What to do when the passion's gone?

[BedtimeStories77]

Hi. Yes, I am posting this in the Story Ideas board in hopes it may spark some creativity within me through "our" conversation here. (After all, isn't that what the brainstorming in this board is anyway?)

I am kind of seeking some advice. I love writing, have loved it since I was a child. (And, no, I didn't write erotica when I was a child. So please don't go there. I wrote fiction starting with Sci-Fi and expanding to Horror.) I also love Literotica...but something seems to be lacking (here) somehow. I can't put my finger on it, and no I am not bitching about this site! I love it. I just can't help but feel a void while here right now and I'm not sure what it is.

Coming up with ideas, typically, is not hard for me. I can dream up an awsome title and think "Oh man this would make a great story or series!", or a basic plot, and/or even a very detailed plot. (And sometimes a sequel pops into my mind before I even finish story number one.) However, I oftentimes have trouble finishing a story.

I may start off strong and love what I am writing (and may even rattle off several word processor pages), but then it soon fizzles. I either don't finish or "force" myself to and don't like the outcome. Right now I am in that boat.

I am working on a strap-on story that was requested by another Lit member and am only a page into it so far with no sex yet. (Sometimes I think detail can be my curse and I offer too much of it.) I've also been trying to come up with a "cool" idea for the breast/nipple story challenge I dreamed up. (It sounded wonderful and fun at the time, but now I don't even know how to start that one.)

Has anyone else gone though these problems? Would this be a form of writer's block? I am seeking pretty much any type of advice you all wish to offer. I need a fresh brain, or a few, to guide me through this. lol

This thread is open to advice, opinions, and even story ideas. (Be them general or along the breast/nipple worship or even the male taking a female's strap-on theme.)

Please cum help!!! lol

 

[RawHumor]

I can't write good erotica without a muse or some good inspiration, so I definitely can relate.

I'm not really good at inspiring myself and motivating myself enough to put the story out there for others to read.

 

[DarkBee]

I have my bursts of creativity, but for one thing only; I just finished an album (if you can call it that), but I haven't written a story or poem for Literotica in over a year, while in 2007 I wrote over 40 stories and poems for the Survivor contest and won a nice $25 coupon. I still have some ideas stored in a file, but I haven't looked at them in ages; same goes for at least 6 unfinished stories.

 

[Deadwood]

Oh I can relate for sure...

For awhile I had this thing about writing the sex parts of a story. I could figure out all kinds of story lines and scenarios but actually writing out the sex scenes really bored me.

If you check out some of my postings on here, you will note the time period where I did some not-so-great writing because of this, and a few did not have any real sex scenes at all.

What was I thinking??? (LOL)

I really don't know, but I snapped out of it. Now that I have kids though, getting time to write is hard so I am a long time between new stories being posted on here.

Keep your chin up though...it will pass.

 

[DarkBee]

A 'very good' thing to do (in my case) was to read my earlier stories again. I could not believe the incredible corny language I've used in the past! Definately not a good way to inspire yourself to start writing again...

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Thank you, all, for the feedback so far.

Back in 2005 and 2006 I was fairly a prolific author, but by late '06 or maybe '07 I took my old stories down so I could rework them and hopefully improve them. Well, they've never been put back on the site.

I still have a "story idea" file on my disk that is now nine pages long. All of the ideas have a title and basic plot to them. And, yes, they are all unfinished.

*sigh*

 

[Fatwa_Morgana]

I try to write stories sequentially, but sometimes I just can't get into the first few scenes. In that case I'll jump right to the scenes that interest me. Once they are written I can usually go back to the other ones with no problems.........Morgana

 

[Saucyminx]

You missed me Bed.

I haven't written a word since the horrible computer crash where I pretty much lost all the writing I had ever done. I've really wanted to write lately, been compelled to, but still haven't worked up the heart to just do it.

I was always a big starter, and not so strong on the finishing. My idea file is always stuffed full.

