Corollaries

[gauchecritic]

From Charley's thread.

My reason for submitting my first story on Lit. was that I imagined I could write a better story than most of what I'd read.

(Purely on voting the answer was 'not necessarily')

In subesequent stories I began with the sex scene that I wanted to write and then built around that, back story, forward story even sometimes a hint of plot.

I've just been thinking that maybe I should enter the Valentine's contest, seeing as how I haven't written very much lately in the way of stories.

Now I'm sat thinking up pretty decent sex scenes and distracting my thinking by wondering about the structure, character development, plot, twist and plot twist.

This isn't block of any kind, I know that if I start typing on a fresh screen a story will unfold but now I'm thinking about 'good' writing
rather than providing a vehicle for a sex scene.

The question then is: Am I growing or just losing interest?

Is there anyone else in a similar dillema? Does writing smut lead on to stronger things like *gasp* Literary goals?

 

[Belegon]

I think it has for me. I am much less interested in the sex part now, and much more curious about my characters lives that I don't "see".

 

[neonlyte]

Is this a trick question?

The one guaranteed thing about posting a story on Lit is that you will receive feedback (votes, hits, PM's, e-mails, abuse and/or praise).

Only the writer can determine the value of readership response relative to what he/she aimed to achieve.

Does locking yourself into a genre stifle your storytelling ability or allow opportunity to fine hone the titillation. Or do you become stale, deceived by countless votes held in the same groove.

Define your personal objective, set out your stall, display your wares (smut and literary), see what sells.

Write more, alter the mix, judge the response. The only one who really knows if you achieved what you wanted - is you.

nl

PS: I'm only here for the pictures

 

[Guest]

 

[CharleyH]

From Charley's thread.

My reason for submitting my first story on Lit. was that I imagined I could write a better story than most of what I'd read.

(Purely on voting the answer was 'not necessarily')

In subesequent stories I began with the sex scene that I wanted to write and then built around that, back story, forward story even sometimes a hint of plot.

I've just been thinking that maybe I should enter the Valentine's contest, seeing as how I haven't written very much lately in the way of stories.

Now I'm sat thinking up pretty decent sex scenes and distracting my thinking by wondering about the structure, character development, plot, twist and plot twist.

This isn't block of any kind, I know that if I start typing on a fresh screen a story will unfold but now I'm thinking about 'good' writing
rather than providing a vehicle for a sex scene.

The question then is: Am I growing or just losing interest?

Is there anyone else in a similar dillema? Does writing smut lead on to stronger things like *gasp* Literary goals?

Good freaking GOD! I feel privileged (Cant spell cunningliguist, do not expect privilege) I joined one contest, got some really cool PC's, and PMs, which is worth it. Story was more hot than not. Really no story, but . . . Write the moment, that is what we all do, write OUR moment. Mmm, can't say more than write and encourage you . Would love to see your entry though ??? WRITE DAMMIT!

 

[SadieRose]

No.. I know exactly what you mean.

I first started writing erotica almost a a self-entertaining sideline to amuse myself and also to test my own ability to put sex into writing. (I've had enthusiastic critical responses so I presume I did something right!!) But at the same time, my current submissions are all old material and the novel isn't so much unfinished as unsubmitted because it doesn't fit the LitE criteria.

In the meantime, I find that I can write 'sexual scenarios' but I look at them and think to myself, "Are they necessarily good stories?"

If I was doing it for a living I suppose I could pour out random porn for as long as i had to, but it does get wearying. The Valentine Challenge is an interesting one. I want to find out if I really can write a good, romantic (and sexy) story in such a short time frame.

xx.Sadie

 

[English Lady]

Gauche - I have seen my stories change quite a bit, from just sex stories to much more intricate plots with more fleshed out (and I don't just mean fatter *L*) characters. I justthinkitis a natural progression thing.

I think I got bored of just writing the torid sex scene and started to write stories instead of just scenes. Hell I even wrote a novel last November. The mind boggles.

Go for it Gauche, see where it takes you!

 

[neonlyte]

The Valentine Challenge is an interesting one. I want to find out if I really can write a good, romantic (and sexy) story in such a short time frame.

xx.Sadie

Shit! It has to be romantic

For the first time I'm writing a sex story!

nl

 

[carsonshepherd]

Maybe I started backwards. Most of my work that's not for Lit always had sex creeping into the story. So when I got turned on to Lit I just did the same thing I always did - wrote the best story I could - and just made the sex more explicit.

The story's the thing for me. I'm always vaguely embarrassed of my sex scenes.

 

[Guest]

Yorkshireman, I've already forgotten my vote (was interrupted before I could post). Doesn't matter.

