Author's Notes

[carsonshepherd]

Same here. I'm posting nude pictures on LJ when I should be writing this sex scene.

I went and looked. Me like

 

[JamesSD]

Needless to say, I stopped reading right then even though the story had about a million more chapters.

Wow, you're harsh.

I read for plot, so the occasional screwed up detail doesn't phase me. But I'm not really a details kind of guy.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Wow, you're harsh.

I read for plot, so the occasional screwed up detail doesn't phase me. But I'm not really a details kind of guy.

yeah well, life is short. And the plot was lame, too.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Only if you're into that type of thing.

And you are... right?

 

[entitled]

And you are... right?

sssshhhh... That was supposed to be our little secret.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Only if you're into that type of thing.

Meh, only if I'm being gangbanged by bmx bikers and that hardly ever happens anymore.

I went and looked. Me like

Omg, he's such a well-endowed little whore, I him.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Other than my stock "All characters are over 18" disclaimer...this is the only note I have written...for some reason it seemed important, at least to me...

A note from the Author;

In this chapter, and in the last couple of chapters I have introduced some Lakota culture into this story. All of it is accurate as far as I can tell, I have done a lot of research into their culture during the writing of this story, and I am not trying to trivialize, or sensationalize their beliefs. If I have offended any members of the Lakota, or any members of the Great Sioux Nation, I most humbly apologize here and now. It has never been my intent to make a mockery of things that some people hold to be sacred. I encourage anyone who has read, and enjoyed these stories to do some more reading on the heritage of the Lakota. This chapter is dedicated to the memory of Tatanka Yotanka, and Tashunka-Uitco, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse, two great men, and leaders whose only crime was to try to protect their homes, their way of life, and their people. This is also dedicated to the memory of the people who died at the massacre at Wounded Knee.

 

[rgraham666]

I always start off my stories with a little blurb, usually self effacing, a thank you to my editors and proofers, and a beg for votes and comments.

Hasn't seemed to hurt me so far.

Once, when all this stuff got too long, I put some stuff at the end, so as not to have the reader waste too much time away from the story.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I'll tack anything I find pertinent into an author's note. From those who helped with the work, to crediting the people on the story ideas forum if it came from there, to a note about content. Obviously, I write mostly to one genre, if I go outside it, I usually include an author's note. I know it should be obvious by cat, but cat dosen't show when its pulled from the new list.

I think an author's note is just that, a heads up or a thank you or some pertinent information the author wishes to provide that is outside the story.

As to facts, I research heavily. I did, in one story leave an author's note on word usage and asked my readers to let me know if there was a better word. But I had searched extensively and couldn't find one.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'd almost forgotten, on my Halloween contest entry I included a not at the beginning telling readers the story was nothing like the fun sex stories I usually write. I have some fans who expect a certain type of smut from me and I didn't want to shock them too much.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I leave author's notes whenever they seem appropriate. Due to the limits of Lit's category system, I feel readers should be alerted if a story contains elements some might find distasteful.

Mix & Match was, intentionally, a multi-categoy story which was placed, after consulting with Laurel, in Erotic Couplings. I opened with this note:
This is a work of fiction (no, really?) that contains elements of: incest, group sex, interracial love, anal, lesbian sex, and romance. You have been warned.

IMHO, if a story has no sex, but is not in Non-Erotic, it makes sense to let readers know up front, especially for a contest entry such as, The Belle of Catawba Street, which I put in Humor instead of Non-Erotic:
Warning: This story has NO, I say again, NO, sex. It does have KKK wannabe's, the "N" word, a cross burning, and a vicious dog attack. Oh yeah, it's supposed to be funny.

All that said, I totally agree with Carson. If a writer won't take the time to do a little research, why should I that the time to read their stuff?

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Varian P]

If I make a bold forray into unknown category territory, such as incest or group, where readers might be expecting a happy go-lucky romp rather than a depraved non-consent story, I suppress my sadistic tendencies and offer a warning.

 

[hugo_sam]

I leave author's notes whenever they seem appropriate. Due to the limits of Lit's category system, I feel readers should be alerted if a story contains elements some might find distasteful.

