Stories within Stories

[Chicklet]

I recently read this excellent novella in the BDSM section with story upon story inside it. While it was really neat, I wonder if I could pull it off.

Those of you who have written stories within your stories, how did you feel about it? Did it disconnect you from the "real" story?

Those of you who have read stories within stories, what did you think of them?

 

[Guest]

It's an ancient author's ruse dating back to Dante I know and probably back to Homer. Very difficult to do well; I'm not up for it yet.

 

[Chicklet]

do you think it's fun inside a story?

while I liked the stories, I did find them a little distracting. Of course, the novella was PAGES UPON PAGES long, and the stories within it were up to two lit pages, which is long for me...

 

[Guest]

do you think it's fun inside a story?
... while I liked the stories, I did find them a little distracting

That's what I mean about difficult to do and not get a reader lost. Don't know about the fun. Sorry.

 

[Chicklet]

Don't know about the fun. Sorry.

where's my sobby face from msn?

 

[Weird Harold]

Those of you who have written stories within your stories, how did you feel about it? Did it disconnect you from the "real" story?

Those of you who have read stories within stories, what did you think of them?

That depends on what you mean by "stories within stories" -- I've writtenone story that is framed as a "Tavern Tale"; i.e. a story told in a bar. I may someday go back to O'malley's Irish Pub to frame another story told by some other patron, but the whole reason for framing the story was to remove the inherent demand for a series in the basic premise that I didn't feel like writing -- a search through 50 some women for the one that "tasted right."

If I encounter another story that needs a frame, I've already established O'Malleys Irish Pub and some of the characters there and they're waiting for another maudlin customer if I need them.

I haven't written any stories that contain flashbacks or detailed confessions that aren't an integral part of the story.

I don't have any problem with reading stories that contain flashbacks or detailed confessions -- provided they're done well.

I actually like "framed stories" -- a collection of stories related only by the setting -- Canterbury Tales, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, and Tales From the Vulgar Unicorn are some well known examples of "framed" anthologies.

I'm NOT very fond of the "Dear Diary" style of relating someone's sexual history that I find here a lot, but there are a couple that are well written and enjoyable -- it's one of those styles that seem natural but are very hard to write well.

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

I tried it once. It turned out 'ok', I guess. I thought I was writitng it as a story in a story but people didn't take it that way. So maybe it worked.

Wicked

 

[Chicklet]

Re: Re: Stories within Stories

That depends on what you mean by "stories within stories"

well in the story I was referring to a character wrote a story, and it had the story that she'd written within the story I was reading...

 

[Chicklet]

I tried it once. It turned out 'ok', I guess. I thought I was writitng it as a story in a story but people didn't take it that way. So maybe it worked.

Wicked

I'd like to know more about that

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Re: Re: Stories within Stories

well in the story I was referring to a character wrote a story, and it had the story that she'd written within the story I was reading...

So it was a single story she was writing broken into parts as she got around to writing them sort of thing?

That sounds like a very difficult format to write well. It's essentially a framed story, but breaking it into parts makes the format much more difficult -- especially if there is a "main plot" that does more than frame the story fragments.

I've read several novels where critical informtion was revealed by parts of a long story one character told over several nights around the campfire.

It was not terribly distracting, because the story-within-a-story was relevant to the plot and the pieces came at just the right time to reveal the information needed to understand the main story better.

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

Chicklet,
Here is the link to the story, it's not very long if you want to give it a look to see what I mean. I hope this is what you were talking about.

Wicked

Summer's Secrets

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

well in the story I was referring to a character wrote a story, and it had the story that she'd written within the story I was reading

Chicklet,
This is exactly the way mine is written. My main character writes a story in the story. Perhaps it was mine that you recall reading, I had it on the feedback forum once.

Wicked

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I don't like it and I don't see a need for it unless you want someone to tell a story in dialect or from a unique perspective, and even then it shouldn't be a story so much as a character's recounting of events, which should be different than a crafted story.

The whole thing smacks of the hokey flashback, and I don;t see why you'd want to use it.

It also reminds me of the old bit: "It was a dark and stormy night, and the first mate said to the captain, "Captain, tell me a story." "All right." said the captain: "It was a dark and stormy night, and the first mate said to the captain..." (repeat ad absurdum)


---dr.M.

