What makes a good CHYOO story? Plz read & contribute

What makes a good CHYOO story?

I think it would be useful to create a list of rules and bits of advice for new writers/editors or just people who want to hone their skills. There are qualities that make for a good story, things that draw the reader in or make the writer want to contribute. What I'm thinking is that we, as a group, might all work together to form such a list and then submit it to the CHYOO webmasters as something to post on the site, something from the users to the users.

What we need here is not stuff like "always include a lesbian scene" or "we need more celebrity fantasies". This shouldn't be about what our favorite turn-ons are, because we would never come to consensus on that and who would want to? This is about things that apply to any story.

Here's a preliminary little list I've worked up:


THINGS THAT APPLY TO THE STORY AS A WHOLE:

1: Follow the rules set by CHYOO. It's their site, and they have final say.

2: Do a little reading before doing any writing. Be aware of what's already been done. If you want to do something again that's already here, go ahead, but better to do something new and fresh.

3: Make an effort to use proper English. Don't make your readers wade through a morass of bad grammar and creative spelling to get to the story underneath.

4: Do not use underage characters. It is improper, disgusting, and morally wrong to do so, and against CHYOO's rules besides. We are not pedophiles, nor do we want anything to do with those who are.

5: When it comes to sex, describe in detail. That is what we are here for.


THINGS THAT APPLY TO THE FIRST THREAD:

1: The first thread is the key to the story. It sets the tone, creates the scene, grabs the reader's attention, and entices the writer to contribute. Put some effort into it. Don't just dash something off in two minutes and expect it to be any good.

2: Make it long. Describe the characters and the setting, and make sure to clearly demonstrate what the story's plot is to be. Don't leave your readers wondering where you're going with it.

3: The first choice is vitally important. The choices leading off from it should each lead to an interesting storyline. It shouldn't be a yes/no question where the answer is obviously "yes" because "no" would mean the end of the story.

4: Follow up the first thread with more from your own hand. It's your story, after all, and if you don't submit to it, who will?

5: While it is not necessary to include sex in the leading thread, it is generally best to lead the story in that direction from moment one.


WHEN SUBMITTING THREADS TO OTHERS:

1: Read their guidelines before you submit. It will save headaches all around.

2: Use the same tense and point of view as the rest of the story.

3: Write a decently long submission. A single sentence is not a thread.

4: Be aware of what has happened in the threads leading up to yours. Do not contradict what has already been written.

5: If your thread sits for months without approval or rejecton, do the rest of us a favor and report that story as "dead".


GENERAL ADVICE:

1: The best stories seem to be ones that are about something besides sex. Develop a plot. It doesn't have to be a very believable or involved plot, but something is better than nothing.

2: When threads are submitted to your story, take the time to read them and ensure that they will fit properly. Being the editor is more than being a button-pusher. It's your story, be in charge of it. Most importantly, if you do reject a thread, be sure to tell the author why.

3: Review and rate other people's threads, especially ones you like. We all like to receive praise.

4: We have a polite, friendly, mutually respectful community here. Do not be a jerk. Those who are find out very quickly that they are not welcome around here.

5: Have fun with it! That's what this place is for.



Does anyone have anything to add? Does anyone disagree with what I've suggested? Is anyone besides me naked right now?

Peace, love, and bagels,

Naked too.

Very well said Gystex. I think those are all very good rules to follow. I have only one more thing to add. You seem to have covered ALL the bases.

My thought.

Chyoo is a site designed for interactive stories. It is said in the name itself. Choose Your Own O. When writing a story or even a thread, think about the reader. They like the option to pick the direction of the story. If they wanted a linear story they'd be on the Literotica site. My advice is, do not write the WHOLE story or TOO much of the story in a thread or two. My general rule is to keep a thread between 400 to 600 words. I have approved larger ones and I have approved shorter ones. In the world of Chyoo you MUST let the reader drive the story and allow for choices.

Understand what I mean? In one thread, do not move from situation to situation to situation. Let the reader choose how to get to each one.

Or, if you wish to write a story that does not allow for many options maybe a short warning before the introduction would be great. There is the option to create a "closed" storyline.

Any thoughts?

I think Gystex has done a great job creating this list.

-Tim (niceguy2002tim)

I think that covers everything. I'd like to think that Rock Festival is a decent first opening thread for a story, it's a decent length, gives a good introduction to the three main characters and leaves the reader/writer with various options at the end of a thread.

As for thread length I tend to for a page and a half, as I agree with Niceguy that the emphasis should be on the reader deciding what happens next rather than the writer including evey single option in their threads. I think if a thread is too long it can be an issue as well, I've written seveal threads, which are far too long.

