Story uploading

[Andromeda7]

Hi I'm new and have submitted a story . I know zero about computers . Could some one help with a question please . Some thing you have written on Open Office 3.2 can not be uploaded to Lit Erotica because it is in ODF and needs to be at the least converted to PDF.
Is that correct please ?
Dumb question , but I don't have a clue, sorry to bother you folks . Any replies appreciated, thank you.

 

[lovecraft68]

Hi I'm new and have submitted a story . I know zero about computers . Could some one help with a question please . Some thing you have written on Open Office 3.2 can not be uploaded to Lit Erotica because it is in ODF and needs to be at the least converted to PDF.
Is that correct please ?
Dumb question , but I don't have a clue, sorry to bother you folks . Any replies appreciated, thank you.

Hi, your best bet is to just copy and paste the text into the box provided rather than upload a document. Juts make sure your formatting is correct as far as the spacing goes. If you do not use double spacing between your paragraphs then sometimes when you preview it on lit there is no spacing.

 

[PennLady]

lc is right, it's easiest to copy and paste the text. Make sure you double space your paragraphs, and put your dialogue for separate characters on separate lines (if you have it). It seems a number of people don't do this and the stories get rejected.

If you want to have text formatting like italics or bold, you'll need to include the HMTL tags.

Examples:
Italics: <i>text here</i>
Bold: <b>text here</b>

Good luck.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I'm not certain as it's been a while since I posted a story, but it used to take a word file, I think, if it's easier for you to manage.

Q_C

 

[hottchic]

Hi, your best bet is to just copy and paste the text into the box provided rather than upload a document. Juts make sure your formatting is correct as far as the spacing goes. If you do not use double spacing between your paragraphs then sometimes when you preview it on lit there is no spacing.

That's what I always do too.

 

[lovecraft68]

I'm not certain as it's been a while since I posted a story, but it used to take a word file, I think, if it's easier for you to manage.

Q_C

Last time I tried a word doc-because there was a shitload of italics in the story- when I went to upload it lit seemed to be gving me options as to what type of file it was and it didn't seem to make sense so I did all the tedious html and just pasted it.

 

[PennLady]

Last time I tried a word doc-because there was a shitload of italics in the story- when I went to upload it lit seemed to be gving me options as to what type of file it was and it didn't seem to make sense so I did all the tedious html and just pasted it.

I've gotten into the habit of putting in the HTML tags as I go along, as well as formatting things. So then my story text looks like <i>this in Word</i>. Then I can do a search and replace to remove the tags and retain the formatting, depending on where I post. But on Lit, I always paste in the text with the tags.

 

[lovecraft68]

I've gotten into the habit of putting in the HTML tags as I go along, as well as formatting things. So then my story text looks like <i>this in Word</i>. Then I can do a search and replace to remove the tags and retain the formatting, depending on where I post. But on Lit, I always paste in the text with the tags.

I normally don't use too much html but I did a 5 part series where the lead character had a 'voice' in his head. Every time the voice spoke it was italicized so the reader would know the difference. I originally did it in word but then had that issue. I'm not to tech savvy so it could have been me.

I ended up going through all 5 chapters and adding the html. over 100,000 words. By the end of it I was like "Why the #@$$#@ did I have this damn thing talk so much!"

 

[PennLady]

I normally don't use too much html but I did a 5 part series where the lead character had a 'voice' in his head. Every time the voice spoke it was italicized so the reader would know the difference. I originally did it in word but then had that issue. I'm not to tech savvy so it could have been me.

I ended up going through all 5 chapters and adding the html. over 100,000 words. By the end of it I was like "Why the #@$$#@ did I have this damn thing talk so much!"

I know the feeling. I've done a number of were stories, and have used the common idea of a telepathic bond between characters when they mate, and I render those mental conversations in italics as well. That's where I got started putting it in as a go along. Just so much easier. Now I just do it whenever I write a story.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Guess he had to be someplace else.

Open Office will also save your document in an RTF or Word DOC format. Both are acceptable by Lit.

 

[estragon]

I prefer just to upload as a Word file, making sure the file has the suffix .doc. Then I don't need all the html symbols. Of course, you can't do a final preview on-site if you upload a Word or rtf file, so do a super-careful final edit. And be prepared for quibbles.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I prefer just to upload as a Word file, making sure the file has the suffix .doc. Then I don't need all the html symbols. Of course, you can't do a final preview on-site if you upload a Word or rtf file, so do a super-careful final edit. And be prepared for quibbles.

