The perfect story. Is it a myth

[Agiel]

I’ve just come across this post from a few months ago in story feedback. It didn’t make much of an impression and I thought it might possibly get a better response here. I’ve no idea how many new writers have arrived in the last year, or even two years, or how many of them read the AH but I’m sure new, and old writers, will have an opinion.
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Old 12-26-2020, 12:59 AM #1
verycuriouswriter
Virgin

verycuriouswriter is offline
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 3

The perfect story, ruins it for the rest?

I have found an interesting problem with erotica, whenever I find a better story (for me!) it sort of ups the bar each time, to the point now that I very rarely find anything that interests me.

I've written some stories which have qualities that improve on what I've seen, but that only has made things worse by raising the bar even further.

Or maybe I should say lower the bar. Some people high jump, others like to limbo, right?
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Has anyone ever read what they consider the perfect Lit story? One they would give 6 out of 5. Has anyone written what they consider the perfect story? That’s one for the egotists lol. Seriously I suppose the question might be had anyone ever read a story they consider to be as near perfect as anyone on Lit is likely to achieve?

 

[ElectricBlue]

A writer of a "perfect story" should be able to better their own work, so no, there's no such thing.

Besides, perfection for you might be utter crap for me, and vice versa, so double no.

But: it is possible to set a very high bar, particularly for oneself.

 

[rescatooor]

Never found one. I do not think perfection is attainable the longer the story gets, and many would argue that the issue with many stories are that they are too short. And the longer it gets the more difficult it is to file it into perfection. Same goes for concepts involved: the more complicated or foreign they are to the reader, the more difficult it gets.

I have been recently wondering how I have now discovered a musical that I absolutely love when I don't really like musicals. (Hadestown, in case someone is curious.) And it seems it's in part the simplicity of the story that allows the genius use of leitmotifs. I looked into the production and how the story had mildly transformed before reaching the Broadway. Characterizations got a little more archetypal, motivations extremely simple, and it all worked to it's benefit. Now, one could have gone the opposite direction but the more details you add, the more difficult it is to keep it poignant. And for a musical it is imperative that the show is poignant.

Now writing is different since you do not have the same limitations. And even in writing the limitations depend on what you are writing. A sonnet? You need to consider metre and rhyme scheme. But not everyone likes sonnets, no matter how perfect the sonnet gets.

 

[KeithD]

As noted, what would be perfect is subjective. So, perfection to all? No. But, so what?

 

[AlinaX]

I stumble across perfect stories from time to time - and then forget to bookmark them. I think part of the reason I write here is the attempt to capture the same brilliance.

 

[gunhilltrain]

This very same comment has been discussed here before. Like baseball players, perhaps, writers have slumps and hitting streaks. Generally I find that my later stories are better - at least to me - than the earlier ones, but not always. I did rewrite a few of the early ones which I had originally posted at least a year ago.

 

[DCO_65]

No.

There once was a "perfect story" published right here at Literotica. But as a public service Laurel pulled it and destroyed every existing digital copy.

It was so "perfect" that everyone who read it replayed it over and over in their head to the exclusion of every other voluntary act. The author herself never wrote another word.

Most affected readers were fortunate. Somebody noticed them just staring off into space in front of their battery depleted cell phone or laptop. A silly grin on their face, they were thinking about the perfection they had just enjoyed and replaying it over and over again in their minds.

Depending on the level of exposure some readers had to be institutionalized, where many still sit today. With a crocheted Afghan in their lap they sit in wheelchairs on the lush green manicured front lawn of an Assylum for the Terminally Content, being fed lukewarm Postum like a baby by white clad staff members.

So, be careful whatyou wish for.

 

[oggbashan]

The perfect story only exists in my head. As soon as I start to write, perfection is lost and replaced by a pastiche of what I intended.

That said, the closest I have come, in date order is:

Christmas Truce;

Jeanie The Genie; and

English Lane.


I am always trying to improve on those and failing...

Three passable stories out of over 400 isn't a good success rate...

 

[gunhilltrain]

No.

There once was a "perfect story" published right here at Literotica. But as a public service Laurel pulled it and destroyed every existing digital copy.

It was so "perfect" that everyone who read it replayed it over and over in their head to the exclusion of every other voluntary act. The author herself never wrote another word.

Most affected readers were fortunate. Somebody noticed them just staring off into space in front of their battery depleted cell phone or laptop. A silly grin on their face, they were thinking about the perfection they had just enjoyed and replaying it over and over again in their minds.

Depending on the level of exposure some readers had to be institutionalized, where many still sit today. With a crocheted Afghan in their lap they sit in wheelchairs on the lush green manicured front lawn of an Assylum for the Terminally Content, being fed lukewarm Postum like a baby by white clad staff members.

So, be careful whatyou wish for.

That sounds like the plot for Infinite Jest. Infinite Jest is a movie that is supposed to be so entertaining that anyone who sees it looses interest in anything else. Did you lift the idea from the book or was it just a coincidence?

 

[GinnyPPC]

Perfection is subjective. I was telling a fellow author last night, since I started to write, my standards have increased. I recently reread something I liked once upon a time and cringed. So, at least for me, standards change. Meaning what passes as perfect changes as well.

 

[SimonDoom]

Ive never read a perfect story, and I've certainly never written one.