I think the summary above is perfect as a set of introductory rules, and I agree with Tim that keeping the threads between 400 to 600 words and keeping plenty of options open is the best way to construct a Chyoo story.

I see far too many stories that are only heading in one direction, and would be really hard to add to as the author has one ending in mind when writting the story. The flip side of it is a bunch of 50 to 100 word threads tied together with no story at all, no descriptive sex, and no real idea as to where it is heading. Both of these types of stories are no fun to contribute to.

Keep this thread at the top of the list as it is an excellent guide for writing on Chyoo.

Thanks for taking the time to document it.

Again, gystex offered a nice summary. So I guess I'll just ramble a little...

3: The first choice is vitally important. The choices leading off from it should each lead to an interesting storyline. It shouldn't be a yes/no question where the answer is obviously "yes" because "no" would mean the end of the story.

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On a semi-related note, all choices do not have to be on the "pick one of those" model. As an example, when a character walks out of his home, he is not always wondering "if he should go to the mall, the arena, the library or the supermarket". Sometimes, he can just walk out the door and, in the following thread, decide to go to a place/bump into someone he knows/be struck by lightning/whatever. You have to find a good balance between "restrictive" choices and very open continuing questions.

4: Follow up the first thread with more from your own hand. It's your story, after all, and if you don't submit to it, who will?

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Write first and foremost for yourself while trying to keep it interesting for others (of course). If your sole interest is seeing what others come up with, read stories, do not waste time writing your own. Working on a story you are unhappy with will eventually kill it and burn you out.

1: Read their guidelines before you submit. It will save headaches all around.

2: Use the same tense and point of view as the rest of the story.

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YES. YES. YES.

5: If your thread sits for months without approval or rejecton, do the rest of us a favor and report that story as "dead".

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But before doing that, try to contact the editor (click on his/her name on the story's first page). Maybe they just missed the automated "thread awaiting approval" e-mail.

2: When threads are submitted to your story, take the time to read them and ensure that they will fit properly. Being the editor is more than being a button-pusher. It's your story, be in charge of it. Most importantly, if you do reject a thread, be sure to tell the author why.

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I am *almost* certain you are now required to add a comment to a thread before the rejection is processed. But yes, at least tell the writer if it is a "permanent" reject or if there are just a few things to work out (verb tense, as an example).

Is anyone besides me naked right now?

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Why am I disturbed by the mental picture of gystex wishing me peace, love and bagels while bare naked?

Bunga

Thanks

Gystex has done a wonderful job and the rest of you have added very insightful tidbits.

I agree with everyone in that the threads should be long, and descriptive. Don't be afraid to reject a story, or modify it a bit to fit within your guidelines. I recently had a submission to a story that was really short. I kept the thread, but added much more detail to the thread to lengthen it. I then added comments at the bottom to the writer to encourage him to write further along these lines.

Don't get upset if someone rejects a thread... just hone your writing to their style... or move on.

I get a lot of pleasure from great hooks at the ends of threads, leading the reader into many different possibilities as opposed to just a list of choices, or a blanket... What's next? question after they had sex.

Lastly, don't be afraid to write closing threads if you feel the storyline has come to a logical end.

An excellent topic

Gystex and company nailed this so totally on the head! I can think of only... one more thing to add.

I agree with everyone in that the threads should be long, and descriptive. Don't be afraid to reject a story, or modify it a bit to fit within your guidelines. I recently had a submission to a story that was really short. I kept the thread, but added much more detail to the thread to lengthen it. I then added comments at the bottom to the writer to encourage him to write further along these lines.

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I must commend Gystex for doing this, as my first attempt at a thread other than my own was... poor.

Also, don't be afraid to wait to take action. I've got three pending threads that I don't really care where they're taking the story. So until I get better or decide what to do with them, they're on hold indefinitely. I know that's kinda rude and I don't like to do it, but I'm at a loss for ideas right now.

EDIT: I thought of something I felt I had to add. Questions. I think we've already established that it's best to keep them as open as possible, but another factor to consider is the timing of of your question.

An example from one of my own CHYOO ideas:

Your character, a lesbian, walks in on your lover cheating on you with a man. You walk to vent your frustrations and find an old stoppered glass bottle.

When I first thought of this idea I thought this would be a good point for a question, something along the lines of "How do you open the bottle?" Leaving the likely choices of pulling the stopper or breaking the bottle. Now this being a cliched genie in the bottle plot, either choice would work, but in the end I decided to save the question for after the genie was released, because either choice ended in that common ground. The three wishes section, while also cliched, allows for a much more varied response with more impact to the flow of the story.

