background

[dececious]

Hey how much background do you guys like in your stories, do you like to build a character up, their looks, their reasons for being where they are, how they know each other, or do you prefer to get 'down to business' as it were, get the readers attention and then work your way along, throwing it titbits of information as you go.

I kind of feel that most people who are reading fiction for its er, stroke value want to get into the fun stuff as soon as possible, but I don't know, I kind of feel that some background is neccessary; I'm just not sure at the moment how much is too much.

D

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[CharleyH]

Hate background unless its going somewhere symbollically. Don't like to take 20 pages into the sex, which . . . after 20 pages is always a disappointment because it takes so god damn long to get there, if the point is sex. Otherwise, in intelligent lit - sure - got a point, intriguing, make it, get me hot - body and brain.

My dollar worth - no jokes! My american dollar worth - no joke - it dipped - ok - my euro.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I like a lot of background and write alot of background. My readers seem to enjoy it and I enjoy taking the time to build character and plot.

That said I only Write F/F stories and so my works probably don't appeal to a broad enough cross section of the readrship to take much from it.

-Colly

 

[Boxlicker101]

In most of my stories the characters get right to it. The first paragraph has some description and introduction; the second paragraph has the characters meting somewhere; the third paragraph has them undressing each other and in the fourth paragraph somebody is going down on somebody else. That's the most common type of story. Some of them have a lot of introduction and buildup, especially novellas or romance stories.

 

[dececious]

I dunno, I guess I'm just kind of stuck. My first story - which I'm still waiting on approval for, didn't have much background, I wanted the story to have the same unexpected feel as what the characters were going through, but I'm writing a follow up where things have moved on and it's just not working for me yet; maybe it's just that I'm not sufficiently motivated, I'm not sure. It just doesn't have the same flow yet, but I'm working on it.

A friend (actually, an ex, but thats another story) told me that he would have liked to read more background, but others who I've shown it to kind of liked the jumping straight in thing, I think the problem is I feel like if I want to continue to use these two characters they can't just go on being undeveloped as far as their looks and background goes, even if I'm not sure how much they truly need it.

D

 

[gauchecritic]

Ok. Here's the thing.

My first story on Lit. was a sex thing, a 'this is how to write a sex story' thing. It's called "Nice Work." I still like it. It has sex or obvious lead up to sex from the outset.

My last story "Abigail Slaughter" is about people, who they are and why they do the things they do, and is a 'this is how to write about people' story, rather than sex.

That is the difference between now and then. Funnily enough, as it turns out, my first story is about people and my last story is about sex.

Gauche

 

[miss_honeypot]

This is always a bit of a conundrum. Basically, I say, write how the story should be written. The characters, the plot and the flow of the story itself dictate how it should be written. Don't savage your story simply because you believe people will be turned off by a little bit of character development.

I just wrote a story (my first posted here) where there is one whole Literotica page of background, and the story has been a very big hit amongst readers. I figured that if readers didn't want to wade through it, then they could just fastfoward to the good bits...because I'm not going to change my story simply so people can masturbate after reading two paragraphs. Besides, I reckon the sex is hotter when you feel the characters, instead of just knowing their names and measurements.

Honey

 

[wishfulthinking]

Write what you want. If you like it, others might too. I think if you start catering to what other people might like (crowd-pleasing) you lose what makes this story yours.

Like Miss Mckenna said, we know how to skim read. And those looking for something more literally stimulating know how to back click .

Another author said to me, and I realise how right he is now, is that most of us start off writing stroke stories, and eventually writing stories with a bit of sex thrown in.

You can shoot me now for preaching.

 

[dececious]

Nah youre not preaching - don't worry about it.

Basically for me, writing stroke stuff is only one thing that I do, some of it I want people to see some of it I dont. I know there are other sites out there, but I like lit, and I kind of thing people have a special spot for well written stroke, I'm not saying that over time the sex element wont become less important to me, just saying that I've had experience with both already, and at the moment, Im really enjoying writing this way. Its a change for me, but a fun one.

D

 

[Dirt Man]

Hey how much background do you guys like in your stories, do you like to build a character up, their looks, their reasons for being where they are, how they know each other, or do you prefer to get 'down to business' as it were, get the readers attention and then work your way along, throwing it titbits of information as you go.

I kind of feel that most people who are reading fiction for its er, stroke value want to get into the fun stuff as soon as possible, but I don't know, I kind of feel that some background is neccessary; I'm just not sure at the moment how much is too much.

D

I think you already know the answers to your questions. This is just your way of introducing yourself to the AH crowd. That being the case, welcome to the hatchery.


As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[dececious]

It wasnt just for intro purposes dirtman, just suffering some writers block, really!
But thanks for the welcome anyway its much appeciated.

D

 

[Dirt Man]

It wasnt just for intro purposes dirtman, just suffering some writers block, really!
But thanks for the welcome anyway its much appeciated.

D

"Writer's Block"

We call it writer's block because it's the best way to describe our sudden inability to write anything understandable for more than 30 seconds at a time. How to get past this block could fill a library with novels. One way is to go and write about some other subject, and this often works. But there is a way that will work every time. I guarantee it.

