What are we all writing right now?

[ColtonWrites]

Sometimes though, predictable is exactly what people want. It can still be well written and interesting, not every plot needs a twist - at least not a major one.

Yep. Sometimes the interesting part of the "plot" is seeing how *these* characters in particular react to the predictable events. Like my romances follow a typical meet cute-> dating -> permanent couple pattern, the interesting bit is the emotional reactions, not the plot.

 

[Z_TheWriter]

Yep. Sometimes the interesting part of the "plot" is seeing how *these* characters in particular react to the predictable events. Like my romances follow a typical meet cute-> dating -> permanent couple pattern, the interesting bit is the emotional reactions, not the plot.

Absolutely.
Also on a personal note: Reading predictable romance stories on this website have helped a few times during my depression. Knowing nothing scary will happen to trigger anxiety or other issues is helpful.

 

[TheLobster]

not every plot needs a twist

Pedant mode on: subverting audience expectations is not a “plot twist.”

 

[Z_TheWriter]

Pedant mode on: subverting audience expectations is not a “plot twist.”

Pedant parry:
-Subverting audience expectations can be done by doing the obvious thing too, since to many try to avoid it.
-"Not every plot needs a twist" is a way to symbolize a large swath of possible trajectories for a story, not meant to be taken literally. Thus why it doesn't read "Not every story needs a plot twist."

Two can play at this game

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

The only wrench is that it’s super predictable.

I’d spice it up by having two such pairs of friends meet, which results in two overlapping triangles at first (or more complicated figures, depending on which way they swing) but ultimately, the characters end up not falling back to their own backups but rather the “other” ones.

I've watched and re-watched the same movies hundreds of times. Not similar movies following the same tropes. The same damn ones. Same with YouTube videos. Heck, I even come back to the site and READ the same story over and over just because I liked it.

Clearly, predictable can be great for some of us.

Not to say I *dislike* your change up, by the way. Just that I also *like* the predictable sometimes.

 

[StrentWriter]

I’m in a weird headspace.

I’ve felt a bit - I don’t know - deflated after publishing my novel on here. I’ve not had any feedback on the novel itself, mixed scores, but a surprising number of views.

I had also thought “one and done”, but I have of late thought about maybe a follow-up, or taking the novel as it is now and rewriting it again to tighten it up and make it better.

So in a quiet moment this afternoon I wrote a short story that follows on from the original novel, insomuch that it’s intended to follow the same approach and style, but with the main characters a few years on, a bit more bruised, a bit more tired, trying to make things work. However one character is absent and it changes the experience massively.

So I am now thinking about how I go forward with just one of the two original characters and whether or not that will produce something romantic, titillating, maybe erotic by opening up some new situations…

Anyone else felt that attached to their characters and didn’t know what to do with them?

 

[NuclearFairy]

I managed to wrestle my muse into submission and write just an outline(with one partial scene) for the genie last night!

We'll see who wins the battle over outline or write tonight.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Anyone else felt that attached to their characters and didn’t know what to do with them?

In a way I have the opposite problem right now: wrote a story that I'm happy to be done with... and people are asking for a sequel. I know what I'd do with them, I just don't really want to.

 

[cw5523729]

I managed to wrestle my muse into submission and write just an outline(with one partial scene) for the genie last night!

We'll see who wins the battle over outline or write tonight.

I read this as you were wrestling a mouse into submission. Then I thought, what did the poor mouse do to you? Then I thought, I need more caffeine this afternoon.

 

[StrentWriter]

I managed to wrestle my muse into submission and write just an outline(with one partial scene) for the genie last night!

We'll see who wins the battle over outline or write tonight.

Excellent, hopefully it goes well.

 

[caleb35]

Until I get back to revising my draft of "Familiar" for posting later this month, I'm working on my first draft of something new I started about a week ago or so. I'd been meaning to get back to do a Mind Control story and I had the idea for something. It's called "Perfectly Natural."

 

[Erozetta]

A piece on extreme masochism, limits, crossing limits, fear, anger, love, lust, betrayal, and either acceptance or defeat, I haven't decided that last part yet.

Either way, it explores the differences in mental/emotional masochism and physical.

I'm not entirely sure I'll be posting this anywhere. It might be one of the "just for me" things 'cause I'm definitely working through some dark ass thoughts right now.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I just finished the first draft of The Hardicks of Pornville. It's basically a world where the implausibility of 70s and 80s porno movies are just another day in the life.