I actually prefer to cut and paste using the html tags, when needed. I very rarely need them so it's much easier to C/P and it's quicker to get posted by the Lit. editors.

 

[Andromeda7]

Wow!
Thanks .
Had quite a few beers , so I'll study your posts .

Just wanted say thanks, for now . . . .

 

[lovecraft68]

I know the feeling. I've done a number of were stories, and have used the common idea of a telepathic bond between characters when they mate, and I render those mental conversations in italics as well. That's where I got started putting it in as a go along. Just so much easier. Now I just do it whenever I write a story.

You know on the subject of werewolves I as well as others have mentioned the amazing popularity that Vampire/Werewolves stories have gained. Personally I have kind of attributed the beginning of that to Anne Rice (who I know I am in the minority but I can't stand. Her characters go beyond tragic to just plain whiny) My wife however had a good point that Angel from Buffy, to her anyways, also had an effect in that genre. Dark, handsome, bad ass when he wanted to be but sensitive.

As for werewolves however I can really see Underworld having an impact for them. Of course my 21/18 year old daughters would sell there souls for "wolf boy" I still look to that movie as the beginning of the sexy lycanthrope (spell that wrong? Probably)

Just wondering what your thoughts were. As well as if you have ever read "Bound to my Mate" I have a half a dozen people telling me I should read that series.

 

[PennLady]

You know on the subject of werewolves I as well as others have mentioned the amazing popularity that Vampire/Werewolves stories have gained. Personally I have kind of attributed the beginning of that to Anne Rice (who I know I am in the minority but I can't stand. Her characters go beyond tragic to just plain whiny) My wife however had a good point that Angel from Buffy, to her anyways, also had an effect in that genre. Dark, handsome, bad ass when he wanted to be but sensitive.

I do think that Anne Rice started, or at least propelled the "new vampire" into the mainstream. By "new," I mean something other than the decrepit being we might imagine from Nosferatu (for those who have seen it. ) Bela Lugosi was probably an early type of this, but he was still very formal, and not exactly sexy.

Myself, I enjoyed the first three vampire books by Rice (Interview, Lestat, Queen of the Damned) but after that I felt her stories started slowing down to the point of stagnation. I read a couple of her witches' books, but stopped with Taltos because I was turned off -- and bored by after a while -- the sexual violence. So I haven't read any of her stuff in years, nor have I felt the urge to do so. Haven't even cared to re-read the first ones.

A while back I read a Slate.com article about vampires, and the author was saying, "Where are my scary vampires?!?!" Now I enjoy those as well, but I think that vampires (and werewolves to an extent) are just a more extreme riff on the "bad boy." They have a secret; they can't come out by day (many times); they tell the girl/friend to keep the secret -- what more do you need?

As for werewolves however I can really see Underworld having an impact for them. Of course my 21/18 year old daughters would sell there souls for "wolf boy" I still look to that movie as the beginning of the sexy lycanthrope (spell that wrong? Probably)

No, you spelled it right. I've only seen part of the second Underworld movie so I can't speak for that. It probably did have an effect, or possibly paved the way for the Twilight books, which I haven't read and have no desire to.

Just wondering what your thoughts were. As well as if you have ever read "Bound to my Mate" I have a half a dozen people telling me I should read that series.

BTMM is a good series, certainly well-written, although I've found it to be a bit wearing. One thing it tackles, although not quite as much as I'd like or, perhaps, in the way I'd like (which means I should write my own story about this ) is how the woman, who was human, deals with the conflicts she encounters by becoming the mate, the werewolf, etc.

I think that writing about weres, vampires, witches, etc., is little different than (traditional?) sf/fantasy. It just gives a different canvas on which to address whatever issues. In my first were book, Exiled, the basic plot was that a female were lost her shifting ability an as a result was banished from her pack to protect her family, and her father was the pack leader. So I tried, don't know how well I succeeded, to have some themes of family problems, being the outsider, losing something of yourself, finding out that the blame was misplaced, things like that. Those could certainly be done within the confines of "normal" human stuff, but I wanted to do it that way. And my first thought was, what if a were couldn't shift? So then I wrote the story.

