It's All About Writing and Reading Stories

[SuperHeroRalph]

This thread is for those who love to read and write stories.

For those who don't know me, I've written stories under Bostonfictionwriter in 2007 & 2008, CarBuffStuff, PositiveThinker, and WmForrester in 2009, and Andtheend in 2010. I'm be writing new stories under SuperHeroRalph in 2011.

I've written more than 800 stories, 100 poems, more than 5 million words, and have amassed 25 million hits. I have a bachelor's degree in English with minors in Creative Writing and Literature from Northeastern University for those interested in my background.

Writing is my passion. All are welcome who want to discuss stories their stories, my stories, or anyone else's stories. This thread is all about writing and reading stories.

I'll be making regular posts to this thread about my stories and about those stories that I read.

Thank you in advance to posting to this thread.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Just wondering

I was just wondering about some of the backgrounds of some of the writers here.

I'm unusual in the fact that I'm an accountant by trade but am also creative enough to write stories.

Even though earning my degree in English was one of the best things I ever did, mainly because of all the reading I did, no one can teach you how to write. Yet, reading so much filled my mind with tidbits that I use in my writing now.

I remember always writing as a kid. I used to write a lot of poetry. Then, later, I always wanted to write a novel, but I didn't know what to write. I was never one to write stories.

Then, after being away from Boston for a while, when I returned for a job on famed Newbury Street of all places, I was inspired. My first story for novel came to me, the whole story.

That's when I wrote Computer Knockout in 1988. The story is about an aging boxer trying to make his way back into boxing, but his age is against him. The story is about George Foreman.

I wrote the story just before personal computer and before Windows. All the computers back then had DOS and a floppy to boot it up. There was no hard disk, just floppeis.

Yet, I envisioned a way to train a boxer, much in the way of training a dancer. So long as the older boxer stayed with the scripted fight plan, he'd win.

Anyway, I finished the book and started soliciting publishers. I received some interest. It took me 3 months to write the book and 9 months to edit the thing. I hate editing.

Anyway, when I started writing queries to publishers is when I saw George Foreman on Larry King announcing his return to boxing. My Computer Knockout story was no longer fiction (lol).

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

My second book, Reluctant Billionaire was loosely based on Ross Perot running for president, being assassinated because he was going to win and his son, the reluctant billionaire, running and winning the presidency 25 years later.

Only, when I finished the book and started sending out queries to publishers, Ross was on Larry King announcing his run for president.

What am I psychic? I couldn't believe it.

Nonetheless, Reluctant Billionaire, as does Computer Knockout has a lot of twist, turns, tension, and suspense.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

If anyone is interested in reading about Boston, I wrote With Help From Michael O'Leary based in South Boston, the Irish section, and the North End of Boston, the Italian section.

Michael with his red hair is all Irish. A likeable bank teller, who was almost a priest is transferred to the North End, when his bank is sold. That's where the fun starts.

A bank robbery, murder, stolen lottery ticket, IRA connection, a dot com success, and a love story make With Help From Michael O'Leary an enjoyable read.

Just as I'm going hawking my stories, I hope that others will us this thread to not only hawk their stories but also to tell us about their stories.

It's one thing just to dump a link on your page but it's quite another thing for the author to tell us some behind the scenes stuff.

Here's some interesting stuff about me. At least I think it's interesting. I once took a creative writing course from the late, great Robert Parker of Spencer for Hire Fame. He used to teach at Northeastern University, as well as Boston University. He was an abrupt guy, who didn't enjoy teaching. He was the first to earn a Ph.D. in detective fiction.

I also met Robert Urich. He starred in Spencer for hire and they shot most of the TV episodes in Boston's Back Bay and in Charlestown, across the bridge from the North End of Boston.

There was a firehouse on Charles Street at the bottom of the hill where Senator Kerry lives on Mt. Vernon Street at Louisberg Square. He lives next too to Tom Stemberg, the ex owner of Staples, that he bought from Romney. Small world, huh?

All these billionaires living side by side in a small section of Boston. Anyway, Bob Urich was a good guy. I boxed a few rounds with him. We went to the same gym in Boston, as did Robert Parker, he was a boxer, too.

So, I hope others will use this thread not only to discuss writing, reading, and your stories but also to tell everyone about you, too.

Thanks for reading.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Andtheend/Bostonfictionwriter/CarBuffStuff/PositiveThinker/WmForrester/SuperHeroRalph

When I awakened this morning, I had three ideas for stories for the upcoming Valentine's Contest. I don't know why I have so many stories and I've forgotten more than I've written. The characters come in my brain first, as if they are at a distance waving to me from the other side of a train platform and there story is quickly approaching in the way of a fast moving train that gets nearer with each detail of the story that I can see.