I tried writing erotica for a lark and enjoyed it for a while, and took it nearly as seriously as anything else I've written. I honestly don't know if I'll write more sex-driven stuff. (And if I don't, whether I should stay at Lit.)

However, in writing my still half-finished novel I was surprized that sex scenes kept intruding and finally seemed to fit very well. Should I be worried? Doesn't matter.

I plan to keep writing, just not sure what.

Gauche, you're a really fine writer (I'd put you at the top of a list if I were so gauche.). Whether it's got sex or what-have-you, I hope you can find the time to write and do it as well as I've read so far. You need to take yourself seriously enough to just get on with it and not care about feedback, i.e., what others think (except me o'course).

your pal, Perdita

 

[Op_Cit]

They've got sex stories on this site!? Doh! What am I doing hanging around this forum when I could be....

I don't really have literary aspirations, I just have some stories I want to tell some day. This is a way of practicing until I get to the point that I think I can put down on paper something that will get read all the way through.

But, back up a second there, Gauche, you mentioned this unfamiliar word, and I was wondering what you mean...wherewasit... there it is "plot". Does that come before or after the sex?

(Yeah, I know, everybody wants to be a comedian.)

 

[SadieRose]

Shit! It has to be romantic

For the first time I'm writing a sex story!

nl

Perhaps that's where I'm going wrong!! *faints*

(last of the unromantics)

xx. Sadie

 

[cloudy]

I've found myself straying away from the sex part of stories more and more.....and the story that I think is my best written one here at Lit has very little sex in it. In fact, although it's necessary as a catalyst of sorts in the story, I almost could have used something else.

Writing is writing is writing.....write the story.

 

[gauchecritic]

"plot". Does that come before or after the sex?

(Yeah, I know, everybody wants to be a comedian.)

If you're good enough, during.

Have abandoned the writing for tonight, I'm listening to Roger Chapman instead and wishing I could sing.

I'll have to see what I can think of whilst at work tomorrow. Doesn't help the driving though, naked women running through the swards of my mind is very distracting.

 

[shereads]

Gauche & other authors who are experiencing the urge to withdraw prematurely from writing sex scenes:

Do it. And find a way to promote the non-erotic stories category. I forget it's there. The few authors I read here regularly aren't limited to the ones whose sex scenes make me squirm in my chair. I choose favorite authors because their brains reveal themselves on the page in surprising new ways. I'd read those authors in a non-erotic category if I became accustomed to finding them there.

Suppose that some of the better known writers here began promoting the non-erotic stories category - maybe persuaded Lauryl to promote it on the Lit home page. Could you create an audience for the kind of writing you'd rather be doing?

I was going to ask if there was a story site like Literotica, without the pornography, but if there is it probably has a fraction of the readership. You can have that here if you want it, can find a way to promote it, and are willing to settle for fewer but more serious readers.

Btw: nice poll!

 

[oggbashan]

I started writing erotica, that is if I write erotica at all which some doubt for adequate reasons, because I was repelled by the poor standard of many of the stories I read in Yahoo's adult groups. I was convinced that I could do better.

When I found Literotica I was dazzled by the range of resources available for writers and the absence of pedagogic cant about writing. The advice and the discussions were much more basic than on some so-called writers' sites, easier to understand and follow. Few people were categorised as idiots because of their writing failings.

Since starting here I attended a year's adult education lessons on creative writing. Although I learned much, I think I learned more useful skills here in Literotica from the feedback, the public comments, the ratings and the discussions.

My work is gradually evolving. It was a shock to realise that many of my stories had 'detachable' sex. The story would work nearly as well if not better without the sex scenes. Since then I have tried to decide whether a story should have integral sex that is essential to the plot, or implied sex that is off-stage or in the reader's imagination. That decision usually comes with the first conception of the story.

I enjoy the pressure of writing for the themed competitions. With a defined subject I find that the plot ideas come easier and the need to meet a deadline means that my writing is fitted into a short timespan. Left to my own devices stories may take months or years to complete, and go on and on and on... I know how they will end yet I can introduce interminable sub-plots and Ciceronian diversions 'Ex quo loco digressus sum'.

Whether I ever intended more than to show that I could write better porn than the poor stuff I had encountered I am no longer sure. What I do know is that I enjoy writing much more since I joined Literotica and my writing has become an important part of my life instead of a diversion while sitting in my bookshop waiting for customers.

Og

 

[SadieRose]

My work is gradually evolving. It was a shock to realise that many of my stories had 'detachable' sex. The story would work nearly as well if not better without the sex scenes. Since then I have tried to decide whether a story should have integral sex that is essential to the plot, or implied sex that is off-stage or in the reader's imagination. That decision usually comes with the first conception of the story.

