New Author, advice?

[strangegirly]

Hi everyone! I'm new to literotica, though I've been writing (both erotic and non) for a while! I already figured out the submission system, and 2 of my favorite stories are pending approval right now! Since I'm new to the community, I just thought I'd put some feelers out and see if any of you more experienced members could offer up advice to a new girl? Thank you!!

 

[SimonDoom]

Hi everyone! I'm new to literotica, though I've been writing (both erotic and non) for a while! I already figured out the submission system, and 2 of my favorite stories are pending approval right now! Since I'm new to the community, I just thought I'd put some feelers out and see if any of you more experienced members could offer up advice to a new girl? Thank you!!

My dubiously authoritative advice:

1. Do some homework and figure out how this Site works. Read this regarding the Literotica category system: https://literotica.com/beta/s/love-your-readers-categories.

2. Have a thick skin. This is a big Site, and you'll encounter readers and perhaps authors with intemperate opinions. Roll with it. Don't take it personally.

3. There are plenty of readers and authors here who want you to succeed. Keep that in mind when you get that weird, random, hostile comment at 3 am from somebody who tells you that you suck. Believe me, you probably will get that comment.

4. Your own muse is your best guide. There is no objective standard of success here. Sometimes it's easy to forget that.

5. Welcome.

 

[Jada59]

Welcome! Thick skin is necessary for sure!

 

[AlinaX]

Write for your own enjoyment. The great thing about Literotica is that people will read your stuff in large numbers. Some will vote for it, some will like it, some may even comment on it. It can be a thrill to get a red H, and getting any comments is always great.

If you publish in Loving Wives, or, bizarrely, anything involving chastity belts, be prepared for some genuine assholes to creep out of the woodwork.

 

[Handley_Page]

Welcome to the chaos !
I would suggest you concentrate on what you like and write that.
Fetish, Incest and so on have their adherents, but there's singular lack of tolerance
for some mistakes.
Beware the Trolls.

 

[litfan10]

Hi strangegirly! Welcome to the madness!

When your stories are live put a link to them in your sig line so we can find them easier.

As already stated there can be harsh comments, votes and/or thread posts. It is never, ever you - it is the poster/voter who has the problem. Ignore and move on. This place can be a lot of fun; nothing like it anywhere else.

Take advantage of this forum - you can learn a lot, regardless of skill level/ experience, you can have fun and make some very good friends.

Enjoy and welcome again!

 

[ChloeTzang]

Hi everyone! I'm new to literotica, though I've been writing (both erotic and non) for a while! I already figured out the submission system, and 2 of my favorite stories are pending approval right now! Since I'm new to the community, I just thought I'd put some feelers out and see if any of you more experienced members could offer up advice to a new girl? Thank you!!

Welcome, new girl - advice? Don’t be shy, join in the fun on the AH board. Ignore the trolls who comment on your stories, get used to weird story ratings, enter stories in the competitions and above all, write for yourself first and foremost, because there’s an audience for everything here.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If you're after more direct feedback on a story, post a link in the Feedback Forum (link below). Quite a few of the AH regulars drop in there and will give you the benefit of their... ahh... let's call it wisdom, for want of a better word.

And when you're really brave, ask for a review by AwkwardMD .

http://forum.literotica.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1

 

[GroverLang]

If you're after more direct feedback on a story, post a link in the Feedback Forum (link below).

And when you're really brave, ask for a review by AwkwardMD .]

First sentence, about Story Feedback, is good advice. The second sentence made me smile , and I’m sure AwkwardMD won’t be the only one smiling either, although Strangegirly won’t get it yet.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Good advice above.

Speaking of sex, Robert Heinlein said a lady should take off her dignity with her clothes and do her whorish best. I think it’s the same with writing. Throw away the scabbard, nail the flag to the mast and write with all your might, without doubts or reflection. Done? Good, now put it away for a while before you look at it again. Reading it with new eyes gives a new perspective. Phrases that seemed to be so brilliant now are trite or obscure, tangled plot lines are revealed. Do your rewrite and then start polishing. Read it aloud. Get an editor if you think that would help. Spend as much time polishing as you did writing.

Every story will teach you.

