Perception/opinion

[BiscuitHammer]

A question for the dedicated and long-term members of the community, and wondering from an author's point of view.

Quite a few people on here write for enjoyment. Other write for catharsis, and a few (hopefully only a few) write as a means of dealing with personal traumas. Rape, abuse, what have you.

The stories these people post are often very raw and visceral, the subject matter ugly. But it's important to them, in their search for healing or closure.

I'm not talking about quality of writiing in asking this question, I'm asking how these stories and their authors tend to be received here on Lit. Not by casual readers or the legions of bum-sniffing trolls who infest our realm, but do you think these people generally are greeted with support or censure?

Granted, some stories might be too horrific to publish, but the ones that DO make it in- are they quickly submerged in a wave of negativity, or do they receive support?

I'm more idly curious than anything. I have a friend who survived horrible abuse and turns to writing. I was wondering if people here thought Lit was a good venue for her.

 

[Alice_Rosaleen]

First of all, I'm very sorry to hear that your friend suffered that kind of trauma. I won't turn this into a "metoo" thread, but I've experienced abuse at the hands of those I trusted and have often written to express those feelings.
I've not been on Lit long, but I've noticed that tales of abuse are often subjected to negative comments, depending on the category. I think novel/novella or non-erotic might be the best ones for those kinds of stories.
After years of expressing my emotions, I've learned to channel my experiences into fiction. This allows me to distance myself from the characters and subject and approach the story as an artist. Then I know the feedback I receive is for my work and not a reflection of myself.
I hope your friend finds healing through writing or some other means. Take care!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Sorry to hear about your friend BH. I have known several friends who suffered at the hands of others, but at the time, they didn't have anything except a journal...the internet was just being conceived at the time. So the only writing they could do was in a diary or journal.

I often wonder if they are now, in their advanced years, if they have found some place to free themselves.

I have experienced several traumas in my life. Many would seem trivial now, and they do to me now, but at the time they hurt. Loss of a close friend. Loss of a close cousin. Several men and women I knew only as parents of friends. That kind of loss, although not trivial does scar you for life.

As a police officer, I have arrested many an abuser, yet the abused was right there with the bail money, when called by her abuser. It was horrific at a later date to investigate her murder. Many a session with the department shrink helped, but the horror still remains.

I have written a couple of stories where I dealt with some trauma...I put them in non-consent and loving wives. Neither were received well. But I got it out of my system. I only wrote about it twice and then I didn't need to anymore. It was dealt with.

 

[KindofHere]

................

 

[oggbashan]

Write out the trauma?

Yes.

Post it on Literotica?

No. Even minor attacks on the story by trolls could be painful.

My advice. Write it. Save it offline. Try to forget it. DO NOT share it in public.

 

[BiscuitHammer]

Depends on what she's looking for and what she can put up with if she puts personal information about herself up for people to read and if she recognizes the difference between a possible fan/admirer of her work and a guy who wants her to talk dirty to him in emails.

What do you think, you write here.

I'm a cock-eyed optimist. I'm pretty sure she could ignore the trolls and morons who just slung vitriol. I think she'd just want to know there was a stable community or cabal of decent writers on here who would have her back/ be supportive.

And that part I don't know quite yet, hence my crowdsourcing of opinions.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'm a cock-eyed optimist. I'm pretty sure she could ignore the trolls and morons who just slung vitriol. I think she'd just want to know there was a stable community or cabal of decent writers on here who would have her back/ be supportive.

And that part I don't know quite yet, hence my crowdsourcing of opinions.

I think MelissaBaby would agree with you. Her catharsis piece was well received.

 

[clistenovena]

I'm a cock-eyed optimist. I'm pretty sure she could ignore the trolls and morons who just slung vitriol. I think she'd just want to know there was a stable community or cabal of decent writers on here who would have her back/ be supportive.

Writing is definitely cathartic, and there are some great people in here would would offer loads of support. My only concern...

Even minor attacks on the story by trolls could be painful.

You know her, so you'd be the best judge to know if she could handle what would be slung her way by those that sling.

Wishing your friend the very best.

 

[lovecraft68]

A couple years ago I wrote a story for pure catharsis. Its about the hellish three weeks my wife and I spent at the NIH in MD where she had 8 tumors removed from her kidney, but almost died from complications from the surgery.

Several people told me it was risky, putting it out there with the troll community both in general and my personal trolls.

