Can I find an author that will help me?

[Sultry23]

I feel like my “rough draft” is more of a prewrite. It’s all summary with little scene and I can’t seem to stick to an ending or idea. I give up 400 words in. I’m really struggling but I can do this and want to.

(If anyone wants to help) Main problems:
I suck with words. When I say something, my friend can come up with something beyond 3rd grade. I think part of it is I write fast instead of deliberate.

I don’t include dialogue unless I remind myself and I don’t write any internal thoughts (should we in 3rd?). Description is minimal too. So my writing is X did this. X did that. Is this something that I just have to edit out at the beginning?

My writing is really short. I think it is. I’ve never finished a piece so let me update when I do.

 

[THBGato]

You can include internal thoughts in 3rd person BUT it might be better to show them.

E.g. She shuffled from side to suide, as if her clothes were uncomfortable, as a pink blush spread over her cheeks.

That might be more effective simple stating "she was embarrassed". Others may disagree.

I shouldn't worry too much about vocabulary range. If you write characters that are like you and the people you know, then having them speak like you will be fine. But learning to include dialogue is fairly crucial.

My advice would be to read, read and read. Read the top lists in the genre(s) you are interested in. Note what the writers do and try to immitate.

Good luck!

 

[AlinaX]

Whenever you find yourself avoiding dialogue, think carefully about how you can rewrite the scene to make dialogue the heart of it. If you're afraid of dialogue, the reader will sense it. So it's best to dive in, and do your best to make it playful or passionate.

For sentence structure, try to avoid settling into a repetitive rhythm. Repetition gets noticed quickly, and so it can be a powerful tool, but only when used deliberately, for example, in a rule of three. ("I told him this, I told him that, but did he do what I told him? No.")

 

[StillStunned]

I feel like my “rough draft” is more of a prewrite. It’s all summary with little scene and I can’t seem to stick to an ending or idea. I give up 400 words in. I’m really struggling but I can do this and want to.

(If anyone wants to help) Main problems:
I suck with words. When I say something, my friend can come up with something beyond 3rd grade. I think part of it is I write fast instead of deliberate.

I don’t include dialogue unless I remind myself and I don’t write any internal thoughts (should we in 3rd?). Description is minimal too. So my writing is X did this. X did that. Is this something that I just have to edit out at the beginning?

My writing is really short. I think it is. I’ve never finished a piece so let me update when I do.

Writing can be a long, slow process. If you find yourself just writing, "This happened, then that," stop and take your time. Write one sentence. Then think about what's happening in that one sentence. Picture it in your mind, in the tiniest detail. Then write it out in full.

For instance: "She stepped into the room and sat down."

Is she coming through an alcove or a door? Does she have to open the door first? Does she close it behind her, or leave it open? Does it swing shut by itself? What's her mood when she comes in? Does she look happy, angry, hurried, sad? In what way? Where does she sit down: on the sofa, on the windowsill, at the table? Does she glide over the floor, or stamp across it? And for erotica specifically: is there any naked flesh on display?

"The door was thrown open and she stalked in. Glaring at me, chest heaving, she stopped and slammed the door closed behind her. The skin of her chest showing above her blouse was flushed an angry red. She muttered something beneath her breath, then looked away from me and strode towards the table. For the first time I noticed the papers in her hand as she flung them down and sat on one of the chairs. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

To be a writer, I think, you have to think of your story as a scenic journey, not a commute. You're not trying to get to your destination as fast as you can. You want to take in the views, smell the roses, step in the dog crap and smile at the pretty ladies you meet.

 

[Rob_Royale]

My writing is really short. I think it is. I’ve never finished a piece so let me update when I do.

See now this is the key. It's fine to be where you're at. Pick one story you are the most passionate about, and keep on it until it's done.

Your current step sounds like an outline of sorts, which is a good step. Then go back in and flesh out each scene, one at a time. Add dialogue and then descriptions a little at a time as the story unfolds. Later as you edit, you'll spot parts where a little more description is needed or a little inner dialogue.

This is very much how my first attempts at writing started out. Once you get that first one under your belt you understand how a story is supposed to look and feel, and you just start writing that way, without needing to take it in steps.

 

[Phos]

This following reply acts as an answer to your question by example.

The best advice is read. However, of course I'm here to provide you with unorthodox feedback, so keep reading. The goal is for your brain to get data of vocabulary and good sounding English. Therefore, not only read, but listen. This dude called Exurb1a on YouTube is perfect. The way his videos are formulated are beautiful. Generally speaking, you won't be applying Socrates to Literotica, but it's still useful to understand how you'd formulate a sentence. Besides gathering information, here's my proper advice and feedback as an emerging author of a novel.

X did this, X did that- that's exactly how one would write. However, here's the simple thought. Imagine how you'd go about it in real life. EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY. You Think- Who, What When, Where, Why, and How.

