Question For Authors

[Challenged]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Just curious...

 

[NotWise]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Just curious...

Uncomfortable in what way? You don't like the topic, you don't like the way you wrote it?

I've reread stories and found myself uncomfortable with the way it's written. I've never found myself in a moral quandry. If it isn't published yet, then you can always rewrite.

 

[SamScribble]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Just curious...

No. But I have written three or four pages and thought: Sam, you can do better than this. And I have deleted it and started again with a clean screen.

 

[Challenged]

I suppose it is a moral quandary... like 'jeez dude, where did that come from'? I guess I just ventured outside my comfort zone - a bit to far, perhaps. Thanks for the responses.

 

[NotWise]

I suppose it is a moral quandary... like 'jeez dude, where did that come from'? I guess I just ventured outside my comfort zone - a bit to far, perhaps. Thanks for the responses.

I can imagine getting wrapped up in the writing and stepping outside my moral comfort zone. I haven't done it, and maybe you should think about it more. Does the limit define you, or does it expand your frame of thought?

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

Yes, I feel this sometimes. I’m writing a series of novels about incestual relationships and often feel quite icky about it.

 

[KeithD]

Nope, and I written on acts I'd never try at home myself.

 

[ElectricBlue]

No. But I have written three or four pages and thought: Sam, you can do better than this. And I have deleted it and started again with a clean screen.

Yep, this. If it's not working in the first thousand words, it ain't ever going to work, so I'll bin it.

But have I woken up and thought, "Bloody hell, where did that lot come from?" in a wtf kind of way? Often, but never in a bad way, more from a sense of astonishment, "Wow, did I actually write that? Damn, that's good!"

 

[MichaelGH]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Just curious...

I mean I've worked on things were I've begun to believe that it reflects something negative about myself.

 

[Jada59]

Never.

 

[SimonDoom]

Not at all.

I'm very clear on this issue. This is a fantasy zone. It has nothing to do with the real world, and you are in no way obligated to abide by the rules and laws of the real world. Enter and play guilt-free, in my view.

 

[Hypoxia]

Another NO. And certainly not 15-20 LIT pages of ~3750 words each. If 500-750 words don't come together, it's time to re-think. Or I might reach 1500-2000 words and realize a few paragraphs don't belong there, so off to the fragment bin those go, maybe bound for another chapter. But I don't keyboard automatically, hypnotized, and then look down and shriek, "OMFG WTF has I done?!?" Doesn't happen. Too much work.

Shock does not hinder me. Writing most of something, looking at it and muttering, "later, gator," is what hinders me.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I suppose it is a moral quandary... like 'jeez dude, where did that come from'? I guess I just ventured outside my comfort zone - a bit to far, perhaps. Thanks for the responses.

I’ve written two stories like that. In the end I submitted them under a different username because they were way different from what I usually write. They did push me to write them but comfort zone? Hmmmm, they were both rather dystopian maybe but in the end I was satisfied that I got them done and out.

If it was something you wanted to write and it’s outside your comfort zone maybe just submit under another username. Divorce yourself from it a little. If you’ve already written it, it’s obviously something you wanted to write.

 

[AlinaX]

Often - and I've deleted stuff that I decided was just too disturbed and/or boring.

 

[Heartsongs]

Just did it two days ago... an entire story ...beginning to end. I just didn't like it. I am glad to see it's not just me. It's looks like it's happened to other writers I admire. It's probably more common than we think.

 

[oggbashan]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Just curious...

Uncomfortable in a sense that the story is unpleasant? No.

Uncomfortable in the sense that the story isn't working? Yes.

Deleting? Never, since I reworked my first ever erotic story drastically and didn't keep the earlier drafts that were probably better. Although the story, because of its premise of the effect of continuing child abuse, would never have been suitable for Literotica, I regret deleting the earlier versions which I can never retrieve.

Now, no matter how flawed or how awkward the story has become when I stop work on it, I always retain it as a source for other stories, or as an awful warning.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Several times, both on bespoke stories. I'd agreed to do them, so I did the best job possible, but I won't say I was happy with myself when I finished.

