A_Little_Show
Really Experienced
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Modern vs. Period, Show vs. Tell, Dialog vs. Exposition
- Thread starter A_Little_Show
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TxRad
Dirty Old Man
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Write your stories your way and learn your style as you go. That is one good thing about this site. It is a great place to learn your craft. Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has their own and think it is the best one in the world. One day you will be the same way. 
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
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Almost every thread here is based on two things, experience and opinion.
And both are personal.
The majority of topics here have no cut and dried answer. Short of something like "how do you delete a story" everything is up to personal tastes.
The words not to use thread is just people's individual takes on what they like and don't and a lot of it was tongue and cheek
Nothing about writing aside from basic grammar rules (and formatting for wherever you're posting) is etched in stone.
What I do is look at the question asked, look through the answers and much of the time I take something of use from someone, but don;t feel locked into anything.
I think these threads are sounding boards more than a direct "how to..." and the people that are adamant their way is the only way are just like the people you'll work with who do the same thing. Stubborn assholes.
If you see a response that makes you say, "Hey that makes sense" use it, if something makes you go "are you kidding?" then don't.
Free advice on a free writing site, take it for what you paid for it.
And both are personal.
The majority of topics here have no cut and dried answer. Short of something like "how do you delete a story" everything is up to personal tastes.
The words not to use thread is just people's individual takes on what they like and don't and a lot of it was tongue and cheek
Nothing about writing aside from basic grammar rules (and formatting for wherever you're posting) is etched in stone.
What I do is look at the question asked, look through the answers and much of the time I take something of use from someone, but don;t feel locked into anything.
I think these threads are sounding boards more than a direct "how to..." and the people that are adamant their way is the only way are just like the people you'll work with who do the same thing. Stubborn assholes.
If you see a response that makes you say, "Hey that makes sense" use it, if something makes you go "are you kidding?" then don't.
Free advice on a free writing site, take it for what you paid for it.
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
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Just want to toss in that the above mentioned threads are good to see. It is an author's hangout
The threads that annoy me are the current events, "hey look at this" threads or TV shows or things that are all also featured on the GB, but for some reason the AH needs their versions as well.
The threads that annoy me are the current events, "hey look at this" threads or TV shows or things that are all also featured on the GB, but for some reason the AH needs their versions as well.
Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
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- Mar 1, 2000
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Don't worry about pleasing the readers or the writers, worry about telling your story the best you can with whatever technique the story demands.
In general, dialogue works better than exposition, show works better than tell, and readers tend to skip over large blocks of statistics. But even those trends have exceptions; you can't write as story featuring a reward poster without a "reward poster" description somewhere.
J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
It aint possible to please everyone, and rarely is it possible to please anyone. Get over it, and please you. When you find interesting writing, study it till you know how to do the same thing, then make it better.
RichardBacula
Really Experienced
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- Sep 20, 2013
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If somebody doesn't like something you did (or didn't do) in your story, that only matters if you agree with them.
If the majority of people seem to dislike something that you did (or didn't) do in your story, then it's worth some long consideration. Whatever you're attempting isn't being properly conveyed to the audience for some reason.
If everybody dislikes something that you did (or didn't) do in your story, then that definitely means something's wrong on your end.
PennLady
Literotica Guru
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- Mar 26, 2009
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And you probably shouldn't try.
Most of the advice here, I think, comes down to people offering their experiences and what worked best for them. If something appeals to you, give it a try. You can always delete it.Well, who cares what they say?
No, I don't mean that quite as it sounds, but this is an internet board and most of us don't know each other in real life. I like to get opinions, but you need to weigh them against what you need.Body parts can be tough, but it depends on the characters and story, like so much else. If it's a soft romance, "cock" will likely be out of place. Penis might not be. If it's harder, then the clinical names like penis and vagina will probably sound kind of silly.
Again, it all depends. DG Hear and woodmanone have lots of romance stories up with minimal sex, or none at all. But it's okay for them and the types of stories they write.
Also, remember that people are probably quicker to comment in the negative. There could be a lot of people out there who liked your story, but they just didn't say anything. Which is a bummer for you, certainly, but it happens to all of us.
If your kinks or preferences are "out of the mainstream," then yes, it may take longer to find your audience. There are also other sites to post on, though. Perhaps you should try those sites just to see what happens. I don't think you're doing a poor job, but sometimes it does take a little longer to find your niche.
PennLady
Literotica Guru
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I generally agree with this. I've gone with the general rule that if one or two people complain, I let it go. If many more than that remark on the same thing, it's worth looking into.
patientlee
I won't tell!
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Maybe the answer is in your signature line. Maybe "welcoming" negative feedback is inviting trouble.
Just a thought.
BuckyDuckman
Literotica Guru
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- Sep 18, 2011
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What's a piece of writing advice that helped when you were first trying to write?
For me, it was the writer who said she keeps a blank picture frame on her desk with a one inch square inside of it. That one inch square reminds her that she can only write what she can see through that tiny window. That advice reminded me that while lots of things were happening outside of the frame, I could only write about a small piece of it. It helped focus my writing.
