Taboo?

[FondMemories]

Is it bad form to write an actual experience, I have several erotic stories in my head, but the real one has always been the most exciting to me.

 

[KeithD]

The only caveat I can think about it is that you're very likely to regret it if you name actual names or make actual events too easy to recognize.

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

Always temember the names have been changed to protect the innocent... And not so innocent. There are lits if "real" stories on here. Are they real or Penthoyse Forum real? The world may never know.

 

[Bramblethorn]

IIRC, stories have been rejected before for claiming to be true - I presume Laurel was concerned about possible defamation from people mentioned. Probably best to change some of the details and call it "inspired by actual experience".

 

[IsItBad]

Is it bad form to write an actual experience, I have several erotic stories in my head, but the real one has always been the most exciting to me.

the hottest are reality. while many writers have a great imagination it is just always hotter to be talking about something real. after being married for years, my wife and i had taken to exchanging previously undisclosed sexual experiences (with other people). one day she wrote me about her college roommate who taught her how to masturbate. it was one of the hottest things i have ever read. it was 20+ years ago that my wife wrote that account to me and to this day i still have it and read it fairly often. so.....not it is GOOD form to write an actual experience. as others have mentioned, just make sure and don't implicate yourself or whoever else as you might be surprised to find your next door neighbor, or coworker, or relative are here on lit reading every word

 

[8letters]

Is it bad form to write an actual experience, I have several erotic stories in my head, but the real one has always been the most exciting to me.

The "actual experience" stories I've read have been boring. I think it's because the author is so intent on putting down what happened that they do a terrible job of providing context for it. When you're writing fiction, it's easier to force yourself to properly introduce each character and to spell out their motivations at each step.

 

[yowser]

The "actual experience" stories I've read have been boring. I think it's because the author is so intent on putting down what happened that they do a terrible job of providing context for it. When you're writing fiction, it's easier to force yourself to properly introduce each character and to spell out their motivations at each step.

I find this to be accurate. It all depends on the narrator's ability to tell a story.

I had a friend who could go to the grocery store and come back, describe what occurred and it was a story, usually with humor or pathos, and riveting. He could make a story about even trivial events. I think we all know good story tellers in our lives. It is not just description (and standard journalistic practices for sexual narration probably won't be that exciting) there has to be some movement and a reason for the reader to care about what went on.

I think we all also know people in our lives who can talk about some huge event (earthquake, hurricane, their last copulation) and make it boring. The trick is in the narration.

 

[oggbashan]

Taboo? Don't write any taboo stories for the Taboo/Incest category.

The readers expect incest between close relations. Anything else gets abuse.

 

[KeithD]

I would estimate that nearly half of my stories are inspired from something from my real life. Usually it's just a small piece of something. I rarely use real life in the story for much of the story though (I have a few who hit close) just as a inspiration point for a fictional version.

If I included something I read or saw or heard as part of my real life (which I believe they do become), then nearly all of my stories come out of a real-life nugget.

 

[FondMemories]

Cool, I will take all that under advisement, it has been decades and my mind has probably embellished it somewhat. Changing names is easy as she was married at the time probably a good idea. As for the boring part, we will see how I do. As our most erotic moments are 80% mental, what was going on in my mind while the physicality was happening was a major component.

 

[Cobaltofdark]

Is it bad form to write an actual experience, I have several erotic stories in my head, but the real one has always been the most exciting to me.

Do it doesnt have to be labeled real draw from experience

 

[jsmiam]

Being interesting to you might lead to you writing a better story. Perhaps that’s a better focus to take.

And no reason or rule or expectation exists for you to disclose that it’s real. In fact, I even suggest not saying that. You’ll know.

And for caution (and courtesy), change details to further anonymize the story. It’s the polite thing to do. Good luck

 

[EarlyMorningLight]

A great deal of my writing is semi-autobiographical, and I label it as such. Personally, I find that drawing from multiple experiences and extrapolating/embellishing here and there leads to the best results. You can convey the heart of an experience without being beholden to every detail. And because real life is often more oblique or meandering than fiction, bending or augmenting the truth gives you the ability to turn an experience into a narrative.

For me, I start with the core truth I want to pull out of an experience and work to preserve it, even as the details shift.

 

[ElectricBlue]

For me, I start with the core truth I want to pull out of an experience and work to preserve it, even as the details shift.

That's my philosophy too. Every one of my stories, even the most fanciful, has at least one something hard anchored in truth, and I think readers spot that (even if subconsciously), and they're prepared to suspend a million miles of disbelief, however fanciful the rest of the story may be.

 

[EarlyMorningLight]

That's my philosophy too. Every one of my stories, even the most fanciful, has at least one something hard anchored in truth, and I think readers spot that (even if subconsciously), and they're prepared to suspend a million miles of disbelief, however fanciful the rest of the story may be.

Absolutely. Often, a good starting point is to ask yourself “what did the characters gain from this experience? How did it change them?” It helps to clarify which details and story beats are essential.

 

[SimonDoom]

There's nothing wrong with drawing upon your personal experience for your stories, but a few thoughts:

1. The generally prohibits stories that expressly advertise themselves as being about a real event. I think the concern is the risk of libeling or exposing a real person without their consent.

2. I tend to agree with 8Letters. Most stories that describe themselves this way are less fun. My recommendation is to get rid of the "This really happened to me" gloss and just jump into the story. You will have the enjoyment of knowing you are writing about something that really happened to you, but most readers won't care.

 

[tristantrotsky]

I would estimate that nearly half of my stories are inspired from something from my real life. Usually it's just a small piece of something. I rarely use real life in the story for much of the story though (I have a few who hit close) just as a inspiration point for a fictional version.

If I included something I read or saw or heard as part of my real life (which I believe they do become), then nearly all of my stories come out of a real-life nugget.

All creative writing should be authenticated by real experience and genuine emotional responses.
That is not to say that every fictional detail should be true in a literal sense, just that it should draw on a certain element of truth...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Things in your life are bound to inspire your writing but to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth makes for a boring story. Yes, there are a lot of stories here claiming to be about someone's real life event(s) yet most are just fiction, while those that might be are boring for someone looking for a good fictional story.

Just write it. Don't advertise that it's a real life experience and change the names so even those who took part wouldn't know it was about them or you.

I myself have written about people, places, and things that occurred in my life, yet I have never told the entire truth about those things. They may have been exciting for me at the time but when I look back at them from where I am now, I see that I would have to embellish them so much to make them interesting that they are far from being a true to life event.

 

[KeithD]

All creative writing should be authenticated by real experience and genuine emotional responses.
That is not to say that every fictional detail should be true in a literal sense, just that it should draw on a certain element of truth...

Well, no, that's just your personal opinion. Truly creative writing goes well beyond that.