to many authors to damn picky

[rightn4fun]

I think some of you guys are rejecting stories that should be published. Who gives a fuck if there are proper sized paragraphs? Really who? These people that are approving this shit needs to lighten up! Everyone that has a hot ass story to share does not know or is not able to have perfect puctuation and shit. FUCK MAN LET IT RIDE. GET THE DAMN STORY ON HERE FOR US THAT AINT SO FUCKIN PICKY BOUT OUR APPALACIAN.

 

[sr71plt]

I think some of you guys are rejecting stories that should be published. Who gives a fuck if there are proper sized paragraphs? Really who? These people that are approving this shit needs to lighten up! Everyone that has a hot ass story to share does not know or is not able to have perfect puctuation and shit. FUCK MAN LET IT RIDE. GET THE DAMN STORY ON HERE FOR US THAT AINT SO FUCKIN PICKY BOUT OUR APPALACIAN.

What do you mean rejecting stories? The editors posting to this forum aren't the editors selecting stories for publishing on the Web site. And an author doesn't have to use the services of an editor at all. The Web site selectors aren't rejecting stories for paragraphs that are too long--as long as there are separate paragraphs, nor do they require perfect punctuation.

You seem confused on who does what here.

 

[CWatson]

As to whether we're picky or not: hey, we give free advice. It's worth what you pay for it.

The truth is that there are a lot of stories on this site: more than 175,000 on the Top Lists alone. Even if we assume that only 10% of those stories are good, we've still got nearly 20,000 stories. So, if someone comes here and posts something that isn't the greatest, we don't have to have patience with them. There's 20,000 other stories we could be reading instead! (Yes, we should try to be patient. But that's another matter.)

Furthermore, the people who come to this board to talk shop are the really committed writers and editors, the ones who are passionate about the craft. We have less patience, and we have higher standards, because we've read and written several times more more than has the average Literotica author. We aren't beginners, and we don't want to work with beginners. I talked about this earlier, but honestly: I don't think a beginner needs an editor. I think a beginner needs to just publish, publish anything, and get some confidence up, which people at the Feedback Portal will happily provide him with. Then, once he's feeling good about himself and has some confidence to burn--then he should come here, so we can really put the polish on.

As to who cares about proper-sized paragraphs: readers like you do. The Editor's job is to tell The Writer, "This is what your story did," and that requires being aware of what the story did, both consciously and subconsciously. The reason we say smaller paragraphs are important is because we've seen stories with large paragraphs, and heard people complain about them, and noticed in ourselves that, when we see a big ol' wall of text, we get turned off. If you pay attention to your own reactions, you'll probably notice it too.

And finally, your statement that "not everyone is able to have perfect punctuation and shit" is complete nonsense. Yes, everyone is able to have that; it's just a matter of time and patience. And hey, guess what? If I see an author who didn't have the time and patience to dot his I's and cross his T's, I get turned off! It's like riding in a car with someone who doesn't know how to operate the steering wheel. Do you trust him? Will you go on the freeway with him, where he'll have to operate the steering wheel and the accelerator and the brakes and his turn signal? I sure won't! I don't think he has the faintest idea what he's doing! And there's still 20,000 other stories on the site written by people who do know what they're doing, so maybe I'll go let them drive me around. it's probably safer, and definitely more fun.

So please: learn to listen to yourself. You'll find yourself agreeing with us a little more frequently than you expected.

 

[Guest]

<rant>
You are out of line. Completely out of line. You ask who cares? I do. I sent my first two stories in for editing immediately upon joining this community. There are plenty of crap sites where you can post. The site name says "LITEROTICA", which is a hybridization of LITERATURE and EROTICA. The top stories have things in common. they are hot (EROTIC), and they are well written (LITERATURE). If I wanted to read crap, I would have gone somewhere else. If I wanted to publish crap, I would have written for television.

Secondly, there are people on this site that are known as volunteer editors. These are the people you are yelling at. They have done nothing wrong whatsoever. They volunteer their services so you can get your stories accepted. Using them is not a requirement, it is a tool. They can help you get your story accepted, but they do not make the decisions regarding content on this site. A wonderful, HELPFUL woman named Laurel is the one that rejected my story, and after re reading it, I see why.

Do yourself and the rest of the site a favor and write decent stories. It is the acceptance and the need for quality erotica that helps this site remain the pinnacle of the online erotica sites.

~Paul
</rant>

 

[LittleJaquesHorner]

I have just joined Literotica due to several people telling me that my stories were worthy of this site. It was a proud moment for me to receive such compliments especially after reading several stories, but know in my heart that currently I am not in the same league as these authors at all.

I am daunted by the thought of submitting my first story to Literotica but I'll be damned if they'll beat me. They offer so much to help people like me and I'll read everything on here to help better my work from the stories to the excellent advice and I'll definitely be requesting the help of a volunteer editor. A free Editor! That's like being given the lottery numbers in advance.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

I have just joined Literotica due to several people telling me that my stories were worthy of this site. It was a proud moment for me to receive such compliments especially after reading several stories, but know in my heart that currently I am not in the same league as these authors at all.

