Wannabe writer wants wisdom

[RabbleVox]

Hi all.
I've been a reader here since Al Gore created the internets. (honestly, about 9 years) now I want to contribute. Specifically, I'd like to share some of my real experiences.

I'm not unfamiliar with basic grammar or rules of the site, but I do have a few specific questions. My background is in journalism and non-profit management. This makes me pretty facile with words, but not that great at telling a story.

So question#1: How to turn real-life events into hot stories...without denying that real life is frequently awkward and confusing. Also, without disrespecting the very real people that were a part of my sexual history.

I was going to go on, but discretion and valor and all that.

Thanks in advance.
R

 

[Hypoxia]

My background has been 1) songwriter, 2) software writer, and 3) tech writer. I started fiction just 3 years ago and don't think I've done too badly. Some pointers:

* Remember that fiction has to make sense but real life doesn't.
* Steal a basic plot from somewhere, uponwhich to hang people, events, places, details.
* Lie a lot; LIT readers don't want an honest report.
* Don't start a story with a data dump.
* Think of an ending; if you don't know where you're going, you'll probably wind up somewhere else.

I can tell you of my storytelling approaches. Others work differently. Whatever.

* Choose a setting; populate it with characters; pick a few plot points to hit; set the players loose, then transcribe their words and deeds.
* Visualize a story as a video you're watching, and blog it. That's the framework, like a sculpture's armature, upon which to slap words, like clay.
* Visualize an ending image, then write the setup and action that takes you there.
* Maybe start with journal-type stories; you know where they're going.

See some commonality there? In my mind the critical element is the story's propulsion, what moves it along. A plausible backstory may be implicit or explicit; the players' motivations may be obscure. You get to decide how to drive the story along. Have fun.

 

[Nezhul]

The best way to learn to write good is... write.

No, seriously, you should just start writing.
Without knowing what specifically you struggle with - it's very hard to give an answer.
But here's what comes to mind:

1) Don't forget details. If you have a picture in your mind of a bedroom where something happens - spend 1 or 2 paragraphs on describing the place. This will help set up the mood you are going for and make your work more literate.

2) Spend some time on describing sex in detail, slowly depicting every kiss, every caress. You are writing erotica, not a newsletter! I've seen stories where sexual encounter would be over in 10 seconds of reading. It literally looks like:
"He licked her pussy and he moaned in pleasure. Then he took her from behind, fucking fast and hard, and they both came explosively.
The end."
That's not gonna work on this site.

3) It should be ok, seeing that you write based on personal experiences, but one of the most basic mistakes is making contradictory events or things that are just plain stupid and unrealistic.
One of the examples I recently read: the girls are selling themselves to slavery. They are crying as they are made to put all their belongings in a container to see them again only many years later. The poor widow's herat rips apart as she's forced to put away her wedding and engagement rings...
Fifteen minutes later, they all chat happily about how they like dick and how being prostituted is actually a pretty fun experience and that they are quite looking forward to that.
I mean, what?!

 

[Kimikimidoll]

Hi all.
I've been a reader here since Al Gore created the internets. (honestly, about 9 years) now I want to contribute. Specifically, I'd like to share some of my real experiences.

I'm not unfamiliar with basic grammar or rules of the site, but I do have a few specific questions. My background is in journalism and non-profit management. This makes me pretty facile with words, but not that great at telling a story.

So question#1: How to turn real-life events into hot stories...without denying that real life is frequently awkward and confusing. Also, without disrespecting the very real people that were a part of my sexual history.

I was going to go on, but discretion and valor and all that.

Thanks in advance.
R

Everyone writes from what they know. Only the authors themselves (or someone involved) can pick out the actual event for the story, so don't worry about it much. And if you haven't done it before, well, ask for help/research!

How about this:

Write out the real life event, add some extra stuff (detail, something you wish you said, or happened), change the things that might make places/events/people stand out. Keep editing until it's different.

You don't need to describe everyone or everything from head to toe. As long as the essence of it is there, you're being faithful to the events, while keeping a veil of 'modesty'.

 

[TxRad]

Since you've been a reader here forever, you have a list of favorite stories. Pick the ones that are close to your "real life" adventures and see how it was done by another.

Then forget what they wrote and write your own story.

Write your own story, yes, but now you have an idea of what it should at least look like as opposed to what you normally write. True stories give you a basis to work off of but they very seldom make good stories. That's where fantasy comes in. Embellish, if nothing else.

