Wanting to put a story together need advice

[Middleson]

So i am an avid reader of quite a few categories one here.
I have an idea for a story i want to write. Here is my problem i really suck at punctuation or so i think. I think i can put the story together.
Here us my question.
When you guts went about putting your first story together obviously some of you were or are accomplished writers and some of you were newbies starting off. So what is the best process?
Write the story and ask for someones help on here to be an editor and basically read your story over to critique and point out your fuck ups to correct?
Lets face some of the content that is written or read about on this site is not the sort of material you would ask your best friend or public to read over and offer opinion.

Is there a fee to get some one to edit your story or is it based on you asking real nice for someone to donate their time?

Or am i better asking some one to take the idea and write it but then i think most of you are already bombarded with your own ideas and work so that may not be feasible.

 

[KeithD]

The best approach is to learn the fundamentals of writing before going public with your writing (but learning the fundamentals requires actually writing--and reading). If you do this, you can concentrate on the storytelling without being challenged by the technicals.

But if you've bypassed that and are anxious to get your stories written, yes, the best approach is "write the story and ask for someone's help on here to be an editor and basically read your story over to critique." And then to absorb the critique to improve the next time you write.

And, no, it's not common to pay someone here to edit your work--or for them to ask for payment.

 

[8letters]

What I did was publish my first story without asking for editing help. I did use Word for grammar and spelling check. I felt like that gave me some evidence that I was worth editing for when I did seek out someone to edit my next story.

 

[SimonDoom]

Don't pay anybody here. You don't need to do that, and frankly most of the people, myself include, don't have the professional qualifications for editing that would warrant you paying them.

My two cents, if you want to improve at grammar and punctuation.

1. Learn it. A good free way to do this is to check out the "how to" essays that are available here at Literotica. Read them carefully. Put the time in. It may be boring, but with punctuation, a little goes a long way. You can learn 90% of what you need to know in relatively little time if you are careful and attentive. Read an essay about how to handle dialogue. Learn how to use commas. Learn how to create paragraphs properly. Read about basic grammar rules and word choice, like the difference between "lay" and "lie."

2. Read stories. Good writers usually are good readers. Sample enough stories and enough authors that you get a feel for whom you think writes well, and then pay attention to them carefully.

In my experience at Literotica, these are the biggest mistakes new authors make:

1. They don't understand how to punctuate dialogue. This is not hard to learn if you take some time to do it and pay attention.

2. They shift carelessly between past and present tense.

3. They don't understand paragraphing. A good rule of thumb at Literotica, in my opinion, is generally to keep paragraphs short, and to start a new paragraph every time you switch speakers in dialogue.

4. They shift carelessly between different points of view.

5. They are sloppy about using periods.


Good luck!

 

[HeyAll]

1) Write your story

2) Make the edits and revisions. Read it slow, check for grammar, repitition, improvements, etc...

3) Run it through grammarly.com If you want to be even more thorough, run it through Google Docs, Word, and Grammarly. The filters are a little different so they may catch a couple things.


Then seek an editor if you think you really need it. Keep in mind, no one cares more about your work than you.

 

[Middleson]

This is all good advise. I read a lot of stories on here and can certainly tell the better authors and writers by their ability to write and build the story. I have read some stories where i felt i knew the characters intimately by the time story was complete.
Maybe some of it is writing and learning from mistakes and critique.
I find myself reading stories and inspired with my own ideas for characters.
Although i think it would be a good start to try it myself and then asking someone to read it over after I've done the basics myself using word or other programs.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

You didn't learn to walk without falling down a lot. So, yes, writing is the key bit.

That said, in all gentleness, based on what you have posted here, you do need an editor. That's fine and ideas are the critical bit. So ask for help and bash on. I look forward to seeing your first.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Don't pay anybody here. You don't need to do that, and frankly most of the people, myself include, don't have the professional qualifications for editing that would warrant you paying them.

Yep.

There's a saying "you gotta spend money to make money". If you're writing for money, it's probably a good idea to have an editor (usually arranged by the publisher, who may or may not be yourself) and somebody should be paying them. Not cool to expect others to work for free to make your paid gig happen.

But Literotica's not a place for making money. It's better viewed as a kind of sandpit, a place to practice and experiment and find what works for you, without worrying too much about the consequences. The volunteer editors you'll find here are mostly amateurs, and mostly that's okay, because people shouldn't be expecting perfection from free erotica.

