Epistolary stories

[CharleyH]

First, I need to say ... who knew there was a genre. Well, parts of this Wiki describe it as a genre. I'm not sure it is. Anyway, I always thought that letter writing was a stylistic technique in, perhaps, the same way film noir is a style and not a genre in film.

In any case, I am fairly fascinated with it for the moment.

We have all read these sorts of stories (Lit has a category) and I know that on Lit, Shanglan and Lauren have both written erotic letters that are imo fantastic. What makes this style so fascinating to you as reader? Worthwhile to you as a writer?

There are many questions and opinions I'm sure (hope), so, by all means ... go!

 

[lil_elvis]

Good ones are difficult to come by, as too often the author gets trapped in the limitations of writing in the second person (with disastrous results).

A good one that springs to mind is one from Imp that used a combination of 2nd & 3rd person very effectively (to my taste anyway)

 

[CharleyH]

Good ones are difficult to come by, as too often the author gets trapped in the limitations of writing in the second person (with disastrous results).

What do you mean that authors get trapped in limitations of 2nd person?

 

[lil_elvis]

What do you mean that authors get trapped in limitations of 2nd person?

Could be my own limitations ...can't seem to get past "you [this]" and "you [that]"

 

[CharleyH]

Could be my own limitations ...can't seem to get past "you [this]" and "you [that]"

Maybe one of our AH friends can help you see the way?