Do Writers Read

[impressive]

I read -- but mostly AH authors and known poets and a few others who've become favorites. I do, however, read at least one story each week by an author I've never read before. Unfortunately, I'm usually disappointed with the selection.

I no longer read seeking the wank factor, though.

 

[Belegon]

I no longer read seeking the wank factor, though.

I agree with this statement...just not a priority anymore. I am certainly not immune to a good hot story. I just don't go looking for it now.

...and to be honest, I am much more likely to find my libido raised and then go share said results with my wife. Why do you think I am allowed here without supervision anyway?

 

[English Lady]

I do read for contests and for proofing for people and I enjoy that. I do read occassionally just to get me off but that's pretty infrequent now. I don't read tons but i don't know if I ever really did. I think my reading amount is similar to when I first found lit.

 

[rgraham666]

I'm afraid I do read less. Between posting here on the AH and my own writing, I don't have the time for it.

I do scan the new stories everyday, looking for my fellow AHers because I know I'm unlikely to be disappointed by what they write. I'll often read Romances as well. I'm one of those soft hearted guys, what can I say?

And I am becoming quite jaded. Most of the stuff that come up on Lit is either in a category that holds no interest for me, or more likely, so badly written who cares what category it's in.

My $.02.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

The truth is, most of the stories on Lit are just not very good, and that goes for all of us. They might be good compared to most of the junk that's here, but compared to the really good stuff that's out there in non-erotic, our best efforts are pretty much trite, cliched, and graceless.

I'm kind of careful with what I read because I tend to suck up styles like a sponge, and I'm afraid I'll start writing like other Lit authors. That's the risk you run when you read a lot on Lit. Most of the AH authors stuff I've read is better than the run-of-the-mill Lit offering, but they're still not very good, and that goes double for my stuff. You've got to read some "Best Of" anthologies from the real world to remember what good fiction is, and it can be quite humbling, if not downright humiliating.

I can't help reading like a critic now, too. I notice every gimmick and device, every trite opening and cliche. I'm always paying attention to how an author handled this particular problem; what thigs worked and what didn't. There are very few sex scenes that get me off anymore, and when they do it seems to be due to some social nuance between the characters, some tiny detail.

I probably should add that reading anything off a screen has always been work for me. I just don't like it. And the font that Lit uses just makes it worse, as far as I'm concerned. It's just not pleasant.

Anyhow, I'm rambling. I'll just say that I have to be pretty motivated to read a story on Lit now. And really, everyone should go out and read some good fiction every so often. It's a very enlightening experience.

---Zoot

--Zoot

 

[impressive]

The truth is, most of the stories on Lit are just not very good, and that goes for all of us. They might be good compared to most of the junk that's here, but compared to the really good stuff that's out there in non-erotic, our best efforts are pretty much trite, cliched, and graceless.

I disagree. While there is certainly plenty of tripe, I have come across work here that rivals anything I've read in print.

But I do agree about the critic-factor. Writing has "spoiled" reading for me, because I can't help picking it apart -- even in print.

 

[NoJo]

I either:
* Both read and write stories here,
or
* Fuck about on the board.

I rarely do both.

 

[NoJo]

Most writers read, yes.
Now, posters of Author's Hangout are a different story, they just suck each other off all day.

Put that into another movie and post it here.

 

[sophia jane]

I disagree. While there is certainly plenty of tripe, I have come across work here that rivals anything I've read in print.

But I do agree about the critic-factor. Writing has "spoiled" reading for me, because I can't help picking it apart -- even in print.

I completely agree, Imp.

I rarely read for pleasure on lit anymore, which is sad because that's how I found the board in the first place. But now that I'm writing, I'm alot more critical of what I read.
I have found some really terrific stories, though. And most of them were by AHer's.

SJ

 

[Softouch911]

Do those of you who write stories still read them. When I first came to this site, I loved reading the stories. But for some reason, now that I've started writing my own I hardly ever read any of them. I honestly don't know why that is, only that it's true. Have others of you found the same thing?

