New author with questions

[DirtyGyrl]

HI......I am thinking about posting s few stories to the site and could use some advice from those of you who have posted before. I have recently had somre personal experiences desearving of being turned into a story, but how does one take a personal story and turn it into something others want to read, a story that flows?

Any thoughts?

 

[FlyontheWall99]

HI......I am thinking about posting s few stories to the site and could use some advice from those of you who have posted before. I have recently had somre personal experiences desearving of being turned into a story, but how does one take a personal story and turn it into something others want to read, a story that flows?

Any thoughts?

Well just write it, as simple as that! But you do have to take into account legal ramifications, so you may want to change names, etc so it isn't an exact detailing of these personal experiences you speak about. Other than that, don't scribble all over it, "this is a true story," many an author and even reader has become cynical about the number of "true" stories on Lit ....

Back to writing ....

Fly ....

 

[Guest]

Even Sam Beckett was autobiographical but you'd have to research his life to see that. The most 'abstract' poetry is too. My point: just write and work on the writing. You story is of no interest to anyone but you and those who love you. For an anonymous reader you've got to make it a good telling in the writerly details. From your query I would guess you don't read all that much, or have not been very thoughtful about what writing is. I'm only being blunt, not rude. Read more, write more.

Perdita

 

[ffreak]

What Perdita said - you should read stories here until you find a form that seems to wrap itself around your experience. Then tell us the story, tell us the anticipation, the feelings you had as the event unfolded, tell us about the colors and the sounds and the fragrance that still pervades your memory. And then submit, so we can experience your joy too.

-FF

 

[MaxSebastian]

Changing names, that goes without saying, although in this type of story I suspect it's not exactly going to be about protecting the 'innocent'.

Then, you hve some questions to answer before you start getting down to the writing, I think.

Firstly: are you going to write a series of stories based on the same characters, or are you going to write a number of different stories based on your experiences, but with different characters going through each one. Both options are possible and both can be interesting in their own way.

Then, ask yourself why your personal experiences are deserving of being told publicly. What was so special about them? Whatever it is, you have to get that across in your story.

How close to the events do you want to get? A story can be very close, or merely loosely based. As well as changing names, you can change settings (in time or location), characterisations, events, beginnings and outcomes.

Then, assuming it is an erotic story, you want to find a structure that works, a structure which means the tale is not going to have any boring bits, a structure that builds up towards a sex scene (or a number of sex scenes) and then leaves the reader with a decent ending - i.e. satisfaction.

Then with your story, you have to answer these six questions (in no particular order): How? Why? When? Where? Who? What?

So: how do the characters meet, how do they feel about each other, how to they move things on from that initial attraction to full blown passion? Why do they meet, why do they feel attracted to each other, why can't they stop thinking about each other? What happens?

Structure the story so there is a good beginning, which draws in the reader and gets them interested in the characters, motivated to keep reading, curious about what is going to happen to these guys. Then a middle, which could be about building expectation, letting the characters explore each other, each others' feelings. Build up to a love scene, perhaps, then afterwards build to another, and so on. A good plot is like the surface of the ocean: never flat. Always building up to the next wave. You go through one wave, you're building to the next. A short story can be about a single wave, a single event - but it has to be building up to something to provide some kind of climax. Otherwise, the reader's going to be bored. Or, it can be many waves, always building up to something, then dropping down to build up to the next.

And try not to forget to put in some characterisation. What are these characters like? It is all to easy to forget this when you are basing something on real life. You may know what these characters are/were like, but the reader hasn't a clue.

Have a look through the writers' resources section of the site - plenty more worthwhile tips there.

Best of luck!

 

[Jenny _S]

Just write the damn stories and submit them. Then make a post in the Story Feedback Forum asking how long it takes to get posted.

If we like them we won't tell you.

 

[LorriLove]

HI......I am thinking about posting s few stories to the site and could use some advice from those of you who have posted before. I have recently had somre personal experiences desearving of being turned into a story, but how does one take a personal story and turn it into something others want to read, a story that flows?

Any thoughts?

hiya love welcome to literotica, do as the others have said honey i suppose, read a few stories, write a few chapters and see how it looks.
hubby writes a lot of true'ish stuff, always changes the names, well most of them, and always adds or subtracts a bit to make it just a bit fiction like.

i think most of the people who read here want fantasy rather than autobiography, if you spice it up or down a bit that helps give them a bit of fantasy, while keeping it close to the truth for your enjoyment.
it's lovely re-living something in writing isn't it honey


lorri xxxxxxxx

 

[MathGirl]

Dear DG,
Usually 3 to 5 days. Sometimes as long as a week if there are lots of submissions.
Helpfully,
MG

 

[Jenny _S]

Dear DG,
Usually 3 to 5 days. Sometimes as long as a week if there are lots of submissions.
Helpfully,
MG

Thank you, MG

But please wait for the newbie to foolishly follow directions and make the post first next time.

 

[MathGirl]

Originally posted by Jenny _S Thank you, MG But please wait for the newbie to foolishly follow directions and make the post first next time.