I used to read more erotic stories than I do now. I have found that since I started writing I've become a more exacting reader and it's more difficult for a story to entertain me. I agree with the general concept that the bar keeps getting raised.

 

[HectorBidon]

I've certainly read stories that have made me consider just hanging up my keyboard because nothing I write will ever come close to their wonderful story-telling. But that doesn't spoil things for me as a reader. I may find another story that is just as good, but in a completely different direction. And stories can be fun and enjoyable without being perfect.

A perfect story is kind of like a perfect piece of furniture. It may be well built, serviceable, and attractive, but it's hardly unique or irreplaceable. Perfection really only exists in the imagination. It's something for a craftsman to shoot for, a hostess to feel proud of, a grandfather to sink into with grandchildren on his lap.

Sit on a lot of different chairs. That's my advice, And benches and stools and rocks. And don't hang your keyboard too high out of reach.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Perfection is an odd concept, elusive, with a tinge of futility connected with it. The perfect golf game, no such critter. You’re either above par (not good in golf), below par (approaching perfection), or par, which is supposed to be average. Of course, par is not average in golf at all.

Bowling, a perfect score of 300, 10 strikes in a row. Should you achieve this, it doesn’t mean the game becomes boring for you.

Baseball, no walks, no hits, no runs, no errors through 9 innings. Rare, a no-hitter, not so rare, but no common. Watching either a No-Hitter or A Perfect game doesn’t spoil baseball. On the hitting side, no one has even come close to 1000.

Football, no such thing as perfect.

Writing, no such animal, not for every reader, and if you let a perfect story for you ruin your enjoyment of good stories, I don’t know what to say.

There are perfect moments, perfect dates, perfect fucks, but none of that has gotten in the way of enjoying a not-so-perfect anything.

Life is never perfect. Even so, I enjoy most days, with all the imprecations. Sometimes, something not perfect is better for me than that which is perfect. I’m human; if my SO Jo was perfect, I’m not sure I could take it!

 

[DCO_65]

That sounds like the plot for Infinite Jest. Infinite Jest is a movie that is supposed to be so entertaining that anyone who sees it loose interest in anything else. Did you lift the idea from the book or was it just a coincidence?

I looked it up, and I see the similarity to the movie within the story. I never read the book, and don't recall the movie. But I do think that the basic idea that an artist can create a work that is so good-- in their own eyes-- that they will never top it is a fairly common one.

 

[gordo12]

The question of a perfect story reminds me of this:

Our daughter raved about "Rent." It had changed her life! She insisted on us sitting down with her and watching it.

Both my wife and I fell asleep during it. Man, was she pissed! But to us, it was as boring as shit.

 

[DCO_65]

I’m human; if my SO Jo was perfect, I’m not sure I could take it!

My SO is "prefect," is says so right here on this note she left me .

 

[MillieDynamite]

My SO is "prefect," is says so right here on this note she left me .

My SO thinks I'm perfect as well, got her fooled big time.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I looked it up, and I see the similarity to the movie within the story. I never read the book, and don't recall the movie. But I do think that the basic idea that an artist can create a work that is so good-- in their own eyes-- that they will never top it is a fairly common one.

I've been to college, so I know how to comment on a book without actually reading the damn thing. The book has 1,079 pages and 388 endnotes (for a novel!). Unless one is Tolstoy, something that long can't be the perfect novel.

 

[DCO_65]

I've been to college, so I know how to comment on a book without actually reading the damn thing. The book has 1,079 pages and 388 endnotes (for a novel!). Unless one is Tolstoy, something that long can't be the perfect novel.

My favorite example of efficiency in writing was a children's song penned by members of the Australian group 'The Wiggles.' I don't recall which one (my grandchildren listened to it and they are grown now) but it had about 10 discrete words-- repeated to make 40 or so words in the song-- and 15 credited authors.

 

[R. Richard]

The perfect novel?
Gone With The Wind
To Kill A Mocking Bird

You don't agree? Millions of people and millions of dollars say you're wrong.

 

[Rustyoznail]

My favorite example of efficiency in writing was a children's song penned by members of the Australian group 'The Wiggles.' I don't recall which one (my grandchildren listened to it and they are grown now) but it had about 10 discrete words-- repeated to make 40 or so words in the song-- and 15 credited authors.

Hot potato?
Big Red Car?

Most of the Wiggles songs are based on the educational theory they learnt as pre-school teachers. Worked pretty well as a career move.

 

[TadOverdon]

Myth.

 

[SimonDoom]

I take back what I said before. I can think of one book I've read that I thought was perfect -- I wouldn't change a word. EB White's Charlotte's Web. A perfectly written story. Such a beautiful and kind tale. Not erotic, obviously!

 

[gunhilltrain]

The perfect novel?
Gone With The Wind
To Kill A Mocking Bird

You don't agree? Millions of people and millions of dollars say you're wrong.

My grandfather didn't like Gone With The Wind (he meant the movie, not the book) because he thought it was too pro-Confederate. It so happened that one of his ancestors (I think it was his own grandfather) had fought on the Union side during the Civil War.

I tried reading To Kill A Mocking Bird but it couldn't get through it. So for every million people who like something, there will be ten thousand who don't.

 

[NoJo]

I'm a bit of an imperfectionist myself.