Wow, sorry. Went on for a while.

 

[lovecraft68]

I do think that Anne Rice started, or at least propelled the "new vampire" into the mainstream. By "new," I mean something other than the decrepit being we might imagine from Nosferatu (for those who have seen it. ) Bela Lugosi was probably an early type of this, but he was still very formal, and not exactly sexy.

Myself, I enjoyed the first three vampire books by Rice (Interview, Lestat, Queen of the Damned) but after that I felt her stories started slowing down to the point of stagnation. I read a couple of her witches' books, but stopped with Taltos because I was turned off -- and bored by after a while -- the sexual violence. So I haven't read any of her stuff in years, nor have I felt the urge to do so. Haven't even cared to re-read the first ones.

A while back I read a Slate.com article about vampires, and the author was saying, "Where are my scary vampires?!?!" Now I enjoy those as well, but I think that vampires (and werewolves to an extent) are just a more extreme riff on the "bad boy." They have a secret; they can't come out by day (many times); they tell the girl/friend to keep the secret -- what more do you need?



No, you spelled it right. I've only seen part of the second Underworld movie so I can't speak for that. It probably did have an effect, or possibly paved the way for the Twilight books, which I haven't read and have no desire to.



BTMM is a good series, certainly well-written, although I've found it to be a bit wearing. One thing it tackles, although not quite as much as I'd like or, perhaps, in the way I'd like (which means I should write my own story about this ) is how the woman, who was human, deals with the conflicts she encounters by becoming the mate, the werewolf, etc.

I think that writing about weres, vampires, witches, etc., is little different than (traditional?) sf/fantasy. It just gives a different canvas on which to address whatever issues. In my first were book, Exiled, the basic plot was that a female were lost her shifting ability an as a result was banished from her pack to protect her family, and her father was the pack leader. So I tried, don't know how well I succeeded, to have some themes of family problems, being the outsider, losing something of yourself, finding out that the blame was misplaced, things like that. Those could certainly be done within the confines of "normal" human stuff, but I wanted to do it that way. And my first thought was, what if a were couldn't shift? So then I wrote the story.

Wow, sorry. Went on for a while.

You are so right on The Witching Hour Books. Mayfair hooked me because to me what Rice does best is creat a mythology and a history and this was done well. Lasher pissed me off. I mean Rowan just shot out this fully formed being who tried to kill Michael and she was looking at his cock? Are you kidding. I ended up with Taltos as a gift and was pissed because you know Lasher was cool but they wanted to kill this poor girl.

Actually I have noticed that Rice has a weird skewed thing with hero/anti hero like it is a reversed role. In Ramses the Damned (the mummy) she is okay with Ramses coming back taking a lover whatever, but when Cleopatra comes back she must die! In case you are wondering I read a lot of Rice books because it was part of a report i was doing when I belonged to a "horror club" otherwise would not have gone past Interview. Tale of the Body Thief made me a Lestat hater for good. In fact i wish her entire Pantheon would run into Brian Lumley's Wamphyrie and they would rip them to pieces.

You are really spot on with the extension of the "bad boy". As a guy I guess I wouldn't understand the attraction, although when I was younger the meaner and wilder the girl the faster I would go to her-scars to prove that theory- but Lit has taught it to me.

My male lead to me would be hate-able. He is a lawyer, successful, attractive, arrogant into BDSM and a practicing satanist as the series goes on no matter how hardcore he gets or what he does I get hit with e-mails saying how hot he is and how much they would love to be his sister( umm yeah sure). Hell at the end of Lex talionis he bites a piece of someone's face off in a fight. They love him.

Matter of fact Mark was nominated for Sexiest male and when the nominations closed appeared to have the top spot. Of course rough count also has the other three as Jaz Cullen characters so it will be a losing cause if they ever start the voting but fun to be mentioned.

Course as I write this I am reminded of my Very Catholic, Italian wife who is the "good girl" great family, educated, sweet the one you bring to mom. I have ten tattoo's a crappy attitude, follow Anton Levay and back in the day was in quite a bit of trouble. I'm not a trouble maker anymore but the attitude still kind of sucks. She is better than i deserve and at the end of the day I guess proves that nice guys do finish last!

jeez now who is rambling. A Saturday in front of the PC with a pot of coffee.