The story narrowly missed winning Nude day and did win the July monthly for that year. Almost every comment was positive, only a few negative. So in general it seemed to be accepted well.

But it was also in romance and maybe a lot of trolls don't hit that category.

It did however get a comment that said too bad my wife didn't die and I didn't kill myself. They mentioned my wife by her first name(not mentioned in the story) meaning it was down to a very small number of people who could have left it.

I'm sure I know who it is. The same person who claims if they ever come to RI or MA or CT they'd be more than happy to meet up with me to settle up some ill will here.

In a perfect world they'd show up tomorrow.

 

[_Lynn_]

A question for the dedicated and long-term members of the community, and wondering from an author's point of view.

Quite a few people on here write for enjoyment. Other write for catharsis, and a few (hopefully only a few) write as a means of dealing with personal traumas. Rape, abuse, what have you.

The stories these people post are often very raw and visceral, the subject matter ugly. But it's important to them, in their search for healing or closure.

I'm not talking about quality of writiing in asking this question, I'm asking how these stories and their authors tend to be received here on Lit. Not by casual readers or the legions of bum-sniffing trolls who infest our realm, but do you think these people generally are greeted with support or censure?

Granted, some stories might be too horrific to publish, but the ones that DO make it in- are they quickly submerged in a wave of negativity, or do they receive support?

I'm more idly curious than anything. I have a friend who survived horrible abuse and turns to writing. I was wondering if people here thought Lit was a good venue for her.

Writing can help in many ways. I do it all the time. Few people have or will read some of them but others I shared. When I first joined Lit, back in 2007, I wrote a How-to that came from things I learned during bipolar struggles. It went over well.

I haven't submitted anything lately and I don't know about trolls, but I posted non-fiction poetry with positive results. One even earned a green E.

Your friend isn't alone but I'm sorry she suffered that way.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I think MelissaBaby would agree with you. Her catharsis piece was well received.

Yes. One or two of mine had been a little on the cathartic side and it helped me deal with it. But you have to be prepared to deal with the feedback, or just turn the comments and feedback of. If it's that cathartic, I might suggest that - writing it but turning comments and feedback off. I think writing it out really helped me tremendously, but mine wasn't that traumatic. On a scale of one to ten, where ten is extreme trauma, mine was about point zero five at best and it was all emotional.

So, yes, maybe, depending. Tell your friend to take a look at MelissaBaby's and that might help decide.

 

[AwkwardMD]

All of my writing is catharsis and therapy. Occasionally people tell me blah blah blah get to the peens and butts already, but most of my comments tend to be heartfelt appreciation for opening up.

You do develop some thick skin, but I am grateful for the outlet, and the people I've met through my writing that have proven to be excellent friends.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I'd rank my trauma at about a 7, by the way

 

[SusanJillParker]

A question for the dedicated and long-term members of the community, and wondering from an author's point of view.

Quite a few people on here write for enjoyment. Other write for catharsis, and a few (hopefully only a few) write as a means of dealing with personal traumas. Rape, abuse, what have you.

The stories these people post are often very raw and visceral, the subject matter ugly. But it's important to them, in their search for healing or closure.

I'm not talking about quality of writiing in asking this question, I'm asking how these stories and their authors tend to be received here on Lit. Not by casual readers or the legions of bum-sniffing trolls who infest our realm, but do you think these people generally are greeted with support or censure?

Granted, some stories might be too horrific to publish, but the ones that DO make it in- are they quickly submerged in a wave of negativity, or do they receive support?

I'm more idly curious than anything. I have a friend who survived horrible abuse and turns to writing. I was wondering if people here thought Lit was a good venue for her.

It took me 25-years to remember all that happened to me. Not knowing what was wrong with me, I hid in my room, read, and played music. I had no friends. I didn't get along with others. I didn't speak a word for years because of the horrific events that happened to me. Yet, I had this rage, much greater than anger, that would explode in an instant, but I didn't know why.

Then, as if I had a dream, I started writing a story called, Scared Silent, about a girl who had been violated by 7 men over 10-years. One of her abusers tried to drown her in an icy pond in February but somehow, she survived, albeit without the ability to speak a word. I got to chapter 8 before I realized that I was writing my story and all that happened to me. I never finished the book. Too painful, I couldn't.

Two years of therapy later, here I am writing erotica on a porn board. Go figure. Yet, more than anything, writing is my therapy. Scratch the surface and I still have that rage but nothing like I once had.