Do not write "bob walked into a room." You go- The footsteps did not echo in the tall walls of the Lord's palace. The floors were lavishly carpeted in red velvet, upon which bob treaded. His leather boots accompanied long, flowing purple robes, as he strutted to the throne. Upon the throne sat the Lord wearing his gold robes- Luscious, intricate patterns flowing down fine silk, teh fabric glowing in all its glory.
Who? Check. Wearing what? Check. Where? Check. Clothes, walls, facial features. Describe your imagination that you have as someone who wants to write.

I've written so much, but I still could elaborate on the why, when, how, and that would take up even more space. There's so much to write about. Do not ignore the process. Release teh details of your thoughts onto paper.

Learn to get caught up in the details, let your imagination flood the paper without restraint, unleash the blissful nature of creativity that we know flourishes in your human mind. Expose it, to the world. Expose it, my friend.

 

[TheLobster]

You want to take in the views, smell the roses, step in the dog crap and smile at the pretty ladies you meet.

My advice, however, would be to wipe the crap off your shoes before you start flirting with the ladies. They might smell your bullshit.

 

[StillStunned]

My advice, however, would be to wipe the crap off your shoes before you start flirting with the ladies. They might smell your bullshit.

Are you kidding? That's the perfect beginning for a story right there!

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Two things:

1. There is no "volunteer co-author" culture at Literotica, but there are volunteer editors who love to help beginning writers. You can find out about it here: https://literotica.com/faq/volunteer-editor-program
   I suspect you can find someone there who can coach you on the things you're insecure about.
2. There is one way I know of to get better at the craft of writing. It's the same as any other craft: you do something over and over until you're skilled, and you get feedback on your work. Famous fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson wrote 7 complete novels before he sold one. Can you imagine the hours he put in writing 7 books before anyone outside his writer's workshop ever read any of them? So, if you want to learn to write dialog, write some and put it in front of eyes. My Writing Group colleague, Annie, wrote an entire story, "Coffee With Blushes", just to practice dialog writing. She admits that it isn't perfect ... but she's better at dialog now. As a bonus, she got characters out of it that she liked, who will be appearing in sequels.

I hope that helps.

-Rocco

 

[Whanmore]

Main problems:
I suck with words. When I say something, my friend can come up with something beyond 3rd grade. I think part of it is I write fast instead of deliberate.

I don’t include dialogue unless I remind myself and I don’t write any internal thoughts (should we in 3rd?). Description is minimal too. So my writing is X did this. X did that. Is this something that I just have to edit out at the beginning?

It honestly sounds like you need to read more. Try reading different authors of both erotica and non-erotica. It can help you find a voice and identify a style of writing you like. Readers make good writers.

 

[Rob_Royale]

It honestly sounds like you need to read more. Try reading different authors of both erotica and non-erotica. It can help you find a voice and identify a style of writing you like. Readers make good writers.

^^^^This^^^^

 

[TheRedChamber]

The single best thing I can say to you is...finish a story.

It doesn't matter how short or how bad it is. It doesn't matter, for now, if there's not a single line of dialogue in it. Don't stop to second guess how you are writing. Plot, if you need to plot. Then sit down and write your fantasy.

Once you've finished, ask for someone to look over it. (Consider this an offer from myself but depending on the category and kinks there may be someone better). Then you can take what you've written and potentially make it a bit better. Not perfect, but a bit better.

Then write another one. And that other one will be just a little bit better again (in all likelyhood).

But if you never get your stories to the stage where they can be meaningfully read by someone else, you're never going to actually improve.

 

[dadadadiox]

As an exercise, I would suggest writing only scenes with dialogue for a a short time, maybe a week, and do it every day. Writing is like a muscle. The more you exercise the stronger it gets. Don’t set the scene or describe anything. Simply construct a conversation between two characters. Then write a scene with three characters. Do scenes of people flirting and scenes of them fighting. Bring their emotions out with words spoken.

Do the same exercise with descriptive writing. Create a place in your mind you’d like to visit then describe the details. Then write another place, maybe a disgusting house that’s filthy and run down.

Repeat this with descriptions of characters, all the physical attributes but also their personality and mannerisms.

Go the extremes in both scene writing and descriptive; positive and negative, happy and sad, beautiful and unattractive, angry and elated, good people and horrible.

Then you put it all together in a scene where you describe the place, people, and mix dialogue in between descriptive paragraphs. Never do one style for too long, like a whole page.

It took me fifteen years to feel comfortable enough to publish a story to Literotica. I was insecure about my writing but I enjoyed the process and never stopped writing.

I have well over 100 chapters here and I still feel insecure, always judging my work harshly and beating myself up for the dumb choices I’ve made or mistakes I missed and published. Sometimes I have to remind myself I’m just an amateur… a hobbyist.

Everything I suggested is what I do today. I write far more words that will never be read by another person than words I’ve published. It’s not even close. I look at it as on going training. It helps that I love to write.

Don’t publish until you’re genuinely proud of your work. That’s my two cents.