Tips for first time writer?

[Andrew1968]

I feel that once you have strong characters, well formed in your mind, then they will tell you what they want to do, where they want to go, and under what circumstances they will or will not make an appearance. My characters just keep growing more defined and clear. I just dump them on the Word doc and they go off and live their own lives without any further action on my part. I have all sorts of people tear-assing around the place – they are someone else’s problem and not mine…

I do tend to end up with a few scenarios or scenes in my mind. They recur over and over. I develop them over time in my head. They are rooted in my subconscious or some dark place like that

The best moments are when strong, well formed characters, agree to participate in these scenarios and scenes I have been building in my mind for a long period of time. It’s like: “yeah yeah I was made for that scene or scenario and I will allow you to put me in that scene or scenario.” The story just writes itself then.

Writing is an exhausting process for me. In the end I am just so glad to dump all these characters on this website and let them run riot while I stumble around and drink wine, completely empty headed…

 

[LAHomedog]

1) Tg like "her stomach churned".

5) A character's motives are structured by a) need (that which will give them fulfillment) b) desire (what they want out of life) c) goal (what they are trying to achieve in the immediate present), and d) tactics (their plans to achieve their goal). There should be a conflict between two or more of these levels of motives.

No disrespect, but really? What textbook did you quote that from? Nice start and spine, but the end all for character motivation? Really? Ok. Whatever.

 

[SaintCordelia]

No disrespect, but really? What textbook did you quote that from? Nice start and spine, but the end all for character motivation? Really? Ok. Whatever.

I'm not invisible_bridges, but every textbook on craft describes this. It's more commonly called GMC (goals, motivation, conflict) and it's a tool for breaking down your characters and ensuring they are fully fleshed people, rather than cardboard cut outs of tropes. Imo, you can get away with a generic plot if readers love your characters, and that begins with readers understanding your character's motivations.

 

[jehoram]

Often, at night while trying to drift off to sleep, with Jo sound asleep beside me, I imagine a story. Playing out scenario in my head. over and over, I let this loop run though my brain. At some point, I go to sleep, and the loop plays though as dream.

I do this, too, except for the dream part. I find that I can remember enough of the fantasy to flesh it out, so to speak, when I finally get to the keyboard. All of the elements and the characters are already in place.

 

[LAHomedog]

Imo, you can get away with a generic plot if readers love your characters, and that begins with readers understanding your character's motivations.

Yes, I know.

 

[SaintCordelia]

Yes, I know.

Glad to hear.

 

[LAHomedog]

Glad to hear.

You apparently didn't read the entire thread or any of my stories. BTW: I don't do well with pedantic and didactic.

 

[CyranoJ]

After reading a lot of stories on here and having some fantasies of my own I'm going to attempt to write my first story. Are there any tips for a first time author? What is the best strategy when starting? Do an outline? How do you add depth to the story? If interested in giving advice I would greatly appreciate any help.

Write was is hot for you. Really, that's it.

There are any number of abstruse theories kicking around AH about how long or short stories should be, what you should or shouldn't mention, what you should or should not do. None of them matter a whit if you're not writing what is hot for you. If you can't get off to your stories, there's no reason your readers should.

Once you've decided what is hot for you, once you've gotten a chance to refine it and make more specific choices about what does or does not belong in your stories, so long as you have that basic foundation you will have an audience. But that's where you should start, IMO.

 

[gunhilltrain]

After reading a lot of stories on here and having some fantasies of my own I'm going to attempt to write my first story. Are there any tips for a first time author? What is the best strategy when starting? Do an outline? How do you add depth to the story? If interested in giving advice I would greatly appreciate any help.

I'm not sure what exactly to tell you. Are you going for science fiction/fantasy or "plausible" real-life situations? Or maybe both? (I myself have never seen one episode of "Game of Thrones.") As has been said here before, write for yourself, not for popularity. If people like your stuff, they will come to you.

My factic is that the characters are not necessarily better looking than average, but they are smarter than average. That is especially true of female characters. What makes them attractive is that they have wit and brains, they have verve I'd say. It's their attitudes that make them interesting, not the size of their tits.

Consider real-life settings for your stories, even if they are somewhat fictionalized. (Assuming you are not creating a fantasy world.) How you write about the actual sex - well, that's up to you.

Remember that your characters will have some interests outside of themselves. It might be music, movies, literature - it could be among a lot of things. That's about all I've got for you.

 

[Trionyx]

1) Take 5 minutes to learn the basics of female anatomy (for instance, the distance in inches from the vaginal opening to the cervix).

2) Don't introduce a female character by giving her bra size.

3) Your basic structural tools are scenes, half-scenes, and summary. A half-scene combines scene and summary, and can quicken your pacing. Don't begin your story with pages of back-story summary. Sneak in the back-story bits at a time, as it is needed.

4) On the prose level, your basic tools are action, static description, dialogue, and thought (which includes emotion). Express emotions concretely : for instance, instead of "she felt afraid", write something like "her stomach churned".

