So many questions... so little patience...

[Miss_Misaki]

... that people will have with you when you make multiple threads for them!

Lol. I had a few questions clattering 'round in my skull, and rather than ask them one at a time, one or two each day, I thought it'd be more productive if I put them all in one thread. God, I hope there isn't a "simple questions/simple answers" thread, and I've missed it!

Question 1: What sort of references does everyone use when writing? I'm talking about ANYTHING you use that doesn't come directly out of your own brain - be it wikipedia, thesaurus.com, anatomy for dummies, anything! In my case, I seem to use Thesaurus.com the most, because I'm terrible at thinking of synonyms. I used to think my vocabulary was excellent, until I took up writing as a hobby, that is!

Question 2: When you guys are editing/finishing a piece for submission here, what sort of process do you follow? I don't know of any standard procedure, myself, as I've never really been taught anything about one. For my own purposes, I tend to write a rough draft, then, after leaving it alone for at least a week, I rake through it with progressively finer teeth until I'm satisfied that it's as satisfactory as I'd like. I never seem to feel the same way later, but I always second-guess everything I do (no, I don't!), so I figure I have to stop picking at it sometime.

Question 3: As a woman who doesn't have any practical experience in the art of sex and lovemaking, what would you recommend to me (whether they be references, creative methods, or anything else you might deem helpful), so that I can write more natural, believable sex scenes? Please don't recommend that I just go out and get laid, because I couldn't bring myself to do that without a "trial period," and a whole lot of encouragement and maybe some prodding.

Question 4: Am I the only one here who has absolutely no ambition to sell my work? I look at my writing in much the same way that I look at my art, animations, and singing. It's not good enough to sell, and even it it was, I don't think I'd be successful enough to continue to try to sell more. Maybe it's just a problem of self-confidence, but I like to think of it as pragmatism. I have a career, and a jolly good one, and these creative endeavors of mine are simply hobbies, which I particularly enjoy. If I were to make money by doing them, they could become secondary professions, which would make them a "job." That would render them un-fun (if the ghost of Mark Twain comes to haunt me for my loathsome rendition of his philosophical observation, you might want to stand back, lest he's toting a riverboat with him). The reason I'm asking the question is because I've seen certain commercial fiction websites bandied about as though everyone were familiar with them and provided content to them. Am I just getting the wrong impression, or am I the only one without ambition?

I guess that's it for now. I'll come back to this thread as I come up with more annoying questions to bother whomever has the free time and lack of self-love to listen to me. xD

 

[Zeb_Carter]

... that people will have with you when you make multiple threads for them!

Lol. I had a few questions clattering 'round in my skull, and rather than ask them one at a time, one or two each day, I thought it'd be more productive if I put them all in one thread. God, I hope there isn't a "simple questions/simple answers" thread, and I've missed it!

Question 1: What sort of references does everyone use when writing? I'm talking about ANYTHING you use that doesn't come directly out of your own brain - be it wikipedia, thesaurus.com, anatomy for dummies, anything! In my case, I seem to use Thesaurus.com the most, because I'm terrible at thinking of synonyms. I used to think my vocabulary was excellent, until I took up writing as a hobby, that is!

I usually have something in mind and just use my own ideas, well at least in my sci-fi work, seeing as how that's all made up stuff based loosely on current technology. If I do need to research something I use that which is most readily available, the internet, be it Wikipedia or what not.

Question 2: When you guys are editing/finishing a piece for submission here, what sort of process do you follow? I don't know of any standard procedure, myself, as I've never really been taught anything about one. For my own purposes, I tend to write a rough draft, then, after leaving it alone for at least a week, I rake through it with progressively finer teeth until I'm satisfied that it's as satisfactory as I'd like. I never seem to feel the same way later, but I always second-guess everything I do (no, I don't!), so I figure I have to stop picking at it sometime.

If I can't find an editor/proof reader/grammar diva I do exactly as you.

