How I realized I don't know how to write erotica.

[Paendragon]

I've written four stories that have been posted on Literotica.

Of the four, two I thought were relatively well-written, from beginning to end, and two that were . . . well, they were what they were.

So here's the thing: The two that I thought were better? They have the lower vote scores. And the two that I thought were so-so have the "hot" rating attached.

My conclusion? I have no idea what people want in a story.

Maybe I should hang out here more.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I've written four stories that have been posted on Literotica.

Of the four, two I thought were relatively well-written, from beginning to end, and two that were . . . well, they were what they were.

So here's the thing: The two that I thought were better? They have the lower vote scores. And the two that I thought were so-so have the "hot" rating attached.

My conclusion? I have no idea what people want in a story.

Maybe I should hang out here more.

Always a sound strategy.

You might also invest a little time reading some of the top rated stories in whatever category or categories you write.

I've got a hunch every AH writer has experienced a similar situation. The story you sweat and strain over does worse than the one you knock out in one session.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Your ratings here at Lit. are often affected by those less than qualified to judge your work, and the simple fact that they believe they are qualified.

And yes, if you want to get better, hangout here. We BS alot, but we also manage to inspire one another at times.

Welcome, Paen. Been a while.

Q_C

 

[wishfulthinking]

Your ratings here at Lit. are often affected by those less than qualified to judge your work

That's a weird thing to say. Anyone can read a story and 'judge' whether they like it or not. And the people reading here no doubt have read a lot of Lit stories, so they qualify. My 2 c anyway

Hi Dragon, I don't know either. Join the clube!

 

[Paendragon]

Always a sound strategy.

You might also invest a little time reading some of the top rated stories in whatever category or categories you write.

I've got a hunch every AH writer has experienced a similar situation. The story you sweat and strain over does worse than the one you knock out in one session.

Rumple Foreskin

That might be a good idea.

My stories, so far, have been pretty generic (fantasies conjured up by myself, my fiance, and some friends). I'm relatively new to erotica, having spent most of my time concentrating on fantasy.

Most of my pre-posting attempts have come out more like letters to Penthouse than stories, and were thusly shelved.

But, I figure spending some time with writers might do me some good. Hell, it can't hurt.

 

[Paendragon]

Your ratings here at Lit. are often affected by those less than qualified to judge your work, and the simple fact that they believe they are qualified.

And yes, if you want to get better, hangout here. We BS alot, but we also manage to inspire one another at times.

Welcome, Paen. Been a while.

Q_C

I did get some feedback from an anonymous source that had me scratching my head. Not that it was negative (in fact, it wasn't, really, and even if it was, that sort of think doesn't bother me), but the comments and quotes they attributed to my story weren't in the text anywhere. They had the characters names correct, and certain plot points, but little else.

I was lost. LOL

I'm generally great with construcive criticism, really. As long as it's constructive (example: You're not pulling the reader in here, or the scene description is sub-par, or the sentence structure is choppy). I do admit I bristle a bit when someone tell me I should have made my characters act differently, or do something differently. I'm sure you, and everyone here, understands that your characters can only react the way they will. They are created, and you let them be.

Anyway, enought bitching.

Good to see you, QC.

 

[cloudy]

But, I figure spending some time with writers might do me some good. Hell, it can't hurt.

Welcome to the AH

 

[Paendragon]

Hi Dragon, I don't know either. Join the clube!

If you figure it out, let me know. We'll write a story about it.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

That's a weird thing to say. Anyone can read a story and 'judge' whether they like it or not. And the people reading here no doubt have read a lot of Lit stories, so they qualify. My 2 c anyway

Hi Dragon, I don't know either. Join the clube!

Juan is not qualified to make that judgment. Nor are his illiterate cousins.

They outnumber us, wishful.

*Ahem*

(imitates best Bobby from Night of the Living Dead voice) They're coming to get you, wishful. They're coming for you. Look! There comes one now. I'm getting out of here!

*hides melodramaticaly behind a tree while Juan staggers grinning toward her, mumbling "good story... girl, pregnant. hmmm..."

Go ahead. Apologize to him for my behavior. See what happens.



Q_C

 

[Paendragon]

Welcome to the AH

Thanks.

 

[RhymeFairy]

hang in there My Friend.
You are a writer ... if you write. Now the hard part?
People actually LIKING what we as writers ... write.

Everyone is different. Write what makes you happy and the rest will happen. Reading others, hanging out ... chatting about and just mellowing out, are ALL good things to do. So hang in there, and just write ...

just me ~

 

[cloudy]

Juan is not qualified to make that judgment. Nor are his illiterate cousins.

They outnumber us, wishful.

*Ahem*

(imitates best Bobby from Night of the Living Dead voice) They're coming to get you, wishful. They're coming for you. Look! There comes one now. I'm getting out of here!

*hides melodramaticaly behind a tree while Juan staggers grinning toward her, mumbling "good story... girl, pregnant. hmmm..."

Go ahead. Apologize to him for my behavior. See what happens.



Q_C

Juan?

iam juan you no like my father he real mens no like sick lebsians womens they sick

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Juan?

iam juan you no like my father he real mens no like sick lebsians womens they sick

I take it my vote has been seconded?



Q_C

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

That might be a good idea.

My stories, so far, have been pretty generic (fantasies conjured up by myself, my fiance, and some friends). I'm relatively new to erotica, having spent most of my time concentrating on fantasy.

Most of my pre-posting attempts have come out more like letters to Penthouse than stories, and were thusly shelved.

But, I figure spending some time with writers might do me some good. Hell, it can't hurt.

PD,

I didn't recognize your name until I read QC's post. Good to see you around. I've glanced, just glanced, at your stories (watching football). Based on that and what you said, here are three other suggestiions.