Welcome to the monkey house.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Hi everyone! I'm new to literotica, though I've been writing (both erotic and non) for a while! I already figured out the submission system, and 2 of my favorite stories are pending approval right now! Since I'm new to the community, I just thought I'd put some feelers out and see if any of you more experienced members could offer up advice to a new girl? Thank you!!

don't mess with pending stories. it puts them to the back of the queue.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Welcome!
As someone who's got into posting here over the last year - my personal guide goes:

Write what you want. Edit it.

Figure out what category it best fits.
Edit it again.

Consider warnings if your story doesn't fit it's category very well, bearing in mind most people will ignore them. Re-read and edit again.

Publish and be damned!

Give yourself a point for every incel and fuckwit you manage to piss off.

Work on your next story. Have fun!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I am new to the site as well, my first story went up about about a week ago. So far my experience has been really positive! At least so far, it seems like most people who leave feedback are supportive and not trolling, so definitely don't hold anything back out of concern for how it will be received. Like more experienced people have said, write what you enjoy and somebody on this site will enjoy it too!

That being said, if my experience is indicative then don't be surprised if you get weird PMs or emails (if you have story feedback to email turned on) with wayyyy more information than you wanted to receive. I love feedback that's about the story but I'm not interested in the, uh, extracurricular stuff.

I think every new writer, especially those with female or female-leaning names, gets bombarded by the... hopeful? In my case, polite ones asking to get together got a polite You Seem Nice But No Thanks response and the rest got blocked. They'll stop pretty soon if you ignore them.

 

[AlinaX]

I get PMs like "Are you submissive?" (but without the grammar) and I have to decide between "Have you read anything I've written?" (which clearly they haven't) and just ignoring them.

 

[Voboy]

Write what you'd like to read.

The rest of this advice is very good. Also, if you stay and post in this forum, remember that the AH is a little bit insulated from reality. We here tend to unduly concern ourselves with things that most readers are totally oblivious to.

 

[AlinaX]

I love your stories! Rabbit hole is right. I'm going to have to go through them now.

Happiness

I usually just tell people that stories are my kink.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I get PMs like "Are you submissive?" (but without the grammar) and I have to decide between "Have you read anything I've written?" (which clearly they haven't) and just ignoring them.

Ignoring and blocking seems to have worked for me. I don’t get anything like that anymore.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

I am new to the site as well, my first story went up about about a week ago. So far my experience has been really positive! At least so far, it seems like most people who leave feedback are supportive and not trolling, so definitely don't hold anything back out of concern for how it will be received. Like more experienced people have said, write what you enjoy and somebody on this site will enjoy it too!

That being said, if my experience is indicative then don't be surprised if you get weird PMs or emails (if you have story feedback to email turned on) with wayyyy more information than you wanted to receive. I love feedback that's about the story but I'm not interested in the, uh, extracurricular stuff.

you're in a niche market. you should give Loving Wives a shot and see how it goes.

unless things have changed over there lately.

there's some interesting feedback from that particular crowd.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I don't really read that category much but my impression is it's mainly only used for cuckolding/cheating stories, is that right?

There are some charming, loving stories in there, but it's a swamp overall. I wouldn't write a LW story until my asbestos undies come back from the dry-cleaners.

 

[LexxRuthless]

Welcome!

If you have time, I would highly recommend scrolling through the forum here and reading some of the threads. There are answers in those to most of the questions you will eventually want to ask.

If you have been reading stories on this site for a while, I would also suggest reaching out to some of the authors whose work you have particularly enjoyed reading. If they are still active, they will usually respond and they may be able to share insight that will be particularly helpful as you continue to write and submit your own stories.

Have fun! Don't let a handful of jackals spoil your fun. Most of the readers on this site are supportive people who appreciate your efforts. They just aren't always the vocal ones. Keep them in mind if you ever get frustrated.

 

[strangegirly]

Thanks for all the advice!

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all your advice! I'm really exited to be a part of such a welcoming and supportive community! I would reply to all of you individually to thank you, but I only have so much time to spare. My first story is finally up, so if anyone wants to check it out, I linked it in my sig as suggested! Love ya all!

 

[SimonDoom]

I wouldn't write a LW story until my asbestos undies come back from the dry-cleaners.

I hope your story, when it does get written and published, incorporates said undies. I'll be on the lookout for it.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I hope your story, when it does get written and published, incorporates said undies. I'll be on the lookout for it.