I learned a trick as fiction editor at a bi-weekly some years ago. We'd get 70-80 submissions a day and I had to read them. An old-timer taught me to read the first page and the last. If that didn't work, reject it. If it did, mark it for a complete read later on.

I still do that. I look at lots of stories here on Lit., but actually read only a few. The ones I finish are things I usually enjoy.

I also have found that reading erotica has me reading more mainstream stuff as well as going back on things I haven't read in years.



Softouch

 

[Softouch911]

And really, everyone should go out and read some good fiction every so often. It's a very enlightening experience.

---Zoot

--Zoot

.... or even if it's not so good that it's a classic, other perceptions, ideas, and styles bring your own to life and help you to see what to try for.

Stories on Lit. tend to be formula stories and I think I'd find myself succumbing to the formulae and getting too predictable if I didn't read anywhere but here.

The best part of a formula is stepping outside of it, or at least stretching it.

The best thing about AH is the occasional conversation like this.



Softouch

 

[elsol]

Most writing on literotica or other sites can't pass my internal three sentence timer...

Three sentences that's what you get...

'I was' as the first two words and my finger automatically hits the back button.

'was' being used 5 times in the first three sentences... and I'm gone althouth the record is still 7 times.

And when the first three sentences are actually punctuationally one sentence and I have to delete a nasty little note to writer about wasting the precious 10 seconds it took to decide his/her stuff was shit.

The list of automatic kicks goes on and on... but if you can get me past the first three sentences then I'll usually read the whole thing.

That's how I rate a story a 5 -- if the author got me to read the whole thing.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[shereads]

I'll withhold my answer until I submit a second page.

 

[Guest]

Most writing on literotica or other sites can't pass my internal three sentence timer...

Three sentences that's what you get...

'I was' as the first two words and my finger automatically hits the back button.

'was' being used 5 times in the first three sentences... and I'm gone althouth the record is still 7 times.

And when the first three sentences are actually punctuationally one sentence and I have to delete a nasty little note to writer about wasting the precious 10 seconds it took to decide his/her stuff was shit.

The list of automatic kicks goes on and on... but if you can get me past the first three sentences then I'll usually read the whole thing.

That's how I rate a story a 5 -- if the author got me to read the whole thing.

Sincerely,
ElSol

Oh, come on. Show us the rest of the list. I'm dying to know what the other criteria are.

 

[impressive]

Oh, come on. Show us the rest of the list. I'm dying to know what the other criteria are.

I'd rather know what he read all the way through.

 

[elsol]

Oh, come on. Show us the rest of the list. I'm dying to know what the other criteria are.

Sigh...

a) The story begins with 'I was'... bye-bye.

b) The story uses the word 'was' >= 5 times in the first three sentences.

c) The first three sentences are punctuationally < three sentences.

d) The first three sentences are not complete sentences.

e) The word 'and' occurs more often than verbs.

f) Misuse of the comma in punctuating two independent clauses

g) Second-person

h) The first three sentences = the first three paragraphs

i) The first three sentences contain a verb tense mismatch

j) The first three sentences contain a spelling error of a word with less than five letters.

k) The first three sentences contain an obvious Microsoft Word 'okay in spelling' but it's not the right word (you know what I mean).

l) The first three sentences contain a capilization error...

Okay... I'm fucking depressing myself 'cause I wouldn't even read my shit... so I'm going to stop here.

(edited to add) m) The first three sentences contain dialogue that is incorrectly punctuated at end of the quotations.


Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[elsol]

I'd rather know what he read all the way through.

For the most part, I don't read online stuff anymore... my internal ear goes off because that's how I write. (Mostly I only read what people in the forum are talking about to see what the hoopla is about.)

I can't ignore grammar stuff anymore, because I've learned to do it better in my own writing.

Writing and Literature Classes, the two worst things you can do to your reading pleasure.

Sincerely,
ElSol