Question for authors.

[mapleleaf]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

 

[rgraham666]

Speaking for myself, I'm dreadfully old fashioned.

A story goes where I want it to go. I always try to come to some denouement in them.

As well, different endings are, in my opinion, likely to be out of character endings. I've spent 15,000 words building up the submissiveness of the main character. Why should one of the endings be she kicks him in the nuts and walks out?

 

[mapleleaf]

Hi rgraham666,
Thanks for answering. I dont know why different endings have to be out of character. Often, though not always, people are as likely to choose one thing as another. Also, may times the choice is not theirs to make.

 

[maggot420]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

I have enough trouble coming up with just one ending that makes sense. I think it could be, for me at least, that what you are suggesting requires a lot more work and I am, as a writer, incredibly lazy.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

Because I'm an author, not a game developer
Seriously- as an author, I work most of all on the quality of my writing. I can spend up to a year, in some cases, writing and polishing a story- and then I'd have to do the same again in order to create an alternative ending.
I'd far rather publish in the old-fashioned way, but my greed for readership tells me that online is the way to go.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

Maybe you should check out Chyoo.

Q_C

 

[Stella_Omega]

Maybe you should check out Chyoo.

Q_C

what the heck is Chyoo?

 

[cloudy]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

I end my stories the way I want them to end. It's quite simple, reallly.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

what the heck is Chyoo?

an unfulfilled sneeze.

 

[Guest]

an unfulfilled sneeze.

They have support groups for those nowadays, you know.

And they're working on helpful medication.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

They have support groups for those nowadays, you know.

And they're working on helpful medication.

A woman says to her friend..."OMG, eveytime I sneeze I have an orgasm."

Her friend asks..."What are you taking for that?"

She answers..."Snuff."

 

[Guest]

A woman says to her friend..."OMG, eveytime I sneeze I have an orgasm."

Her friend asks..."What are you taking for that?"

She answers..."Snuff."

Well, YEAH!

 

[CharleyH]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

I understand what you mean, yet for authors, I think once the story is done it is finito with no extras and unlike a film, where endings are audience tested before shown (therefore endings are multiple). It is a time-consuming and expensive venture in film, but it reaps its rewards in the cinema.

Do three different endings reap the rewards for an author on the web or in a novel? I doubt it, so why bother. Just my take. Hope that helps.

 

[damppanties]

Maybe you should check out Chyoo.

Q_C

That's still around? I looked for it and didn't find it. It used to be at the end of the Main Literotica Forums.

Chyoo is(was?) a place where you have different endings for a story. Actually it's more like a branched story which may have many ends. You start a story and come to a point where it branches into two, then those go on and branch out into different storylines, etc. I think I'm doing a suckful job of describing it. You'd have to read it to believe it.

I have trouble writing even one story and people come up with different paths for the same one.

 

[CharleyH]

what the heck is Chyoo?

An online Lit feature that you must explore - it's a world of it's own - not that I was able to keep up with multiple conversations at one time, but ...

 

[CharleyH]

That's still around? I looked for it and didn't find it. It used to be at the end of the Main Literotica Forums.

Chyoo is(was?) a place where you have different endings for a story. Actually it's more like a branched story which may have many ends. You start a story and come to a point where it branches into two, then those go on and branch out into different storylines, etc. I think I'm doing a suckful job of describing it. You'd have to read it to believe it.

I have trouble writing even one story and people come up with different paths for the same one.

Welcome back, DampP, however long or short you grace us, girl.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

what the heck is Chyoo?

Ch (oose) yo (ur) o (wn) .

It's Literotica's Choose-your-own site.

Chyoo

Q_C

 

[MichelleLovesTo]

I suppose that a lot of this depends on how a writer perceives what they do. It's my story and my ending. The person who does not like the ending is certainly free to politely tell me why--and just as free to write their own story.

There is no mistake that I want my stories to be liked, but my first job and loyalty is to the integrity of the story. I'm a character driven writer, and so I cannot (more acurately Choose Not) write an ending which is not true to the characters -- just because someone else doesn't care for it. I could write multiple endings -- the only problem is that all but one will be utter bullcrap.

If I really have no idea what the characters are going to do -- and therefore one ending is as good as another -- then I've failed. What was I doing while writing, if not getting to know my characters?

In the past there have been books and internet sites with Choose Your Own, but they never seem to thrive. I believe people want closure: to know what the author believes to be the ending. They want to be told a tale, for better or worse.

 

[damppanties]

There is no mistake that I want my stories to be liked, but my first job and loyalty is to the integrity of the story. I'm a character driven writer, and so I cannot (more acurately Choose Not) write an ending which is not true to the characters -- just because someone else doesn't care for it. I could write multiple endings -- the only problem is that all but one will be utter bullcrap.

If I really have no idea what the characters are going to do -- and therefore one ending is as good as another -- then I've failed. What was I doing while writing, if not getting to know my characters?

I think you're going about this all wrong. How about thinking about this from the Chyoo writer's point of view? What if he wants to write a story involving different characters going through the same circumstances? Subtle differences in characters that make them react differently to different situations. How about that? What if each of the people in the different paths of the story are the 'main' characters with elaborate character sketches?

In the past there have been books and internet sites with Choose Your Own, but they never seem to thrive. I believe people want closure: to know what the author believes to be the ending. They want to be told a tale, for better or worse.

Haven't you ever had a feedback saying 'I liked the story but she should have fallen for him/sucked him off/ slapped him/ left him in the end'?

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think you're going about this all wrong. How about thinking about this from the Chyoo writer's point of view? What if he wants to write a story involving different characters going through the same circumstances? Subtle differences in characters that make them react differently to different situations. How about that? What if each of the people in the different paths of the story are the 'main' characters with elaborate character sketches?

