Just a question for all the story readers out there.. would you prefer true stories over fiction? I'm starting out as an author(just got my first story posted, I need all the feedback I can get!), and I have a few ideas about fictional stories I could post, but I have thousands of interesting true stories. Do you guys like those more?
True stories?
- Thread starter Analrules
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Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
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Analrules said:
I disregard most claims of authenticity in stories here. those few stories I know for a fact to be true are usually less interesting than the ones that embellish the truth a bit.
To me, it really doesn't matter if the story is true or not. I'm more interested in how well the story is told than it's veracity.
cymbidia
unrepentant pervert
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Since i don't labor under the mistaken perception that i'm a "real" author, the vast majority of my stories/poetry are, indeed, reality-based (WH's claims of non-belief to the contrary). It's how i write and what i wrote. I'm also a niche writer and stay firmly in one category. Are the two related? Probably, for me.
If you're a good writer, you can take your reality and make a good story of it.
If you're a good writer, you can take some only-dreamed-of reality and make a good story of it.
Just write what's in your brain banging around madly trying to get out.
If you're a good writer, you can take your reality and make a good story of it.
If you're a good writer, you can take some only-dreamed-of reality and make a good story of it.
Just write what's in your brain banging around madly trying to get out.
Weird Harold
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cymbidia said:
It isn't as much "non-belief" as it is "apathy." The truth of stories just doesn't seem relevant to me, and those that rigorously stick to the truth often aren't as interesting as those which are "reality-based."
All of us write based on our real life experiences and/or real life fantasies, but for most of us, a simple detailing of what "really happened" isn't as interesting as "what I wish had happened."
Mickie
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Aren't most stories a mix of truth and fiction anyway? We put in our own responses to stimuli created in the story, or it wouldn't read very realistic. Blending fiction and fact is the best way to create a story the reader can identify with.
Sort of 'I know how this feels so I'll write a story about it, using an imaginary situation to frame it.'
And I'm with WH. The reality of the story doesn't concern me. The passion and skill with which it's written makes much more of a difference.
Mickie
Sort of 'I know how this feels so I'll write a story about it, using an imaginary situation to frame it.'
And I'm with WH. The reality of the story doesn't concern me. The passion and skill with which it's written makes much more of a difference.
Mickie
cymbidia
unrepentant pervert
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Yep. Most stories are a mixture of fact and fiction. And i'm with you guys on this: the passion and skill with which the story is fashioned is what makes it a thing of heat - or not. Its based-in-reality status is often simply where the story idea came from.
Like everyone, i've read agonizingly execrable "real" stories and exceeding well-done stories that i knew were strictly a thing of imagination; all in all, i prefer my erotica to be well written, wherever the impetus comes from.
Like everyone, i've read agonizingly execrable "real" stories and exceeding well-done stories that i knew were strictly a thing of imagination; all in all, i prefer my erotica to be well written, wherever the impetus comes from.
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Truth is stranger than fiction
Personally, I think the best stories are a compilation of fantasy, imagination, experience with a "dash" of truth mixed in.
The mind is after all the best sexual organ, contrary to popular belief...and with a wide open venue to chose from, who of us have ever experienced and done it all? Except in the mind perhaps........
So, writing about a personal experience is great....but go ahead and throw some additional spices in. Its tastes...(and reads better!)
Personally, I think the best stories are a compilation of fantasy, imagination, experience with a "dash" of truth mixed in.
The mind is after all the best sexual organ, contrary to popular belief...and with a wide open venue to chose from, who of us have ever experienced and done it all? Except in the mind perhaps........
So, writing about a personal experience is great....but go ahead and throw some additional spices in. Its tastes...(and reads better!)
Sonia_de_Beaumanoir
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Re: Truth is stranger than fiction
I think that you can write "truer" and thius better when you write from personal knowledge.
Some of the stories I've submitted are based on my own experiences, but as sandman says, I've had to modify the "truth" to varying degrees to make a more interesting read. In most cases, the modifications are to the timescale of events and what I and my parters say. I always set the story where it happened so that at least the locale and scene are accurate.Thesandman4u said:
I think that you can write "truer" and thius better when you write from personal knowledge.
true confessions
I heard that most of the old "True Confessions" print magazine stories were made up out of whole cloth. Readers read them hoping that they were reading the gossipy truth. Some readers may not like the idea of "fiction," which is essentially a lie. But can authors write "total" fiction? I mean, stories are grounded in experience. I write using experience and imagination. Wholly "true" stories are dull and have inconsistencies. You have to embellish, and you have to invent descriptions that make for a consistent story. Except for one that I wrote to a Literotica Story Ideas post ("Slave Whore Teacher"), my stories have a mix of fact amplified by fantasy and fiction derived from experience. Nudemodel
I heard that most of the old "True Confessions" print magazine stories were made up out of whole cloth. Readers read them hoping that they were reading the gossipy truth. Some readers may not like the idea of "fiction," which is essentially a lie. But can authors write "total" fiction? I mean, stories are grounded in experience. I write using experience and imagination. Wholly "true" stories are dull and have inconsistencies. You have to embellish, and you have to invent descriptions that make for a consistent story. Except for one that I wrote to a Literotica Story Ideas post ("Slave Whore Teacher"), my stories have a mix of fact amplified by fantasy and fiction derived from experience. Nudemodel
KillerMuffin
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All my characters have something of me in them. I can't help it, I'm the one doing the writing, not the characters. All the circumstances in most of my stories are fictitious. Those things didn't happen. Only one story has any elements of truthful goings on. Fiction is fiction, based on true or not. True stories aren't any more erotic than fiction. Deborah wrote a whole slew of "true stories I'm purging my sould and repenting" or something that were fiction or at the least, totally unbelievable.