And always remember, writers are all lairs with typing skills.

 

[sr71plt]

Hi all.
I've been a reader here since Al Gore created the internets. (honestly, about 9 years) now I want to contribute. Specifically, I'd like to share some of my real experiences.

I'm not unfamiliar with basic grammar or rules of the site, but I do have a few specific questions. My background is in journalism and non-profit management. This makes me pretty facile with words, but not that great at telling a story.

So question#1: How to turn real-life events into hot stories...without denying that real life is frequently awkward and confusing. Also, without disrespecting the very real people that were a part of my sexual history.

I was going to go on, but discretion and valor and all that.

Thanks in advance.
R

First, that post-truth statement about Al Gore that's so indicative of what was wrong with the recent presidential campaigning--especially by one person. Gore never said he invented the Internet. That was a lie made up and floated by his political opponents and swallowed by not-too-bright voters. What he said was, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system." (http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp) And he was absolutely right. DARPA was instrumental in the technical weaving together of the Internet, but it wouldn't have happened--it certainly wouldn't happen when it did--without the political cheerleading, encouragement, and shepherding of it by Al Gore, using his political clout. This was the sort of development that wouldn't have happened without political backing and management.

On writing of real life events, yes, there's the danger of writing too close to the truth. One one level, the reality is usually a lot duller or more convoluted and mixed than would make a good piece of fiction. On another level, you can write close enough to be identified if you're not careful and if your experiences are above the mundane, which happened to me with one forum regular here when I was sloppy in using a real name in a real public position in a real time frame and someone who did great research discerned where I actually fit into that story.

That said, quite a bit of what I've written about is constructed on nuggets of actual experience. I (usually) avoid making it too specific by using the "real" as only one or a couple of elements and changing some of the rest of the story--also in cutting out the mundane or not-so-appealing parts of what really happened. I often primarily want to evoke the emotion of a particular real circumstance.

As an example, I have a first time story here. It was, indeed, the first "hot and heavy" time and I used the real time period and the real location and the real events and the real emotions, but I changed the nationality of a key character, telescoped the action that actually happened over weeks rather than mostly in a single session, and fudged on what I'd done in the way of "first time" before that to heighten the first time impact of the story.

I do take risks, but I write more freely about people I've encountered who are dead now than I do about the living and I make assumptions about whether they'll be reading the stories. I try not to write the involvement of anyone real in a light they wouldn't like. And I have, in fact, occasionally gotten an "is this character me"? e-mail--but the character has never has been them. I don't put too much of a real person into any of my characters--and after being outed on the strength of a real name, I'm very careful now with the names I use.

 

[oggbashan]

Step 1. Write.

Step 2. Leave it a week. Look at it. File it in a folder and leave to mature for six months.

Meanwhile...

Step 3. Write again.

Step 4. Repeat Step 2.

Step 5. Repeat Step 3 and 4 several times until you think you have written a story that is worth posting to Literotica.

Step 6. Post a story.

Step 7. Watch for the response. If you don't like the responses, revert to Step 1 and start again...

 

[RabbleVox]

Well, my goodness!

Why did I not join this tribe years ago???

Thank you all for smart, thoughtful responses, especially by a few of my favorite authors. (no, I'm not naming names...yet)

Y'all have given me enough food for thought to last a few meals.

I am at work on my first story (temporarily stuck when my best friend's wife kisses me) but more about that later.

Specific to sr71plt: I had meant the Gore/internet comment ironically. Maybe I'm not that good at irony. I wear my bleeding blue heart proudly on my sleeve, and believe that truth is usually more important than "truthiness". (thank you Stephen Colbert for that particularly useful non-word) And yeah, you are one of the writers I admire.

Again, thank you all for thoughtful, intelligent responses. I really should have dived in here "long ago and far away". This feels risky (I'm a bit old-fashioned), but it also feels right.

I absolutely refuse to close with a "Terminator" quote.

Peace and love,
R

 

[holliday1960]

Why did I not join this tribe years ago???

Thank you all for smart, thoughtful responses, especially by a few of my favorite authors. (no, I'm not naming names...yet)

Y'all have given me enough food for thought to last a few meals.

I am at work on my first story (temporarily stuck when my best friend's wife kisses me) but more about that later.

