What makes a Bad Story?

[Liar]

Can I take it that Heinlein annoys you then?

Gauche

Heinlein annoys me. But I could never quite figure out why. Maybe Harold nailed it...

#L

 

[LadyJeanne]

There are two elements I look at - the writing and the 'turn-on factor'.

Clumsy, immature, flowery, or overly formal writing tends to make me hit the back button after a few paragraphs as it becomes impossible to pay attention to the plot or scene.

A well-written story will usually keep my attention for one page, but if the sex isn't a turn-on, I don't continue reading. The turn-on factor is heavily dependent on the psychological aspects as well as the physical. It's not erotic if the story is just a description of 'she did this, I did that, insert tab A into slot B.'

 

[carsonshepherd]

There are two elements I look at - the writing and the 'turn-on factor'.

Clumsy, immature, flowery, or overly formal writing tends to make me hit the back button after a few paragraphs as it becomes impossible to pay attention to the plot or scene.

A well-written story will usually keep my attention for one page, but if the sex isn't a turn-on, I don't continue reading. The turn-on factor is heavily dependent on the psychological aspects as well as the physical. It's not erotic if the story is just a description of 'she did this, I did that, insert tab A into slot B.'

That's funny, because I'm the opposite. Even if doesn't turn me on, if it's well-written, I'll read it. If it makes me laugh or shocks me or is something I've never seen before, I'll like it.

When I want a turn on I usually have to write my own porn...

 

[LadyJeanne]

That's funny, because I'm the opposite. Even if doesn't turn me on, if it's well-written, I'll read it. If it makes me laugh or shocks me or is something I've never seen before, I'll like it.

When I want a turn on I usually have to write my own porn...

I think a lot of us write porn to please ourselves - no one knows us better!

 

[Guest]

I don't read celebrity, xmen, lord of the rings stories either.

But I read tentacle penetrations.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I have only one thing to add that I haven't seen yet in the above posts - Textspeak. The only time 'lol' or 'U' or any of the other shorthands used in IM, Text messaging (or message boards ) should appear in a story is in an IM or Text message that is an integral part of the story. Recently, I've noticed LOL popping up in a lot of narration and that's enough to make me click back right then and there. I don't know why, but it drives me absolutely mad.

EEK. I used IRL in my last submission. But I thought it belonged in the plot. (such as it is) I did it on purpose ... kinda like irony... ya know? (now Im getting worried though. Oh shit.)

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

...BIG turn-off for me is a political/social agenda in a story -- I don't need or want long lectures...I'll either get the point or not from the story...

NEVER READ JOHN NORMAN THEN.

 

[Weird Harold]

Can I take it that Heinlein annoys you then?

Gauche

No, actually I like Heinlein a lot: The poliitcal philosophy certainly isn't hidden, but it's an integral part of the story (and characters) and seldom involves long diatribes that go on for page after page.

Isaac Asimov's Foundation series on the other hand bores me to tears at times with his intermittent chapter long dissertations on the structure of the Foundation and/or Empire.

I don't mind politics in stories when it's necessary to the story and doesn't disrupt the story with long treatises and monologues.

If an author can't give his political views through his character's actions and words, then he should leave it out of the story.

Liar, I know a lot of people that Heinlein annoys with his characters politics; it's the most common criticism I see about his work: "The man can't keep his politics out of his stories."

Strangely, Isaac Asimov's political theorizing doesn't annoy nearly as many people.

 

[Octavian]

Things that make me back-click.

If I encounter any of the following on the first page, I usually back-click


1, Where a succession of vital statistics are listed, often within the first paragraph; some authors evidently deciding that this is all we need to know about the characters.
2, non-existent grammar, poor spelling, or serial repetition of the same words.
3, where the sex starts at once, even before we know anything about the characters.

There are other things that can cause me to stop reading:

4, the long drawn out 'YESSSSSSSSS' etc to depict passionate sex.
5, risible dialogue.

Octavian

My Stories

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... The only time 'lol' or 'U' or any of the other shorthands used in IM, Text messaging (or message boards ) should appear in a story is in an IM or Text message that is an integral part of the story. ...

minisue, would this get by your restriction, or not?

