, not good, but good for me 'cause I keep getting distracted when I try to read. This past year has been the worst for it.

You have had your reasons!

 

[nice90sguy]

A forgotten, low-rated non-erotic story of mine got randomly favourited today, making me re-read it. It's nearly good, but definitely ill-suited to Literotica. It has a couple of major plot twists, and I forgot about them, so I really did get suprised by them. It was the plot bunny for a much longer (30,000 word), much more popular story I posted here later.

 

[Erozetta]

You have had your reasons!

I do think listing Lips is a cheat on "rereading other people's stories," though. I wrote just under half of it, lol. But not the good half, that was all you and why I re-read it!

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I've reread all of my stories as a reader.

In addition, all of my published works on Amazon got converted to audiobooks, so now I get to listen to them while driving.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

I enjoy them while I write them.

I write them to get them out of my head, I don't need them going back in.

That’s fascinating.

I’m realizing slowly that I write mine precisely so that I can go back in.

In fact, I’d even say that’s a mark of their success for me: if I want to go back to them, then they’ve done their job.

When I’ve got the bit between my teeth, I enjoy the process of writing, for sure, but I also see that as part of enjoying their effect later, when I go back to it. Like the writing of it and the later reading of it are the same thing.

In any case, thanks so much for all your responses. Really genuinely enjoy hearing about everyone’s approach.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

Like @Nynah, I write the stories that I'd want to read. So it's only logical that I'd reread them.

To me it's strange that a writer wouldn't want to enjoy their own stories.

I’m exactly the same. I wonder if there’s anything meaningful in the difference between writers who write primarily for themselves and writers who write for others?

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I’m curious: Do you ever go back to your own stories and enjoy them as a reader would?

I’m not talking about rereading them with an eye to editing them, or to admire once more the many skillful turns of phrase, I’m talking about going back to them because the content is just so damn hot to you.

I’m a little surprised because, as a new writer, I thought the writing would be the thing, you know, and once it was done it was done, publish and move on. But I’ve found there’s one story I wrote that just really, really does it for me - and I find myself often going back to it for the pleasure of getting back into its particular headspace. How about you?

All the time. I’ve even got a few that, after a dozen reads, still make me tear up or put a soft smile on my face.

 

[WhiteTailDarkTip]

I do think listing Lips is a cheat on "rereading other people's stories," though. I wrote just under half of it, lol. But not the good half, that was all you and why I re-read it!

That's not true and you know it! We wrote the other part. I just built on the first part and added a twist. Then you corrected all my Britishisms and nudged me in the right direction.

 

[WhiteTailDarkTip]

I’m exactly the same. I wonder if there’s anything meaningful in the difference between writers who write primarily for themselves and writers who write for others?

I think writing for others would be a bit like writing to order and I can't ever see myself doing that

 

[Erozetta]

That's not true and you know it! We wrote the other part. I just built on the first part and added a twist. Then you corrected all my Britishisms and nudged me in the right direction.

"Correcting" the Britishisms hurt. I liked the Britishisms. It was like walking through a diamond mine, throwing away the diamonds then adding coal.

I think I mostly corrected the pet names (because for some reason I needed there to be six pets in the mix, lol.) adding some local Salem flair, sexing up the sex, and American-izing the speech.

 

[Erozetta]

I think writing for others would be a bit like writing to order and I can't ever see myself doing that

Same. I did one commission then upped the price to a stupid high amount so that

A. No one else would ask.

And

B. If they did ask it would be worth sinking the time into.

 

[sister jenny]

Yes and no.
I’ve tried to go back because the reason I wrote some of them was because the story really turned me on. And I have read some and masturbated.
But at the same time it is really hard since I only see the flaws and the bad writing (please not fishing for compliments, just being honest).
So yes, once in awhile I do but it happens more and more rarely.
I would say more then half I have actually never read since posting them and never will.

 

[AG31]

I’m curious: Do you ever go back to your own stories and enjoy them as a reader would?

I’m not talking about rereading them with an eye to editing them, or to admire once more the many skillful turns of phrase, I’m talking about going back to them because the content is just so damn hot to you.

I’m a little surprised because, as a new writer, I thought the writing would be the thing, you know, and once it was done it was done, publish and move on. But I’ve found there’s one story I wrote that just really, really does it for me - and I find myself often going back to it for the pleasure of getting back into its particular headspace. How about you?

Yes, for sure. Probably once a year or so.

 

[MK_Whimsy]

Yes, because I generally try to write the kinds of stories I want to read. In some cases, I am quite happy with how I have written particular scenes, and so I like to go back to admire my handiwork. On the other hand, it hurts when I find errors that I failed to catch.

 

[SkyBubble]

The sex scenes are simply tedious and remind me of how I struggled to find an unused adjective or metaphor.

And if and when you find a different way to say it, I've been told that there are only a few words for those things, so stick to them.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I've reread all of my stories as a reader.

In addition, all of my published works on Amazon got converted to audiobooks, so now I get to listen to them while driving.

"Converted" is a curious verb in this context.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Not for the sex scenes though. In fact sometimes (only sometimes) I'll skip over those. I re-read for the emotional highs.

I thought I was the only one who skipped my own sex scenes!

 

[BobbyBrandt]

"Converted" is a curious verb in this context.

Converted: changed in form or function.

There are more interesting things if life to be curious about.

 

[StillStunned]

Also: I'll revisit my stories to read them to my wife, my most appreciative follower.

 

[nice90sguy]

I thought I was the only one who skipped my own sex scenes!

Ive said it many times: sex is the least sexy part of sex.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Converted: changed in form or function.

There are more interesting things if life to be curious about.

Okay

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

Ive said it many times: sex is the least sexy part of sex.

I like this.

 

[Two21B]

Recently, I went through my first two stories for practical purposes. Lately, I've been feeling an overwhelming desire to revisit some old friends in a new tale. I'm very detail-oriented, and I'm terrified of writing something that contradicts an earlier work. Complicating matters further, it is important to me that each story stand on its own, even though the characters are recurring. This necessitates a fresh introduction with each piece, which is a difficult needle to thread. It has to be detailed enough to draw in the new readers, but not so tedious that it puts the old readers to sleep. Lol. Geez...this writing stuff is hard.