So I have no advice, but you aren't in the boat alone. And if any outrageous flirting would help. . . you know where I am.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Oh man! Boy did I miss you, Minxy, my vixen!! Not flirting with Lit's sexiest woman has left Beddy a dull woman.

This could lead to trouble if we're both in the same boat, ALONE, honey. *giggles* Then again, maybe we'll both inspire one another?

And dear Minxy, for the love of Goddess, buy a damn jump drive!! Store your writings outside of the hard drive!!! lol




Fatwa, thanks for the insight. I've tried "writing the good stuff first" before and ended with a sex scene as the opening scene in my tale. *shrugs* lol

 

[Saucyminx]

Oh man! Boy did I miss you, Minxy, my vixen!! Not flirting with Lit's sexiest woman has left Beddy a dull woman.

This could lead to trouble if we're both in the same boat, ALONE, honey. *giggles* Then again, maybe we'll both inspire one another?

And dear Minxy, for the love of Goddess, buy a damn jump drive!! Store your writings outside of the hard drive!!! lol




Fatwa, thanks for the insight. I've tried "writing the good stuff first" before and ended with a sex scene as the opening scene in my tale. *shrugs* lol

I have 2 flash drives for back up now. One of those life lessons I learned the hard way, as I do most of them.

Hmmmm, you and I in a boat. . . yeah major trouble, most of it video worthy i'm sure. I've missed you too and yes please, bring on the inspiration. I'm bound and determined to get something written and posted on here by Christmas.

 

[subwannabe]

Of course this is writer' block. I think I have some good advice. You yourself admitted that maybe one of the the problems is that you get too detailed. I'm not going to read any of your stories as to not contaminate my response. My advice is to go back to the basics and take baby steps. Write a few very short stories, ones where you don't need mountains of detail, etc. Make these stories individual and not in any series or related to each other. Make them just one or two pages. Introduce the characters quickly, get to the sex, and end it somehow. Time can be your enemy if you make the stories too long and then you try to finish them just for the sake of finishing them and then you kind of chuck your creativity out the window just so you can finish the story. Writing several short unrelated stories might put you back on the right track, at which time you can expand again with a little more detail, etc.

 

[sunandshadow]

I find it easy and fun to come up with new ideas and either write the first several pages, or outline the part of the story I have ideas for so far. But, for some reason my inspiration almost never includes inspiration for a climax/ending. :/ If I force myself through thinking one up, it feels fake; if I keep writing, I get stuck when I get to the end of my original inspiration or worse the first large hole in it; if I leave it alone, I never do think of an ending. Result, I never finish anything.

I spent several years trying to force myself to be a good little writer and finish things, and also trying to study plot structure in hopes of gaining some mystical insight into it that would allow me to easily think up climaxes/endings. I got nowhere doing that except to the point where I barely enjoyed writing any more. This year I tossed that overboard - since I actually enjoy outlining my ideas I decided to just do that, because having fun producing even partial outlines is better than being miserable writing nothing or forcing myself to write stuff that feels like pulling teeth and only results in a chapter every 2-3 months.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Of course this is writer' block. I think I have some good advice. You yourself admitted that maybe one of the the problems is that you get too detailed. I'm not going to read any of your stories as to not contaminate my response. My advice is to go back to the basics and take baby steps. Write a few very short stories, ones where you don't need mountains of detail, etc. Make these stories individual and not in any series or related to each other. Make them just one or two pages. Introduce the characters quickly, get to the sex, and end it somehow. Time can be your enemy if you make the stories too long and then you try to finish them just for the sake of finishing them and then you kind of chuck your creativity out the window just so you can finish the story. Writing several short unrelated stories might put you back on the right track, at which time you can expand again with a little more detail, etc.

Sadly, that's how most of my stories start. lol

I may read this board for inspiration and come across a thread that says "I want more details of men or women sucking and licking a woman's tits or nipples", or "I want to see a story about total cock worship! The 'how' and 'why' someone craves it...!" and I'll think to myself that seems pretty easy. Like the requester, I love said body part. I could make a quick "one scene" story about that easily! Then pages later it's a few thousand words long and/or the sequel sneaks up on me.

