memoires - to write or not to write...

[Lazarus]

Hi all,

Over the years of chatting in this name and others (including Wyoming and Calaf) I find myself telling some of the old stories of my somewhat wild sex life way back when. (of course I could be just getting old or something)

I have been considering writing a series of sexual memoires and posted this thread to get some ideas on how best to do this.

Specifically some of my questions are:

1) Should they be in the first person like I'm recalling the story?
2) Should I write the stories as stand alone or part of a novel/novella?

Many of the wilder adventures involve the same two couples and me so I think that the novel might work but would that decrease the reads?

Anyway, any thoughts you all might have will help me in two ways, first to get me started on some fun stories and second to get me enough posts so I'm no longer a virgin....lol

Lazarus

 

[cantdog]

I generally don't prefer first person narratives.

 

[Boxlicker101]

If you are writing about your own experiences, you almost have to use the first person.

I would suggest a series of short stories, with yourself as the continuing character but each story centered around a different person or group of persons. One person can appear in more than one story, either as an individual or as part of a group.

Most of my stories are written like that, except they are strictly fiction, rather than being memoirs. (drat)

 

[Lazarus]

thanks

thanks for the reply, I think the two posts show my conundrum. LOL

I have written the first as first person, maybe the process is not entirely for my readers but a catharsis for me. Recalling these memories is an interesting experience. Trying to recall her scent, the shape of her breatss, the texture and the feelings helps to make the story interesting but it also brings back some really fun stuff (to be used later...).

Thanks for the replies and keep em coming folks

Laz

 

[oggbashan]

Use - don't abuse

The problem with writing true stories of personal encounters is the potential to embarrass yourself or the others involved. At worst lawyers might get involved.

While it is a good idea and good practice to write out your memories of the real events those accounts should be for your eyes only and to be used as a basis for future stories.

'I did this; she did that; I did this...' can easily become boring.

If you think of a plot and a framework in which to put the sexual encounters you are likely to be able to produce much more than a straightforward account. You can use your memories over and over again with a few 'what ifs' - e.g what if she didn't agree to your suggestion and replied with a suggestion of doing something else?

Imagination can turn the reality into something even more special.

Best wishes with the writing.

Og

 

[pop_54]

Do it Laz, why not... The truth can be more far out than fiction.

If it's going to be a true account of your memories, a sort of autobiography, then there is no choice but to write it in first person, any other way would automatically take away all of the truth and it would then become a fictional piece... There is no way you can know the true thoughts of others involved, and so you cannot write it from their viewpoint... I assume you didn't have an expert witness present at the sexual happenings, and so it cannot be written by an observer.

I'm doing a semi factual autobiography for NanoWrimo, it's fun, so much fun I'm fucking with real life to finish it, there are extracts on the Nano support thread if you want to see the way I'm going about it in a light hearted manner.

pops

 

[cantdog]

If you are writing about your own experiences, you almost have to use the first person.

.....Nonsense. Only if you refuse entirely to speculate what the events may have been like from another point of view. And once you admit more than one POV, why not license them fully by going to third person?

I would suggest a series of short stories, with yourself as the continuing character but each story centered around a different person or group of persons. One person can appear in more than one story, either as an individual or as part of a group.

Most of my stories are written like that, except they are strictly fiction, rather than being memoirs. (drat)

His shorts idea, imho, is a good one. If you're starting in the game, do one story, do it completely, then stop. After editing for brevity and pace and clear dialogue and whatnot, natch.

Unless a grand novel type scheme is already a-hatching in the storytelling brain, of course. One at a time is the best, if not. You get better as you go, and there's less rewrite in a short tale.

 

[Lazarus]

lots of ideas

I like all the ideas but, I think in the interest of anonimity, I will change the names at least to avoid the potential embarassment.

Of course these stories happened twenty years ago and who among you believes my name is really Lazarus Long? I wish...

anyway, I'll be posting the first one soon and we can decide if it was a good idea or should I repost in a different version.

Thanks again all

Laz

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Laz,

Just a suggestion. There is a great series of humorous, pseudo-memoir, historical novels by George MacDonald Fraser. They are reputedly based on the "recently discovered memoirs of Sir Harry Flashman, VC. Instead of the stereotypical Victorian ear clean-cut, square-jawec, self-sacrificing Christian warrior, Harry is a self-confessed bully, coward and drunken womanizer who somehow ermerges from all his adventuers with even more fraudulent glory, for instance his knighthood and Victoria Cross.

You could do worse than starting with, "Flashman at the Charge," in which our hero accidentally rides into glory with the Light Brigade, all the time cursing his fate, crying for help, peeing in his paints, and trying to find a way out.

The stories are stand-alone but part of a series, and told in first person. However, by having the works presented by the "editor" of the memoirs, Fraser can slip in narrative moments when needed.

Besides, IMHO, they're funny as hell. Check 'em out.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[cantdog]

I love the hell out of the Flashman books. But I still prefer not ot read first person narratives.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I love the hell out of the Flashman books. But I still prefer not ot read first person narratives.

About nine times out of ten I'm in complete agreement. The Flashman series is one of the exceptions. And I admit to liking Raymond Chandler's first person Phillip Marlow detective novels.

Rumple Foreskin