 

[PennLady]

You are so right on The Witching Hour Books. Mayfair hooked me because to me what Rice does best is creat a mythology and a history and this was done well. Lasher pissed me off. I mean Rowan just shot out this fully formed being who tried to kill Michael and she was looking at his cock? Are you kidding. I ended up with Taltos as a gift and was pissed because you know Lasher was cool but they wanted to kill this poor girl.

Actually I have noticed that Rice has a weird skewed thing with hero/anti hero like it is a reversed role. In Ramses the Damned (the mummy) she is okay with Ramses coming back taking a lover whatever, but when Cleopatra comes back she must die! In case you are wondering I read a lot of Rice books because it was part of a report i was doing when I belonged to a "horror club" otherwise would not have gone past Interview. Tale of the Body Thief made me a Lestat hater for good. In fact i wish her entire Pantheon would run into Brian Lumley's Wamphyrie and they would rip them to pieces.

You are really spot on with the extension of the "bad boy". As a guy I guess I wouldn't understand the attraction, although when I was younger the meaner and wilder the girl the faster I would go to her-scars to prove that theory- but Lit has taught it to me.

My male lead to me would be hate-able. He is a lawyer, successful, attractive, arrogant into BDSM and a practicing satanist as the series goes on no matter how hardcore he gets or what he does I get hit with e-mails saying how hot he is and how much they would love to be his sister( umm yeah sure). Hell at the end of Lex talionis he bites a piece of someone's face off in a fight. They love him.

Matter of fact Mark was nominated for Sexiest male and when the nominations closed appeared to have the top spot. Of course rough count also has the other three as Jaz Cullen characters so it will be a losing cause if they ever start the voting but fun to be mentioned.

Course as I write this I am reminded of my Very Catholic, Italian wife who is the "good girl" great family, educated, sweet the one you bring to mom. I have ten tattoo's a crappy attitude, follow Anton Levay and back in the day was in quite a bit of trouble. I'm not a trouble maker anymore but the attitude still kind of sucks. She is better than i deserve and at the end of the day I guess proves that nice guys do finish last!

jeez now who is rambling. A Saturday in front of the PC with a pot of coffee.

Maybe it was Lasher that finally stopped me. I don't remember. That or Taltos, one of them. I found the stories dragging, the sexual violence off-putting, and was just tired of them and the vampires. As far as the other books, like Rameses, I know I read it but I don't remember much. Anti-heroes are fine, although not usually my cup of tea.

I'm not quite sure I believe you about the bad guy syndrome, since you seem to embody some of it yourself, or you used to, and you seem to know it. Most people are attracted, I think, or intrigued by something just a bit at the edge of their experience. And people who have relatively "normal" and safe upbringings will be intrigued by those who have not and those who flaunt the rules or operate outside them.

And it would seem your feedback bears that out. Now I haven't read your stuff, and doubt your hero would appeal to me. Quite frankly, it sounds like he'd annoy me. On the other hand, you read about women who fall for violent prisoners, and who write letters to serial killers begging to marry them. Go figure.

I have read and done some editing for JazCullen, and I think she's a fine writer. I think, however, that her male leads (less so her females, but some of them too) are similar and repetitive, and I've mentioned this to her (I hope. Jaz, if you're reading this -- I'm only trying to help!). However, readers like it and this goes back to something I recently blogged about -- see #7. Also, to a degree, see this post about the loss of critical readers.

One thing I've found on Lit is that writers kind of go with hey, the readers like it, but the truth is many of the readers aren't that critical, and I find myself getting more so. In these particular instances, I'm tired of self-assured, arrogant alpha males who are only "soft" when it comes to their women.

And some how that ties back to Rice but now I'm lost.

 

[lovecraft68]

Maybe it was Lasher that finally stopped me. I don't remember. That or Taltos, one of them. I found the stories dragging, the sexual violence off-putting, and was just tired of them and the vampires. As far as the other books, like Rameses, I know I read it but I don't remember much. Anti-heroes are fine, although not usually my cup of tea.