I am daunted by the thought of submitting my first story to Literotica but I'll be damned if they'll beat me. They offer so much to help people like me and I'll read everything on here to help better my work from the stories to the excellent advice and I'll definitely be requesting the help of a volunteer editor. A free Editor! That's like being given the lottery numbers in advance.

Don't be intimidated, especially if others have confidence in you. Take the leap.

I'm a prolific writer here, will add links to my stories below (lest I forget), and enjoy helping new writers discover the joys of erotic writing. Check out a few of my stories to observe my style.

I'm working with a couple of other newbies and so won't be available for probably a few weeks, but if you're in need and willing to wait I can offer you the same services for the same price (free, of course).

http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=479657

Up to you.

Always want to see new writers succeed.

Reminds me of a joke - if at first you can't suck seed, keep on sucking until you do suck seed - sorry, had to share this.

 

[CopperSkink]

That's so wonderful that I have to change my signature.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

That's so wonderful that I have to change my signature.

Offer open to all, CS. But I do have to work and so my time is limited. Especially now with wife's work party, my work party, setting up tree, etc.

 

[CWatson]

Wow, I'm quotable! Who knew!

 

[Guest]

a little advice from me to you

I have just joined Literotica due to several people telling me that my stories were worthy of this site. It was a proud moment for me to receive such compliments especially after reading several stories, but know in my heart that currently I am not in the same league as these authors at all.

I am daunted by the thought of submitting my first story to Literotica but I'll be damned if they'll beat me. They offer so much to help people like me and I'll read everything on here to help better my work from the stories to the excellent advice and I'll definitely be requesting the help of a volunteer editor. A free Editor! That's like being given the lottery numbers in advance.

Congratulations on joining. I want to tell you though that having your stories edited can be a difficult experience at first. I too, had received praise from friends for a story or two that I was working on. I was encouraged to join by them. I submitted my stories and then they were rejected. It hurt!

Through this thread, I found a helpful and welcoming editor who is helping me prepare my stories for submission. When I first received his comments, I got angry. Who the hell was he, anyway? Then it hit me. I asked for him to help me. He was under no obligation to do so. That meant that he felt everything he was telling me was to help me. I had let my pride get in the way. Just like the author of this thread.

Once I swallowed my pride and let the stories sit, I became a little less "involved" with their current state, and the mistakes he pointed out became clearer. I kind of started to see the forest through the trees (as it were).

My stories are now much better than they were before. But I had to get past my ego and the praise of my friends first. I am sure your stories are wonderful. I look forward to reading them. Soon, with the help of an editor, they will be polished and ready to stand up to the thousands of readers you might gather. That is something to look forward to.

Remember, criticism from your editor is meant to help you. Take or reject their suggestions as you will, but know that you can only get better and better by asking for help.

Additionally (and I hope to do this as well), when your stories are published you may receive feedback and promote yourself shamelessly in the Story Feedback forum. Their comments will only serve to help as well. Take it all with a grain of salt and remember that not all editors match up with all writers. Good luck, and I look forward to reading your work. I promise I will only leave constructive comments.

(Oh, and read the stickies at the top of the Editors forum, they are full of great advice on finding editors and etiquette when dealing with them. Also, go here for writing help: http://www.literotica.com/stories/stories_by_category.php?category=8&page=1 It is chock full of information on how to write dialogue, phrasing and tenses)

 

[CopperSkink]

Are you kidding? I've been trying to steal your haiku for months, only I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that my blatant plagiarism might not escape your notice.

 

[CWatson]

Heehee. I stole it from somebody else, so I can hardly complain. Besides, you know what they say: "Good artists borrow. Great artists steal." Plagiarate away!

 

[ole_grouch_1124]

Personally, I can't stand a story that is not well written and CW's analogy is to the point. I just submitted my first two stories and am waiting on responses. I had an editor view them before I posted because I was advised in the FAQ's to do so. I am currently working on 2 other stories and I will again have someone take a second look. Another pair of eyes never hurts. You can rest assured, if my first two stories get rejected, I will be looking for help with them from someone here.

 

[Guest]

I am looking forward to seeing your first two stories. I have one pending and one in editing, both have already spawned sequals that are in writing. and I want them all to be perfectly written. I want to read stories from authors who care as much as we do.

~Paul

 

[ole_grouch_1124]

I hope you won't have to wait too long. You may not care for the categories, but you need to keep an open mind. Fiction, after all, is fiction. I'll be looking for your stories and will read them.

thanks,

PM me if you would like to discuss anything futher.

 

[euterpe410]

May the day never come when I am "too" picky as an author or a reader regarding a story. Give me a well-written grammatically correct story with proper punctuation, or otherwise I'm not going to waste my time...

And it's nice to see that I have company in that way of thinking

 

[sr71plt]

I just wish this thread didn't keep getting bumped up. The two misuses of "too" (rendered instead as "to") in the headline assault the eyes on an editorial board--and pretty much speak to the OP's rant.