Weird. Yet, I'm glad that I had those ideas this morning. It's always exciting to write a new story. Otherwise, I'd be going over and over the stories I've already started for the Valentine's contest.

I have 12 stories, thus far, to enter in the Valentine's Contest. I'm hoping to have 28 stories in all different categories. My critics say, one not concentrate on just one story, quality over quantity.

Well, there are a few reasons. I enjoy participating in the Survivor Contest and it doesn't matter to me if they have a contest or not next year, but just forcing myself to write in so many different categories challenges me as a writer.

I hope those who love to write, as much as I love to write, will use this thread to tell us about how you write and what you write. Maybe we can reach others who are struggling to flush out a story.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Sengoku]

I've never seen someone reply so many times to his own posting. That alone makes you a superhero Ralph!

I am impressed by the number of stories you've done, everyone has ideas but not so much that they actual make them into fully formed stories. The problems I have when writing are varied, from my own self-doubt, to the flow of the story, real-world commitments and one that I think is not too common but one i face a lot is an ethical view in that what i write is very morally corrupt. Also losing intrest in what topics i'm covering, yep, seems like i got a lot to learn. Oh well.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

I've never seen someone reply so many times to his own posting. That alone makes you a superhero Ralph!

I am impressed by the number of stories you've done, everyone has ideas but not so much that they actual make them into fully formed stories. The problems I have when writing are varied, from my own self-doubt, to the flow of the story, real-world commitments and one that I think is not too common but one i face a lot is an ethical view in that what i write is very morally corrupt. Also losing intrest in what topics i'm covering, yep, seems like i got a lot to learn. Oh well.

I'm using this thread as an open journal and anyone is welcome to post so long as it's about reading and writing stories.

For me, writing came with age. It didn't start flowing, until recently. Now, I can't stop.

Nonetheless, it's fun.

Let the self-doubt not even be part of the equation and just write, free write, if you have to get out what you need to write, but just write. Eventually, it will flow. Give it time.

My best writing is inspired writing. When I first seriously started writing more than 20 years ago, my window of inspiration was only open for 5 or 10 minutes and days could go by until I fel that window open. Now, years later, it's open for hours at a time and, sometimes, I can't type fast enough to write it all.

Take yesterday for an example. I've been working on 9 stories for the Valentine contest, but I wanted to write something new. I couldn't think of anything, so I went to bed thinking about it. When I awakened I had three stories. I thought I was going to forget them, but I didn't and I got each one down on paper, until the inspiration for that story stopped. Then, I was done.

After I had my breakfast, I showered and while in the shower, I thougt of three more stories. I wrote those down, as soon as I finished dressing. Now, I have 15 stories in all various stages for the Valentine's contest. Six stories are already done.

Seriously, I could have 100 stories for any of Literotica's contest and I'd never win. Not that my stories aren't worthy of a win, they are, but because the writing contests here are more of a popularity contest than they are the best story wins. I'm still waiting for someone to prove me wrong and after three years writing there, no one has.

Nonetheless, I still persevere because it's not about a contest or a score, it's about the story. In that regard I feel as though I'm a kindred spirit with Sean Connery, when he played Forrester in Finding Forrester. He wrote, not for accolades or attention. He wrote because he had to write.

Good luck with your writing and thanks for the post.

 

[TxRad]

Seriously, I could have 100 stories for any of Literotica's contest and I'd never win. Not that my stories aren't worthy of a win, they are, but because the writing contests here are more of a popularity contest than they are the best story wins. I'm still waiting for someone to prove me wrong and after three years writing there, no one has.

And no one has proved you right. This is a theory that you and scouries work off of so you don't have to take responsibility for your quality of writing. Quantity isn't everything. Now, prove me wrong.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

And no one has proved you right. This is a theory that you and scouries work off of so you don't have to take responsibility for your quality of writing. Quantity isn't everything. Now, prove me wrong.

Pick a story, Tx. I'll match any one of my stories to any of your stories.

It's all arbitrary, now, isn't it.
'
Dont' you feel foolish with the same argument, quality over quantity.

Your argument only works with stories written by PrincesErin and her alter ego, Bakeboss.

Have you read her stories? Her stories have no beginning, no middle, and no ending. They are devoid of dialogue and character development.

Now, take my stories written under the name of Andtheend. Where are your stories on the top list tex? They aren't there.