I'm not quite sure I believe you about the bad guy syndrome, since you seem to embody some of it yourself, or you used to, and you seem to know it. Most people are attracted, I think, or intrigued by something just a bit at the edge of their experience. And people who have relatively "normal" and safe upbringings will be intrigued by those who have not and those who flaunt the rules or operate outside them.

And it would seem your feedback bears that out. Now I haven't read your stuff, and doubt your hero would appeal to me. Quite frankly, it sounds like he'd annoy me. On the other hand, you read about women who fall for violent prisoners, and who write letters to serial killers begging to marry them. Go figure.

I have read and done some editing for JazCullen, and I think she's a fine writer. I think, however, that her male leads (less so her females, but some of them too) are similar and repetitive, and I've mentioned this to her (I hope. Jaz, if you're reading this -- I'm only trying to help!). However, readers like it and this goes back to something I recently blogged about -- see #7. Also, to a degree, see this post about the loss of critical readers.

One thing I've found on Lit is that writers kind of go with hey, the readers like it, but the truth is many of the readers aren't that critical, and I find myself getting more so. In these particular instances, I'm tired of self-assured, arrogant alpha males who are only "soft" when it comes to their women.

And some how that ties back to Rice but now I'm lost.

Interesting take. Yes I think my character would piss you off. Matter of fact the blurb on my e-book versions starts with:

To the world Megan and her brother Mark have it all. Beautiful and successful, talented and desirable they are the people the everyday person loves to hate. This however is what the world sees as, beneath their confident exteriors, are two lost souls forever haunted by the demons of their pasts.

The thing is I have received several e-mails from people saying that they should hate my characters but do not. Now good bad or indifferent as far as how good my stuff is I am proud of that because that was my goal. The two are outwardly successful (now as the sister spent years in addiction and the stereotyped stripping, prostitution etc..) but underneath they are totally a mess and have been through hell and back together. The series is really akin to a soap opera in that i am doing the story of their lives and having fun with it.

Some people are getting impatient but you know what? No one pays me to write here so I do what i feel like. On the topic of my "bad boy" experience I am retired. Probably why if I let myself get carried away I come across as bitchy or whiny here and there. My outlet used to be physical (I competed in martial arts tournaments up until a couple of years ago) but my right knee is not in such hot shape and a slip up on a kick or a kick to it could land me in serious bad shape so I tend to get frustrated on occasions with certain topics (or lets face it one)

The comment you made about Jaz makes sense in a way. If a writer gets a lot of praise they will not fix what is not broken. I have to say that in general incest stories are so formulaic that it is not funny. The average story can be as simple as "sis looked hot so why not" and you have yourself at least a 4.4 more likely the red H. I try to "justify" the incest in mine. Give it a reason so my stuff is not as widely read but I am happy with it.

All incest is to me is word play example

"I watched transfixed by the site of Gina's milky white breasts with their perfect pink nipples"

Now incest

I watched transfixed by the sight of MY SISTER'S etc...

Instant incest story. I wrote a mother son because I lost a bet. I wrote a straight out sex scene then went back and switched the name for mom and mother. But point is people fall into habit.

The thing that gets me is the opposite of what you are saying with putting it on the writer falling in love with the same old same old. I am more surprised by the readers that will keep reading something that predictable over and over again. Then again in incest anyways they only really care about the sex. That is why I am happy with my small core following that love the story. i would rather have a couple of thousand reading then 20,000 stroking.

 

[PennLady]

Well we've certainly diverged and digressed a few times from the original topics and the ones that followed. But that's fine.

It's possible I wouldn't hate your characters, and I'm only going on what you've told me. Not having read it, I obviously can't say much. However, I don't have much patience with the "life was so awful and now I'm awful," line of thought, if that is what you're doing. I don't mean to say that everyone should just get over everything; it's hard to explain. Part of me thinks: for God's sake, get some therapy and deal with it. But that doesn't fix everything, of course. We all have our demons, minor and major.

As for people getting impatient, I'd say it depends on why. If they're getting impatient just for you to post the next installment, well, that's no big deal. If they're getting impatient for you to end the story, that's different. I know I say you have to take any comments here with a grain of salt. But I also think that if multiple people point out the same thing, it might be wroth investigating. So if a lot of people think the story is dragging -- it may be.