“Hey, It was sure you would laugh at my getting the football team to try to date your girlfriend. I didn’t know that you’d been fighting. Still, you’ve gotta admit it was funny.”

“L,” John said, picking up his scotch and soda, “O,” he continued before taking a sip, then added, “L,” and carefully set the drink down.

Edited to add: Oops! sorry Octavian risible dialogue is a specialty of mine.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

“L,” John said, picking up his scotch and soda, “O,” he continued before taking a sip, then added, “L,” and carefully set the drink down.

I like that. Very much.

Perdita

 

[ravenmx]

Ok as still a newbie, I figured out how to submit a story but cannot figure out how to add it when I make posts. (the few posts I do anyway)

I don't think this is quite right.

As usual it takes a while for me to figure things out.

How to people just do my stories ect. I keep trying to read the newbie post and try it but it never seems to work.

http://english.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=403389&page=submissions[/URL]

 

[carsonshepherd]

Ok as still a newbie, I figured out how to submit a story but cannot figure out how to add it when I make posts. (the few posts I do anyway)

I don't think this is quite right.

As usual it takes a while for me to figure things out.

How to people just do my stories ect. I keep trying to read the newbie post and try it but it never seems to work.

http://english.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=403389&page=submissions[/URL]

You got it, sweets.

 

[Guest]

Ok as still a newbie, I figured out how to submit a story but cannot figure out how to add it when I make posts. (the few posts I do anyway)

I don't think this is quite right.

As usual it takes a while for me to figure things out.

How to people just do my stories ect. I keep trying to read the newbie post and try it but it never seems to work.

http://english.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=403389&page=submissions[/URL]

Hi Raven,

Copy this code into your signature, via your edit profile page: [u rl=ht tp://english.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=403389&page=submissions]My Stories (or whatever you want to say)[/URL]

BUT, knock the space out between the two "t"s in http and the "u" and "r" in the first url.

That should work!

BAH! I kept ballsing it up. LOL!

Lou

 

[Guest]

My 2 cents worth

What makes a Bad Story?

The pompous people who read it with nothing in mind except “Grammar, Spelling, and the technical aspects of writing”

A story is a story, nothing more and nothing less. If you are stuck in the technical aspects of writing so much that you can’t read the story then I feel sorry for you. That tells me that if a friend of yours came to you with a problem and described it in non-perfect English, then you would dismiss him as a lame brain.

Of course you would never do that if it was a true friend, so why can you not read a story with an open mind? Why can’t you filter out the faults and read what the author felt strongly enough to try and write in spite of his or her technical ineptness?

You should not approach the effort that was put forth with such cynicism. Who after all made you God of the literary world? You are not paying money to read the works on lit, so why do you complain so much? If you don’t like the story….move on and don’t bother asking for your money back.

Think of this:

“Someone you may consider as the dumbest person in the world can do at least one thing better than you.”

Jmt

 

[carsonshepherd]

Re: My 2 cents worth

What makes a Bad Story?

The pompous people who read it with nothing in mind except “Grammar, Spelling, and the technical aspects of writing”

A story is a story, nothing more and nothing less. If you are stuck in the technical aspects of writing so much that you can’t read the story then I feel sorry for you. That tells me that if a friend of yours came to you with a problem and described it in non-perfect English, then you would dismiss him as a lame brain.

Of course you would never do that if it was a true friend, so why can you not read a story with an open mind? Why can’t you filter out the faults and read what the author felt strongly enough to try and write in spite of his or her technical ineptness?

You should not approach the effort that was put forth with such cynicism. Who after all made you God of the literary world? You are not paying money to read the works on lit, so why do you complain so much? If you don’t like the story….move on and don’t bother asking for your money back.

Think of this:

“Someone you may consider as the dumbest person in the world can do at least one thing better than you.”

Jmt

There are no bad stories, only bad readers?

Nobody said people couldn't write stories, or post stories, that pay no attention to "Grammar, Spelling and the Technical Aspects of Writing."

But by the same token I don't have to read them, or like them.

 

[ravenmx]

Oops I need to apologise.

I was looking at two different posts and thought I closed out of the one.

Again I apologise.

stupid mistake.