Question 3: As a woman who doesn't have any practical experience in the art of sex and lovemaking, what would you recommend to me (whether they be references, creative methods, or anything else you might deem helpful), so that I can write more natural, believable sex scenes? Please don't recommend that I just go out and get laid, because I couldn't bring myself to do that without a "trial period," and a whole lot of encouragement and maybe some prodding.

As a man of questionable years (old) I do have quite the experience under my belt, so to speak. Also, as a man I really have no practical experience for you to partake. I have to assume, I don't mean to offend, that you know your own body and feelings you can elicit by touching yourself. Practice, practice, practice. You can also read, read, read.

Question 4: Am I the only one here who has absolutely no ambition to sell my work? I look at my writing in much the same way that I look at my art, animations, and singing. It's not good enough to sell, and even it it was, I don't think I'd be successful enough to continue to try to sell more. Maybe it's just a problem of self-confidence, but I like to think of it as pragmatism. I have a career, and a jolly good one, and these creative endeavors of mine are simply hobbies, which I particularly enjoy. If I were to make money by doing them, they could become secondary professions, which would make them a "job." That would render them un-fun (if the ghost of Mark Twain comes to haunt me for my loathsome rendition of his philosophical observation, you might want to stand back, lest he's toting a riverboat with him). The reason I'm asking the question is because I've seen certain commercial fiction websites bandied about as though everyone were familiar with them and provided content to them. Am I just getting the wrong impression, or am I the only one without ambition?

I really didn't either and don't expect to make a fortune or become a best selling author but there is a high seeing your book, story, listed on the web for sale and make a little money.

I guess that's it for now. I'll come back to this thread as I come up with more annoying questions to bother whomever has the free time and lack of self-love to listen to me. xD

See my answers in blue.

 

[cloudy]

Question 1: What sort of references does everyone use when writing? I'm talking about ANYTHING you use that doesn't come directly out of your own brain - be it wikipedia, thesaurus.com, anatomy for dummies, anything! In my case, I seem to use Thesaurus.com the most, because I'm terrible at thinking of synonyms. I used to think my vocabulary was excellent, until I took up writing as a hobby, that is!

I use anything I can find for reference, anything from looking up articles on google for historical references up to and including bugging people here whose knowledge on a particular subject may be better than mine. This forum is amazing simply for the extremely bright minds and varied interests that abound.

Question 2: When you guys are editing/finishing a piece for submission here, what sort of process do you follow? I don't know of any standard procedure, myself, as I've never really been taught anything about one. For my own purposes, I tend to write a rough draft, then, after leaving it alone for at least a week, I rake through it with progressively finer teeth until I'm satisfied that it's as satisfactory as I'd like. I never seem to feel the same way later, but I always second-guess everything I do (no, I don't!), so I figure I have to stop picking at it sometime.

A second pair of eyes is always a good thing. Even if I don't have someone actually edit for me, I will have someone proof it for me, since they'll catch typos, etc., that I simply don't see.

There are some great editors in the Editors Forum, but most of the time I just ask someone here that has a few minutes to proof it for me. I'm also one of those people that edits as they write, so much of my stuff doesn't need a full edit for posting here like it would if I was shopping it to publishers.

Question 3: As a woman who doesn't have any practical experience in the art of sex and lovemaking, what would you recommend to me (whether they be references, creative methods, or anything else you might deem helpful), so that I can write more natural, believable sex scenes? Please don't recommend that I just go out and get laid, because I couldn't bring myself to do that without a "trial period," and a whole lot of encouragement and maybe some prodding.

Read, read, read, and then read some more. That's the only advice I have for you except practical experience.

Question 4: Am I the only one here who has absolutely no ambition to sell my work? I look at my writing in much the same way that I look at my art, animations, and singing. It's not good enough to sell, and even it it was, I don't think I'd be successful enough to continue to try to sell more. Maybe it's just a problem of self-confidence, but I like to think of it as pragmatism. I have a career, and a jolly good one, and these creative endeavors of mine are simply hobbies, which I particularly enjoy. If I were to make money by doing them, they could become secondary professions, which would make them a "job." That would render them un-fun (if the ghost of Mark Twain comes to haunt me for my loathsome rendition of his philosophical observation, you might want to stand back, lest he's toting a riverboat with him). The reason I'm asking the question is because I've seen certain commercial fiction websites bandied about as though everyone were familiar with them and provided content to them. Am I just getting the wrong impression, or am I the only one without ambition?