Specific to sr71plt: I had meant the Gore/internet comment ironically. Maybe I'm not that good at irony. I wear my bleeding blue heart proudly on my sleeve, and believe that truth is usually more important than "truthiness". (thank you Stephen Colbert for that particularly useful non-word) And yeah, you are one of the writers I admire.

Again, thank you all for thoughtful, intelligent responses. I really should have dived in here "long ago and far away". This feels risky (I'm a bit old-fashioned), but it also feels right.

I absolutely refuse to close with a "Terminator" quote.

Peace and love,
R

First, welcome to the boards. Second, and most important, grow a thick skin. (TIP: irony and humor are unappreciated and misconstrued in the world of Lit.) Third, learn it's better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and actually prove it.
That having been said, no one person here can truly give you a formula that leads to your success as a writer; all they can do is tell you what works for them, but they are NOT you. Trial and Error is the key.
Some have stated that they write from personal experiences. So far, I have not done that on Lit. Most of what I have posted has come from challenges or requests by persons unknown who will say, "Hey can you write a story about...?"
While truth is often stranger than fiction, sometimes the truth, and nothing but the truth, can put a writer on the hot-seat, so to speak. Even truth has to be explained in order to be believed, especially strange truths. Events leading up to the current story-line can take far too long to explain and you lose readers in the telling, because a lot of readers want you to 'get to the good stuff'. Some will say if you don't explain with all the gory details intact that you lack depth and character development. It's all a matter of taste and you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Just write to the best of your ability, be creative, and choose your categories with discretion. If your goal is reaching a lot of readers, post to more popular categories. If your goal is telling about some of your own personal experiences that don't fit in the popular categories, then get ready for a game of kick the can! And, believe me, your can is going to get kicked around a LOT.
Last bits of advice? Ignore the anonymous hate comments. Don't sweat the numbers until you have posted several stories and they have been up for at least two months. Remember, after you post your first story, writing erotica was the stupidest idea you ever came up with, but it can be fun. Good luck!

 

[8letters]

In my experience, the most important thing is an appealing premise. The second most important thing is interesting characters. Real life experiences can be difficult to convert into a story with an appealing premise and interesting characters.

 

[Hypoxia]

In my experience, the most important thing is an appealing premise. The second most important thing is interesting characters. Real life experiences can be difficult to convert into a story with an appealing premise and interesting characters.

Characters can drive the premise. A premise can drive the characters. They are interactive. Bits and pieces of IRL experiences can fill either niche as well as adding flavor and texture. But even as a reality fetishist I know that too much reality can bog-down erotic tales. Be only as real as needed and no more. Work up a good fantasy or three.

I'll admit that some parts of my pieces are straight reporting. But y'all probably can't tell just which episodes, hey? I usually at least change the names a bit.

 

[holliday1960]

Characters can drive the premise. A premise can drive the characters. They are interactive. Bits and pieces of IRL experiences can fill either niche as well as adding flavor and texture. But even as a reality fetishist I know that too much reality can bog-down erotic tales. Be only as real as needed and no more. Work up a good fantasy or three.

I'll admit that some parts of my pieces are straight reporting. But y'all probably can't tell just which episodes, hey? I usually at least change the names a bit.

This is totally why I haven't posted anything that's remotely real. (Despite my own realism fetish.)
For instance, in that far-away land of LW, it isn't enough to simply say, "I had a bad marriage," as a reason for cheating. In fact, no matter what you say, it would seem the majority of comments on cheating wives is that there is no excuse, no mitigating circumstance that would justify a wife cheating. So, you will get bogged down in trying to explain the back-story while the readers are going to hate you for even trying to explain it.
In BDSM, same thing. Try to explain the psychology of that kink and you'll end up writing a trilogy of novels at least. And, still not reach the readers who don't have a fondness for that particular kink.
Incest? Well, that doesn't even need an explanation. Everyone has sex during family get-togethers, don't they? We all have weekly orgies at my house where grandma and pawpaw are center stage, right?
So, that leaves us with a 'Dragnet' platform where in a biographical recounting, the names are changed to protect the guilty. And, if it happens that someone THINKS they recognize the situation or characters, you get sued at the very least. Thus, why I have a bionic purple unicorn who does all my creative thinking for me.

 

[RabbleVox]

Third, learn it's better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and actually prove it.

But if a fool never opens his mouth, can he be nourished?

