surviving the affair

[jeninflorida]

so can a marriage survive an affair? what about fictional characters? are fictional characters immune from consequences? when you read a story that has an affair does that turn you off? or, do you see an opportunity to introduce a 3rd lover?

since this is fiction, does there need to be a long healing period or a quick chapter and the story moves on?

I know LW stories get the most reads and most feedback (and most trolls) so there is something there that inspires and motivates people to read.

anyway, I'm just looking to share some ideas and discuses this. thoughts?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

In a few of my stories, which involve cheating instead of swinging, the offended spouse takes the cheater back, but I don't recall if any of mine has the marriage end. I'll have to review them. But hey, it's your story. Write the outcome as it naturally occurs to you. Both outcomes happen in real life, why not in literature?

 

[jeninflorida]

In a few of my stories, which involve cheating instead of swinging, the offended spouse takes the cheater back, but I don't recall if any of mine has the marriage end. I'll have to review them. But hey, it's your story. Write the outcome as it naturally occurs to you. Both outcomes happen in real life, why not in literature?

on friday, I had a story mapped out. then last nigh while watching the 1/2 half of the cowboys getting spanked, I started to read email and now I'm torn and lost. filled with uncertainty on where to take a couple of my works in progress.

thinking if a marriage is strong, it can survive an affair. if they can regain trust and both are strong characters. when one is lacking self confidence most likely a affair will end the marriage as one will have self doubt about the other and need constant boosting.

my thought was this, that after the affair the wife wakes up, dumps her "catholic" guilt and realizes she's sexy and not getting any younger. why shouldn't she be a sexual character and enjoy things? what if she wants to kiss a girl, to see if she likes it? yeah cliche i know

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

on friday, I had a story mapped out. then last nigh while watching the 1/2 half of the cowboys getting spanked, I started to read email and now I'm torn and lost. filled with uncertainty on where to take a couple of my works in progress.

thinking if a marriage is strong, it can survive an affair. if they can regain trust and both are strong characters. when one is lacking self confidence most likely a affair will end the marriage as one will have self doubt about the other and need constant boosting.

my thought was this, that after the affair the wife wakes up, dumps her "catholic" guilt and realizes she's sexy and not getting any younger. why shouldn't she be a sexual character and enjoy things? what if she wants to kiss a girl, to see if she likes it? yeah cliche i know

Well, if they get divorced, that could be a very interesting angle, with so many different twists in it, depending upon who was the cheater. Also, if they stayed together, and he had cheated, she could have a revenge affair, or if she had cheated, perhaps a swinger or voyeurism angle. There are really so many directions that you could take that particular idea.

I had one story where the husband cheated, the wife found out, they had a big fight, then talked it over, and by the time it was said and done, the husband and his mistress were both involved with the wife. (Kind of a Kinsey-like scenario in reverse, in that the straight affair happened first, followed by the gay one.)

 

[jeninflorida]

Well, if they get divorced, that could be a very interesting angle, with so many different twists in it, depending upon who was the cheater. Also, if they stayed together, and he had cheated, she could have a revenge affair, or if she had cheated, perhaps a swinger or voyeurism angle. There are really so many directions that you could take that particular idea.

I had one story where the husband cheated, the wife found out, they had a big fight, then talked it over, and by the time it was said and done, the husband and his mistress were both involved with the wife. (Kind of a Kinsey-like scenario in reverse, in that the straight affair happened first, followed by the gay one.)

how well do your gay stories do on lit? do you post or publish other places (feel free to pm me that info). I was shocked by all the positive emails from my story about "holly's night out" as it had a bi male theme and men loved it! even some women, which shocked me too. guess I closed my mind off to some of the possibilities. have to say the emails were refreshing

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

how well do your gay stories do on lit? do you post or publish other places (feel free to pm me that info). I was shocked by all the positive emails from my story about "holly's night out" as it had a bi male theme and men loved it! even some women, which shocked me too. guess I closed my mind off to some of the possibilities. have to say the emails were refreshing

Well, Confronting His Lies, a collaboration with my wife, has turned out reasonably well so far (which reminds me that we have to finish it), as have the Adam and Steve stories.....but I need to write more of them. Gay Male is definitely an area that I need to explore more, being bi myself.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I think as I write the story, and develop the characters personalities, it'll either feel right to keep the couple together, or pull them apart. In the end, it's up to what feels best for the work. I don't have a problem seeing couples stick it out after an affair, nor do I see a problem if they break up and the marriage is dissolved.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I think as I write the story, and develop the characters personalities, it'll either feel right to keep the couple together, or pull them apart. In the end, it's up to what feels best for the work. I don't have a problem seeing couples stick it out after an affair, nor do I see a problem if they break up and the marriage is dissolved.

Makes perfect sense.

 

[nakdsub]

Wow! Sure wish I had a definitive answer.

Most of my stories are also in the LW category. I've discovered one thing with my stories, you'll NEVER please everyone.

 

[PennLady]

I don't usually address cheating. I don't find it erotic or exciting in any sense, and even then, it just hasn't factored into my stories, except one. One of the first things I posted was a short story called "Guilt."

It's about a couple where the guy cheated, but they weren't married or even engaged. I got positive feedback, although many people were split; they felt bad for the woman, but were glad to see what she did. They were mad at the guy, but glad he felt guilty, etc. I think some almost didn't want to like him, but he wasn't a cad.

It's obviously a very touch subject.

Sorry, got off track. If you read my story you'll see that yes, I think a relationship can survive it. But it takes a lot of things falling into place. The cheater has to be remorseful; the other person needs to be willing to forgive and eventually trust again; the cheater will have to show by future actions that they have changed their ways; the foundation of the relationship -- marriage or not -- must be strong enough to withstand a crack or two.

If that's how it happens in the real world, it can certainly happen in fiction. The trick for that, though, is that it has to be a believable course for your characters. If you have one with trust issues who immediately forgives a cheating partner, that won't fly. If you have a character who is open and willing to forgive errors, then they can't just shut the cheater out immediately.

My story was just my take on two people in a situation, but each situation has its own unique circumstances and people.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I think as I write the story, and develop the characters personalities, it'll either feel right to keep the couple together, or pull them apart. In the end, it's up to what feels best for the work. I don't have a problem seeing couples stick it out after an affair, nor do I see a problem if they break up and the marriage is dissolved.

Red! Long time no see. Good to have you back again.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Red! Long time no see. Good to have you back again.

Thank you very much! Nice to see you too.