Awful Stuff.

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The writing in the stories section is awful stuff.

Each story is all summary narration or total dialogue. The summary narration paragraphs are wads of loose associations, tangential remarks, and multiple subjects, viz., stream of consciousness composition a slice better than schizophrenic word salad.

My sample came from the most popular stories.

 

[jomar]

Are you talking about the New Stories section of Lit?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JOMAR

No, TOP LISTS.

 

[damppanties]

So?

Write a better one. *shrug*

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I do.

My point is a lot of sorry writing passes for good.

 

[trysail]

JBJ-
I agree. My one and last submission was edited by a person whose evident illiteracy and insistence was such that the prose, organization, punctuation and style were massacred; as a result, its finished state resembles the work of a sixteen year-old suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Notwithstanding my protestations, out of frustration and desire to get the submission approved, I threw up my hands and effectively said, "Thank you, sir. May I have another?"


Oh, well, what the hell-- it is after all Lit (and in no danger of being confused with "The New Yorker").

 

[BabyBlue2005]

I do.

My point is a lot of sorry writing passes for good.

Surely a story listed in the top list just denotes that it is popular? Often what I would consider to be good does not equate to what is popular and vice versa

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

TRYSAIL

I suspect even the Masters have/had bad days; there is plenty of evidence for the theory. Moments ago I argued for the theory with a friend.

I think porn fails as literature because its been abandoned to hacks and novices. I think, too, porn improves 100% when writers dump the double auxillary verbs and increase their fund of action verbs.

 

[sr71plt]

Ha, you're both drones as far as contributing stories to Literotica is concerned. JamesbJohnson has no stories posted here. And trysails's only story was posted two years ago. I don't think you're writers at all--just yakkers until whatever board you are on gets tired of your sour, purposely provocative posts (like this thread) and posts irrelevant to the theme of the Web site (like most of the threads you both start here) and throws you off. Both of you belong down in GB, not here on AH. But then, as long as you're having fun in otherwise empty lives, other posters here can take you at your obvious worth.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

BABYBLUE

I agree. I'm reading a Victor Hugo novel thats flawless in composition AND boring.

What I'm speaking of is a good story assembled like a 1978 Plymouth.

 

[damppanties]

The difference between storytelling and writing?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

DAMPPANTIES

Reports are writing. Editorials are writing.

 

[togitc]

I can confess that my last submission was severely below par, hence I have not submitted anything else. I do not consider porn to be literature but there is a difference between porn, smut, and erotica. When I write a story for this site I want to make a it a good story that happens to have a good sex scene or two, not the textual equivalent of "bow chica wow-wow".

 

[damppanties]

I realise editorials and news reports are writing. I'm trying to say that perhaps the people on the top lists are there because of their storytelling skills, not because they are great writers.

 

[togitc]

I realise editorials and news reports are writing. I'm trying to say that perhaps the people on the top lists are there because of their storytelling skills, not because they are great writers.

Also because it's a lot easier to just look at the top instead of digging through everything.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

TOGITC

Regardless of what it is, it needs better crafting.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

uhm...

is there a point to this thread? perhaps i'm dim, but i fail to see any relevance at all.

surely beauty is in the eye of the beholder? in terms of story appreciation i mean.

 

[togitc]

TOGITC

Regardless of what it is, it needs better crafting.

Two solutions:

1. Offer to edit
2. Write it yourself.
3. Blame the Economy

 

[BabyBlue2005]

BABYBLUE

I agree. I'm reading a Victor Hugo novel thats flawless in composition AND boring.

What I'm speaking of is a good story assembled like a 1978 Plymouth.

Though if a well-thought of author such as Victor Hugo fails you, the chance of you finding more than one such gem within an amateur writing site, porn or otherwise, that meets your specification, is going to be slight.

Personally, I enjoy the raw style of the Lit writers better than the polished performance of the more commercialized published authors. I am prepared to ignore writing skills if the story excites and intrigues me. Rather as damppanties says, storytelling skills, to me, are much more important than whether the writing is 100%.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Go back to sleep, we'll wake you when we get to I'M CUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMING

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Two solutions:

1. Offer to edit
2. Write it yourself.
3. Blame the Economy

you forgot 4.

blame the terrorists.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

BABYBLUE

I agree. Good story hides a multitude of sins and polished prose cannot carry a crippled story.

But the bottomline is good story AND good writing kicks ass.

 

[BabyBlue2005]

BABYBLUE

I agree. Good story hides a multitude of sins and polished prose cannot carry a crippled story.

But the bottomline is good story AND good writing kicks ass.

I completely agree but the problem is that a good story, especially when relating to erotica, is very much a personal preference and as Mr Appleby says has much to do with story appreciation.

Even good writing is difficult to define as style and word usage can alienate or seduce different readers, depending on their personal reading preferences.

Are there any writers that you personally enjoy on Lit?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

BABYBLUE

I've happened upon a few, but cant recall who they are. I email my praise and never get a response; I forget about them.

I disagree; good writing is very easy to define. Good writing castes its spell, and the addition or deletion of one word destroys the emotional effect.

 

[sr71plt]

uhm...

is there a point to this thread? perhaps i'm dim, but i fail to see any relevance at all.

surely beauty is in the eye of the beholder? in terms of story appreciation i mean.

Umm, yes, JBJ wants to draw people into a fight. He's never written a story, let alone read one on Lit., is my guess.