No, you're probably not the only one, but many here do want to publish for pay, and many already do.

We used to have a Newbie FAQ thread, but I can't find it. Just-Legal was the resident newbie advisor - maybe she can find it.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Question 3: Answer

I myself have only ever had sex eight times over the last fourteen years. So I don't have all that much experience either.

However, I have read a lot of stories, and watched a boatload of porn. Somehow I have managed to fill in the blanks by myself, and some people have actually complimented me, a virtual novice, for having written good sex scenes. I don't know how I managed it, but somehow I did.

I just wish that I could live out some of them

 

[sr71plt]

1. Beyond experience and imagination, I use the Internet extensively and my own book collection.

2. I usually write it; read it once; if convenient, e-mail attach it to my writing partner; plug in the corrections; read it again; and then submit. There's such a thing as beating all of the life out of it by agonizing over it.

3. I'd recommend you write close to what you know--or gather from your own reading/research.

4. I write to please myself. If it sells, it sells.

 

[fieryjen]

1. I use dictionary.com, thesaurus.com, wikipedia and google, and I also sometimes also ask the people here if I need some knowledge on a subject. Some of the folks here have pretty cool hobbies and a lot of surprising knowledge that can come in handy.

2. Just for stuff I want to submit to Lit: Depends on whether it's a long or a short story, or a chapter.

Short stories I usually write in one sitting. I'll give it a read-through, find someone else that I know can do it to act as an editor, and if they're happy with it I'll look over it one more time and send it off.

Longer stories I try to send to at least two different editors, and I'm not shy about asking follow-up questions. After working through their edits I'll give it at least one more read.

Chapters I try to always have looked at by the same editor. I need to make sure everything fits together with the bigger picture.

3. I wrote my first few stories on Lit before I ever had sex, so I know where you're coming from here. I'd just make sure to tell your editors to give the sex scenes an extra thorough look for anything that you may be off about. Writers write about stuff they haven't experienced all the time, so I don't see that as a reason for you not to be successful at writing smut.

4. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of people here who have no ambition to sell/publish their writing. I do kind of dream about it, but you'll find all kinds here.

 

[Liar]

Well, here be some answers:

Question 2: When you guys are editing/finishing a piece for submission here, what sort of process do you follow? I don't know of any standard procedure, myself, as I've never really been taught anything about one. For my own purposes, I tend to write a rough draft, then, after leaving it alone for at least a week, I rake through it with progressively finer teeth until I'm satisfied that it's as satisfactory as I'd like. I never seem to feel the same way later, but I always second-guess everything I do (no, I don't!), so I figure I have to stop picking at it sometime.

I lay it out in my head, sit down and write, check for typos and sloppy grammar, and then submit if it feels right. Or if it doesn't feel right, I scrap it, think up something new and try again from scratch. Every time I try to edit anything beyond spelling, it ends up worse than the first draft. So I figure if it wasn't good from the get-go, it's because the idea it was built on wasn't a good one to start with. So why try to polish a turd?

Question 3: As a woman who doesn't have any practical experience in the art of sex and lovemaking, what would you recommend to me (whether they be references, creative methods, or anything else you might deem helpful), so that I can write more natural, believable sex scenes? Please don't recommend that I just go out and get laid, because I couldn't bring myself to do that without a "trial period," and a whole lot of encouragement and maybe some prodding.

*prod*

Ok, serious answer: Read read read read read. Since you think you don't write convincing sex scenes, seek out stories with sex scenes that feel convincing to you. Read ém. Then read 'em again. Then find a bunch more. And read those. I think believeability is not in the details, but in getting the pacing and balance of it all just right. And that's more of a gut feeling thing than something you can pt on a dos-and-don'ts list. The more good stuff you read, the more the right feel for it will rub off on you.

