Starting points...

[KentScribe]

[with apologies for any duplication of a previous topic]

Just curious about where other writers get their starting points/jump-off points? Does it always begin with a specific sexual scenario, the rest of the story being built around that; or is it more often that it begins with the characters, and then follow where they lead?

It was the latter for me (in the sole story I've so far submitted, but I'm endeavouring to submit again soon). I was actually thinking in "big terms" about the pair's whole lives, and then randomly decided to "begin at the end" and see what happened. The story's had a pretty good response (I think!), and I've been wondering whether it's because the sexual material was not anything I "designed" as erotic, but instead what felt like the natural progression of story and interaction.

That's a long-winded way of saying, I'm a bit stuck on the process, trying to find what's erotic in the scenarios I've noted down, and thought I'd ask how others approached it.

Apologies for the long-winded nonsense, and thank you for reading.

KS

 

[ElectricBlue]

[Just curious about where other writers get their starting points/jump-off points? Does it always begin with a specific sexual scenario, the rest of the story being built around that; or is it more often that it begins with the characters, and then follow where they lead?

Usually for me, it's some little incident or image, very often true, which then takes off in all sorts of directions.

Characters often arrive in the time it takes to write their first sentence. I've learned now that if an unplanned heroine shows up, she's usually going to muscle in and demand equal time. I've not had a cat-fight yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I do.

 

[KentScribe]

I've not had a cat-fight yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I do.

Well, that'd definitely provide a twist in the tale! I might try "just going with it" on the next idea, and see what happens. A bit counter-intuitive for me, as I feel better with a plan (even though I did "see what happened" in my last story, I'd thought a lot about the characters, to the point where I didn't always feel like I was "winging it").

Thank you for the reply.

 

[SimonDoom]

For me it always starts with a plot idea, which always revolves around an erotic incident, kink, fetish, etc.

I decided one day that I wanted to try writing a food porn story -- sex and food together. So I come up with a woman who is a chef, and to throw in some extra spice I make it an incest story: she wants to seduce her brother. Over dinner. His birthday dinner. Then I come up with their personalities, and how she wants to seduce him. She tries to make the first part of the seduction seem accidental, so it's more plausible and not too overt right off the bat. And so on. I come up with the menu. I don't start writing until I've got the story pretty much worked out in my head and have written an outline. Often I abandon the outline after I start writing, but usually I write the last page of the story before I get very far along.

My story ideas often are inspired by other stories I've read. For instance, I've read several tentacle porn stories, and I decided I wanted to try it. So I did. I recommend reading a lot as a way to keep the creative juices flowing. I find when I read a lot I come across themes and ideas and think to myself, "I'd like to try this, but to do it a bit differently."

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

[with apologies for any duplication of a previous topic]

Just curious about where other writers get their starting points/jump-off points? Does it always begin with a specific sexual scenario, the rest of the story being built around that; or is it more often that it begins with the characters, and then follow where they lead?

It was the latter for me (in the sole story I've so far submitted, but I'm endeavouring to submit again soon). I was actually thinking in "big terms" about the pair's whole lives, and then randomly decided to "begin at the end" and see what happened. The story's had a pretty good response (I think!), and I've been wondering whether it's because the sexual material was not anything I "designed" as erotic, but instead what felt like the natural progression of story and interaction.

That's a long-winded way of saying, I'm a bit stuck on the process, trying to find what's erotic in the scenarios I've noted down, and thought I'd ask how others approached it.

Apologies for the long-winded nonsense, and thank you for reading.

KS

As far as where/when to introduce sex: I think it depends on what you’re writing intentions are, of course—if your goal is to write a stroke piece or attract higher readers and followers, you probably would do well to start off with sexually charged tension and get to the act fairly quickly. There are lots of quality stories on here that span characters’ lifetimes but begin in media res, and with the sex. A masterful example is jfinn’s The Human Condition.

But there’s no set pace. Personally, I’m writing a plot-driven novella series. Erotica, sex scenes and kink/fetish are an afterthought, and I only include sex when it’s driving my plot. So, for example, the first seven chapters of my story Counting Pennies have no sex scenes but they do 1) create a natural, plausible progression to the protagonists’ incestual relationship and 2) lay the breadcrumb trail of bits and clues for the actual story.

My jump-off was a philosophical legal question, which isn’t very sexy in and of itself. From there I outlined, diagrammed, filled-in and did tons of research. And despite lots of planning, as EB said, sometimes a character just demands to be crafted or given equal time.

 

[RejectReality]

As often as not, mine start from a pun/wordplay title, and go from there. I've got a giant list of such titles, waiting for characters and stories to present themselves that fit it.

The rest are mainly something to do with interesting characters, settings, or scenarios.

Sexual kinks are usually the bottom of the list as far as inspiration goes.

 

[NotWise]

Just curious about where other writers get their starting points/jump-off points? Does it always begin with a specific sexual scenario, the rest of the story being built around that; or is it more often that it begins with the characters, and then follow where they lead?

I normally start with a scene that allows for quick character development. It also needs to hold the readers' attention.

When and how you introduce sex is entirely up to you. Some readers want the characters well-developed before they have sex. Other readers will be bored if they don't get sex right away. You can't make everybody happy, so you should at least make yourself happy.

 

[KeithD]

I start in action/confusion. Something that grabs the readers' curiosity and propels them into the story.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I've done it both ways. Started with what was happening then back tracked to fill in the blanks. I have also started with just a description of someone, filled in the characters and finally got around to the sex.

I also have quite a few with no sex in them, just adventure and action.

 

[OneAuthor]

I sort of enjoy teasing the readers with a small taste of an erotic (and perhaps a bit shocking) present time, then switching to the details of how it got to that point.