Dear Jenny,
Oh, Dear. I did it again, didn't I? That's the problem when you only know one answer. The right question doesn't get asked often enough.
Humiliatedly,
MG
Ps. In the future, will someone please let me know when it's appropriate to post my answer? I'm very proud of it, and I'd hate to miss an opportunity to use it.

 

[LorriLove]

giggle

Thank you, MG

But please wait for the newbie to foolishly follow directions and make the post first next time.

i think she's got a crystal ball hun, she knew it was coming

 

[Jenny _S]

In the future, will someone please let me know when it's appropriate to post my answer? I'm very proud of it, and I'd hate to miss an opportunity to use it.

Certainly, MG. Next opportunity I will email you.

 

[Guest]

Maths, just follow your heart, or your gut. I'm proud of you.

nearly sniffling, Perdita

 

[MathGirl]

how does one take a personal story and turn it into something others want to read, a story that flows?

Dear DG,
You seem to be asking the question, "How do I write a story?" That's a rather monumental question. I think that's a little beyond the scope of this group. There have been many books on the subject, though.
MG

 

[Jenny _S]

Re: Re: New author with questions

Dear DG,
You seem to be asking the question, "How do I write a story?" That's a rather monumental question. I think that's a little beyond the scope of this group. There have been many books on the subject, though.
MG

Maybe I should make a really long and confusing post here ostensibly to help this newbie out but what actually does nothing but cloud her mind with useless drivel about authorship and five-speed automobile transmissions. If nothing else she may end up writing some smutty yarn about a car mechanic in love with an Edsel or something. Comments?

 

[damppanties]

Re: Re: Re: New author with questions

...Comments?

Yes. Why not?

 

[ffreak]

You people are shameless.

I love it.

-FF (shamelessly)

 

[Gabriel_Lee]

HI......I am thinking about posting s few stories to the site and could use some advice from those of you who have posted before. I have recently had somre personal experiences desearving of being turned into a story, but how does one take a personal story and turn it into something others want to read, a story that flows?

Any thoughts?

Write your story for yourself in your own words, but assuming you will have a sudden attack of amnesia before you read it again, so don't skimp on the detail. Embellish it a little to make it more interesting (to you) and also to depersonalize it slightly, so that you can be more objective about it. Then read it through as if it had been posted by someone else whose identity and background are unknown to you. If possible, get someone else's opinion. Be critical, but not self-conscious. Find and correct the faults. Fill in the gaps. Post.

Good Luck

GL

P.S. Don't rely on spell checkers, use a dictionary.

 

[damppanties]

You people are shameless.

I love it.

-FF (shamelessly)

Try doing it yourself Effy. It's easy. I know you can do it. You have it in you.

 

[MathGirl]

The AAMCO Corner

Originally posted by Jenny _S drivel about authorship and five-speed automobile transmissions. Comments?

Dear Je,
Comments? Oh, okay. Are we talking fully synchromesh five speeds here, or do we have a crash-box into first like Morris has?
MG
Ps. i hear that theres a standing offer of a rim botting by the editors of motor trend to the first person who can accurately describe the desmodromic camshaft system on the authors hangout but that may be just a rumor i could do that but i don't want my rim botted by motor trend editors or anyone else someone else here might want to go for the prize though
Pps. is getting ones rim botted desirable do you need special shoes

 

[Pure]

Hi Dirty.

you ask
//....I am thinking about posting s few stories to the site and could use some advice from those of you who have posted before. I have recently had somre personal experiences deserving of being turned into a story, but how does one take a personal story and turn it into something others want to read, a story that flows?//

welcome,

there's been some good advice, like from MaxS, ffreak, Lorri, and some others. reflect on it. try to think of a usable/viable unit or chunk of time, so that the thing has beginning middle and end.

as for the rude stuff, above, don't take it too seriously. some enjoy being that way; others, basically decent sorts, get into into it like one boy joins a group of them throwing stones at a cat. remember, certain ones who condescend are not necessarily more advanced than you, in authoring; there is an impression that having hundreds of postings in Author's Hangout makes one more of an author or adds to one's authorial mystique.

oh, being gifted--if nothing else--in writing incisive sarcasm, they can sometimes demolish in a single gemlike line which cascades into a series of sparkling bravissimi from friends. watch.

 

[Pure]

P[erd] to Dirty

""From your query I would guess you don't read all that much, or have not been very thoughtful about what writing is. I'm only being blunt, not rude.""

Yes, of course. and are blessed with the incanny ability to know the depth of another's thoughts from sixty words of theirs in the first posting they've ever made.

 

[Guest]

P to imP: Twat.

 

[ffreak]

I'm confused. Is that a Pure Twat? How does that compare to other types of twat?

-FF (twit tat)

ps. Dear DirtyGyrl please save us - do something before the twining here becomes threadbare. Unless you like threadbare. Come to think of it, that might not be so bad, considering some of the AV's running naked around here. (Don't worry, we're just tapping our impatient footsies waiting for your story - but we're imaginative types, we'll make something up to keep us busy).

 

[Guest]

I'm confused. Is that a Pure Twat? How does that compare to other types of twat?

So f**king sorry you had to ask.

Pure, the Lit. non-author (can't find his/her stories posted), is a twat; says I, Perdita.

Eff: ask no more.