Have you changed as a writer?

[Carl East]

I was going to place this on the BB, but I thought perhaps it would be better in the AH section.

I started another thread, a couple of years ago now, and the question on that one was, 'Has lit changed you in anyway,' so I thought I'd change it around a little and ask the writers.

Has lit changed the way you think about writing, or helped to put you straight on certain things?

Carl

 

[Omni]

Literotica has really helped me alot. I only have a HS education and English Grammar and spelling were and still are my worse subjects. I seem to have some type of brain glitch where grammar and spelling are concerned. Although, I still say were grammar logical this would not be the case.

Reading critiques here and threads on all types of writing questions has helped me learn alot of do's and don'ts. To me it is invaluable and cannot be found exactly this way in any book bought on the subjects.

It has also helped me grow through the timid factor. I believe alot of erotic writers start out more hesitant about writing sex and grow with time. Visiting a community of erotic writers sure helps that growth.


Omni

 

[angela146]

...English Grammar and spelling were and still are my worse subjects. I seem to have some type of brain glitch where grammar and spelling are concerned. Although, I still say were grammar logical this would not be the case.

Um... I think anyone who demonstrates such a clear understanding of the subjunctive ("...were grammar logical, this would...") should give herself a little credit for her grammar skills.

I wil naught fawlt anywon four pore speling conzidering howe pour mi spellin is somtimes. Hey, I think I got too words write in that sentance.

 

[oggbashan]

Literotica has done wonders for my writing - but that is my opinion.

Before finding Literotica I was writing for my own amusement and for several Yahoo adult groups. One group (and ONLY one group) provided critical feedback that helped me to develop a story. The others rarely noticed the stories or at best said "great - how about some more".

In Literotica the feedback, the FAQs, the writers' resources and the threads have made me think much more about the techniques of writing and made me review my aims.

Participating in the AH has been an education in itself.

Writing for the Lit competitions and NaNoWriMo has helped direct my work and concentrate on timescales.

My writing is never likely to be mainstream, nor score highly, nor attract many comments but my experiences on Literotica have helped my non-erotic writing.

Without Literotica people's encouragement I would not have joined a creative writing class.

Thanks to those on the AH and special thanks to Lit's owners.

Og

 

[curious2c]

Heh...Well, going back through my very first story, and then my last...I have improved as far as grammer and punctuation go. my spelling has been pretty good for my whole life...for the most part.

I see or should I say, I feel that I need to spread out a bit more, as most of my writing seems to be about married couples. The hard part for some of my writing has been understanding some of my feedback, which at times I have to wonder why I get some of the responses I do.

I'm not much on the contests, I have entered a few, but I feel that I have a long ways to go until I get a story 'right' or good enough to actually be strong competetion. Perhaps if I spread my wings a bit and get into some other genre', see different things through different eyes.

All in all I would say that I have improved and will continue to improve as well...(Well I hope I do anyway).

 

[SadieRose]

I think that posting to lit has given me an outlet for material I'd never considered to be anything more than literary sleeve notes before I began. I'm not necessarily shy about my subject matter but I'd never really had an appreciative audience for my erotic writing before, so that's been encouraging.

It's been a useful exercise for me in the art of submissions and trying to keep to a timescale.

Also it's taught me to consider how I approach the copywrite and protection of my work (something that still needs a little tinkering with).

xx.Sadie

 

[Omni]

Um... I think anyone who demonstrates such a clear understanding of the subjunctive ("...were grammar logical, this would...") should give herself a little credit for her grammar skills.

Subjunc>> what??


Thank you, Angela!

(although, I really have no clue what that is. )

I say that it just goes to show a person can do damn near anything. Even if they do not have a common knowledge clue how they got there.

Omni

 

[angela146]

Subjunc>> what?? Thank you, Angela! (although, I really have no clue what that is. )

Subjunctive is the form (technically "mood") of verbs that you use when speaking hypothetically:

I would have done it if I could have.

Had I been able to do it, it would have been easy.

Were I a cat, I would have a tail.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

The main thing Literotica has given me is a venue in which to post stories that I know will be read and commented on. That in itself is very valuable. I also think that the help and critiques available in the Story Discussion Circle are a tremendous resource. Most of the reviews there are as good as or better than anything you’d get in the typical university creative writing class, and it’s free.

The main thing I’ve gained from Literotica is the experience, though. For me the knowledge that people are going to read and respond (more or less) is a terrific incentive to write, and this is a place where you can experiment with style and themes and be sure of reaching a pretty critical and perceptive audience. In my experience, that’s a very rare thing on the web.