5) A character's motives are structured by a) need (that which will give them fulfillment) b) desire (what they want out of life) c) goal (what they are trying to achieve in the immediate present), and d) tactics (their plans to achieve their goal). There should be a conflict between two or more of these levels of motives.

Amen to the above, particularly #1 and#2. If I had a nickel for every time I read about a hymen breaking once the penis was well inside the vagina, I’d be rich. And when just looking at a woman, one cannot see her vagina. One sees her lips, labia, pussy, the Promised Land, whatever, but one cannot see the vagina. (Rant is hereby concluded.)

#5 is also extremely valuable. A story is much stronger when it features a conflict. A simple description of sexual activity becomes boring within a few paragraphs unless the conflict has led to that point.

 

[gordo12]

Write was is hot for you. Really, that's it.

This.

If what you're writing doesn't make you hot and bothered, you're probably writing the wrong thing. At least for a sex site like this.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Amen to the above, particularly #1 and#2. If I had a nickel for every time I read about a hymen breaking once the penis was well inside the vagina, I’d be rich. And when just looking at a woman, one cannot see her vagina. One sees her lips, labia, pussy, the Promised Land, whatever, but one cannot see the vagina. (Rant is hereby concluded.)

#5 is also extremely valuable. A story is much stronger when it features a conflict. A simple description of sexual activity becomes boring within a few paragraphs unless the conflict has led to that point.

I have one story where the female character has masturbated so much that she doesn't even have a hymen left when she loses her virginity. Don't quote me on this, but I believe that is plausible.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I have one story where the female character has masturbated so much that she doesn't even have a hymen left when she loses her virginity. Don't quote me on this, but I believe that is plausible.

A hymen can be broken by a vibrator or a tampon.

 

[Payne_Hall]

A hymen can be broken by a vibrator or a tampon.

Or, for an erotic story idea, it could have also been done by Professor Plum in the library with the candlestick.

 

[LAHomedog]

A hymen can be broken by a vibrator or a tampon.

Most of the women I know lost theirs either in sports, or horseback riding. I've been with four virgins in my life and none of them had a hymen.

 

[Taxesdaddy13]

After reading a lot of stories on here and having some fantasies of my own I'm going to attempt to write my first story. Are there any tips for a first time author? What is the best strategy when starting? Do an outline? How do you add depth to the story? If interested in giving advice I would greatly appreciate any help.

I can understand how your feeling I myself have posted my first and second stories last month. So as a new writer, the biggest piece of advice I can give is just like everyone has already said. First, write about what you love if it's anal incest Romance whatever it is get it written down. Second, it doesn't have a do date take your time with it, read it over and over make sure you love it. Third write how you feel the most comfortable, for me I can't sit in front of a computer and write, I write everything on my phone that works best for me. Don't think you have to get it done in one sitting write as much as you can. If you at work for drive think about your story put yourself in it what would you do next what would your reaction be. For me having it on my phone helps I can write wan I get inspired. Not everyone will like your work as long as you do that's what matters. And lastly get Grammarly it helps a lot and check out the Volunteer editors on here after your done it always good to have a new set of eyes on your work to check for errors. Good luck and hope it helps you.

 

[AlexBailey]

Or, for an erotic story idea, it could have also been done by Professor Plum in the library with the candlestick.

Wow. I never thought about how easy it would be to make an erotic version of 'Clue.'

I heard that it's been done with Monopoly... Still haven't seen that.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Or, for an erotic story idea, it could have also been done by Professor Plum in the library with the candlestick.

I heard that Mr. Green did it to Mrs. White with the lead pipe, while choking her with rope, and she had the resolver shoved up his ass. But, that's just a rumor.

 

[umamienne]

A few people made some really good points, and I think these are the top three!

1. Good characters - People who have context in the story, and are connected in the reality you're writing

2. Female anatomy. It's so true... when I read a story that only mentions a "pussy" or a vagina... it's not that hot. Your ding-dong feels different than your balls. It's the same thing with a woman and her clitoris and labia. Watch Youtube! There are women who post really good sex tips about what we feel and what turns us off

3. Have fun. This may be a serious story, but include some variety. People make jokes in all sorts of situations!

 

[gunhilltrain]

A few people made some really good points, and I think these are the top three!

1. Good characters - People who have context in the story, and are connected in the reality you're writing

2. Female anatomy. It's so true... when I read a story that only mentions a "pussy" or a vagina... it's not that hot. Your ding-dong feels different than your balls. It's the same thing with a woman and her clitoris and labia. Watch Youtube! There are women who post really good sex tips about what we feel and what turns us off

3. Have fun. This may be a serious story, but include some variety. People make jokes in all sorts of situations!

It's not the female anatomy that is so important, it is their minds. Didn't someone say the brain is the biggest erotic organ? It's the women's attitude about things, including sex of course, that make them interesting, not necessarily their physical appearance.

 

[Dudeqwe]

Obviously this thread is old, but it has some good advice. I'm dipping my toes in the shallow end as a first time writer and I'd love to hear more.