I'd dare say that 50% of men and women, have had traumatic, sexual experiences. Some don't acknowledge them. Many don't get help. Some turn to alcohol, drugs, and even suicide. Others become predators themselves. I was one of the lucky ones. I'm a survivor.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I think MelissaBaby would agree with you. Her catharsis piece was well received.

I do agree.

For the OP, I wrote about my own background with drug addiction, criminal activity, imprisonment, and my struggle for recovery and redemption. I entered into the process hoping for catharsis, and it was a very positive,even profound experience.

Yes, I got some negative feedback, but not much. My readership on Lit is small, but supportive.

I am very grateful for the high scores I have received. They feel like a vindication not just for my writing, but for my efforts at self improvement as well.

https://i.imgur.com/LyNHyVn.png

 

[MelissaBaby]

(And yeah, that 4.47 kind of annoys me. )

 

[BiscuitHammer]

Oh, argh, Melissa...

(And yeah, that 4.47 kind of annoys me. )

That 4.47 would drive me nuts. Why? Because all my chapters have always been 4.5 or higher, except for the first chapter of one story, which has been 4.46 forever. And THEN, some troll has been tanking my rating on two of my newest chapters, keeping them below 4.5 and making me crazy.

So yeah, I feel ya.

But speaking to the original point of your post, I think my friend is indeed looking for catharsis and some small community social acceptance. Thought I'd ask in here, since I consider most of us in this little enclave sensible.

 

[My I]

I have one story published here, as well as a Literotica Anthology book, that is based on a personal traumatic event. It is NOT an accurate accounting of what actually happened but much of it IS written from actual events.

I wrote the story 20 years after the the events and it wasn't planned or even an idea before hand. I sat down at the computer one evening to play a video game but instead opened Word and started typing. Two hours later it was finished. I scanned it a couple times for spelling and grammar and had a friend scan it as well. I submitted it that night and it was a HUGE weight off me.

It has taken its fair share of knocks. I don't really care. The people who knock it aren't as smart as they think they are. And have no personal fortitude.

So, all that said, if you have an experience that is haunting you, WRITE IT. Get it out of your head and onto paper, figuratively speaking. I doubt if it will make you forget and it shouldn't. But I will bet you dollars to donuts it will help you cope with it. Even if it's something you thought you were over. And if you can ignore the trolls, submit it. It might help someone else cope as well.

 

[Gentleman_G]

Writing by itself has therapeutical value, so regardless of posting it, she should write it to be able to distance herself from it. Looking at it from a different POV always helps, because you learn to look at it from another perspective, a more distant one. I can imagine writing a story where you put the characters through the stuff you've been through might allow you to push it all on the character and making him/her do things you've always wanted to do yourself. Because there is always a 'what if I had...' thought in your mind. You can then write it to get closure on that.

As for posting, the few stories I've read where characters actually deal with trauma or sickness or other things one might want to write about, they generally had believable and compelling characters. Personally I enjoyed reading them and sympathised with them. So as long as there is proper build-up and proper character design, people won't give you much criticism.
Just be prepared that the first chapter generally gets the lowest ranking and usually the harshest criticism, as it attracts more people who try it - the ones that check your later chapters read it because they already liked the first one and probably rate it higher than the ones reading the first chapter and disliking it.

I think the advice to disallow comments might be worth a shot if you're not sure she can handle criticism on her story or the character she projects as herself.

Hope that helps. Of course, I'm not a long-time author here, but I hope my 2 cents are worth something.

 

[ausfet]

It did however get a comment that said too bad my wife didn't die and I didn't kill myself. They mentioned my wife by her first name(not mentioned in the story) meaning it was down to a very small number of people who could have left it.

Woah, that's seriously fucked up.

 

[weftandwarp]

A question for the dedicated and long-term members of the community, and wondering from an author's point of view.

Quite a few people on here write for enjoyment. Other write for catharsis, and a few (hopefully only a few) write as a means of dealing with personal traumas. Rape, abuse, what have you.

The stories these people post are often very raw and visceral, the subject matter ugly. But it's important to them, in their search for healing or closure.

I'm not talking about quality of writiing in asking this question, I'm asking how these stories and their authors tend to be received here on Lit. Not by casual readers or the legions of bum-sniffing trolls who infest our realm, but do you think these people generally are greeted with support or censure?

