have i overcooked this passage

geronimo_appleby

always on the move
Joined
Nov 25, 2004
Posts
90,768
I put this up on the story discussion circle and then noticed that while that forum had one viewer this one had twenty five, I therefore decided that I would just copy my post across in anticipation of a greater chance of a response...

I am starting out on a new scene, or perhaps it's the first chapter of something bigger - who knows just yet? and I would appreciate some feedback on a descriptive passage.

The tale concerns an uptight Englishman who finds himself under the influence of a promiscuous (spelled?) and sexually diverse young woman. Ultimately, she will lead him to a MMF threesome which will involve bi-sexual sex (mainly oral but once again, who knows where it'll go) involving the males, the girl will be eagerly participating.

The English guy has had a morally strict, nearly repressed, upbringing he's not sexually inexperienced and could be labelled 'normal' (if there is such a thing!).

The passage below has come after their first date in a pub where the girl has received a lot of male attention (nothing physical, just stares and the like) and the couple have begun to walk back to her flat when she initiates an encounter in a park en route.

Okay, enough babble... Help anyone?

The girl became increasingly urgent and vocal as her yearning for release became ever more pressing. The obscenities that poured from her mouth shocked Sebastian. Even though his senses were buffered against logical thought; he was at first appalled by the torrent of filth and depravity that filled his ears.

Finally though there was the glimmering of comprehension that the inconsistency between the vileness of her language and Jen’s physical beauty actually increased his desire to do her bidding.

It was at that moment that the ancient gates leading to a dark world of depravity jerkily opened. Screeching and groaning on hinges desperate for the oil of morality, they eventually lay wide open, inviting Sebastian’s timid soul pass through.

The path that lay before him was littered with sordid images of sexual excess, with the trees of decadence lining the route to wickedness. This world was populated by a comparative few; but those who chose to dwell in this place revelled in the corruption, it was their world, and in spite of the darkness it was a pleasurable place to them. It was also a secret place, seductive in its draw with a vacuum waiting to be filled with the feeble morals of foolish men.

With a guttural grunt, Sebastian gripped his lover’s hips; his seed pumped rhythmically into her body, and, as Jen’s cries of mutual climax joined with his, Sebastian took that step through the portal.
 
geronimo_appleby said:
there's not many of us left.
Just one or two.

One little nitpick. This here ... leading to a dark world of depravity jerkily opened. Is a little off for some reason. It doesn't read as smoothly as the rest of it.
 
entitled said:
Just one or two.

One little nitpick. This here ... leading to a dark world of depravity jerkily opened. Is a little off for some reason. It doesn't read as smoothly as the rest of it.
thanks... i'll take another look.
you don't reckon it's a bit OTT? not heading for hyperbole or nuffink?
 
geronimo_appleby said:
thanks... i'll take another look.
you don't reckon it's a bit OTT? not heading for hyperbole or nuffink?
Depends on how the rest of the tale reads, eh? ;)

Nah. i got it. But that's me, and i'm smart.
 
entitled said:
Depends on how the rest of the tale reads, eh? ;)

Nah. i got it. But that's me, and i'm smart.
would you take a look at the whole? 1600 words... not too much so far.
:rose: please.
 
I think you could use some dialog to break up the exposition and really show us Jen's urgency. Otherwise, the language flows well. I don't think it's overcooked at all, but there could be more show and less tell. I know, I hate when people say that. :) I like it though and it makes me want to read more.
 
OhMissScarlett said:
I think you could use some dialog to break up the exposition and really show us Jen's urgency. Otherwise, the language flows well. I don't think it's overcooked at all, but there could be more show and less tell. I know, I hate when people say that. :) I like it though and it makes me want to read more.
hey stranger. we really should make the effort to chat more.
thanx. i value your opinion. the offer of showing the whole extends to you too. i've had a beer, i can take criticism. :D
 
Is it meant to be told sort of from his perspective (even if third person)? If so, maybe you could go through it and edit to make that even more clear; if not, then the notions of an iron gate sealing off a world of wickedness and depravity is overdone.
 
geronimo_appleby said:
hey stranger. we really should make the effort to chat more.
thanx. i value your opinion. the offer of showing the whole extends to you too. i've had a beer, i can take criticism. :D
Hey, it's good to see you too.

For some reason when I look at this thread title, I think it says "Have I overcooked this sausage?" LOL.

Go ahead and pm it to me and I'll take a look at it this afternoon when I get back. :)
 
SelenaKittyn said:
I left you a comment in the story discussion circle :)
just checking there now... it may take me a while to sift through your comprehensive answer - for which I sincerely thank you. I appreciate the effort. :rose:

Sacrlett - I'll send the whole to you. :)
 
geronimo_appleby said:
The girl became increasingly urgent and vocal as her yearning for release became ever more pressing. The obscenities that poured from her mouth shocked Sebastian. Even though his senses were buffered against logical thought; he was at first appalled by the torrent of filth and depravity that filled his ears.

I'm assuming that they are in the midst of intercourse here. There is something missing. As though you had previously described the wild and wanton sex and then remembered to add this in about the way she was talking. This, it seems to me, would be better peppered through the previous passage, using speech to denote it and his reaction as the filth became cruder. Then you can move to his realisation:

Finally though there was the glimmering of comprehension that the inconsistency between the vileness of her language and Jen’s physical beauty actually increased his desire to do her bidding.