Smart, smart thoughts from all of you. I want to try writing erotica, and I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's my midlife crisis. (I sure can't afford a Tesla)

Several of you have nudged me in a slightly different direction. As one of you mentioned, once I publish, I can expect to get "kicked in the can". I can deal with that, I've seen the evil red ink scrawled across my perfect prose, and I've seen my shit get spiked.

But trying to write "memoir" sex is probably too much too soon. I ain't no Anais Nin (then again, who is?) If I published something deeply personal, and it got savaged, it would feel more like getting kicked in the balls than the can.

So hopefully soon I'll post my first, completely fantasy-based story, and ask some of you lovelies to rip it to shreds and tell me why it sucks.
Peace,
R

 

[rawsilk]

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=1377520

This is a link to Stephen King saying how he writes. I found it very helpful.

 

[holliday1960]

But if a fool never opens his mouth, can he be nourished?

Smart, smart thoughts from all of you. I want to try writing erotica, and I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's my midlife crisis. (I sure can't afford a Tesla)

Several of you have nudged me in a slightly different direction. As one of you mentioned, once I publish, I can expect to get "kicked in the can". I can deal with that, I've seen the evil red ink scrawled across my perfect prose, and I've seen my shit get spiked.

But trying to write "memoir" sex is probably too much too soon. I ain't no Anais Nin (then again, who is?) If I published something deeply personal, and it got savaged, it would feel more like getting kicked in the balls than the can.

So hopefully soon I'll post my first, completely fantasy-based story, and ask some of you lovelies to rip it to shreds and tell me why it sucks.
Peace,
R

You see? You're already fitting in quite nicely! You're witty and you listen to your own inner voice. People here really are very helpful and they don't mind sharing their experiences and wisdom. (I'm sure you have seen that for yourself already.) What I SHOULD have clarified in my earlier statement about humor and irony not being appreciated is that on the boards, without voice inflection and visual mannerisms, sometimes text doesn't convey your humor properly. And, as a second observation, I've read some pretty funny stories in the humor and satire category, but it isn't a very popular category. It seems the readers don't care for humor and sex at the same time. I'm really not sure why that is. Me? I rarely, if ever, take anything too seriously. Especially, myself. Let us know when you post your first one and we'll pop the top on a cold one to celebrate. I'll bring the rootbeer!

 

[TxRad]

You see? You're already fitting in quite nicely! You're witty and you listen to your own inner voice. People here really are very helpful and they don't mind sharing their experiences and wisdom. (I'm sure you have seen that for yourself already.) What I SHOULD have clarified in my earlier statement about humor and irony not being appreciated is that on the boards, without voice inflection and visual mannerisms, sometimes text doesn't convey your humor properly. And, as a second observation, I've read some pretty funny stories in the humor and satire category, but it isn't a very popular category. It seems the readers don't care for humor and sex at the same time. I'm really not sure why that is. Me? I rarely, if ever, take anything too seriously. Especially, myself. Let us know when you post your first one and we'll pop the top on a cold one to celebrate. I'll bring the rootbeer!

Some readers say my characters laugh, chuckle, and grin too much. Happy characters keep the story light as long as it doesn't get too fluffy. This is my fun place to write, so why wouldn't my characters have fun also.

 

[ElectricBlue]

But trying to write "memoir" sex is probably too much too soon.

It can work. A truth can be so powerful, and come so obviously from the heart, that even if people don't like it, they'll respect it.

I've got a four-part true tell here. I can't make rhyme nor reason for the logic of the number of reads for the first two parts, but I know how many readers stayed with the story through to the end. The last two parts have almost exactly the same number of reads, plus/minus 0.1%. Been that way right from the start. They're the readers I touched as a writer, the ones who really wanted to know.

Just write. I find that a fantasy teased through with even a tiny bit of truth ends up having a stronger core. Sometimes it might only be a single sentence, but your writing can turn on it.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Hi all.
I've been a reader here since Al Gore created the internets. (honestly, about 9 years) now I want to contribute. Specifically, I'd like to share some of my real experiences.

I'm not unfamiliar with basic grammar or rules of the site, but I do have a few specific questions. My background is in journalism and non-profit management. This makes me pretty facile with words, but not that great at telling a story.

So question#1: How to turn real-life events into hot stories...without denying that real life is frequently awkward and confusing. Also, without disrespecting the very real people that were a part of my sexual history.

I was going to go on, but discretion and valor and all that.

Thanks in advance.
R

It's easiest to doubt, second-guess yourself and remain stuck with a story that's never quite good enough to submit. Screw all that. Take the plunge. The admission bar is very low here at Literotica.com, which is both its blessing and curse. As the goddess Nike would say: "Just do it!"

