That thing you excel at

[AlinaX]

This thread, among other things, is about not being a pussy when it comes to voicing what you believe are your own strengths in writing.
That was a pathetic attempt. Try again

Okay, fine. I excel at being angsty - but is being angsty a good thing? What if readers don't like angst? I've heard they do, but also that readers are all different and that it's impossible to please them all. Especially when cock is firmly in cunt and pounding away like the piston in the Titanic's engine room, does the reader want to be distracted by anxious thoughts on whether a particular simile is tasteful or not, or do they literally care only about the taste of that cock once it has finished doing what it does best? Oh dear, I've gone on a bit - not too much, I hope?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Okay, fine. I excel at being angsty - but is being angsty a good thing? What if readers don't like angst? I've heard they do, but also that readers are all different and that it's impossible to please them all. Especially when cock is firmly in cunt and pounding away like the piston in the Titanic's engine room, does the reader want to be distracted by anxious thoughts on whether a particular simile is tasteful or not, or do they literally care only about the taste of that cock once it has finished doing what it does best? Oh dear, I've gone on a bit - not too much, I hope?

Not at all. This is a really curious aspect of sex and from my own experience quite a realistic one. I am also that guy whose brain works at 150% capacity during sex, overthinking every aspect of sexual intercourse which can sometimes lead to too much anxiety. I have no idea how many readers like to read about that aspect of sex, but it does give a strong dose of reality to the sex scene.

 

[Omenainen]

I’m good at sappy and romantic and making my readers cry. It’s not the bodily fluid I set out to extract from them, but I’ll take what I can get.

 

[joy_of_cooking]

I'll quote the second comment I ever received:

Holy crap, that was so good on so many levels. Having done the “ try to conceive” thing you captured the experience of hot sex bring a chore. And the dialog rang so true. You brought these people to life in such an erotic tale. Damn, that was fun to read. Please write more.

I'm quite proud of that, even if he is saying, at some level, that what I'm good at is bad sex. The passage in question is the first few paragraphs if you want to look. It was the seed that started my whole career here.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I'm really good at ending my stories in cemeteries ...

 

[MediocreAuthor]

If my screen name didn't tip you off, I'm not a big fan of self-congratulatory praise. But it was specifically requested here, so I'll bite.

Personally, I think I'm good at coming up with interesting premises for stories (of course I would think that).
That's honestly my favorite part of storytelling: the idea generation stage when I come up with the concept for a story. All the rest is work to me (enjoyable work, sure, but the idea creation stage is pure bliss)

---

Now to add something that I've been told that I do well, although I'd never really considered it, I'll present a quote from @joy_of_cooking:

"You have a knack for making me think about the everyday indignities women suffer. Realistic is a weird thing to say about those two series, [Women's World and Rescuing the Fallen] but they are."

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Personally, I think I'm good at coming up with interesting premises for stories (of course I would think that).
That's honestly my favorite part of storytelling: the idea generation stage when I come up with the concept for a story. All the rest is work to me (enjoyable work, sure, but the idea creation stage is pure bliss)

I can easily relate to this. The idea part is very fun and exciting, yet as fun as actual writing can be, it is also hard work, which is something that discourages me from seriously delving into it lately.

Btw, you almost didn't suck at this "screw modesty" thing. Almost

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I can easily relate to this. The idea part is very fun and exciting, yet as fun as actual writing can be, it is also hard work, which is something that discourages me from seriously delving into it lately.

Btw, you almost didn't suck at this "screw modesty" thing. Almost

You don't choose a name like MediocreAuthor if you're afraid of modesty.

Anything I could choose to brag on, there's a dozen or more authors on this site who do it even better, although hopefully not in the exact same mixture.

But if you really wanna know what I excel at?

I cook a badass Mexican pizza.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

All right, I'll name one more of my strengths. I am able to plan far, far ahead. I am now in my second fantasy series, which is actually a continuation of the first one, but I am already setting up some small stuff for the fourth and even fifth series that I have already planned in very broad strokes. I am not sure if I will actually get to write them though. It all depends on my motivation.

 

[alohadave]

Punctuation and grammar seems to be my strength.