Whilst explaining well how her words were affecting him, the language here seems to be a bit formal and rather convoluted. To me, this seems to be a tell rather than show and unsuspends my disbelief. This is what he's thinking whilst shagging with this gorgeous creature?

It was at that moment that the ancient gates leading to a dark world of depravity jerkily opened. Screeching and groaning on hinges desperate for the oil of morality, they eventually lay wide open, inviting Sebastian’s timid soul pass through.

The path that lay before him was littered with sordid images of sexual excess, with the trees of decadence lining the route to wickedness. This world was populated by a comparative few; but those who chose to dwell in this place revelled in the corruption, it was their world, and in spite of the darkness it was a pleasurable place to them. It was also a secret place, seductive in its draw with a vacuum waiting to be filled with the feeble morals of foolish men.

Overcooked is right on the mark for this part (plus the "jerkily opened" is really awful) It's not that the feeling and purpose of it is in any way wrong, because it does give a good idea of what Sebastian is falling into and for that reason it can't just be excised from the whole.

With a guttural grunt, Sebastian gripped his lover’s hips; his seed pumped rhythmically into her body, and, as Jen’s cries of mutual climax joined with his, Sebastian took that step through the portal.

And this final is exactly why you can't just cut the previous part. (call them gates again to intesify the image that he's actually willingly stepping into hell)


Now you have to bear in mind that the criticism is based purely on the passage as shown, it could well be that within the context my comments are useless. But this is how I saw it.

It does however bring across the fear of failing morals that you mentioned but misses somehow why he is willing to deprave himself.

Not exactly overcooked more overegged.
 
i better put the brakes on this thread now. i fear that i have only told half the story and that the quoted passage isn't being taken in perspective. it is a part of a bigger piece, and therefore all this well intentioned advice is addressing the issue in too much depth - entirely my fault - and i would like to thank those people who have taken time and made the effort to help. :)
 
Geronimo, how nice to see you again. When I see how handsome you are I almost regret the divorce. Entitled, darling - he's really a sweetheart, and as good in bed as he looks in the av. Go for it, dear.

(Just kidding. I can't resist when I see that handsome face on the boards. I've never met G.A.)

The real purpose of my post is to opinionate about your passage. My opinion is that it is overcooked, but that is actually beside the point. It would be much better if rather than characterizing what she said, you just had her say it. That is, make it dialog. The filth comes from her as quotes, and then you can use your vaguely Victorian language to describe his reactions to her profanity. This sets up a nice contrast that accomplishes what you are after, to depict the contrast between the repressed man and the wanton, earthy woman. She speaks, he thinks. Her words are shown, his thoughts are. And the difference between them is stark.

Roxanne Appleby
 
Roxanne Appleby said:
Geronimo, how nice to see you again. When I see how handsome you are I almost regret the divorce. Entitled, darling - he's really a sweetheart, and as good in bed as he looks in the av. Go for it, dear.

(Just kidding. I can't resist when I see that handsome face on the boards. I've never met G.A.)

The real purpose of my post is to opinionate about your passage. My opinion is that it is overcooked, but that is actually beside the point. It would be much better if rather than characterizing what she said, you just had her say it. That is, make it dialog. The filth comes from her as quotes, and then you can use your vaguely Victorian language to describe his reactions to her profanity. This sets up a nice contrast that accomplishes what you are after, to depict the contrast between the repressed man and the wanton, earthy woman. She speaks, he thinks. Her words are shown, his thoughts are. And the difference between them is stark.

Roxanne Appleby
roxanne! darling, it was i who initiated the divorce... your drinking, well it got so out of hand. :D
the passage really needs to be taken into perspective and read along with the whole. (see above post)
thanks to you for you opinion though, it all helps. :rose:
i wonder what the kids would look like? :D
 
Okay, idle and enquiring minds want to know;
Who dumped who- really?
Why did Roxan ne keep his name?
When will this story be made public for the delectation of the AH community?
and, did Geronimo get the feedback he needed to finish this story?

:D
 
Stella_Omega said:
Okay, idle and enquiring minds want to know;
Who dumped who- really?
Why did Roxan ne keep his name?
When will this story be made public for the delectation of the AH community?
and, did Geronimo get the feedback he needed to finish this story?

:D
LOL. I will answer #4 as best I can. I got enough to start the story. :D
Roxanne? Over to you. :rose: Be kind, 'tis all I ask.
 
Well, at first he encouraged me to bring home those lesbian lovers, and seemed to enjoy it when I did. But then he complained about all that moaning and such, when he had to sleep, and work the next morning. So make up your mind, already!

I think it was the cracker crumbs in the marital bed that drove him over the edge, though. I'm sorry, darling!

Roxanne
 
Roxanne Appleby said:
Well, at first he encouraged me to bring home those lesbian lovers, and seemed to enjoy it when I did. But then he complained about all that moaning and such, when he had to sleep, and work the next morning. So make up your mind, already!

I think it was the cracker crumbs in the marital bed that drove him over the edge, though. I'm sorry, darling!

Roxanne
the lesbian lovers could never have driven me away. it must have been the crumbs.
by the way, you owe me for the implants you had done. :kiss:
 
Back
Top