In journalism, it's "report the facts." In fiction, it's "tell me a story." While reporting the who, what, when, where, and why - take all the liberties you'd like. Use "real life" as a leaping off point for an even better story. Who's gonna know?

Your writing background means you understand enough rules of grammar to be successful on Literotica.com. Write, submit, rinse. Unlike then, you're just another wanna-be. Good luck!

 

[Bramblethorn]

I'm not unfamiliar with basic grammar or rules of the site, but I do have a few specific questions. My background is in journalism and non-profit management. This makes me pretty facile with words, but not that great at telling a story.

(I am not altogether sure that "facile" is the word you want there.)

So question#1: How to turn real-life events into hot stories...without denying that real life is frequently awkward and confusing. Also, without disrespecting the very real people that were a part of my sexual history.

One option is to take feelings and themes from real-life experience, but change the facts around them.

For example, one of mine involves a queer woman in a relationship with another woman who identifies as straight, and who doesn't want anybody else to know about that relationship. I've been in a relationship with that kind of dynamic, and I channelled some of that into the story; the events of the story differ greatly from my own life, but the underlying conflicts are similar.

For what it's worth, I like reading stories with a bit of awkwardness and confusion. It's harder to write than "two people want to fuck so they do", but done well it's fascinating.

 

[8letters]

Characters can drive the premise. A premise can drive the characters. They are interactive. Bits and pieces of IRL experiences can fill either niche as well as adding flavor and texture. But even as a reality fetishist I know that too much reality can bog-down erotic tales. Be only as real as needed and no more. Work up a good fantasy or three.

I'll admit that some parts of my pieces are straight reporting. But y'all probably can't tell just which episodes, hey? I usually at least change the names a bit.

I think that the characters in most of my stories are uninteresting. Nice, earnest people but nothing that sticks out. It's only the last couple of stories that I've written characters that I think are interesting. But my stories have done very well with uninteresting characters.

 

[RabbleVox]

(I am not altogether sure that "facile" is the word you want there.)

Damn, I really hate to get called on vocabulary, but you are correct. "Facile" was the wrong word. "Adept" would have worked better.

Mea Culpa,
R

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Characters can drive the premise. A premise can drive the characters.

I quite like this, since most of my "characters" come right out of central casting.

I think that the characters in most of my stories are uninteresting. Nice, earnest people but nothing that sticks out. It's only the last couple of stories that I've written characters that I think are interesting. But my stories have done very well with uninteresting characters.

I feel your pain. Sometimes, I'll do something rather arbitrary in an effort to make a character feel unique. I gave one a big nose and referred to it now and then. I once made a character slight hard of hearing because it helped explain how he could get caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing without hearing the other person sneaking up on him.

Otherwise, I'll try to make different characters speak like themselves and hope the story drives the reader to keep going.

Damn, I really hate to get called on vocabulary, but you are correct. "Facile" was the wrong word. "Adept" would have worked better

I had to look up facile, perhaps because of it's unexpected use, and I quite like the initial definition Google offered: "appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial"

In your initial post, you mentioned a background in journalism and I thought to myself, "Well, that certainly describes most of the news reporting I hear and read."

 

[Hypoxia]

But trying to write "memoir" sex is probably too much too soon. I ain't no Anais Nin (then again, who is?)

She wasn't, either. Gertrude Stein wrote AN's 'autobiography'? But AN wrote a fair cookbook.

I think that the characters in most of my stories are uninteresting. Nice, earnest people but nothing that sticks out. It's only the last couple of stories that I've written characters that I think are interesting. But my stories have done very well with uninteresting characters.

You can *make* them interesting. Make them obsessed, damaged, amoral, victims or victimizers, sinners or crazy saints, fetishists, artists, collectors, liars, chefs, pickpockets, wanderers -- irredeemable, even deplorable. Like the rest of us.

 

[DayDreamer123]

Now I'm scared

Nearly a first-time author myself (currently working on my 1st story) and now I'm terrified to publish after reading this thread!!

 

[oggbashan]

Nearly a first-time author myself (currently working on my 1st story) and now I'm terrified to publish after reading this thread!!

Don't be. Read some of the lower rated stories on this site - those rated lower than 3.50 - and you'll be easily convinced you can do better.

PS Even some of mine are rated that low.