Reader requests

[SolarRay]

A couple times now I have written a short story specifically for a reader who emailed me directly from Literotica. I'm talking about personalized stories, exclusively for that reader, rather than to post on LE. The first time it was for a reader who was a fellow author. I turned one of my normal writing exercises into a brief piece inspired by their own unique writing style and interests, which I have enjoyed reading about.

I'm about to finish a second one that was a direct request from a woman who emailed me after reading one of my stories. It reminded her of an experience that she had, which she told me all about. She wanted me to write it into a story in order to make more vivid a sexual fantasy she often has about it.

Both times have been interesting and fun, in part because they forced me outside of my comfort zone, writing from a different perspective, or developing a character I might not normally write about. But it's also exciting to make that personal connection with a reader directly and know how I'm engaging their personal fantasy. I might feel differently about such requests if they happened more often and required more time and energy. However, so far it's been an interesting and enjoyable experience.

I'm curious if or how often other authors entertain such requests, and what positive or negative experiences they've had with them.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

My story Romancing the Bequia Mermaid was directly inspired by the skinny-dipping adventures that a reader shared with me after she read Dancing Naked in the Rain. I wrote her into the story as the main female character and collaborated back and forth to make sure it was a story she enjoyed, and that she could see herself in the character.

I enjoyed that collaboration. Having the regular feedback during the writing process was very rewarding. Now, we had agreed that it would be a story "inspired by" and not 100% true, so that kept me from being constrained creatively, which was nice. I'd do it again, but not if a reader wanted a story that was completely true, or if they were locked into how they thought the story should go.

 

[SolarRay]

My story Romancing the Bequia Mermaid was directly inspired by the skinny-dipping adventures that a reader shared with me after she read Dancing Naked in the Rain. I wrote her into the story as the main female character and collaborated back and forth to make sure it was a story she enjoyed, and that she could see herself in the character.

I enjoyed that collaboration. Having the regular feedback during the writing process was very rewarding. Now, we had agreed that it would be a story "inspired by" and not 100% true, so that kept me from being constrained creatively, which was nice. I'd do it again, but not if a reader wanted a story that was completely true, or if they were locked into how they thought the story should go.

That's funny! I totally added Bequia Mermaid to my read-later list, I think over the holidays when I wasn't doing much reading and it came through on my dashboard. I just gave it a read now and it didn't disappoint, as expected.

I saw the comments by the Karen that served as inspiration. I think I'm really fascinated by this sort of collaboration between a writer and a reader who's real life experience inspired a story. I can imagine that must have been really interesting for you. Agreed that it would become complicated if they imposed too many restrictions on you or your creative process. In my recent experience, I didn't let that impact anything, so I hope she responds positively to the choices that I made.

 

[Requiax]

I always decline writing requests simply because I don’t think I’d have time to complete them. I don’t think they’re a bad thing but I have a list of stories I want to write for me as long as your arm, and I’d prefer to spend what time I have available to write on those.

I’m glad you found it enjoyable to write requests though and I’m sure the reader appreciated having a custom story just for them.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm working on a request story right now, for a reader and his wife. He told me what they were interested in, and an idea popped into my head right away. I'm hoping to finish it and publish it within a week.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

That's funny! I totally added Bequia Mermaid to my read-later list, I think over the holidays when I wasn't doing much reading and it came through on my dashboard. I just gave it a read now and it didn't disappoint, as expected.

Hey, thanks SolarRay! It always feels great to get positive comments, but when they come from other authors they mean even more.

 

[PuckIt]

I actually tried that one time back in my first iteration. Writing to fit a request. A gangbang in a public toilet. The person who had requested it was disappointed despite leaving a nice public comment. From what I was able to glean from the private response, they had wanted me to work in licking the toilets (or something).

Any road, since then, I figured I'm just too vanilla to meet requests and just stick to writing what comes out of my own feeble imagination. (Even my lame Anal attempt was criticized for being too little. And we won't even discuss my dabblings in I/T and BDSM. )

But, yeah. My hat is off to those of you who can write on demand. I've wished I could, but recognize my own limits.

 

[ElectricBlue]

This one:
https://www.literotica.com/s/david-and-annie-ch-01

was written specifically for a couple I connected with elsewhere, and contained trigger elements for both of them. Pushed me beyond my boundaries, and one of my beta readers said, "thank god he's not writing about buttons any more; there's a new rawness there."

This one:
https://www.literotica.com/s/the-floating-world-pt-04-1

was a collaboration, written in response to the same beta saying, "why don't you guys write something together, where your characters meet?" It pushed both of us so far out of our usual comfort zones as writers, that we've continued sporadically on doing something similar; with another one of my stories published a couple of months ago, and one of his in work (we each ran with one of the other's characters).

 

[tempr1974]

I worked with an author who wrote a story about a fantasy of mine. It was a fun process , and has some OK reviews here

 

[Voboy]

I had a reader commission a story from me. I did it a little reluctantly, as it was outside my wheelhouse. But it was sort of fun, and is a very successful story here.

