Your first story?

[NervyNewbie]

Please excuse the questions, I am trying to get my head around a few things. I am aware that with some of these questions the answers will differ greatly from person to person, but I appreciate the answers none-the-less.


How did you write your first literotica story? Was it already written and you found somewhere to submit, or did you become inspired and write after reading?

Was it short compared to later stories? Was it edited? Do you look back at it and cringe because it is significantly inferior to how you write now?

I am currently planning my first story (very, very early days) and am becoming increasingly concerned that the standard will be quite low and that it will not only put me off writing more, but will put people off reading.

Any experiences of how you started off submitting stories here would be lovely to hear, and also any advice you have for someone just starting out would be fabulous!

Nervy Newbie
xx

 

[djhindy]

My first story was inspired after i joined here as a member. I had intended to begin writing it before i joined, but didnt know where to begin. It was mid length, unedited, had typos, ect, and was less detailed then the story i am currently working on. Dont be afraid though. I personally believe that there is no story not worth hearing/reading. Some people will always complain about typos and grammatical errors, but there are annoying, condescending people everywhere. If all else fails, have someone on here edit it. You'll get much more positive feedback than negative no matter what.

Here's a link to my first story, if you'd like to see it. Fair warning: its extremely kinky.
http://www.literotica.com/s/college-life-ch-01

 

[NervyNewbie]

Thank for your reply
My head is swimming with ideas and I'm struggling to get them out now!

 

[Kurokami]

The first story you post is always going to be a little awkward. Mine was a little shorter than they usually are now, had a few issues with grammar and formatting since I was still learning the ins and outs of the submission process, and I think it was a little lower in quality than the rest. At least, I hope I've improved as I've gone along. I started with a series- my first ever comment was a blasting from some guy who liked the story up until the 'to be continued' at the end, whereupon he one-starred me because I hadn't warned of that upfront- and that series is still ongoing. I like to think it's improved.

As for what inspired me to start posting... I had an idea, I knew of Lit and had sampled its wares in the past, and I thought those two things could intersect. The mainly positive feedback I've gotten from that first post was really lovely, so I was compelled to keep going. That, and I'm doing a few creative writing courses at university, and I figured I could use the practice.

 

[Series 6]

Thank for your reply
My head is swimming with ideas and I'm struggling to get them out now!

I was inspired to write after I discovered this site. I do cringe at some of the first stories I wrote, and I feel that I still have a long way to go to become a good writer. But remember, if just one person enjoys your story then you have done your job as a writer.

My advice is to read some of the highly rated stories to give you some guidelines on what makes a good story and get an editor to help you out.

I have that same difficulty you have - I have a lot of ideas and I struggle to get them out. A good idea may be to outline some of your stories and save them, then concentrate on one idea until it is done.

Good Luck and I hope to read some of your stories.

 

[nakdsub]

maybe you can get some help

If you think you need help with some of the mechanics of writing the story, check with some of the other writers. I know some will collaborate with you.

 

[roomfor1more]

The first submission I made was a "How To" chapter and wrote a series. It was based on writing I had done previously but my first story that was not a "How To" guide was a fictionalized story based on a real experience for me and it was written after some supporting encouragement from people here. From my experiences writing here, I have started working as a volunteer editor.

With that said, I see that you are from the UK and I have lived in the UK myself too. The one piece of advice I would give, unless it is a part of dialog then avoid using UK spelling, UK grammar, and words like lift for elevator since it may confuse a lot readers. Reason why I say this due to the differences between UK & US English. Instead, I would recommend using US spelling, US grammar, and US words since the largest group on Literotica are Americans. If you opt for UK English over US, you may find some of your comments and score may reflect the difference. If you want some help with this please feel free to PM me.

 

[SaxonSword]

Mines still pending, rejected once.
It was already written (and part two) for a friend after a discussion at work one day...
I don't think it is anywhere near as good as the stories I have read on here. Give it a bash and see how it goes!

 

[NervyNewbie]

Thank you so much for the replies. They truly are appreciated and have given me lots of food for thought.
I am constantly daydreaming about this story I have in my head now, I hbe a good idea of some of the plot, and it works fabulously as a fantasy in my head, but it won't get out of my head onto paper. I am considering using a voice recorded app on the phone and getting it out that way but so far I can't bring myself to. It seems to kill it somehow

I really ought to do some housework, but all I can do is read and daydream

Save me?!

NN
x

 

[CarlusMagnus]

...I hbe a good idea of some of the plot, and it works fabulously as a fantasy in my head, but it won't get out of my head onto paper.

No, it won't. You have to take it out of your head and put it onto paper. Then you have to read what you wrote and revise it---several times.

 

[NervyNewbie]

So there's no magic pill I can take that will make it all magically jump onto my laptop
Pah!

NN
X

 

[Biker_Type]

the first one is the hardest, and probably will need the most work . i always enjoyed the story side of this site and finally decided to put fingers to keyboard (that doesn't sound as sexy as 'pen to paper' does it) and see if i could get something approved . i hadn't attempted any fictional or semi-fictional writing in years and years, getting back to it has been very pleasant. all my efforts have at least some small basis of reality in my life . write what you know or like, and don't let a first rejection stop you. i think it takes me about 3-4 rewrites to get the lit editors to approve it, having my OL proof read for me helps, as well as getting some hot action going . she is most often my inspiration . good luck!

 

[geronimo_appleby]

i wrote the first off the cuff and submitted it without a backward glance. then came the nervous wait for it to come up, followed by the trepidation of feedback, etc. it got the H, which was [seemingly] easier to come by in days gone by.

yes, i do look at it and cringe, but i do that with everything i've put up.

advice? is never give advice ...

... but i'd have to say just write it and submit. grow a thick skin. enjoy the process and just keep adding to the submissions.