But the bottle question could have been equally as important. Perhaps by uncorking the bottle you get your three wishes and the genie and bottle vanish, whereas by breaking the bottle the genie is permantly free to have a greater impact on the story.

So to summarize! The timing and responses of your question should help move your story in a significant direction!

Anyway that's my peice on that!

List to be sent to webmasters

Hey all,

Having taken the advice of those who offered it, I have re-vamped the list and sent it to the webmasters. Here it is in its final form:

THINGS THAT APPLY TO THE STORY AS A WHOLE:

* Follow the rules set by CHYOO. It's their site, and they have final say.

* Do a little reading before doing any writing. Be aware of what's already been done. If you want to do something again that's already here, go ahead, but better to do something new and fresh.

* Make an effort to use proper English. Don't make your readers wade through a morass of bad grammar and creative spelling to get to the story underneath.

* Do not use underage characters. It is improper, disgusting, and morally wrong to do so, and against CHYOO's rules besides. We are not pedophiles, nor do we want anything to do with those who are.

* When it comes to sex, describe in detail. That is what we are here for.



THINGS THAT APPLY TO THE FIRST THREAD:

* The first thread is the key to the story. It sets the tone, creates the scene, grabs the reader's attention, and entices the writer to contribute. Put some effort into it. Don't just dash something off in two minutes and expect it to be any good.

* Make it long. Describe the characters and the setting, and make sure to clearly demonstrate what the story's plot is to be. Don't leave your readers wondering where you're going with it.

* On the other hand, don't tell the entire story in one thread. The introductory thread is just that, an introduction.

* The first choice is vitally important. The choices leading off from it should each lead to an interesting storyline. It shouldn't be a yes/no question where the answer is obviously "yes" because "no" would mean the end of the story.

* Follow up the first thread with more from your own hand. It's your story, after all, and if you don't submit to it, who will?

* While it is not necessary to include sex in the leading thread, it is generally best to lead the story in that direction from moment one.



WHEN SUBMITTING THREADS TO OTHERS:

* Read their guidelines before you submit. It will save headaches all around.

* Contact editors before submitting threads. They may be gone, and there's no point in writing a thread that will never be accepted or rejected due to te editor's absence.

* Use the same tense and point of view as the rest of the story.

* Write a decently long submission. A single sentence is not a thread.

* Be aware of what has happened in the threads leading up to yours. Do not contradict what has already been written.

* Leave a good hook if you want your thread to be followed up on. Remember, this is about choices. Don't end your thread with only a single logical path to follow at the end, make sure there is a crossroads.

* Alternately, if you feel you have reached a termination point, feel free to end the story. The editor can re-open the thread if he/she does not want it to end there.

* If your thread is rejected, do not become upset or agitated. It may simply not have been what the editor had in mind. Move on to another story if one editor ticks you off, there are plenty of them to choose from.



GENERAL ADVICE:

* Write threads in some other application like Notepad, Wordpad, etc. and then copy-paste them into CHYOO. If you try to write them directly into CHYOO, you could be timed out and lose your thread.

* When dealing with name insertion, the proper way to display the name in the story is {FIRST_NAME} for the first name and {LAST_NAME} for the last name. Be certain to use all caps and the proper punctuation, it is important.

* It is best to double-space between paragraphs. This will make your thread more readable.

* Write for yourself, not the editor or the readers. Write about what turns YOU on. You'll suffer from burnout if you try to please others above yourself.

* The best stories seem to be ones that are about something besides sex. Develop a plot. It doesn't have to be a very believable or involved plot, but something is better than nothing.

* When threads are submitted to your story, take the time to read them and ensure that they will fit properly. Being the editor is more than being a button-pusher. It's your story, be in charge of it. Most importantly, if you do reject a thread, be sure to tell the author why.

* Review and rate other people's threads, especially ones you like. We all like to receive praise.

* We have a polite, friendly, mutually respectful community here. Do not be a jerk. Those who are find out very quickly that they are not welcome around here.

* Have fun with it! That's what this place is for.


Let's see if they like it.

Cheers,

Well Said!!

I support your views and hope someone listens and implements.

We have a new author asking for advice, so I'm contributing to bounce up Gystex's fine advice to the top.

-Z

Zingiber said:

We have a new author asking for advice, so I'm contributing to bounce up Gystex's fine advice to the top.

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Allow me, six months on, to do the same. Good stuff here.

captain captain captain seventy three