Mix & Match was, intentionally, a multi-categoy story which was placed, after consulting with Laurel, in Erotic Couplings. I opened with this note:
This is a work of fiction (no, really?) that contains elements of: incest, group sex, interracial love, anal, lesbian sex, and romance. You have been warned.

IMHO, if a story has no sex, but is not in Non-Erotic, it makes sense to let readers know up front, especially for a contest entry such as, The Belle of Catawba Street, which I put in Humor instead of Non-Erotic:
Warning: This story has NO, I say again, NO, sex. It does have KKK wannabe's, the "N" word, a cross burning, and a vicious dog attack. Oh yeah, it's supposed to be funny.

All that said, I totally agree with Carson. If a writer won't take the time to do a little research, why should I that the time to read their stuff?

Rumple Foreskin

I always thank my editors and those who's guidence has been essential.
That is only polite, courteous and deserved.
I generally say something about background readability since most of my stuff is multi-chapter. I have written a couple of stand alones, that were related to other stories, that I advised were readable without the older works
IMHO.

 

[Guest]

Same here. I'm posting nude pictures on LJ when I should be writing this sex scene.

Is all right, your friends like naakt pixtures

 

[wishfulthinking]

omg, am I the only one who is really really guilty of this? I mean reeeaallly guilty

2 that come most readily to mind are:

Authors note: please ignore the authors note at the end of Ch.04 where I said Marie was Leonn’s jealous and neglected mistress. I’ve since changed my mind. : )

Originally she was his mistress. She ended up his dad's second wife. Shit happens. My readers applauded my decision.

Please note: there have been some artistic licence taken with the conversations between Carly and Miriam to ease the flow of the story.

When I say artistic license, I mean I sort changed the conversations in the previous 2 chapters. No one said boo.

I think authors notes are a tool that should be effectively used [unlike me].

Perhaps Mr Corvette should have kept his mouth shut. You reached the end before back clicking, didn't you?

 

[MichelleLovesTo]

Corvette guy would only bug me a little. I'd allow him the dramatic license, but he would have been smart to label it such, instead of admitting to shoddy research.

Writers change geography all the time when writing about a real place or town. There was a vampire novella set in a town around here, and the author chose to move a particular lake closer to the town.

 

[carsonshepherd]

omg, am I the only one who is really really guilty of this? I mean reeeaallly guilty

2 that come most readily to mind are:

[/i]

Originally she was his mistress. She ended up his dad's second wife. Shit happens. My readers applauded my decision.



When I say artistic license, I mean I sort changed the conversations in the previous 2 chapters. No one said boo.

I think authors notes are a tool that should be effectively used [unlike me].

Perhaps Mr Corvette should have kept his mouth shut. You reached the end before back clicking, didn't you?

Actually, wishful, since you are posting what are essentially drafts, you have to do this. You can't go back and edit already-posted stories to reflect this change. Well, you could but it would make no sense to do so. These are the things we change in rewrites, if we ever do them. And if you're like me you don't know what's going to happen at the end when you start writing the story, so you can't lead up to it.

As far as the Corvette, the story was very short, and lame enough that any excuse would've made me stop reading it.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Corvette guy would only bug me a little. I'd allow him the dramatic license, but he would have been smart to label it such, instead of admitting to shoddy research.

Writers change geography all the time when writing about a real place or town. There was a vampire novella set in a town around here, and the author chose to move a particular lake closer to the town.

Yeah, artistic license is fine. But not bad research.

 

[elsol]

I don't even like to give 'good' descriptions.

Disclaimers make me stop reading... even when they are disclaimers in the 'description'...

"The first few chapters don't have sex in it... but I promise it gets hotter later."

You're telling me you KNEW there was a problem with the story being slow at the beginning... not 'sex' slow, but slow.

Trust yourself or do it better.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[Boxlicker101]

I don't even like to give 'good' descriptions.

Disclaimers make me stop reading... even when they are disclaimers in the 'description'...

"The first few chapters don't have sex in it... but I promise it gets hotter later."

You're telling me you KNEW there was a problem with the story being slow at the beginning... not 'sex' slow, but slow.

Trust yourself or do it better.

Sincerely,
ElSol

I see nothing wrong in reading or writing a disclaimer if it says something about the nature of the story, especially warning about negatives, such as violence or incest, etc. All celeb stories include disclaimers.