It's called research. Real research gets your mind involved in the subject that you wish to write about better than anything else could. A day, or even just part of a day spent in the library reading articles about the subject that you want to write about eases the tension of unease that came about by not knowing exactly what the subject we wanted to write about entailed. Reading these articles insights touches all of our own weaknesses, and strengths hitting that button we call inspiration. Quite often words will leap to the forefront of our creativity during the research process. It is then that one needs to check out the books and magazines littered about them, and return home to continue writing our story. Research stirs up our innate empathy, and without empathy we wouldn't be able to write about anything, even those things that we know about. The brain doesn't like things to be unfinished. And if we get bogged down now we have the research material with us to continue inspiring us until we finish that story. You don't have to believe me, just give it a try. Oh, and by the way, the trip to the library, instead of getting the information off of the Internet is very much needed. For the change in atmosphere, being surrounded by all of those books, helps build a shield against the writer's block you acquired at home in the first place.

I don't normally tell people about this because I figure that if they are serious about their writing they will have already done the obvious, but since joining AH I have found that what is obvious to the professional writer isn't always obvious to those just getting started on their writing career, or those who have never submitted their work for publication yet.

To write good fiction, you must seek out real life first to imitate it properly. And articles in magazines, and non-fiction stimulate the creative centers of the brain, and make your fiction ring with the truth from your point of view. And this approach works every time that so called "Writer's Block," sets in.

As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[dececious]

"Writer's Block"

We call it writer's block because it's the best way to describe our sudden inability to write anything understandable for more than 30 seconds at a time. How to get past this block could fill a library with novels. One way is to go and write about some other subject, and this often works. But there is a way that will work every time. I guarantee it.

It's called research. As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

And there in lies one of the problems, the first story is based on a long reoccuring fantasy scenario involving a friend/co-worker whatever you want to call him, I finished my job and haven't been seeing him so am having trouble calling up exactly what would happen after getting past that bit.

I know, I know, if its based in fantasy then this really shouldn't be a problem, but it is.

Research has worked for me in the past, reading up on the internet is often all it takes, gives me a new POV on how things can proceed. However, for the kind of story that this will be, a different type of research altogether is required, far more fun, but also a little more difficult to come by.

whispers "hehe maybe one of my housemates is in for some 'research' of his own "

or maybe I just have to do a bunch of reading on lit to get me in that proper mindset.

D

 

[Ravishing]

Welcome dececious to AH & Lit.

Even if you've been here longer than myself.

~ Melting Ravishing ~

PS: I still say it's too damn hot and the rain should have continued.

 

[raphy]

I usually write as much background as is necessary for the story. If it's a straight stroke story, I probably won't put much in at all. People just want to get to the sex. For a longer story, you have to flesh out your characters, otherwise people won't care about them. I do it, however, in the same way as I put in the thread about descriptions - I release little bits and pieces as I write the story, because that's how you find out about people in real life.

I have to admit though, I think I also do it that way because I don't plan my characters beforehand. The snippets of background that 3-dimensionalize my characters get thrown in as I think of them whilst writing

 

[Weird Harold]

I usually write as much background as is necessary for the story. If it's a straight stroke story, I probably won't put much in at all. People just want to get to the sex. For a longer story, you have to flesh out your characters, otherwise people won't care about them.

Dececious, as Raphy and a couple of others have said, use as much background as the story requires.

My personal preference runs to stories that have enough "background" -- AKA character development -- so that I can care about who these people are and why they're having sex. I'm not fond of "Barbie does Ken" stories where faceless and nameless plastic people insert tab A into Slot B is some supposedly erotic manner.

I don't think every story needs to start with, "There was this grinding, pulsating pressure and then I was thrust out into a bright and cold place. To add insult to injury, I ws immediately hoisted by my heels and slapped on the ass, so I howled my outrage at the top of my lungs." -- That probably falls into the category of TMI (Too Much Information.)

Every story is different, but very few of them are improved by long blocks of background information when a bit here and a bit there throughout a story will let the reader get toknow a character in a more natural manner. In Real Life, we seldom get to know a person's history as soon as we meet them. We start with noticing memorable physical features, and over the course of time learn their name, discover their favorite drink, meet their evil twin, etc.

It is just more comfortable for the reader to learn about your characters in the same way because it seems natural and realistic.

Background tht doesn't relate to the action in your story shouldn't be included -- If the Evil Twin doesn't have a part in the story, it's probably not necessary to mention her.

 

[raphy]

Every story is different, but very few of them are improved by long blocks of background information when a bit here and a bit there throughout a story will let the reader get toknow a character in a more natural manner.

And you don't want to introduce your character by simply reeling off a background that reads like a personell department's factsheet.

 

[dececious]

And you don't want to introduce your character by simply reeling off a background that reads like a personell department's factsheet.

Hmm that gives me an idea for another story, using the personell department fact sheet, or a resume, its not out of the way for the story, but gives all the info heheh.

Actually, I hate having everything seem like its just in point form, I'd rather not even give a description if theres not 'room' for it. If it seems tacked on, its just not as good.

D

PS thank GOD its finally cooled down, I couldn't have taken another day of anything over 35C esp notwhen its getting WELL over that!