I’m not sure I need to do it again, but it was okay. It did force me out of my usual zone, and that’s a good thing. It’s the same reason I do the contests.

 

[SolarRay]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. These have been really interesting to read about! I'm looking forward to reading the linked stories here while having the additional perspective of the reader collaboration/request that led to it.

 

[nosebone]

I've written a couple stories that people have asked me to write. They were definitely not in my orbit (NC), but it was interesting to try something that I'd never done before.

I did receive a very attractive offer from a fellow a few weeks ago that had 150 words out of 50,000 (his estimate) that he wanted me to finish. What he'd written so far read like something I'd have written on a 3 day acid trip. I told him I had plenty of unfinished stories of my own and politely declined. He kept after me for the better part of three days, finally offering me the generous sum of 7 dollars, half upfront mind you, for writing the story. I still couldn't do it.

 

[lovesthebeach]

It was myself who collaborated loosely with Loquisordidadme pertaining to the Bequia Mermaid story.
It actually started with an innocent "atta boy" for his "Dancing in the Rain" story, and we chatted a bit back and forth. Eventually, it morphed into the Mermaid story, in that I provided the information of skinny-dipping on Bequia, as well as actual geography and "things to see and do" on Bequia, as I had visited there fairly recently.
I have to say it was a pleasure working with him, a perfect gentleman. He asked questions that were succinct and to the point. The things that I couldn't answer, such as sailing, he researched elsewhere.
I cannot say I've done everything that the mermaid did, I am a bit more shy than she is, but a small part of me wishes I were more like her.

 

[SolarRay]

It was myself who collaborated loosely with Loquisordidadme pertaining to the Bequia Mermaid story.
It actually started with an innocent "atta boy" for his "Dancing in the Rain" story, and we chatted a bit back and forth. Eventually, it morphed into the Mermaid story, in that I provided the information of skinny-dipping on Bequia, as well as actual geography and "things to see and do" on Bequia, as I had visited there fairly recently.
I have to say it was a pleasure working with him, a perfect gentleman. He asked questions that were succinct and to the point. The things that I couldn't answer, such as sailing, he researched elsewhere.
I cannot say I've done everything that the mermaid did, I am a bit more shy than she is, but a small part of me wishes I were more like her.

Oh, that's great! I was really quite fond of that story. Granted, I am a little biased toward any story involving rum cocktails, tropical vacations, sailing, and skinny dipping. But it was very well written, engaging, and I thought your collaboration with Loqui was great. As for being more like that character... you never know what the future has in store!

I just finished writing a story called "The Girl From the Deep" which is my very first "Erotic Horror" piece. I enjoy watching a good horror movie once in a while as much as the next guy, but this story is more reminiscent of an old Edgar Allan Poe tale or something along the lines of traditional New England sailors lore, with bits of Greek mythology mixed in. I'm not sure how well it will be received, as I really have no familiarity with that story category, but it involves sailors hauling aboard a beautiful, nude woman, seemingly drowned, only to discover she carries with her a terrible secret. Though it is inspired by the elements I just mentioned, I did start writing it right after reading Bequia Mermaid, so it's possible that was at least the reason I was daydreaming on the nautical theme in the first place.

I will post it very soon. We'll see how it goes! (gulp)

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

I will post it very soon. We'll see how it goes! (gulp)

Can't wait to see it!

 

[SolarRay]

Update: Well, she replied after I sent my story and loved it! She's been especially enjoying it while her husband is away... That was fun, and I look forward to having the occasional opportunity to interact with a reader again in that way, as many of you have.

@LoquiSordidaAdMe: My little 2-pager erotic horror experiment went live, if you're still interested:
The Girl From The Deep (https://www.literotica.com/s/the-girl-from-the-deep)

 

[tomlitilia]

I struggle to find time to finish the stories I want to write. Stories other might want is off the table, so I always decline.

 

[regularguy13]

writing for others is like a box of chocolates

On the whole i have enjoyed it. People have given me plots, characters, setting, etc and i put them together. in one senses it is freeing because i am not invested in the story. If it gets poor scores or bad comments or goes off on a tangent that I wouldn't have chosen, i don't care. It's their story.

I find that it is fun to collaborate with others. Most people are nice. I've disappoint some who have wanted more graphic sex and violence than i or Literotica will accept.

Often, i get a bonus story out of it. Our discussions, trigger thoughts that lead to other stories.

I wrote "Dogging - Flashing English Style" for Scott and we will have a second story for the April Fools contest "Confession of an Exhibitionist" about his wife who, much to his enjoyment, loves to expose herself. If what he says is true, he and L are having a lot of fun!

 

[handysr]

I've done requests a few times, and I think I'm at about 75/25% for the requestor liking what they get. The content is usually at least a little bit outside of my comfort zone, and while I'll cross some boundaries, I'm not about to sexualize certain topics.

Overall I liked the experience and would try again if the subject sounded fun, but my reluctance comes in when I remember the people who start out interested, then lose contact for months at a time. It's hard to stay on track and customize things when they don't respond for ages.