 

[Djmac1031]

Personally, I think I'm good at coming up with interesting premises for stories (of course I would think that).
That's honestly my favorite part of storytelling: the idea generation stage when I come up with the concept for a story. All the rest is work to me (enjoyable work, sure, but the idea creation stage is pure bliss)

I'm so there with you.

I've often said I'm a great Idea guy. I have TONS of them.

The problem is actually making them full fledged STORIES.

That's much more a struggle for me than ideas.

 

[dasgoodshit]

View attachment 2261409

You do know that there are these things called screenshots, right?

 

[dasgoodshit]

I took more than a few pages from your book for my Daddy / Daughter incest tale, Caring For Carrie.

Oh, I loved Caring for Carrie! It's on my Favs.

 

[dasgoodshit]

What else am I good at.... using too many commas when I write, then having to spend hours editing them back out again.

^^This is what I came here to say, lol

 

[Djmac1031]

Oh, I loved Caring for Carrie! It's on my Favs.

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I'm so there with you.

I've often said I'm a great Idea guy. I have TONS of them.

The problem is actually making them full fledged STORIES.

That's much more a struggle for me than ideas.

I have a fan who gives me constant ideas. I just let him run wild with them. Most of them are... well, pretty mediocre to be honest, but they're harmless. He's given me two real winners out of the dozens he's come up with, but I always just politely listen. Almost all of them could be fine stories if treated with love and care. But I've tried to subtly explain to him... the idea part is the easiest and most fun part. Writing is the work.

Most of my ideas come straight from my twisted mind. I have to love them first, and then I can turn them into something darkly beautiful.

But he's a nice guy, so I wouldn't dream of stopping him

 

[lovecraft68]

You do know that there are these things called screenshots, right?

In case you don't know....I don't care.

 

[PrincessArianrhod]

I think I create atmosphere and mood relatively well and I have a penchant for expansive use of metaphor, which is something I do both in my writing and my every day speech. Without any sense of false humility, I find applying superlatives to myself or my abilities a little uncomfortable.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Without any sense of false humility, I find applying superlatives to myself or my abilities a little uncomfortable.

That was the whole point, to get out of our comfort zone and say what we think about our own abilities as a writer, even if it goes against common social norms of letting others praise our work while we act all modest about it

 

[RetroFan]

As my username would suggest, I think I am good at setting stories in the past, be it in the 2010s all the way back to the 1920s. I especially like writing stories set in the 1960s.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I am exceedingly good at taking down my own stories. Beat that, Lovecraft!

 

[AchtungNight]

Some more things at which I excel. From comments on my stories-

"Your storytelling is unparalleled! The vivid descriptions and realistic dialogue made me feel like I was right there alongside the characters, experiencing everything with them."

"Your portrayal of the relationship dynamics between the characters was so heartfelt and authentic. I felt every emotion they experienced, and it was an absolute joy to witness their journey."

"This fanfiction is an emotional rollercoaster! The way you seamlessly weave together moments of joy, heartache, and everything in between is incredible. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't stop reading until the very end."

"Every chapter was a delightful surprise. You managed to keep the story fresh and exciting, and I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next."

"I'm completely obsessed with this fic. The chemistry between the characters is off the charts and the dialogue is so witty."

"The world-building in this fanfic is absolutely phenomenal. The author has created a rich and immersive universe that feels expansive and realistic. I couldn't help but get lost in the intricate details. A true masterpiece!"

"You've captured the essence of the characters."

"Your dialogue is absolutely brilliant! Each character has a distinct voice, and the conversations flow so naturally. I found myself hanging onto every word they said, eagerly waiting to see what they would reveal next."

These are all reviews of my work from AO3, but they apply to the same stories featured on Lit. Specific works- Passion 4, Counseling, Rendezvous, Debrief; Fear, Lust, & Vanity. Hope readers will enjoy these and other tales I put out.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I'm pretty darn good at counting to ten

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
∞
9
10

(It got a little squirrelly after 7, but I straightened it back up)

 

[drobert44]

Biking 10 miles/day........

 

[Djmac1031]

I'm pretty darn good at counting to ten

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
∞
9
10

(It got a little squirrelly after 7, but I straightened it back up)

I botch that up all the time myself.

Endlessly, in fact.