Granted, some stories might be too horrific to publish, but the ones that DO make it in- are they quickly submerged in a wave of negativity, or do they receive support?


I'm more idly curious than anything. I have a friend who survived horrible abuse and turns to writing. I was wondering if people here thought Lit was a good venue for her.

It is difficult. Very difficult. I've recently discovered I'm autistic. Things I've done in my life have astonished because they were either clever or extremely stupid. It has been a strange thing I guess. I never knew and the people in my life accommodated it with out me knowing. It has made me an easy target for some.
I married late. My wife didn't want me as much as what I had. I didn't know and found it difficult to deal with. She took every thing I had and tolerated me. I desperately wanted children. She used it as a tool for manipulation and killed each one as they arrived. Eventually her narcissism killed her too. I seem to be attracted to narcissists. I hookedup with another who wanted every thing and gave nothing, screamed assaulted etc.

I find it very difficult to write about . My life is a constant swirl around these things. I don't have the perspectives to write it . I find the constant attacks of feminism make it even more difficult, having to defend my self against things I've never done but been a huge victim of all my life.

It does help to write. It gives me other perspectives and i can understand them. I broaden my scope with them and can laugh. It is important. I'm a very placid person, never aggressive. I've got an outlet in writing. Catharsis isn't for me. I can't do it. To dwell on the ugliness again would kill me. Instead, I try to create some thing better that I can live with. I love history, but not my own and have built other places I can be, that intrigue and make me happy. The places I have built aren't on this site, they are too precious.So many people here are dealing with hurt and grief. It isn't so rare on this site.

I find it very helpful to be on these forums, it is fascinating to see what people value and how those values differ from mine. I'm often surprised.

 

[Gentleman_G]

@weftandwarp that actually sounds pretty spot-on for people who are autistic. I sympathise with you and hope the writing will help you, but I understand how it`s hard to do so. Just realize that there are many more autistic people who have similar problems as you experience. You`re not alone.
Just write what you want to write, it`ll give you that feeling of creating a world which you probably appreciate. And if not, please keep reading. I know you enjoy reading.

 

[YouDidWhut]

I think the biggest concern that I had when I wrote about PTSD in my story wasn’t how the comments would affect me but how the story would affect someone who hadn’t come to grips with their own problems yet. I honestly did not want to trigger anyone with the story.

My Inbox is full of emails from veterans who said that I had hit the nail on the head with the rawness of the emotions without sounding bitter about it.

I just got lucky I guess. I’ve gotten an unbelievable reception here with it overall; although I think most of that might be because of the way I presented it.

And no, I’m not a long-term member so I hope you don’t mind me throwing my two cents into the conversation.

 

[weftandwarp]

@weftandwarp that actually sounds pretty spot-on for people who are autistic. I sympathise with you and hope the writing will help you, but I understand how it`s hard to do so. Just realize that there are many more autistic people who have similar problems as you experience. You`re not alone.
Just write what you want to write, it`ll give you that feeling of creating a world which you probably appreciate. And if not, please keep reading. I know you enjoy reading.

Thank you. It amazes me that others with similar problems aren't so conspicuous. Looking back in history many have been very conspicuous.

I do have plans. It is important. One should always have a sense of purpose, a direction and be interested in more than just one's self. It isn't about shocking people or being antisocial with one's intentions. I want to create a tourist facillity based around it. An exploration of warmth, humour, generosity and imagination. It will be sufficiently different that it will either do well if set up appropriately or bomb because it is too confronting. I don't have the perceptions to know. I'm looking for a place to locate it. The location is important. It will spook me for a while but it will be ok. Some how, it is about more than me, to the extent that I really don't matter beyond being the facillitator. I like the anonymity. Hopefully, others will appreciate it as a place dedicated to honouring the contribution made by those in similar positions.

 

[Rollinbones]

I like to leave my skeletons in the cupboard but every now and then i recognise them creeping into my characters; not a full story from the vault but a character infected with my own idiosyncrasies.

It's cathartic in a way because one can exaggerate the traits in a character and as the character fumbles their way through the drama of the story, examine how they have in fact affected one's own life.

I've been tempted to publish some of the entertaining stories from my past. Stories in which the horror is tainted with well blackened humour. To do so though would identify me and i'm happier remaining anonymous.

Also, my continued victory over ptsd remains in creating new experiences and leaving the old ones in the past where they belong.