Dear gawds, and my family misses me enough as it is!

Haven't you ever had a feedback saying 'I liked the story but she should have fallen for him/sucked him off/ slapped him/ left him in the end'?

i usually leave feedback that says; AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A WRITER??? THIS STORY WAS SO BORING I FELL ASLEEP HALFWAY THROUGH!

And usually, I don't bother to spell check it...

Hi Damp, it's so cool to meet the legend at last!

 

[zeb1094]

Hi all,
I've often wondered why erotic authors do not make use of html. A trivial example would be to allow the reader a choice of endings. Since so much erotic literature is published on the web, one would think that this option would be common. Instead, it seems to be rare. Why is that?

Well to answer you very first statement:

There are two ways to submit your story. You may paste the text into the box below or you may upload a .txt, .rtf, or Word .doc file by scrolling down the page to the next form field. Please use only one method - do not put text in the box and submit a file as both may be lost.

You can't submit html.

 

[damppanties]

Dear gawds, and my family misses me enough as it is!

Yes, yes, I know. I'm being too idealistic and shit. Anyone who does that needs to have his head examined. But really, what if.

i usually leave feedback that says; AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A WRITER??? THIS STORY WAS SO BORING I FELL ASLEEP HALFWAY THROUGH!

And usually, I don't bother to spell check it...

Ok, you rock!

Hi Damp, it's so cool to meet the legend at last!

Wha..? Who? That made me feel so old.

I'm going to kill Abs. I never knew it was going to be this hard.

 

[MichelleLovesTo]

Stubborn as a Mule...a Mule with a Laptop

I think you're going about this all wrong. How about thinking about this from the Chyoo writer's point of view? What if he wants to write a story involving different characters going through the same circumstances? Subtle differences in characters that make them react differently to different situations. How about that? What if each of the people in the different paths of the story are the 'main' characters with elaborate character sketches?

That's fine -- it's just not what I do or have any interest in doing (for free). I have too many storylines I want to write without deja vuing with slight differences. I don't even want to edit because it feels too much like stagnating, let alone feeling like I have to do 8 variations on a theme.

I can't say it's wrong to see being a writer as being a servant. If someone wants to write to order, they are free to do so, and I've certainly done it to some extent myself when publication and money were on the line. Even in professional writing you don't have to please everyone -- just an editor or three, and you still have one definitive ending.

Haven't you ever had a feedback saying 'I liked the story but she should have fallen for him/sucked him off/ slapped him/ left him in the end'?

Yes. It changes nothing. If the character I wrote wouldn't fall for/suck off/slap/leave the guy, then I'm not writing that. And for every person who didn't like the ending, there are more who do because my character was consistent.

Don't get me wrong -- I respect feedback, and am not offended when people take issue with my story, but that's not the same as saying I'm willing to cater completely to the opinions of others. I think it's the writing version of Fool's Gold.

I clearly want my stories to be liked and that's why I submit them. I believe it to be counterproductive to try to please everyone -- or even most people. A writer can lose his/her voice if they seek approval over all else. My job is to do my best to write a story, but an ending is not negotiable. Instead of changing an ending, I'd rather write well enough that people see the ending as inevitable.

 

[damppanties]

I respect feedback, and am not offended when people take issue with my story, but that's not the same as saying I'm willing to cater completely to the opinions of others. I think it's the writing version of Fool's Gold.

I clearly want my stories to be liked and that's why I submit them. I believe it to be counterproductive to try to please everyone -- or even most people. A writer can lose his/her voice if they seek approval over all else. My job is to do my best to write a story, but an ending is not negotiable. Instead of changing an ending, I'd rather write well enough that people see the ending as inevitable.

Well. My point was that you're not doing it for anyone else. You're doing it to explore your capabilities and your limits. I think it's a hard job writing a story that branches out into many (and I mean writing it the way I think it should be written).

If it's being done to please readers, I'm not sure I'll like it much.

----Haven't you ever had a feedback saying 'I liked the story but she should have fallen for him/sucked him off/ slapped him/ left him in the end'?----

This was because you said people would want to see the story end the way the author wants it to.

Thinking about it, I think I get your point. If you as an author have not made a person want the exact same ending that you've written, then you're not doing your job right. Is that what you're trying to say?

 

[MichelleLovesTo]

Always Be Closing...

This was because you said people would want to see the story end the way the author wants it to.

Thinking about it, I think I get your point. If you as an author have not made a person want the exact same ending that you've written, then you're not doing your job right. Is that what you're trying to say?

I don't believe I did say that people want a story to end the way the author wants it to end. What I said is that most readers want a definitive ending. Even a definitive ending which they think sucks. LOL, of course the best for most would be a definitive ending with which they agree...

The nature of story telling is to present a world to someone who is hopefully entertained by that world. I don't recall asking for three different endings to my favorite fairy tales. I wanted the story teller to enthrall me -- not for me to order them to and fro. Being a reader is being a sub for a while.

Joss Whedon is famous for saying that a writer shouldn't give people what they want, but rather what they need -- and there's a truth in that. Sometimes an ending as to end sad, bad, mad, or some other word that may or may not rhyme in order to keep its integrity.

I've been told more than once that an ending was sad and painful, and that the reader had hoped for something else -- but they also saw that it couldn't have really ended any other way.

I think that it's empty when you read a certain ending, even if it's the ending you want, if you know in your heart that it's a cheat. That ending is also the polar opposite of the Joss Whedon rule.

When I was a kid I hated the ending of Gone with The Wind. As an adult I see it as brilliant and inevitable. If the story had been written with Rhett forgiving all, there's a real chance the story wouldn't be the classic it is to day. A perfect example of giving the audience what they need.