When I started posting stories here, I was quite honestly writing only for the praise and votes I could get. But if you work at writing long enough--miracle of miracles--you start to observe yourself developing a style that’s all your own, on subject which you might not have known interested you. I’ve learned a lot about my own sexual proclivities by reading what I’ve written here, and, more than that, I’ve discovered that I have something to say that’s all my own. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to still surprise yourself like that.

I’ve also learned this: writing is not really a competitive activity. The goal of writing is not to be better than everyone else, it’s to develop your own style and insights, to be more you when you write. Competitive jerk that I am, this came as a real revelation to me, and a joyous one at that. I’ve learned to my own susprise that I do have something to say, and that my job is to learn how to say it the best way I possibly can. That was a terribly liberating and exciting thing to discover.

---dr.M.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

The first story I wrote didn't contain a single comma. I have grown considerably since then as a writer and as my life has changed due to illness my writing has become an ever larger part of my life. I write for pleasure, to escape, to grieve and someitmes just to enjoy the things I know I won't ever be able to do again.

I have never had a very high self esteem or a lot of self confidence. The reactions to my works have done inestimable good for my self image, at a time when I could pretty easily have given up.

More than anything my writing has brought me into contact with a world of wonderful people I would not have met otherwise. That, more than anything else, is how my writing has changed me. It has opened up a world that I feared was closing in on me and for that I am so thankful.

-Colly

 

[pop_54]

Subjunc>> what??


Thank you, Angela!

(although, I really have no clue what that is. )

I say that it just goes to show a person can do damn near anything. Even if they do not have a common knowledge clue how they got there.

Omni

Yea I thought that as well Omni, I feared it may be a swear word at first and I never swear

Lit has done loads for me, firstly taught me that there are some people who'll read any-bloody-thing, proven by the fact I actually get email's telling me my stories are good stuff.

I don't write for the praise or with any thought of fame and fortune... never have... I write for myself mainly.

Like Omni I don't do good English, my excuse is that 'I am English' so I don't have to if I don't feel like it... but I must admit to taking advice here and actually modifying my methods a little to comply in certain circumstances, (not too much though cos I am a bit of a rebel).

Like Oggie I've enjoyed the challenges here, especially the NaNo 50,000 word in a month contest, membership of which came about as a result of posting/replying here.

Mainly I suppose, it's the vastly differing personalties and characters I've met on Lit that I've enjoyed the most, lovely bunch all of you

pops.....

 

[KarenAM]

Writing has saved me. It's given me a way to get things out and to work them out, including frustrations and fears and anxieties, as well as just that awesome wonder I feel about the world sometimes.

Erotica is part of this. I grew up with a lot of anxiety and fear over sex and all things sexual. Some of this will never leave me, but I've found that writing about sexuality, both my own and others', has made me more forgiving, more tolerant, and happier. I've learned that just because I don't share or even fully understand the sexual proclivities of others, I don't have to -- I can still admire, respect, and care for them, because writing has made me more comfortable with my own feelings, desires and fantasies. Hate so often starts with self-hate, which I used to have in abundance. So writing is sort of therapy for me.

 

[Carl East]

I won't bother to pick out any one persons comments, as I find myself aggreeing with most things being said. Like others here, I was lacking certain things when I first started to write. The knowledge of how to use proper punctuation for one, and the ability to keep a reader reading.

I did have one thing going for me already though, and that was an imagination second to none. I could think up (and still can) some pretty fantastic stories, and write them down as they came to me. Most of all though, I've enjoyed this world of writing, and those that participate with the same joy of the writen word.

Keep writing, all of you, it's good for the soul. lol

Carl

 

[lucky-E-leven]

too new

I'm so new to writing that it'd be a stretch to say that my arrival here has 'changed' me. But writing in general has uncovered many untold surprises and even a few horrors/irritations/grievances. I do appreciate having found Lit, though, as my participation here ensures that I am constantly evolving and learning. I love writing as a hobby, but am a bit of a perfectionist and feel the deep desire to hone this hobby into a craft. I know I've a long way to go, but am really looking forward to the journey. Being here is invaluable to that and I think I'll be sticking around.

~lucky

 

[Dirt Man]

I was going to place this on the BB, but I thought perhaps it would be better in the AH section.

I started another thread, a couple of years ago now, and the question on that one was, 'Has lit changed you in anyway,' so I thought I'd change it around a little and ask the writers.