Og

Quite right... I often have two versions of my stories now. One with sex which was the original fantasy/concept (call it what you will) and another with 'restricted intimacy' for my more faint-hearted friends and readers who would probably fall over if they read some of the harder stuff. *wicked grin*

I like to write my characters first and what they have to say tends to be more important than anything else I might think of adding. Writing sex began as a challenge. But quite often now I find that sex scenes creep into my general fiction writing quite by chance and I have to prune them rather severely, or risk losing the plot completely.

(no self-control!! Drat!)


If there is no background to a character or story then I find it hard to get involved in that story physically and emotionally. On the other hand, when I'm writing a scene it has to be a scene that gets me off physically, in whatever way that happens. (re-reading some of my stuff now, i am rather concerned that this makes me one sick human being! I am not... i hope )

Having a wider audience does do wonders for your self-confidence. I also find that I'm more prolific when I have the feedback from those who read my work and this in turn makes me work harder to produce better fiction.

xx Sadie

PS> You have a bookshop?? Will you marry me?

*grin*

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I've found starting here was a spring board for writing anything else, if you can write good porn, you can go anywhere from there.

I've found so many people who've helped me and graciously shared thoughts and stories with me, that alone was a tremendous push.

Lately I've found myself writing non-erotic stories and I feel llike I"ve grown as a writer just from being here.

 

[oggbashan]

...xx Sadie

PS> You have a bookshop?? Will you marry me?

*grin*

Sorry, SadieRose. I HAD a bookshop. I retired in December and closed it. I have been married for much longer than I had the bookshop and am still married with three adult daughters. My wife retires this year and we hope to travel - together.

As HenryVIII I was married - once or twice or...



Og

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I first came dragging into Lit looking for a place where I could work on writing better sex scenes. IMHO, they and fight scenes are two of the hardest to write well. (As for actually doing either of them with any skill, I'm way beyond hope.)

Most Lit writers start with hard-core, stroke stories. I've got a hunch what Gauche and others have mentioned isn't so much a matter of burning out on porn, as it is a desire to try different things.

While writing an occassional stroke story is still fun, I've recently posted some stories in the Romance category. For me, it's a spot for stories with a little character development and some emotions besides just physical ecstasy, in addition to sex.

While there's an obvious difference between the Lesbian and Romance categories, IMHO, the highly-rated stories in both tend to have many things in common. High on that list is stroke stories not doing very well.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[CharleyH]

Gauche & other authors who are experiencing the urge to withdraw prematurely from writing sex scenes:

Do it. And find a way to promote the non-erotic stories category. I forget it's there. The few authors I read here regularly aren't limited to the ones whose sex scenes make me squirm in my chair. I choose favorite authors because their brains reveal themselves on the page in surprising new ways. I'd read those authors in a non-erotic category if I became accustomed to finding them there.

Suppose that some of the better known writers here began promoting the non-erotic stories category - maybe persuaded Lauryl to promote it on the Lit home page. Could you create an audience for the kind of writing you'd rather be doing?

I was going to ask if there was a story site like Literotica, without the pornography, but if there is it probably has a fraction of the readership. You can have that here if you want it, can find a way to promote it, and are willing to settle for fewer but more serious readers.

Btw: nice poll!

Does she write, or merely she reads?

edit and posts polls

 

[impressive]

I started writing here because I had these fantasies in my head that needed OUT. They were clogging my brain, so I released them to Lit. Something about sharing one's load that makes it easier to bear, eh? Along the way, I found that others enjoyed them. Further along the way, I became interested in actually surrounding the sex with a story. Characters started having (some) depth. Stories started having (some) plot. Then, wonder of wonders, I was bitten by a poetry muse. (That just blows my mind.) I still don't aspire to be published beyond Lit, but I do hope I've grown (and will continue to grow) as a writer. It is a very enjoyable hobby to me, and if it brings enjoyment to others as well -- all the better.

I think neonlyte nailed it:

The only one who really knows if you achieved what you wanted - is you.

 

[shereads]

Does she write, or merely she reads?

edit and posts polls

If she wrote, she might fall under the spell of story scores and kiss up to trolls.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Yeah, I'm getting more into the characters too, and their feelings and ideas. The sex in my valentine's day story is entirely emotional and not graphic at all. I kind of tried to juice it up, but it wouldn't stand for it. But, you know, I kind of look at it in terms of expanding my idea of what's sexual, and I can see the sexuality in every day encounters and the little things people do, so maybe I'm just getting more subtle in my dotage.

But then, every so often I still like to rear back and write a big, wet, juicy, fuck scene with no redeeming literary value whatsoever. It's good for the soul and clears the tubes.

---dr.M.

 

[shereads]

But then, every so often I still like to rear back and write a big, wet, juicy, fuck scene with no redeeming literary value whatsoever. It's good for the soul and clears the tubes.

America thanks you.