 

[Handley_Page]

So i am an avid reader of quite a few categories one here.
I have an idea for a story i want to write. Here is my problem i really suck at punctuation or so i think. I think i can put the story together.
Here us my question.

Is there a fee to get some one to edit your story or is it based on you asking real nice for someone to donate their time?

Or am i better asking some one to take the idea and write it but then i think most of you are already bombarded with your own ideas and work so that may not be feasible.

I suggest you ask for a Beta reader or an editor, then send it to him/her.

 

[Lifestyle66]

Write your story using MS Word, then look through the story carefully for any blue dotted underline words or phrases. Word will tell you whether you have misplaced commas or hyphens.

This is a recommended first step to clear all of those Word suggestions before contacting an editor.

Also, avoid posting your first story to the "Loving Wives" category. There are trolls picking those stories to give 1-ratings and they leave hateful comments.

 

[SimonDoom]

Also, avoid posting your first story to the "Loving Wives" category. There are trolls picking those stories to give 1-ratings and they leave hateful comments.

Better advice, I think, is to read Tx Tall Tales article:https://literotica.com/s/love-your-readers-categories, which gives a great overview of how categories work, and then, after one has read it, make an informed decision.

It's true that some stories will tend to get lower scores in Loving Wives. But they may also get far more views and favorable comments as well, than if they were published elsewhere. Some authors may be willing to get a lower score and some bad comments if they know they are going to have more readers who like their story.

 

[karaline]

Lots of good advice here, but this is what i did.

I was unaware of the editors forum, so after emailing a few people on the volunteer editor list, and not hearing back, i put a note at the top of one of my stories and asked my readers. I had a fair few responses

a few years ago my most recent editor had a change of job, and no longer has the time. Instead i've gotten into the habit of putting my writing through text to speech software (free online) I can often hear if i've dropped misspelled or dropped words, or if there are commas missing.

Sometimes I miss the input from an editor -good ones are hard to find, but i find the process incredibly useful when it works

 

[Middleson]

I already have an idea of category I'm going to submit for. I just wasn't sure the process. Obviously as a member i can read the stories and im assuming there is a different tab to be able to submit a story for the mods to check and verify it fits within the guidelines set out.
Once I've composed the story would authors hangout be the appropriate spot for placing a request for a beta reader or editor to possibly read and critique before submitting?

 

[Winter_Fare]

Hi there, as far as submission of your work to the site, there's just uploading your story with a note to editor if you wish. It's our job to fit our own stories around the (sometimes vague) rules, they get rejected with a stern note if they don't meet guidelines and you can then edit and resubmit if you wish x

 

[Lifestyle66]

Better advice, I think, is to read Tx Tall Tales article:https://literotica.com/s/love-your-readers-categories,
It's true that some stories will tend to get lower scores in Loving Wives.

This is just silly advice. Better is, write your story. Period.

Be aware that some categories have peculiar residents; 'Loving Wives' is a good example and it makes sense to put this on top of such a list, but BDSM readers can also get ferocious when stories don't match their ideas of Safe, Sane and Consensual, lots of readers from most of the categories don't appreciate male to male (while female to female is often no problem at all), some writers have been told that you shouldn't defile your mother with anal sex, etc. etc... It is possible to turn off voting, comments, or anonymous comments specifically..

After posting my own questions about the responses I received in LW here in AH, I received one comment "Are we discussing that Loving Wives cesspool again?"

As a relatively new writer myself, I would caution any newer writer to avoid those areas which draw out the name-calling trolls. Be proactive and put a warning label on it.

 

[SimonDoom]

As a relatively new writer myself, I would caution any newer writer to avoid those areas which draw out the name-calling trolls. Be proactive and put a warning label on it.

I think it's a judgment call, but I basically agree with RubenR, and it comes down to the author's personal goals and risk tolerance. For instance, if you want to maximize the number of people who read your "hot wife" story and make it a favorite, the best place to publish it, probably, is Loving Wives, even though it will no doubt draw nasty comments and probably won't have a high score. I personally would rather have a story that gets a score of 4 and 100 favorites than a story that gets a score of 4.8 with 10 favorites. But we're all different.