I would say that one should just write one's story and make no representation as to whether or not it's the truth in an aside as the author speaking.
This story really happened to me in June of 86 at the Pink Floyd concert in Wales. Enjoy!
Story story story story...
is not going to be believed. If you put that as the first line of the story rather than as the author's introduction, then the audience has no concern about whether or not the author is lying to them. People HATE being lied to, whether you actually do it or not. They can perceive your words as being lies and will not respond favorably to a story.
I would say that one should just write one's story and make no representation as to whether or not it's the truth in an aside as the author speaking.
This story really happened to me in June of 86 at the Pink Floyd concert in Wales. Enjoy!
Story story story story...
is not going to be believed. If you put that as the first line of the story rather than as the author's introduction, then the audience has no concern about whether or not the author is lying to them. People HATE being lied to, whether you actually do it or not. They can perceive your words as being lies and will not respond favorably to a story.
Whispersecret
Clandestine Sex-pressionist
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Whenever someone states in an erotic story that it really happened, I'm always skeptical. I think that the Penthouse Letters encouraged that, and that stating that a story is true is an attempt to lure readers.
Like someone already mentioned, people get into the idea that something outrageous and sexy could actually happen. There's a difference between THINKING it's real and true, and suspending your disbelief long enough to believe the story while you're reading. Both are satisfying, however, the former is more likely to be the result of a marketing ploy.
Personally, I am with those who said they're more interested in the skill with which a story is told. Truth doesn't matter to me in reading, otherwise I wouldn't enjoy sci-fi, fantasy, or romance novels as much as I do.
In fact, knowing that a story is true sometimes can be depressing. True stories can expose humanity at its worst and make me feel like society is just one step away from falling into the abyss of evil and stupidity.
On the other hand, when I read something uplifting (even if it IS complete fiction) I feel a sense of hope. If the characters were real enough, the story can reinforce the idea that we humans are capable of good things--love, triumph over evil, etc.
Well then. Someone rope me back into the realm of erotica. I didn't mean to veer off onto a philosophical analysis of fiction's effect on my mood. LOL
Like someone already mentioned, people get into the idea that something outrageous and sexy could actually happen. There's a difference between THINKING it's real and true, and suspending your disbelief long enough to believe the story while you're reading. Both are satisfying, however, the former is more likely to be the result of a marketing ploy.
Personally, I am with those who said they're more interested in the skill with which a story is told. Truth doesn't matter to me in reading, otherwise I wouldn't enjoy sci-fi, fantasy, or romance novels as much as I do.
In fact, knowing that a story is true sometimes can be depressing. True stories can expose humanity at its worst and make me feel like society is just one step away from falling into the abyss of evil and stupidity.
On the other hand, when I read something uplifting (even if it IS complete fiction) I feel a sense of hope. If the characters were real enough, the story can reinforce the idea that we humans are capable of good things--love, triumph over evil, etc.
Well then. Someone rope me back into the realm of erotica. I didn't mean to veer off onto a philosophical analysis of fiction's effect on my mood. LOL
ROPE ROPE ROPE
WHISPERSECRET
Here I am roping you back in. You are too intelligent and attractive and soulful to be out there in the ugly old street.
Come back in here and let us fondle and hug you until you feel the warmth of humanity rising in you like the sap in a maple tree.
It's the honey of your writing we want.
WHISPERSECRET
Here I am roping you back in. You are too intelligent and attractive and soulful to be out there in the ugly old street.
Come back in here and let us fondle and hug you until you feel the warmth of humanity rising in you like the sap in a maple tree.
It's the honey of your writing we want.
Verisimilitude vs Escapism
It seems that writers starting saying, "This is a true story!" way back in the 18th century. It has a long and somewhat varied tradition. Writers would claim that they had "found" a mysterious manuscript and merely translated it for their readers. If it makes you feel better to say something is true, go for it!
I like to stick with one simple rule: Write what you know.
Base it on fact, base it on fiction, or base it on something you overheard in the line at the grocery store. Whatever you base your story on, make it credible. No one wants to bend over backwards to suspend disbelief.
It seems that writers starting saying, "This is a true story!" way back in the 18th century. It has a long and somewhat varied tradition. Writers would claim that they had "found" a mysterious manuscript and merely translated it for their readers. If it makes you feel better to say something is true, go for it!
I like to stick with one simple rule: Write what you know.
Base it on fact, base it on fiction, or base it on something you overheard in the line at the grocery store. Whatever you base your story on, make it credible. No one wants to bend over backwards to suspend disbelief.
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