trying to learn the right way

[tenbears43]

how to get your story posted and the type of story that they seem to favor. It's been a half century since i have been in school. Well almost, and i am a little rusty at certain things.

 

[kbate]

The right way:

1. Formulate a story idea in your head.
2. Write the story - don't worry about language, plot, wording, cuteness, hotness - just write it.
3. Rewrite it - worry about language - wording and hotness.
4. Submit it to an editor - and wait.
5. rewrite it using editor's suggestions.
6. Resubmit it to editor.
7. make final changes
8. review and have your 'first reader' review it.
9. rewrite sections first reader hated.
10. resubmit to editor.
11. rewrite final copy.
12 submit to lit.
13. wait.
14 wait some more.
15. see it posted.
16. get pissed because trolls vote it to 3.0.

It doesn't matter what you write - someone will like it, and someone will hate it. Lit doesn't care as long as it does not contain rape, bestiality, snuff content or underage sex.

 

[CopyCarver]

The right way:

1. Formulate a story idea in your head.
2. Write the story - don't worry about language, plot, wording, cuteness, hotness - just write it.
3. Rewrite it - worry about language - wording and hotness.
4. Submit it to an editor - and wait.
5. rewrite it using editor's suggestions.
6. Resubmit it to editor.
7. make final changes
8. review and have your 'first reader' review it.
9. rewrite sections first reader hated.
10. resubmit to editor.
11. rewrite final copy.
12 submit to lit.
13. wait.
14 wait some more.
15. see it posted.
16. get pissed because trolls vote it to 3.0.

It doesn't matter what you write - someone will like it, and someone will hate it. Lit doesn't care as long as it does not contain rape, bestiality, snuff content or underage sex.

Dead-on correct on all counts.

It's absolutely impossible to please everyone, even if you're another Updike or Oates. Ordinarily, I tell writers to please themselves first, and let readers cheer or boo as they please, but it's understandable that a first-timer would rather follow a trail than plunge into unexplored territory. One way might be to reread some of your favorite Lit stories with a focus on the "nuts and bolts" they've used. You don't want to copy anyone, obviously, but you can learn a lot about the mechanics of story construction, and then put your own special stamp on your story.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

There is a sort of list of catagories from most popular to least popular. I think Loving Wives is at the top. My stories are at the bottom

If you want lots of readers and feedback, pick a catagory about straight sex: Loving wives, First Time, Erotic Couplings, etc.

If you write Humor and/or Sci-Fi you will reach only a few readers.

BDSM and Gay have they're own group of readers. I have no idea how large those groups are.

The larger the Catagory group, the larger the reads you will get. But at the same time, there is a lot of competition in those groups too.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Tough Love... But Dead-On

...And be happy you got the scoop from some of the best Lit offers (no, silly, not me, I mean the beloved kbate and highly respected CC).

And from personal experience, be prepared to weather some 'zero' votes, especially if the story is doing well. It's like a flu shot. It hurts at first but in the end it all evens out.

These thoughts may sound dismal, but there's no reward greater than a reader that sends the unexpected feedback that your story, weeks or months later, has been affected by your words.

That's why I'm still here.