*sigh*

When writing, a little movie screen clicks on in my head and I see my story unfolding. If it's a warm day deep in some beautiful woods where rays of sun slip past the broad canopy of leaves to kiss my character's flesh, I get carried away. lol See?

Also, when writing a character I don't like giving the "stats" like in a grocery list. "She was 5' 6", 120 lbs, had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a huge 44C rack." I'd mention her golden or sun kissed hair. I'd describe the way her ample breast heaved as she breathed deeply. Dark brown hair? Chestnut or chocolate strands... Black hair? Raven strands... Etc.

If you're between two to six hundred words into a story is it "bad" if there's no sex yet? I, myself, do like a build up. I'm sure others do as well, and I'm sure there's many that do not.

Maybe I need to practice at writing very fast "one line-ers"?

 

[BedtimeStories77]

P.S.

Good luck in your writing, too, Sun and Shadow. It sounds like we're in a similar boat.



And speaking of boats... Ohhhhhh Minxy...

 

[emap]

Where's this boat? Is there room for a third?

So your falling into the easiest trap in the world, you get boggled down in details and forget where you were going. There really isn't a cure for that, once a story gets to that point it's tough to extricate the story from the detail.

However if you go in with a less is more ideology and type out the story in it's entirety then after all is said and done, you go back and add in words where you want more detail or you think there should be more, only in parts mind then you have a good story without becoming overladen with details.

Otherwise well, you're there already.

As a basic rule of thumb a room or area should not be described in more than one paragraph.

 

[bisexualsmoker]

I know you had stories up before that you took down. I think you should put
them back up again. I remember there were lots of comments about your
stories, mostly good.
You told me the negative comments bothered you though.
I think if you threw threw these stories up again it would clear the cobwebs,
and help your creativity. You could build on the good comments that people left.
Erase the bad comments if you don't like them or try to disregard these negative comments completely
and focus on the positive ones.
I liked your stories for the brief time I had to read them.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

Thank you, again for the wonderful insight here.

Ms Mappy ( ) there's always room for another woman in the boat!!

Mr. Bi, I'm sure I will one day put my old stories back up but I did plan to rework them and hopefully improve on them.

 

[al_Ussa]

I have the EXACT same problem so I'm not sure I can really offer much advice. In my case I have plenty of great ideas but I sometimes just have trouble fleshing them out. Part of the reason is I'm afraid of getting two repetitive (after all how many times can you write about slamming some hot chick's ass without repeating yourself) and other times I feel the story isn't believable or the characters aren't fleshed out enough.

But sometimes I just can't write to save my life. It's as if I've run dry on inspiration. Or worse... I'll do what you did and delete entire sections of a story to start over from scratch.

I think... the best advice would be to try writing every day and do a little at a time. One of my better stories developed that way. It was a HOT concept I had and I started writing. It got set back maybe a month but eventually I finished. And I think it turned out quite well.

Some of my other stories were written all in a single night as if through a FLASH of insight that burned into my very core and compelled me to keep writing into the wee hours of the morn.

So I think it just depends.

Ironically... if you want some really useless information many of my best ideas have come to me while I'm in the shower. Weird huh?

Also I try and get into the character's heads. If I can't understand why something is sexy I can't really write it (at least not for the sort of stuff I'm posting in lit). My non-erotic stuff follows different rules but that's neither here nor now.

 

[Saucyminx]

And speaking of boats... Ohhhhhh Minxy...

And if there is boat, there must also be beach somewhere. Maybe that is what we need, a nice long vacay on some gorgeous beach. I'm sensing my happy place here.

Where's this boat? Is there room for a third?

Always room for you babe.


And my happy place would be oh so much happier with you two hotties. I almost wrote something last night. . .almost. I found a hard copy of an old story I was working on when I was so rudely interrupted by my whole life exploding, and I did put it all back in. . .

i think i can, i think i can. . . . oh wait that's a train. Well ladies, we have to get to the boat somehow. . .