 

[Maeven_quinn]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

Just curious...

Uncomfortable in the moral sense? Yes and I prepare for it ahead of time. E.g. “this character will do bad things to another. I will feel gross reading it. What will be the expected resolution?”

There have been things that I haven’t released and plenty of kinks I won’t even write.

Uncomfortable in that the story is not working? Needs a do-over? I have several stories that sit on my hard drive abandoned for that reason too. It happens less often these days. I’m more careful in my outlines these days.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Nope. I have never deleted something I wrote which I didn't like. It just goes in the "to be looked at later" folder.

There are a lot of categories I won't write in for a number of reasons. Some are a morality thing, others because I know I wouldn't be able to them justice.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I’m with Ogg. I never delete anything, however crappy. Who knows....

 

[Challenged]

Wow... more responses - you guys fucking rock!

I have this weird habit of working a scene until it is DONE. Then I go back and fix it. In this case, I never made it to 'fix it' - as three paras into re-reading it, my mind said WTF?

For the record, it was something I thought would work, but it appears my 'morals' (as sad as that sounds) got in the way. Such is life, I suppose.

Based on ya'lls (what a fucked up word ) input, I've decided against deleting it. Maybe, at some point in the future, I'll have an epiphany, and will, as one of you put it, realize that 'this is all just fantasy', and will hit the delete button on my moral standards (translated as, stop being a wuss, and keep writing ).

Once again, thanks for the honest input!

 

[Hypoxia]

I’m with Ogg. I never delete anything, however crappy. Who knows....

Today's trash is tomorrow's treasure and vice-versa. But some stories emerge just SO far, and seem to be dragging ass (*) due to what follows the excellent setup. That version receives a number and goes into storage. The new version, with the crud er I mean weak parts fixed, moves onward.

My every sentence is carefully crafted. But even the most exquisite square peg won't fit well in a round hole. Save it for another puzzle-project.
_____

Q: How to describe an elephant whose front legs are running at 60 mph (100 kph) and hind legs are going 2/3 that speed?
A: Hauling ass.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Morally dubious content? I have that in spades. Demons consorting with my protagonists, godless fornication of the most depraved variety and enough violence to make Wes Craven sit up and take notice - if he weren't dead already. That said, I only write and publish what I feel comfortable attaching my name to. I'm pretty sure people only knowing my writing would be surprised that I'm actually a calm, reserved person.

As for rewriting sections of dubious quality - yes, I do that. A lot. This year's Geek Pride Day entry started out as a raving monster girl harem fuckery but my beta readers were divided on it. Some said it was good, others hated it. So I nuked that thing and did a total rewrite. What was planned as maybe a 30,000 word one-and-done thing has turned into my best piece so far, with six long chapters out and the seventh close to done. I would be quicker if I didn't thrash long sections of it in the hope of a better rewrite.

Nevertheless, I save all my false starts. Sometimes, I can salvage lines of dialogue or ideas.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I suppose it is a moral quandary... like 'jeez dude, where did that come from'? I guess I just ventured outside my comfort zone - a bit to far, perhaps. Thanks for the responses.

Then Literotica is your salvation; I don't think I'm exaggerating by much by using that word.

Definitely save any false starts for future reference, as two or three other people have advised here.

If some time has gone by and you find fault with an older story you've published, you have the option of revisiting it and posting an alternate version on another site.

 

[jehoram]

Have any of you sat down, written 15 or 20 pages, then gone back to proof it, only to discover that it makes you incredibly uncomfortable? Uncomfortable to a point, that perhaps, you even consider deleting it all?

It's happened a couple of times, but I've always felt that sometimes, the characters take over and take the story where they want it to go, rather than where you want it to go. I don't think it's ever taken me more then ten pages to realize it, though.

These stories aren't wasted effort. Sometimes, I can get another story out of it that I feel comfortable with. Other times, I just chalk it up to practice. Either way, I've learned something about myself that I didn't know before. And that's what writing is all about, for me.