It's intended to be a fun stroker, with zero plot, that you can read and maybe hear the campy old porn music in your head.

I avoided incest in this visit to Pornville (there may be more) so it'll likely end up in EC.

Next up is my Pink Orchid story, Queen Takes Queen.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

I’m in a weird headspace.

I’ve felt a bit - I don’t know - deflated after publishing my novel on here. I’ve not had any feedback on the novel itself, mixed scores, but a surprising number of views.

I had also thought “one and done”, but I have of late thought about maybe a follow-up, or taking the novel as it is now and rewriting it again to tighten it up and make it better.

So in a quiet moment this afternoon I wrote a short story that follows on from the original novel, insomuch that it’s intended to follow the same approach and style, but with the main characters a few years on, a bit more bruised, a bit more tired, trying to make things work. However one character is absent and it changes the experience massively.

So I am now thinking about how I go forward with just one of the two original characters and whether or not that will produce something romantic, titillating, maybe erotic by opening up some new situations…

Anyone else felt that attached to their characters and didn’t know what to do with them?

I think something to remember is - you wrote a whole darn novel. Even if you decide you're one and done, that is better than most people have done. I'd say the majority of authors on the site have never even thought of doing it. The AH is a biased sample to be sure, but I wonder if we ran a poll here how many have or intend to write a novel either. I know I don't. Even if you are one and done, be proud.

But also - if you love your characters and wrote a short story - FLY with it. If writing isn't a job it should be a joy. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? Who is this for?

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

A piece on extreme masochism, limits, crossing limits, fear, anger, love, lust, betrayal, and either acceptance or defeat, I haven't decided that last part yet.

Either way, it explores the differences in mental/emotional masochism and physical.

I'm not entirely sure I'll be posting this anywhere. It might be one of the "just for me" things 'cause I'm definitely working through some dark ass thoughts right now.

I just had to make sure and certain I follow you. I can't wait to read this. If you don't publish it, can it be just for you AND Sammy?

 

[Erozetta]

I just had to make sure and certain I follow you. I can't wait to read this. If you don't publish it, can it be just for you AND Sammy?

Sure

 

[ColtonWrites]

A piece on extreme masochism, limits, crossing limits, fear, anger, love, lust, betrayal, and either acceptance or defeat, I haven't decided that last part yet.

Either way, it explores the differences in mental/emotional masochism and physical.

I'm not entirely sure I'll be posting this anywhere. It might be one of the "just for me" things 'cause I'm definitely working through some dark ass thoughts right now.

I just had to make sure and certain I follow you. I can't wait to read this. If you don't publish it, can it be just for you AND Sammy?

I would like to also join the list here! That piece sounds amazing. I have one where the masochist attempts to push the Dom's limits, but it never actually goes there. Interested to see what you come up with!

 

[Erozetta]

I would like to also join the list here! That piece sounds amazing. I have one where the masochist attempts to push the Dom's limits, but it never actually goes there. Interested to see what you come up with!

This is a result of the dom realizing he can't hit the limits his sub seeks, so he enlists a friend of his. But the cost of her help is steep for the sub, which in turn is steep for the dom because it means breaking hard limits emotionally for the sub to give her access to someone who can reach her physical limits.

it ultimately comes down to whether the dom can wrap his head around the idea that the harm of the emotional limits of the sub being breached is worse than the disappointment of him failing to meet the sub's physical need, or not.

And the flip side of that is whether the sub can accept her physical needs not being met while her emotional limits were disregarded by her dom, or does she lean on the new domme in her life, the one who can meet her physical needs, but is also the one who set the price that forced her emotional limits to be crossed.

It's a great big mental mindfuck wrapped in rough sex.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

This is a result of the dom realizing he can't hit the limits his sub seeks, so he enlists a friend of his. But the cost of her help is steep for the sub, which in turn is steep for the dom because it means breaking hard limits emotionally for the sub to give her access to someone who can reach her physical limits.

it ultimately comes down to whether the dom can wrap his head around the idea that the harm of the emotional limits of the sub being breached is worse than the disappointment of him failing to meet the sub's physical need, or not.

And the flip side of that is whether the sub can accept her physical needs not being met while her emotional limits were disregarded by her dom, or does she lean on the new domme in her life, the one who can meet her physical needs, but is also the one who set the price that forced her emotional limits to be crossed.

It's a great big mental mindfuck wrapped in rough sex.