It's like "How I Met Your Mother", but steamier.

 

[KentScribe]

This is all terrific, and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to reply and offer such constructive advice. As a newcomer to writing and submitting here, I guess I can relax a bit and find what works for me. (I.e., try not to overthink!) maybe it’ll be different every time, but - like VG - the sexual content was almost secondary/an after-thought to the characters, so that despite my self-consciousness doing this for the first time, I still mostly felt like I knew what I was doing.

Thanks again for all the advice and suggestions, as well as the story recommendations. Excited to read people’s work.

KS

 

[eroticstoryspinner]

I started out building a alt history where slavery could be plausible, which resulted in the idea of penal slavery (see 13th Amendment). Therefore the logical starting place was in the courtroom.

Riffing off the OP a bit, I think anything can get a story started. I have a milSF WIP that was inspired by Sabaton's "The Last Stand" which is in turn inspired by historical events.

 

[SamScribble]

I’m probably a textbook example of how not to write a story – at least how not to write a story for Lit.

I don’t really bother about the sex. I gather together a character or two and tell the story of the intersection between their lives – meeting up, breaking up, making up after breaking up. In my real life experience, under such circumstances people often engage in sexual activities of one sort or another. When the time is right, I report on those encounters.

In terms of structure, I often like to start the story part-way through. And I don’t think I ever ‘explain’ much. After 8,000 words of my most recent story, even I don’t know how old the two main characters are – or what colour hair each of them has.

I do get the occasional reader – readers who seem never to have written anything themselves – writing to tell me that I should ‘describe’ the characters, give more details, tell the story of their development. But most people seem to be more than happy with the snippets I feed them. As one of this morning’s comments said: ‘Riveting. Sweet, romantic and amusing. We know so little about them, but it works.’

 

[MelissaBaby]

I do get the occasional reader – readers who seem never to have written anything themselves – writing to tell me that I should ‘describe’ the characters, give more details, tell the story of their development. But most people seem to be more than happy with the snippets I feed them. As one of this morning’s comments said: ‘Riveting. Sweet, romantic and amusing. We know so little about them, but it works.’

99% of what I know about writing, I learned from reading. And, every book I ever read, I "cast" in my mind, with people I knew, or actors or celebrities. I figure other people do some version of that as well, so I let them.

 

[Hypoxia]

How do I start stories, and where do they go then? Maybe I start with a scene-setting, then let things evolve. Maybe I kick off with active sex, then work-in a backstory. Maybe I have a player blather about themself as an excuse for events that follow. Maybe I have a tricky twist or odd question or kinky problem to resolve. Or maybe I see the ending first, and build the story to get there. Whatever jumps out at me, there I go.

 

[SamScribble]

How do I start stories, and where do they go then? Maybe I start with a scene-setting, then let things evolve. Maybe I kick off with active sex, then work-in a backstory. Maybe I have a player blather about themself as an excuse for events that follow. Maybe I have a tricky twist or odd question or kinky problem to resolve. Or maybe I see the ending first, and build the story to get there. Whatever jumps out at me, there I go.

So many possibilities! You're over-thinking it, Hypoxia.

 

[gunhilltrain]

How do I start stories, and where do they go then? Maybe I start with a scene-setting, then let things evolve. Maybe I kick off with active sex, then work-in a backstory. Maybe I have a player blather about themself as an excuse for events that follow. Maybe I have a tricky twist or odd question or kinky problem to resolve. Or maybe I see the ending first, and build the story to get there. Whatever jumps out at me, there I go.

There's also the option of not having any sex at all. I had a story idea without any sexual content, so I just put it in the non-erotic category and it has done pretty well there. The number of views is lower but the readers there seem to vote more than the average.

For a change of pace, I've also submitted some non-sexual topics to the Reviews and Essays section.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

So far I've had nine stories published here.
I'm not someone who outlines and plots the whole thing through. Most of my stories have either started with an image in my head, or a brief interaction. Then the story evolves to illuminate and justify the image.

My highest rated story started with a problem I wanted an erotic way to solve (managing stress). It was inspired by a story I'd read here, And then as soon as I got that idea, the story grew and wound up more personal than I'd expected.

One of the stories I'm working on now started with a problem that I wanted to find a kinky way to solve. Then it took off too, and is now by far my longest story. And it's maybe half done. I'd say this one is more character driven.

It's been fun though, letting characters live in my brain for a while and watching what they do. Trying on different universes to see which ones fit. I've written three, and started five other short stories based on images or kinks, and realized they were all about the same couple. So I reworked the completed ones to reflect that, and now I have a whole series of independent stories that collectively illuminate this couple's marriage. If you'd asked me when I submitted my first story if i was capable of that, I'd've said "no way."

It's been a fun ride so far, developing this hobby.
And the group of regulars here at AH are great people to bounce ideas off of, get good answers to questions, and generally muse about this thing that we're all doing.

 

[Hypoxia]

So far I've had nine stories published here.
I'm not someone who outlines and plots the whole thing through.

Pro novelists I know say they're often contractually committed to submitting outlines. I'm not so I don't -- usually. Exception: I have a journal or script to work from. I know the whole story already. It only needs adapting to LIT.

Most of my stories have either started with an image in my head, or a brief interaction. Then the story evolves to illuminate and justify the image.

That's a pretty common storytelling path, similar to good essaying: Start something and see where it goes, exploring the realm. An "image in my head" may drive a story but could occur anywhere within, especially the end. Just create a setting and some players and set them loose, maybe with a few plot points to hit along the way. And as many salacious scenes as needed.

A writing exercise left me with a fat pile of frantic story titles and first lines. I laced many into a tragic tale of a pr0n writer who performed all the pervy sex before she wrote of it. Didn't end or score well. Maybe too many starting points?