Back when I was still crankin them out, if I got stuck, I'd put it away for a month or so and then pull it back out. It does give you a really fresh perspective on what you were doing in the first place. And who knows, during that month you might get some inspiration from somewhere else. It was better for me to do that, than to beat my head on the desk. I might accidentally knock some sense into myself and then where would i be?

 

[emap]

I've found it best to do other things along with the story, I play games, cook, have hot sex, have more hot sex, even more hot sex and work on the story. Ok so I'm a bit slow on the writing, oh who am I kidding incredibly slow on the writing, but it works out well since I never lose interest in the story.

Now as for new ideas, I'm cursed by those. I keep getting new ideas that are completely different stories.

 

[sirhugs]

am I too late to play?

I had a spell where all I wrote was page after page of preamble, could never get to the sex.

I solved it by doing a sequel with familiar characters who I knew liked to fuck.

Another technique is to write a sex bit first, then build around it.

I try to write every day if I have time. Even if not "inspired" I force myself to push the narrative, see where my characters take me next.

 

[ms.read]

I went through a dry spell for about 3 months.

So i troll through the post secret secrets. and sometimes I even get inspiration to write something from one of thier secrets!

 

[nolank]

Thank you, again for the wonderful insight here.

Ms Mappy ( ) there's always room for another woman in the boat!!

Mr. Bi, I'm sure I will one day put my old stories back up but I did plan to rework them and hopefully improve on them.

Tough to understand what seems to be the heart of the problem.
I'm not a philosopher, but could the challenge be something as complicated as trying to fit erotica and the strong emotions that go with it, together?

When I was in my early 20's, wanting sex and love were two parallel paths seemed like, so I got married 55 years ago and we are still together.

Hope this doesn't kill the thoughts being expressed.

 

[BedtimeStories77]

I'm not a philosopher, but could the challenge be something as complicated as trying to fit erotica and the strong emotions that go with it, together?

I have no problem mixing sex into a tale when I write. I do feel my past stories were pretty good.






Thank you all for your help.

 

[MsLinnet]

Hi. Yes, I am posting this in the Story Ideas board in hopes it may spark some creativity within me through "our" conversation here. (After all, isn't that what the brainstorming in this board is anyway?)

I am kind of seeking some advice. I love writing, have loved it since I was a child. (And, no, I didn't write erotica when I was a child. So please don't go there. I wrote fiction starting with Sci-Fi and expanding to Horror.) I also love Literotica...but something seems to be lacking (here) somehow. I can't put my finger on it, and no I am not bitching about this site! I love it. I just can't help but feel a void while here right now and I'm not sure what it is.

Coming up with ideas, typically, is not hard for me. I can dream up an awsome title and think "Oh man this would make a great story or series!", or a basic plot, and/or even a very detailed plot. (And sometimes a sequel pops into my mind before I even finish story number one.) However, I oftentimes have trouble finishing a story.

I may start off strong and love what I am writing (and may even rattle off several word processor pages), but then it soon fizzles. I either don't finish or "force" myself to and don't like the outcome. Right now I am in that boat.

I am working on a strap-on story that was requested by another Lit member and am only a page into it so far with no sex yet. (Sometimes I think detail can be my curse and I offer too much of it.) I've also been trying to come up with a "cool" idea for the breast/nipple story challenge I dreamed up. (It sounded wonderful and fun at the time, but now I don't even know how to start that one.)

Has anyone else gone though these problems? Would this be a form of writer's block? I am seeking pretty much any type of advice you all wish to offer. I need a fresh brain, or a few, to guide me through this. lol

This thread is open to advice, opinions, and even story ideas. (Be them general or along the breast/nipple worship or even the male taking a female's strap-on theme.)

Please cum help!!! lol

I get the same sort of problem or did.

After the first 1000 words I get fed up and unless I finish the story in the next sitting or two it very rarely gets finished.

I am not sure how to get around this problem but I have found that if the story is true or true to life, I can continue them.

Hope this helps in some way