Why do my stories alwasy make the top list? Because they are good stories and I am a good writer. Oh, and, along with my good looks, I'm humbly modest, too.

The story that I wrote under WmForrester, I Love You Mommy received the most hits for all of 2010 with more than 500,000 hits. Do you have a story with more hits than that?

The story that I wrote under Andtheend, Spending the Summer Stripping My Mother just a few months ago already surpassed the 200,000 mark.

Do you have a story with as many hits?'

I pulled my mother-in-law story that had 850,000 hits and my sister-in-law story that had 600,000 hits for publication in 2007. God knows how many hits they've have by now. How many hits do your stories receive?

Now, you can write that I received all those hits because they are all incest stories. Not so fast. There are plenty of incest stories on this site that don't even receive 10,000 hits. You gotta write a good incest stories for people to read them.

Like I said, Tex, I'll put up any of my stories against any of your stories.

Now, tell me something. What the fuck are you doing on my thread if you aren't going to write something positive about reading and writing stories?

Why must you continue to bash me, one of the best writers on this site? Is it because you're jealous? Is that it? Have you no confidence in your talent as a writer that you cannot leave me the fuck alone?

If you want to post something about reading and writing a story that is not a bash against me, then you are free to do so. Otherwise, fuck off!

 

[TxRad]

Don't bash (Your favorite word) Lit and it's contests and I won't call ya on it. It's just that simple.

 

[TxRad]

Don't bash (Your favorite word) Lit and it's contests and I won't call ya on it. It's just that simple.

Oh yeah, just for your information.... Just because someone clicks on a story, it doesn't mean they read it. A catchy title or blurt phrase can get them there but that doesn't mean it is a good story. How are the scores on those stories? Are you still turning off voting after you get a red H so the true score isn't posted?

 

[Sengoku]

Cheers Ralph.

 

[PacoFear]

I think I'm missing something, SHR. Which pen name of yours is on the top list? I didn't see any of the names you gave.

And what's this business of citing the number of hits as a measure of story quality? That's a Jimmy Scouries thing isn't it? Don't get me wrong, SHR, I agree that a high hit count measures something, it says you have a skill for writing good, eyecatching titles and story taglines - a very helpful knack and I tip my hat to you.

This thread you've started is entertaining insofar as you report on the stories that you're up to, sort of you're own little writer's blog, but it rings hollow to me when you start up a weird little self-promotion factory with statements like, "Why do my stories alwa[ys[ make the top list? Because they are good stories and I am a good writer." Particularly when I can't seem to find them.

If it's really all about the stories, SHR, then let your writing speak for itself. No need to puff.

Best,

-PF

P.S. FWIW, this statement rubbed me funny too: "I'm unusual in the fact that I'm an accountant by trade but am also creative enough to write stories." There are tons of folks here, myself included, with backgrounds that aren't normally associated with writing fiction. Off the top of my head, I can think of two accountants, three lawyers, a cafe owner, an electrical engineer, a plumber, a general contractor, a school teacher, a nurse, three stay-at-home moms, a chemist, and a small animal veterinarian. That's the nifty part of writing, the people seem to come from everywhere.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

I think I'm missing something, SHR. Which pen name of yours is on the top list? I didn't see any of the names you gave.

And what's this business of citing the number of hits as a measure of story quality? That's a Jimmy Scouries thing isn't it? Don't get me wrong, SHR, I agree that a high hit count measures something, it says you have a skill for writing good, eyecatching titles and story taglines - a very helpful knack and I tip my hat to you.

This thread you've started is entertaining insofar as you report on the stories that you're up to, sort of you're own little writer's blog, but it rings hollow to me when you start up a weird little self-promotion factory with statements like, "Why do my stories alwa[ys[ make the top list? Because they are good stories and I am a good writer." Particularly when I can't seem to find them.

If it's really all about the stories, SHR, then let your writing speak for itself. No need to puff.

Best,

-PF

P.S. FWIW, this statement rubbed me funny too: "I'm unusual in the fact that I'm an accountant by trade but am also creative enough to write stories." There are tons of folks here, myself included, with backgrounds that aren't normally associated with writing fiction. Off the top of my head, I can think of two accountants, three lawyers, a cafe owner, an electrical engineer, a plumber, a general contractor, a school teacher, a nurse, three stay-at-home moms, a chemist, and a small animal veterinarian. That's the nifty part of writing, the people seem to come from everywhere.

No puffery here, just defending mysele against fools that constantly and continually bash me.