Try writing in the third person. First person seems instinctive but can be a real challenge.

Turn on the Public Comment feature. Yes, you'll get anon flames, but those can be deleted and the feature may give you some clues to the thinking of the general reader.

Consider submitting a story to the Story Discussion Circle. You'll get some thoughtful critiques but will be expected to give a few first. Both giving and getting can help you as a writer.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Paendragon]

hang in there My Friend.
You are a writer ... if you write. Now the hard part?
People actually LIKING what we as writers ... write.

Everyone is different. Write what makes you happy and the rest will happen. Reading others, hanging out ... chatting about and just mellowing out, are ALL good things to do. So hang in there, and just write ...

just me ~

Funny, isn't it? I write for me, but still get peeved when they don't do well.

What does that say?

 

[Paendragon]

PD,

I didn't recognize your name until I read QC's post. Good to see you around. I've glanced, just glanced, at your stories (watching football). Based on that and what you said, here are three other suggestiions.

Try writing in the third person. First person seems instinctive but can be a real challenge.

Turn on the Public Comment feature. Yes, you'll get anon flames, but those can be deleted and the feature may give you some clues to the thinking of the general reader.

Consider submitting a story to the Story Discussion Circle. You'll get some thoughtful critiques but will be expected to give a few first. Both giving and getting can help you as a writer.

Rumple Foreskin

The story discussion circle?

 

[JRaven]

Paen,
Looking at your list of stories, I immediatly come to a conclusion. Both of your Group Sex stories have H's. Both of your Loving Wives stories do not.

Conclusion: Readers like group sex more than they like wives that enjoy themselves.

I've read all four. I was easily and honestly able to 5 vote all four. The only reason I can see for the lower scores would be the categories they're put in. Maybe they would have done better in the Erotic Couplings for all four. Otherwise, I haven't got a clue. They're good stories. And, I'm waiting for all four to get together.

Jenny

 

[rgraham666]

Welcome to the AH, Paen.

So far, the stories I've sweated over have done pretty well.

But so do the quick pieces of smut I've thrown together.

I don't really now what the readers want, I write for myself. But I'm pleased when other like it.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

A moment's reflection on pop music, fast food joints, and and prime time TV should prove to anyone that the correlation between popularity and quality is tenuous at best.

 

[SeaCat]

Hey there,

Let me as well welcome you to the Lit. Board. (Not all of them are as whacked as me, but then again I've had practice.)

Yeah talking to the authors here can help, it has helped me.

A little piece of advice, (actually two pieces but I've been visited by Lord Baccuses Cousin.) Write for yourself, and grow some thick skin.

Okay, I admit that didn't sound very nice, but there it is. It doesn't matter how good your story is, someone out there isn't going to like it. Get used to that. Not all of us are in Cloudy's, or Bob's, or Ogg's level of writing. (Very few of us are in actuality.) Some of us get used to that and just keep on wiriting because we enjoy the hell out of it.

Oh, one other piece of advice, no matter how good your story, no matter what you put into it, DO NOT put it in loving wives! (Unless of course you want strange and hateful feedback.)

Cat

 

[Paendragon]

Paen,
Looking at your list of stories, I immediatly come to a conclusion. Both of your Group Sex stories have H's. Both of your Loving Wives stories do not.

Conclusion: Readers like group sex more than they like wives that enjoy themselves.

I've read all four. I was easily and honestly able to 5 vote all four. The only reason I can see for the lower scores would be the categories they're put in. Maybe they would have done better in the Erotic Couplings for all four. Otherwise, I haven't got a clue. They're good stories. And, I'm waiting for all four to get together.

Jenny

Hmmmmmmm. It'll be interesting to see if it continues to follow that trend. Thanks for the votes.

 

[Paendragon]

Hey there,

Let me as well welcome you to the Lit. Board. (Not all of them are as whacked as me, but then again I've had practice.)

Yeah talking to the authors here can help, it has helped me.

A little piece of advice, (actually two pieces but I've been visited by Lord Baccuses Cousin.) Write for yourself, and grow some thick skin.

Okay, I admit that didn't sound very nice, but there it is. It doesn't matter how good your story is, someone out there isn't going to like it. Get used to that. Not all of us are in Cloudy's, or Bob's, or Ogg's level of writing. (Very few of us are in actuality.) Some of us get used to that and just keep on wiriting because we enjoy the hell out of it.

Oh, one other piece of advice, no matter how good your story, no matter what you put into it, DO NOT put it in loving wives! (Unless of course you want strange and hateful feedback.)

Cat

Is the Loving Wives section seriously voted poorly? Odd.

 

[rgraham666]

Is the Loving Wives section seriously voted poorly? Odd.

Loving Wives is weird.

If you write about a cheating wife, you piss off the trolls who think she and the authour should be eviscerated.

If you write about a wife loving her husband, you piss of the trolls who want her to cheat, and big. They then call for the evisceration of the character and the authour.

And if the wife doesn't get pregnant in either case, you piss off the pregnancy fetishists. Who then call for the evisceration of the character and the authour.

It's not a category you can win in.

 

[Paendragon]

Loving Wives is weird.

If you write about a cheating wife, you piss off the trolls who think she and the authour should be eviscerated.

If you write about a wife loving her husband, you piss of the trolls who want her to cheat, and big. They then call for the evisceration of the character and the authour.

And if the wife doesn't get pregnant in either case, you piss off the pregnancy fetishists. Who then call for the evisceration of the character and the authour.

It's not a category you can win in.

You know, I did get some feedback that complained that the character of Leigh didn't get pregnant.

I thought it was kinda funny thing to complain about, myself, but to each his own.

 

[elsol]

Don't write erotica...

Write stories with lots of sex in them...

Sincerely,
ElSol