New Writer

[123myname321]

Hi everyone.

I'm just about to start work on my first erotic story and was wondering if you had any advice for me. I've written other things but this will be my first attempt at erotica, any advice will be much appreciated.

 

[gauchecritic]

Two things: thing one, if you spot a cliche excise it immediately. (with certain exceptions) thing two, show don't tell.

Gauche

Maybe you should write it first then ask for help so we can see what we are dealing with.

 

[123myname321]

cheers gauche

 

[English Lady]

my advice is just write it...

...then go back and take out all the crappy stuff

good luck!

 

[Madame Manga]

Welcome! I hope you have fun here. I do. ;-)

Advice for writing an erotic story to post on Lit?

Don't tell anyone whether it's true or not. Make them guess.

Avoid giving exact measurements of sexual organs. Remember that the average penis is not even close to nine inches long. We all sneer loudly at that kind of thing. ;-)

Write about something that turns you on, not something you think other people will approve of.

Make all your characters 18 or older (them's the rules).

Proofread.

MM

 

[MathGirl]

Advice for FNG

Don't forget the sheep.

Just kidding. Tell your story, use decent English and punctuation, and don't let the reader voting get you down.
MG

 

[bridgeburner]

Welcome!

Once you've written your story, find a volunteer editor or two to take a look at it. It's always helpful to have another eye......as long as it's not in the middle of your forehead.




-B

 

[123myname321]

thanks. Someone mentioned the rules, where could I find a copy of them?

 

[bridgeburner]

Check out the FAQ page. There's info on all kinds of stuff including how to make submission and what rules and guidelines are to be followed.

FAQ Page

 

[Couture]

If you excised all cliches, we wouldn't be left with any stories.

The best erotic stories take cliches and spin them from a slightly different angle. Add a little good writing and you've got yourself a winner.

 

[gauchecritic]

If you excised all cliches, we wouldn't be left with any stories.

The best erotic stories take cliches and spin them from a slightly different angle. Add a little good writing and you've got yourself a winner.

But then they don't contain cliches. Voila; excised.

Gauche

 

[TheEarl]

At the risk of sounding self-centred...What the hell, I am self-centred. I would actually recommend reading this: http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=69186. I don't know where the muse went that allowed me to write that How To, but I want him back.

Would highly recommend reading anything and everything in the Writer's Resources section: http://www.literotica.com/storyxs/writ_stor.shtml

The Earl

 

[MlledeLaPlumeBleu]

Welcome. Don't step in the haiku.

Write exactly what you want to see crawling across that page- and don't deviate from your inner vision. I'm aware that I sound rather "Mr. Miyagi" here, but: there are plenty of people who would tell you how to write, and not one of them knows the truth of You.

Don't censor yourself because it's your first time out- bare it all.

Miss Blue Pen

 

[Svenskaflicka]

And a few mentionings of how wonderful you think the Harry Potter-books are, will always save a dull story!

Seriously - remember this:

Whatever you write, however you write, there will be some people who like you and some who dislike you.

 

[Gabriel_Lee]

Write for yourself.

Check for silly mistakes, spelling and grammar (don't rely on a spell-checker).

Don't use overly long paragraphs (difficult to read on the screen).

If you think the story is any good, read it. If you still think it's good, give it a 5.

Value negative criticism, provided it is a little more detailed than 'this story really sucks'.

GL

PS. Some people think that giving my stories a 5 brings good luck.

 

[MathGirl]

Some people think that giving my stories a 5 brings good luck.

Dear GL,
Oh, that's very good. Why didn't I think of it?
MG

 

[KillerMuffin]

Write for yourself. Write to your audience.

 

[MlledeLaPlumeBleu]

KM makes a pithy and valid point. I emphatically second this.

 

[KillerMuffin]

*hides pith hat and pitchfork*

Thank you Mlle.

 

[Dirty Slut]

If you have written elsewhere as you say...

Then you pretty much know that all of the advice above is right on the money. As for writing erotica, there are two ways to go, and one is considered pornographic, while the other is considered erotic. Notice both end in IC, and only the individual reading it can make a determination as to which they think you've written. LOL Personally, I'm more of an inbetween IC's kind of writer as I write mostly for myself, and get caught up in the moment to the point of going from well meant e to a more detailed p, but hey, that me. Also, I have a rye sense of humor that rarely reaches most readers of this genre so I have that going against me as well. Be that as it may, you already know that writing is nothing more than hard work so that one has to be masocistic, or enjoy it to produce it. So good luck, and 5's in your efforts. I know an inventor who designed the most incredible Star Base out of reconfigured space shuttle fuel tanks, but was turned down for what they've put up now. So don't be discouraged.

DS

 

[FlyontheWall99]

Im my experience the good far outweighs the bad. So just keep on writing and writing and writing. Finish one story and get stuck into your next. Get someone to help edit while your still new to the game and you'll do alright. I found reading a lot of Lit stuff before I ever tried writing for Lit was a great way to be introduced into the scheme of things ....