I think there are lazy writers and lazy readers (or as a friend of mine put it, both readers and writers can have low standards). A lazy writer might employ the same character types and/or plot devices in their stories; a lazy reader won't much care about that, or about plot inconsistencies or stuff like that. Drives me nuts on both counts.

I have edited parts of stories by one author that appeared on here and even after editing, the stuff was barely intelligible. Yet there were rave reviews, and comments like "you should be published!" Likely most publishers wouldn't get past the first few graphs.

I've seen a number of comments that kind of jump on the critiques, saying hey, it's all free, we're just here for fun or for quickies or whatever. And that's fine. But it doesn't mean that both readers and writers can't reach for more than that.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well we've certainly diverged and digressed a few times from the original topics and the ones that followed. But that's fine.

It's possible I wouldn't hate your characters, and I'm only going on what you've told me. Not having read it, I obviously can't say much. However, I don't have much patience with the "life was so awful and now I'm awful," line of thought, if that is what you're doing. I don't mean to say that everyone should just get over everything; it's hard to explain. Part of me thinks: for God's sake, get some therapy and deal with it. But that doesn't fix everything, of course. We all have our demons, minor and major.

As for people getting impatient, I'd say it depends on why. If they're getting impatient just for you to post the next installment, well, that's no big deal. If they're getting impatient for you to end the story, that's different. I know I say you have to take any comments here with a grain of salt. But I also think that if multiple people point out the same thing, it might be wroth investigating. So if a lot of people think the story is dragging -- it may be.

I think there are lazy writers and lazy readers (or as a friend of mine put it, both readers and writers can have low standards). A lazy writer might employ the same character types and/or plot devices in their stories; a lazy reader won't much care about that, or about plot inconsistencies or stuff like that. Drives me nuts on both counts.

I have edited parts of stories by one author that appeared on here and even after editing, the stuff was barely intelligible. Yet there were rave reviews, and comments like "you should be published!" Likely most publishers wouldn't get past the first few graphs.

I've seen a number of comments that kind of jump on the critiques, saying hey, it's all free, we're just here for fun or for quickies or whatever. And that's fine. But it doesn't mean that both readers and writers can't reach for more than that.

The characters don't really have a woe is me attitude they have both done what they could to overcome. It is more a case of the reader feeling bad for them as their story unfolds and you see what they have both gone through, The sister does come across as a bit self centered and a little needy but she is a recovering addict and honestly many of them are like that. Their program teaches them to be selfish to a certain extent as they always have to worry about relapse. The plot of the story is that neither has ever been able to be happy on their own and the brother has finally decided that he is tired of being his sisters SWB while she looks for a true love and wants to be that love. she of course is unsure and the rest of the series tells their past and how they got to point A. So not really a pity party just a bit of see this? it is not what it seems.

I actually just put out the prologue from the e-book on lit for the hell of it, No incest as the brother is only 16 but tells of how they were reunited after 12 years and gives a good look at the sisters issues with men which is what led her to eventually seducing her brother. If you are ever insanely bored give it a read it is Siblings with benefits How it began. You may be okay with it because as I said no incest.

as for the complaint's its mostly impatient for the next installment. In the beginning I was getting a chapter a week out or every other week with something else in between. This Friday the 13th (how appropriate) 1 year ago that my first story was published here. I have 42 stories up and many 4 plus lit pages so not short ones. Lately I have been doing a chapter a month because I have also been working on some e-books and a print book.

Also I am getting near the end so the chapters need more thought and cannot free fall everything has to line up now. I wouldn't worry even if people were bitching for an end. My motivation is to tell the entire story as I see it and then go from there and remove what ever seemed unnecessary for when it comes to actual publishing. Literotica is my sounding board.

I used to find it flattering when they wanted to know when the next part was coming now i get a little annoyed. I work full time, got kids, a wife etc... I do what i can. Some dummy today mentioned that it had been far too long since the last installment. Well the one I am finishing wraps up to of the 4 story lines that run through the series and is 10 lit pages so trust me these people don;'t get gypped.

Honestly I have two endings one is shorter and a bit vanilla as through all the hell they go through and the dark under tones I do end it happily. I do also have a much longer roller coaster of an ending that features a dream sequence where it appears I kill them off which a lot of people seem to think I am going to do (well the sister at least) depending on how pissy i get depends on what ending they get. They want to rush they can have the crappy one and the print version gets the good one.