Maybe someone can help me with this one - but I believe it comes from Stephen King whom advises one to avoid -ly adverbs and choose a better verb.
After seeing several threads of people asking similar "how do I learn to write" questions I'm consistently surprised at the the graciousness of experienced hands passing out (and often repeating) advice with very little snark.
For me, it was the writer who said she keeps a blank picture frame on her desk with a one inch square inside of it. That one inch square reminds her that she can only write what she can see through that tiny window. That advice reminded me that while lots of things were happening outside of the frame, I could only write about a small piece of it. It helped focus my writing.
Maybe someone can help me with this one - but I believe it comes from Stephen King whom advises one to avoid -ly adverbs and choose a better verb.
After seeing several threads of people asking similar "how do I learn to write" questions I'm consistently surprised at the the graciousness of experienced hands passing out (and often repeating) advice with very little snark.
soflabbwlvr
Literotica Guru
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- Oct 6, 2009
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Certain types of questions produce opinions for answers that are presented as fact. Many writers feel that the only way to tell a story is their way, and look down at anything that strays from their own personal model. For most writing issues discussed on this board there is no consensus, only a spectrum of personal tastes. On many of these issues, your opinion is as valid as any other that you may read here.
For example, I personally detest stories told in the I/you POV. To me, that is the worst kind of writing on this site. But you know what? Some readers love them. I recently slogged through a highly rated story in that style, just to see if I was missing something. After reading the piece my opinion was unchanged, but the story had dozens of glowing comments. Readers who like that style loved it.
Tell the story you want to tell. Find someone whose opinion you value, and get them to look over your work and offer suggestions--preferably someone who writes in that genre or style, and who also reads stories here. Then take their feedback and polish it until it shines.
J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
People know how to write, intuitively. That's cuz almost everyone gets as many fairytales and Mother Goose as they get Mothers Milk. Folks are inundated with stories.
Where they fuck up is living protected, soft lives, where nuthin much happens. They have nuthin worth sharing.
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
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The best advice I have ever gotten for writing is the best advice I have ever seen anywhere and what I tell anyone because it applies to everything.
When I was young maybe around 10 or 11 my father would always say "Don't talk about it, do it."
Later on Nike came out with what I consider to be the single best advertising slogan ever.
Just do it.
Three simple words say it all. You can talk about it, plan it, think about it, dream it, etc..... but nothing will ever happen if you don't just do it.
When I was young maybe around 10 or 11 my father would always say "Don't talk about it, do it."
Later on Nike came out with what I consider to be the single best advertising slogan ever.
Just do it.
Three simple words say it all. You can talk about it, plan it, think about it, dream it, etc..... but nothing will ever happen if you don't just do it.
J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
Yep. JUST DO IT! Is sage wisdom. And DO IT NOW.
J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
Youre still a young stud, LC, but at 65 I'm forever losing my erections if I don't use them like right now. Their USE BY DATE is like NOW.
J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
And the Old Lady is no help.
She don't care about the use by date cuz your erection is like ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE, she's seen it a bazillion times, knows it by heart, and it don't get no better with age. AFTER I FINISH MAKING THE GINGERBREAD, GEORGE!!
She don't care about the use by date cuz your erection is like ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE, she's seen it a bazillion times, knows it by heart, and it don't get no better with age. AFTER I FINISH MAKING THE GINGERBREAD, GEORGE!!
TxRad
Dirty Old Man
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J
JAMESBJOHNSON
Guest
And fuck the gingerbread men would not go over very well.
Amen Brother TEX.
Hypoxia
doesn't watch television
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Rules are like standards -- there are just so many of them! Choose the rule or standard you like and go with it. For a different task, pick a different rule or standard. No single rule or standard works in all cases. Hint: note which rules and standards work in cases that interest you. That is, copy the masters. Don't copy the losers. Like me.
Bramblethorn
Sleep-deprived
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- Feb 16, 2012
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"Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes." - Tolkien.
Any time an author gives advice, I mentally attach this boilerplate: "This is what works for me, maybe it'll work for you. Don't just follow this advice blindly; think about why it works for me and whether those reasons apply to you."
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
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There are no masters or losers here.
Despite what a couple of individuals may think this is a free site, our paychecks are all the same and we are all on equal footing.
Even things like contest wins are more name recognition or just getting the right story at the right time. The H's are tainted by fans who will give 5's no matter what you write once they get to know you and even vote totals and comment numbers go by category and author more by talent.
Lit is a popularity contest far more than judge of talent.
sr71plt
Literotica Guru
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I've always thought the best advice wasn't to ask for it here on the forum (where you'll get the wide ranging responses you note--mostly from folks with no more experience in writing than you have) but to read in the categories you like, to isolate on the writers you like to read in that category, and then to consider what they do that you would like to be doing. I also suggest that you ask authors whose work you identify with directly to read what you've written and tell you what they think works and doesn't.
That's how I found my editor (and eventually one of my publishers) and coauthor here. He contacted me and we shared stories before they were published and, eventually, became each other's editor.
That's how I found my editor (and eventually one of my publishers) and coauthor here. He contacted me and we shared stories before they were published and, eventually, became each other's editor.