Question 4: Am I the only one here who has absolutely no ambition to sell my work?

Nope. But then again, what I write here is not my work, it's my fun. I already sell my work on a daily basis as a journalist. And there's very little sex in that stuff. Maybe I shoukd find more sleazy tabloid work...

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

We used to have a Newbie FAQ thread, but I can't find it. Just-Legal was the resident newbie advisor - maybe she can find it.

I just did a search for it and could not find the original thread. I found a couple that were meant to be later versions but they do not have the useful posts the original one had.


Miss_Misaki be sure to check out the AH Library thread stickied at the top. It's nowhere near finished but there are many useful topics listed with links to discussions.

 

[TxRad]

First of all welcome to the Nuthouse. Please keep all fingers and toes inside the ride at all times. Some of the denizens are known to bite.


Question 1: Everything is a reference and plot bunnies arrive in droves.

Question 2: see all the good answers above but there is one thing you can do. Read the story aloud. For some reason the ear and eye seem to find typos and swapped words. Not to mention weird stumbly passages that the eye alone follows fine. That is until you submit it.

Question 3: You have your own body to play, uh experiment on. That's half the equation. Read for the other and for gods sakes, use your imagination. If you've got a question of specifics or confusion, find someone here you trust and just ask. There are some good people here that will help.

Question 4: Never say never. I was one of those, my stuff is only fair and anyway I ain't got the time. Just recently I got slapped up side the head with, hey, dummy, we want your story so get with it. A short non-erotic piece on an erotic site is now a book and coming out in the spring.

Ya never know what will happen when ya toss something out there.

Happy writing. Write for yourself first and they will come if it's any good.

 

[TxRad]

I just did a search for it and could not find the original thread. I found a couple that were meant to be later versions but they do not have the useful posts the original one had.


Miss_Misaki be sure to check out the AH Library thread stickied at the top. It's nowhere near finished but there are many useful topics listed with links to discussions.

Crim, I think the original was lost in the big site crash a year or so ago. I haven't seen it since then.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Don't forget to check the AH Librarian's archive thread, which is pinned at the top of the forum. We've been filling it with the good stuff as we find it

 

[TE999]

Miss Misaki...you ask a lotta questions.

#1 The world is my idea generator...I pass the particulars thru my fevered brain and out pops a story. I use Wiki for primary reference on subjects...or Google it.

#2 I show some folks I trust my finished product after I revise it once or twice. I don't use editors per se, but I have in the past.

#3 Do some reading here on Lit in the different story cats...the act itself is pretty basic...it's the fine points like emotion, desire and enjoyment that add spice.

#4 I have no aspirations to sell my work or write for money...I write for the sheer fun of it and to exercise my thought muscles. I eschew deadlines.

Good luck with your writing.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

...I write for the sheer fun of it and to exercise my thought muscles. I eschew deadlines.

Good luck with your writing.

But with eBooks there are no deadlines! Especially if you publish with eXcessica!

 

[slyc_willie]

There's not much I can add to what has already been offered; everyone above has given excellent suggestions and advice.

Regarding your third question, about sex/experience/etc. . . . .

Sex, as they say, is all in the mind. As TE999 pointed out, the basics are pretty simple and known to everyone. Tab A goes into Slot B. Or C. or even D, if you're so inclined. You already know that the process of motion within such orifices brings pleasure; exactly how it feels is different from woman to woman. I presume you have fantasies about how it would feel, perhaps even imagining certain details about your lover. Bottom line, unless you go well beyond the realms of believability, most readers won't find any description of sex unrealistic. It is the most popular and powerful object of fantasy, after all, and fantasy is known for skewing reality, at least a little.

 

[DeeZire]

2. The Stephen King book 'On Writing' suggest cutting 10% from the first draft during the first rewrite. But he's a rather verbose writer so one could see how that technique could work well for him. He also hates using adverbs in dialogue tags (he said sadly.)

4. At this point in the internet age, I would think selling erotica would be about as easy as selling air, but it does happen. Perhaps a more lucrative approach would be writing stories that could be turned into movies, but everyone in LA has a script they've written, so the competition is pretty fierce.