I love how this addresses the distinction between physical and emotional limits and how BDSM isn't JUST about physical sensations. Seriously, this sounds great.

 

[Erozetta]

I love how this addresses the distinction between physical and emotional limits and how BDSM isn't JUST about physical sensations. Seriously, this sounds great.

For me, the distinction matters a lot. I can handle people crossing physical limits much easier than I can emotional ones.

Crossing emotional limits breaks trust in a way that's much more difficult to repair than physical for me. And the main draw of masochism, from my experience and perception, is implicitly trusting someone else with my well-being.

This whole thing came about after I came across a couple of essays I wrote about 10-15 years ago on my experiences with masochism, depression, and suicidal ideation. It was one essay on masochism, and one on depression and suicidal ideation, but oddly, I talk about all three things across both essays. Mainly about how they can counterbalance one another at times, while at other times they all tip in one direction and it's real damn hard to fight against that much weight pushing you down. And I specifically went into how a couple of people simply seemed to know when I was approaching a point of seeking harm over hurt. They would use bondage and corsetry as a way to force me into a state of... Not calm, but nothingness? I don't know how else to explain it. It wasn't an "empty" feeling, just a feeling devoid of expectations, and no pressure from anything but fabric, wire, and rope.

I could just exist in quiet.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

For me, the distinction matters a lot. I can handle people crossing physical limits much easier than I can emotional ones.

Crossing emotional limits breaks trust in a way that's much more difficult to repair than physical for me. And the main draw of masochism, from my experience and perception, is implicitly trusting someone else with my well-being.

This whole thing came about after I came across a couple of essays I wrote about 10-15 years ago on my experiences with masochism, depression, and suicidal ideation. It was one essay on masochism, and one on depression and suicidal ideation, but oddly, I talk about all three things across both essays. Mainly about how they can counterbalance one another at times, while at other times they all tip in one direction and it's real damn hard to fight against that much weight pushing you down. And I specifically went into how a couple of people simply seemed to know when I was approaching a point of seeking harm over hurt. They would use bondage and corsetry as a way to force me into a state of... Not calm, but nothingness? I don't know how else to explain it. It wasn't an "empty" feeling, just a feeling devoid of expectations, and no pressure from anything but fabric, wire, and rope.

I could just exist in quiet.

I'm at the time of day where I can't do much reading (stupid brain) but I am going to have to seek these out and read them. I know that nothingness and will often seek it. Sometimes it's nice to just...be. And to be able to trust someone so much that you know that you are safe in that quiet. And that does speak very much to why those emotional limits are so important. No wonder the idea for this story stemmed from those essays.

The hardest of care: Protecting someone from themselves while truly honoring them as an independent person at the same moment. It's a hard line to walk but one worth walking every time. And knowing this as your inspiration leaves me all the more wanting to read this if you decide to share with others, but I understand if such work also becomes so personal it remains private.

 

[Erozetta]

I'm at the time of day where I can't do much reading (stupid brain) but I am going to have to seek these out and read them. I know that nothingness and will often seek it. Sometimes it's nice to just...be. And to be able to trust someone so much that you know that you are safe in that quiet. And that does speak very much to why those emotional limits are so important. No wonder the idea for this story stemmed from those essays.

The hardest of care: Protecting someone from themselves while truly honoring them as an independent person at the same moment. It's a hard line to walk but one worth walking every time. And knowing this as your inspiration leaves me all the more wanting to read this if you decide to share with others, but I understand if such work also becomes so personal it remains private.

Those essays are not findable anywhere, lol. I came across them while transferring my documents from my old laptop to my new laptop. So they, along with many other essays and stories I've written over the years, are hidden away on my hard drive, lol.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

Those essays are not findable anywhere, lol. I came across them while transferring my documents from my old laptop to my new laptop. So they, along with many other essays and stories I've written over the years, are hidden away on my hard drive, lol.

Oh! I thought you meant, like, something in the "reviews and essays" category here. Well, then thank you for sharing what you did share here.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Despite having four things in various stages of WIP already, I have been convinced by @SamanthaBehgs and @PennyThompson to start planning another thing under the working title CATGIRL HEIST. Dang it.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Despite having four things in various stages of WIP already, I have been convinced by @SamanthaBehgs and @PennyThompson to start planning another thing under the working title CATGIRL HEIST. Dang it.

Only four??? Rookie…

@StillStunned