Has lit changed the way you think about writing, or helped to put you straight on certain things?

Carl

I was reading through all of this thread knowing that as a writer before I came here that I had little to nothing to add to this thread. But when I got to here I realized that maybe I did have something to add.

As a writer we all continue to grow, or else we would stagnate, and stop writing altogether. However fun it is, it is also hard torturous work being creative, and not everyone can do it. Trust me on that. To say that I know that I am a good writer might sound pompous at best. The truth is I am a good writer; so saying it for me is just being candid. But it’s not that I know that I am a good writer that really matters if those who read my work don’t think so as well. And by the feedback that I get, and the average 4.4 in votes/story that each of my stories carries, and the amount of readers who rush to read what I have posted next, I guess I must be at least okay as a writer, because they love my work.

But the thing that really gets to me about posting my stories here is the communion that I have with my fellow authors here, and if you’re reading this, and an author here then I’m talking about you. And you are what makes submitting here at lit., at least for me, worthwhile. Yes, all of you. I love, and enjoy all of your differences of opinion, and your agreements as well, your insecurities, and your strengths of purpose to overcome them, your animosities, and your friendship, and so much, much more. It all adds up to the camaraderie, respect that we have as authors for each other that we can share here online at Literotica, but wouldn’t be able to without it. For that alone, I thank each and every one of you.


As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[minsue]

The first story I wrote didn't contain a single comma. I have grown considerably since then as a writer and as my life has changed due to illness my writing has become an ever larger part of my life. I write for pleasure, to escape, to grieve and someitmes just to enjoy the things I know I won't ever be able to do again.

I have never had a very high self esteem or a lot of self confidence. The reactions to my works have done inestimable good for my self image, at a time when I could pretty easily have given up.

More than anything my writing has brought me into contact with a world of wonderful people I would not have met otherwise. That, more than anything else, is how my writing has changed me. It has opened up a world that I feared was closing in on me and for that I am so thankful.

-Colly

I don't know how I managed to miss this when I read through the thread yesterday. Beautiful.



- Mindy

 

[SadieRose]

I have never had a very high self esteem or a lot of self confidence. The reactions to my works have done inestimable good for my self image, at a time when I could pretty easily have given up.

-Colly

Oh Sweet Colleen, no one reading your work could ever automatically assume that you lack self-esteem. And I mean that as a compliment, truly.

I think, however, that your remark will strike a chord with many writers. I began to write fiction at the age of nine because it gave me a voice and it was the only thing I could do that ever aroused encouragement from the people around me.

Since then that gift has been a key to new and fascinating lands both on the levels of imagination and of reality. It has been an escape and a consolation on more than a few occasions. One thing has never changed in all that time, though; I still love to tell people stories and knowing that others take pleasure (or whatever ) from those tales gives me enormous satisfaction too.

xx.Sadie

 

[snooper]

... Has lit changed the way you think about writing, ...?

Yes. The encouragement here helped me to decide to dump the day job and write full time. Thanks to all of you who contributed to that, whether you did it knowingly or not.

 

[sweetnpetite]

As to why I write- I write to give life meaning and order and structure (ie plot), because real life seems lacking in these things (I think those things are there, you just can't see them in the short term) As a person with ADD (undiagnosed throughout my childhood) life never seemed to make sence, but books did. And the rules were always just beyond my reach. But the printed word helps to clarify them.

Since coming here, I've changed as a writer and a reader in some good ways and some bad. I've shown myself that I can finish a product, I've become part of a community (btw- that was really beautiful dirtman) and I've boosted my sence of what I can accomplish. ON the other hand, I realized that I stopped reading dirty stories just for fun- I know read them to study them; what they did right or wrong, how they got such and such a score, ect. I'm soooo much more critical now and the cliches stand out, now that they've been pointed out and discussed. AND, I think that the endless discussions on the phycologican reasoning behind likeing certain fetishes has ruined some of the fun And the same goes with the creative process. Sometimes the more you understand something, the harder it is to do it, or enjoy it.

Over time, my stories have moved more toward 'story' stories, vs. the pure porn that I started with. This is both good and bad. I seem to get so bored with straight porn now. But that was what I wanted to write- because it's hard to find just pure smut that's really well done. (people think -it's smut, so noone cares, so why bother)

Lately I haven't posted anything.

The lit forum has definately added to my procrastination time in a big way But some of the people here have really been helpful to myself and others, just by being open about who they are.