 

[Guest]

Oops I need to apologise.

I was looking at two different posts and thought I closed out of the one.

Again I apologise.

stupid mistake.

Hey, no need to apologise, not a stupid mistake, at all. We all do it from time to time.

It's even worse when you make a post, or even send a PM ( ) from the wrong ID.

 

[sweetnpetite]

boring!

If I get bored. That's pretty much the sum of it. Sometimes I read really *bad* or even incredibly stupid stories, just because they have something that interests me.

 

[minsue]

I like that. Very much.

Perdita

Ditto. As usual, VB makes a mockery of me in an admirable fashion.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Gotcha.

Reminds me of a story I read set in America, obviously written by a British author. It was a good story otherwise but it amused me, that the American characters used British phrasing. "I'll sort it." "Knackered;" "raise a doctor."

Didn't make me chuck the story but I felt the author should've gotten somebody American to look over it. Picky, I know. I'm a pain.

Yeah, I read one like that too. They were supposed to be American's on Cuba (which we are not allowed to travel there, and there was no explanation of how or why they were able to.) And used words like arse and que(?sp, sound like cue)?

I read it, but it bugged me.

 

[sweetnpetite]

I have only one thing to add that I haven't seen yet in the above posts - Textspeak. The only time 'lol' or 'U' or any of the other shorthands used in IM, Text messaging (or message boards ) should appear in a story is in an IM or Text message that is an integral part of the story. Recently, I've noticed LOL popping up in a lot of narration and that's enough to make me click back right then and there. I don't know why, but it drives me absolutely mad.

Oh no! I would definitely not read that.

However, I find now that when I write, I feel the impulse sometimes to punctuate my stories with smiley faces, lol.

Of course I don't but like I said, the impulse is there.

 

[Nicola_Italia1]

quotes - my pet peeve

Maybe it's because I was an English major - then Journalist - but I get SO fucking turned off and annoyed when people fuck up the quotes. It's not that hard to learn:

"Quotes begin with a quote - end with it - and then the punctuation goes INSIDE."

And thoughts - DON'T NEED QUOTES. Sheesh.

Alright - that's it. Oh and another thing -
what the fuck is up with this:

I'M CUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMING. OH GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD - I'M CUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMING.


The same effect is achieved by - "Oh fuck - I'm cuming." He said as he felt himself explode.

Alright - bye!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Re: My 2 cents worth

What makes a Bad Story?

The pompous people who read it with nothing in mind except “Grammar, Spelling, and the technical aspects of writing”

A story is a story, nothing more and nothing less. If you are stuck in the technical aspects of writing so much that you can’t read the story then I feel sorry for you. That tells me that if a friend of yours came to you with a problem and described it in non-perfect English, then you would dismiss him as a lame brain.

Of course you would never do that if it was a true friend, so why can you not read a story with an open mind? Why can’t you filter out the faults and read what the author felt strongly enough to try and write in spite of his or her technical ineptness?

You should not approach the effort that was put forth with such cynicism. Who after all made you God of the literary world? You are not paying money to read the works on lit, so why do you complain so much? If you don’t like the story….move on and don’t bother asking for your money back.

Think of this:

“Someone you may consider as the dumbest person in the world can do at least one thing better than you.”


Jmt

It's not a matter of being a snob or feeling superior. It's a matter of expecting the artist to be competent with their instrument.

You wouldn't go out to listen to a guitarist who couldn't play; whose fingers got stuck in his strings. You'd probably walk away if the sax player is squeaking and hitting bad notes. It's the same thing with writing.

Most of us who write spend a lot of time and effort in learning grammar and spelling, not so we can make anyone feel inferior, but because we're extremely sensitive about language. Errors in punctuation and grammar stand up and slap us in the face, just like sour notes in music. That's why we're very careful about speclling and grammar and punctuation in our stories.

To continue the music analogy, it's one thing to listen to your friend fumbling around on the guitar and encourage him, but you wouldn't be doing anyone a favor by suggesting that he book Carnegie Hall and go public. You've got to master your instrument to be taken seriously.

Besides, when I read about someone swallowing a load of seamen, it just kind of ruins the mood.

---dr.M.