 

[TE999]

But with eBooks there are no deadlines! Especially if you publish with eXcessica!

Coincidentally, I'm working on a novella for eXcessica. It's slow going, but I think in the end readers will enjoy it.

 

[slyc_willie]

Coincidentally, I'm working on a novella for eXcessica. It's slow going, but I think in the end readers will enjoy it.

How's it going, dude?

Masaki, just so you know, and to waylay any question later, "eXcessica" is a writer's conglomerate begun by Selena (Selenakittyn) for the purposes of publishing online. We've really taken off, and are open to anybody. Submissions are probably not as strict as most other adult publishers, but they are strict. It's a fun option for those of us who like the idea of getting published for profit (or not for profit), but no one, regardless of name, should expect to be able to support themselves through eXcessica.














Yet.

 

[TE999]

How's it going, dude?

Like I said up there, slow. It's a fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, romance between a man and a mythical woman. It keeps evolving and I keep writing. One of these days I'll finish.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Coincidentally, I'm working on a novella for eXcessica. It's slow going, but I think in the end readers will enjoy it.

That's cool...keep plugging away at it, it will get there.

 

[slyc_willie]

Like I said up there, slow. It's a fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, romance between a man and a mythical woman. It keeps evolving and I keep writing. One of these days I'll finish.

That's cool...keep plugging away at it, it will get there.

Ditto.

And, eh . . . [/threadjack]

 

[TE999]

That's cool...keep plugging away at it, it will get there.

Ditto.

And, eh . . . [/threadjack]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I just need to focus and do it.

 

[slyc_willie]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I just need to focus and do it.

Okay, just to push the threadjack a bit further . . . .

It is daunting to write with the idea of publication in mind. You get really critical of your writing, and then cringe at the thought of why the hell would someone pay money for this?

I look at writing for profit the same way I see writing on Lit, to be honest. If they like it, they read/buy it. It's not going to kill me if no one wants to to experience my genius.

Reminding myself that Albert Einstein concocted his theories as a patent clerk helps.

 

[TE999]

Okay, just to push the threadjack a bit further . . . .

It is daunting to write with the idea of publication in mind. You get really critical of your writing, and then cringe at the thought of why the hell would someone pay money for this?

I look at writing for profit the same way I see writing on Lit, to be honest. If they like it, they read/buy it. It's not going to kill me if no one wants to to experience my genius.

Reminding myself that Albert Einstein concocted his theories as a patent clerk helps.

Excellent points. I have to admit I am taking extra care with this story...I want to make good first impression with the readers and all that. Money's not the issue, although it would be nice.

Einstein's teachers all thot he was a dimwit and told his parents so. He was miles ahead of the cirriculum and was bored...but no one knew that.

 

[sr71plt]

Okay, just to push the threadjack a bit further . . . .

It is daunting to write with the idea of publication in mind. You get really critical of your writing, and then cringe at the thought of why the hell would someone pay money for this?

Only in the beginning. After a while--and some sales--you get into the swing of getting it done without a whole lot of fuss. You gain by experience and a CV of sales; it's not reinventing the wheel each time.

 

[slyc_willie]

Excellent points. I have to admit I am taking extra care with this story...I want to make good first impression with the readers and all that. Money's not the issue, although it would be nice.

Einstein's teachers all thot he was a dimwit and told his parents so. He was miles ahead of the cirriculum and was bored...but no one knew that.

Perception is what it is.

Only in the beginning. After a while--and some sales--you get into the swing of getting it done without a whole lot of fuss. You gain by experience and a CV of sales; it's not reinventing the wheel each time.

Very true. But the daunted have a tendency to wonder if they should really try in the first place to publish their work. It's something like extending your ego and wondering if anyone will bite it off . . . or stroke it.

I guess it comes down to expectations. Do you want your work to make you self-supportive? Or do you just want that satisfaction that comes with the fact that there are at least a few people out there who appreciate you for the struggling artist you are?

The distinction makes a hell of difference when it comes to your peace of mind.