 

[NervyNewbie]

Thanks for all the replies!

I started working on my main story and now I realise that I am too rusty, so I have started a 'stroke' story so I can get all my mistakes out in that and take all that the readers have to throw at me so I can improve and learn without feeling like a lifetime's work has been attacked

 

[Biker_Type]

hopefully you'll let us know or give us a preview when you finished or ready for feedback?

 

[NervyNewbie]

I have written the very first tiny bit (in the feedback section, here: http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=776841 ) but I am not happy with it at all.
I am currently bashing out (ahem) a quick stroke story (not sure if I'll submit) just to try and get me into a writing rhythm.

I would very much appreciate all feedback on any writing of mine (when it materialises!)

NN
xx

 

[sethp]

How did you write your first literotica story? Was it already written and you found somewhere to submit, or did you become inspired and write after reading?

I was just reading some stories and then though. shit I can do this! So I just sat a cranked out the first Maureen story in about 2 hours. I submitted it right away without any editing or rewrite. I did use spell check. Of course it was rejected. So then I re wrote it...this time with paragraph breaks and quotation marks around my dialogue. I also decided to use punctuation. I think I had to submit it 2-4 times. That's how new to writing I was. I had never written a story of any kind before.

Was it short compared to later stories? Was it edited? Do you look back at it and cringe because it is significantly inferior to how you write now?

It was very short. most of my initial stories were written in 2-3 hours and below 800 words. some of them are really horrible and I've deleted some of the worst ones. However my first three series are, in my opinion good...in a fresh, energetic way. I still like them.



I am currently planning my first story (very, very early days) and am becoming increasingly concerned that the standard will be quite low and that it will not only put me off writing more, but will put people off reading.

I would submit it anyway and invite feedback. You can always delete it and re-write it. I would also use an editor.. do this. write. spell check and then read it and correct anything you don't like. Then send it to an editor. Rewrite again and you'll be good.

Any experiences of how you started off submitting stories here would be lovely to hear, and also any advice you have for someone just starting out would be fabulous!


Write what you like and fuck everyone else. I enjoy a few fetishes including blowjobs, incest, mature, Hair! lol and I write and that's that!
Nervy Newbie
xx

See my answers above.

 

[NervyNewbie]

Thank you, that's a very helpful reply, I am grateful for that
NN
xx

 

[BONNIEBREA]

A couple things.

Write what you want to write and don't worry about presenting it. No one is going to come to your house and break your knee caps because you have some subjects that don't agree with their verbs. If you're concerned about grammar, usage, punctuation, and the like go on the editor's thread and find someone to edit, or at least proofread, your story. There are also no shortage of guides on the net for those writing mechanics and there's no reason you can't teach yourself. You'll feel more confident in posting the story.

I found that once I started writing (July 2010) I just kept going. One story just seemed to naturally follow the previous one. Over the space of about eight months I wrote my first story, five more that continued that story directly, and several others that were tangential to the main story line. I ended up then going back and re-writing those six stories in the continuing arc because they'd just been written sequentially with no plan for the overall story arc, so I needed to go back and pull the stories together and strengthen the internal cohesion between them.

I'd advise before you submit any stories to do two things.

First, make sure you have a story you can bring to a conclusion. Those six stories in my arc were not planned as a huge work (together they're about 200K words). But while they have continuing characters and inter-related plots, they are each a self-contained and well-defined story with a logical beginning and ending and can stand on their own. I really have little respect for writers (and of course you can only find this sort of thing at a site like Literotica) who have no idea what story they are telling and the story just goes on and on and on over a period of years with a new chapter or section posted every few months maybe. I think it is a central responsibility of an author to know the story they plan to tell, to write it down, and present it.

Second. Go into your profile options and turn off anonymous comments to your stories. It's not that anon comments can't be intelligent or insightful. Sometimes they are. But those case are far and away the exception rather than the rule. Most anon comments are idiotic nonsense and as an author you deserve better. There's nothing wrong with people not necessarily liking your story or some aspect of it. But if they want to be critical at least make them identify themselves. It will help to make the criticism constructive and thoughtful rather than the product of some moron posting his or her idiotic drivel on your story.

Hope this is helpful, and best wishes.

Oh, and to answer your question directly - my first story was roughly about the average size of the subsequent stories. The second was the shortest of the bunch. The story I have currently posting is far and away the longest I've written. It's novel length (about 125K words) and is the first time I've really explored a character in total - from childhood formative events to their present (the character is almost 25 in the story's present). I guess it's somewhat illustrative of what I wrote before. I had the basic premise I wanted: a young woman you arrives at adulthood understanding she's fascinated by the concepts of dominance and submission, but needing to discover which of those is her. Once I had that the plot began to come together pretty naturally, and I ended up writing the whole story in the space of about three or four weeks.

 

[autoplot]

I started mine before I joined Lit, then finished it afterward, to see what people might think of it.

I second the notion of thinking through your story and making sure you can finish it before submitting. I made that mistake with one of mine and it can be a bit of a pain.

 

[NervyNewbie]

Thank you both.
I think I am spoiled by this fabulous advice, and feeling very inspired to write now too!
NN
xx

 

[sethp]

YEs! write write write!

 

[NervyNewbie]

Am on it

 

[Penelope Street]

How did you write your first literotica story? Was it already written and you found somewhere to submit, or did you become inspired and write after reading?

I wrote most of the stories posted here before I ever knew Literotica existed. Another author recommended the site to me.

 

[xMentat]

@roomfor1more

I understand why you say use American spelling but surely the context of the story is more important? If it's about Americans and set there, use your weird US spelling and vernacular, if it's set anywhere else in the known world, use "normal" English spelling and grammar (as defined in the Oxford Dictionary).

And, by the way, I'm not English!