Top list stories, I pulled two top list stories written under Bostonfictionwriter in 2007. At the time, my Mother-in-law story had 850,000 hits and my Sex w/Sexy Sister-in-law Samantha had 650,000 hits.

More recently, my story, I Love You Mommy, written under WmForrester in October of 2009, fell from the number one position it held on the 12 month top list for a year with more than 500,000 hits. It would need another 100,000 hits to make it to the bottom of the all time top list.

My story, Spending the Summer Stripping My Mom, written under Andtheend, is number 17 on the 12 month top list with more than 200,000 hits.

Titles and taglines only get you so far. My fans return because enjoy my story.

Now, this thread started out with all good intention, until others who don't appreciate reading and writing must ruin the thread with in-house fighting, which is the reason why I posted this hear and not on the main AH boad.

Yet, I'm stalked and I'm hounded. I'm only here to discuss writing, reading, and stories. It's all about the stories. I'm not here to post on the forum boards. I'm here to write stories and I welcome anyone to my threads to discuss and even brag about their stories. I don't mind.

In answer to your P. S, I've met a lot of accountants, CPA's, MBA's, Controllers, and bookkeepers and most are very anal. Most don't write. Most aren't very creative. That was my point. For sure, I wasn't bashing accountants, of which, I'm one.

My passion is writing and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Thanks for your post. It was my pleasure to make your acquaintance.

 

[PacoFear]

Twelve month top list. Gotcha.

 

[SuperHeroRalph]

Well, I'm on a roll, a mission.

I just started my 19th story to enter in the Valentine's Contest. My goal is to have 29 stories and I already have 7 stories that are completely done with the other twelve in various stages.

The fun thing for me is thinking of a Valentine's theme for each category. Writing in different categories stretches me as a writer. I look at it as if it's a writing exercise.

It's as if a professor gives the class the theme and the category to write the story and every day, the professor keeps the same theme but changes the category.

I realize that by entering so many stories, I won't win any votes with many of the people who write here, but my readers enjoy reading my stories. This is a story site, after all.

It's all about writing the story. Whether I win or lose, whether I get a high or a low score, always my stories garner a lot of reads, views, or hits, whatever you want to call it. My stories get a lot of attention. So, I must be doing something right.

For those writers who enjoy writing in different categories, I suggest you sign up for next year's Survivor contest. You could win some money.

Happy holidays

 

[Mrtouf]

You know, not to cause offense, but if you want to get people to participate in threads you kind of have to step back and see if they'll respond, rather than immediately filling the void.

I began to have a real interest in writing in high school. I spent a lot of spare time working on a story longhand, since it was pretty uncommon back then to get access to a computer to write and edit your work, and besides which the floppy disks of that day were hardly the most reliable means to store a precious written work. But I did eventually get time and typed out a first chapter of this story to hand in for a grade.

I worked on refining that story over the summer on the new home computer rather than going on holiday with my family. Unfortunately I never did get a printed copy of it, and there was no way back then to transfer files from the computer I had to the emerging PC format. But not to worry, I was very new to writing and I think it was a good thing I didn't spend any more time on it.

After that I spent many years in writing groups on the internet, creating stories with others, but never really spending much time writing something on my own. It was great for a while, but then the time came where you could barely get a story moving with all the dead wood - people who posted once a month to keep from being ejected, and would almost never get back to you if you wanted to collaborate on something. It ceased to be fun.

After that I moved on to roleplaying in Neverwinter Nights. It was a completely different experience because of the immediacy with which you could get things rolling, way less time-wasting than e-mail or IM. Also, you couldn't take five minutes to sit and write a fully embellished paragraph of text, because the entry line was much shorter than a typical paragraph, and the attention span of another player was shorter. So to a certain extent I learned to improvise things quickly and just write what comes naturally.

But as with the writing groups, I got that nagging feeling that I wasn't really coming up with something completely my own, that I needed to go back to where I started which was writing on my own. So I entered NaNo in 2008 and managed to get through about... 2000 words. I was horrendously busy at that time with work and never really had a chance at cracking through 50000 words in a month, though I did give it a go and I did come up with an outline in that time which became the basis for what I'm doing now.

Two years later, I'm still not a lot further on. I give myself lots of opportunities to write, I even take my pencil and pad with me in the hopes I will get really bored when I visit my folks and start scribbling away furiously, but I don't seem to have a lot of motivation and I have many ways to get sidetracked. Of course the counterargument to that is that I can't just write what I already know, I need some of those other interests to give me new and unrelated ideas, but I always seem to point to the lack of progress and think I should do better than this.