 

[MathGirl]

"It was a dark and stormy night, and the first mate said to the captain, "Captain, tell me a story." "All right." said the captain: "It was a dark and stormy night, and the first mate said to the captain..." (repeat ad absurdum)

Dear Dr M,
Please go on. That's fascinating. What happens next?
MG

 

[Rainbow Skin]

Originally posted by dr_mabeuse
"It was a dark and stormy night, and the first mate said to the captain, "Captain, tell me a story." "All right." said the captain: "It was a dark and stormy night, and the first mate said to the captain..." (repeat ad absurdum)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by MathGirl
Dear Dr M,
Please go on. That's fascinating. What happens next?
MG


What happens next is dr_mabeuse posts a reply saying 'What happens next is dr_mabeuse posts a reply saying...' ...

 

[PAUL C]

Yes. Done that.

I wrote a story within a story in Another June Wedding.

I thought it wasn't that bad.

I was heavily criticised for not having my historical data correct.

But I had to change the dates to allow the hero, David, to suggest he was at least 18 when he had sex for the first time. It would have accurate had it been published on a UK site.

 

[Guest]

Paul C:

I was heavily criticised for not having my historical data correct.

Sheesh, that's crappy. Shakespeare gave Bohemia a sea shore; it did NOT detract from the story and was nowhere near the point of anything worth mentioning.

I'm all for adjusting reality for art (and please no one ask me, "Yes, but is it art?")

Regards, Perdita

 

[RonnyJane]

I just submitted one

Look here for a review:

http://www.literotica.com:81/stories/showstory.php?id=93945

I must admit it was difficult. I struggled with trying to incorporate the two imbedded stories into dialogue but decided in the end to just italize them and let them stand alone inside the mother story. I felt they each lost their impact if broken up.

This was a true story so that made it somewhat easier to design. I am curious to hear opinions.

Hope this helps! And I say if you want to try it GO FOR IT!

RonnyJane

 

[Guest]

RonnyJane

Hey, RJ, welcome to Lit. and our hangout. Man, I didn't post a story for weeks after I signed on. Will give yours a read anon.

Despite what you hear or read we're all (well, not all) really, really nice people, just temporarily insane at times (well, some are permanently off the planet).

Best regards, Perdita

 

[RonnyJane]

Nice to meet you!

Based on your description it sounds like I'll fit right in. I actually have 4 posted stories so far. I have many in draft form from way back that I hope to get in Lit format and submit soon. I just wish there were 36 hours in a day!

Thanks for the welcome!

RonnyJane

 

[oggbashan]

The Dreadful Chapter 01 of The Worst Chain Story Ever has a story (Owen's Bazaar) within a story.

I would not suggest that it is an example to follow.

Where is Chapter 2, 3 and so on?

Og

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I've read stories like that, of different qualities. Done by a skilled author, a story-within-a-story can make the frame story even better - ofcourse, it's tricky - done clumsily, it can make a decent story slip down into the -category.

 

[oggbashan]

I've read stories like that, of different qualities. Done by a skilled author, a story-within-a-story can make the frame story even better - ofcourse, it's tricky - done clumsily, it can make a decent story slip down into the -category.

Chapter One was supposed to slip much lower than that. It is still rated over 4.

Og

 

[Svenskaflicka]

*offers og a hug*
You poor thing!

 

[SlaveMasterUK]

I have been plotting and planning for the last 3 or 4 years to write a long novel based around the idea of stories within stories. In the first chapter the main character, a spy, steals a novel from an enemy soldier he has just killed and begins to read it; each chapter is broken into two parts - the main story, and then a chapter or part thereof from the stolen novel that the main character is currently reading.

I got this idea from Inversions by Iain M. Banks, one of the greatest sci-fi authors publishing today, where two stories run as parallels to one another. I won't spoil the ending for those who take my advice to read, read, read this as soon as possible!

I have big plans on how to end my story with a special twist... But I won't spoil it here!

I *almost* put a second story into Rhiana but changed my mind at the last minute. It does however contain a 'sexual dream' scene which is not apparently a dream until it is over (just like a real sexual dream), which is perhaps my favourite scene in the entire story.

Ax