What're your experiences writing at request?

[Chicklet]

Okay, this is sort of a spin off another thread where I was asking what least reflected you, the author, in your stories. Sexy Chele mentioned one that was written for someone else, and I did too...

So, curiosity again:

Those of you who have responded to reader/fan/random requests, what are your experiences writing those stories? Do you feel more fulfilled when you know you're writing for someone, or do you feel more like a tool?

I've had both. One time I got really irritated when a person I was writing for kept pm'ing me about every day nagging about the story. It sort of killed the enthusiasm, you know? I also wrote a few for request in which the reader was really happy and wrote me wonderful feedback = ) That made me want to do it again.

Writing for request is sort of hard, because when inspiration isn't what strikes you to write the story, when the story is coming from someone elses head instead of yours, it's harder to put it in words, for me. What about you?

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I did it once, and I wasn't thrilled with the story. Beyond that, after emailing me twice to see when it would get posted, the individual never so much as said thank you. I was pissed at the ungratefulness. Beyond that, it turned out a cheap stroke story (which I've since taken down) which I wasn't proud of.

I don't plan to do it again. Except perhaps at the request of my lover for us.

 

[KillerMuffin]

I don't. I thought about it when looking over the Story Ideas board, but I couldn't fathom the character. I could probably write an okayish story, but it wouldn't be good. It would probably be flat and boring.

 

[Alex756]

I've written stories -for- people as in a present of something they would like, but not their actual -plot- ideas.

I have soo little structure and forethought to stories its horrible and to actually construct a story from someone else's plot .. well it would be horrible. A really vague idea though, that can flop around in my empty skull and possibly pick up enough stuff to turn into a story.

Kinda like a piece of wet hard candy in a lint trap.

~alex756~
http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=92151

 

[Chicklet]

I've had a lot of trouble in the last few months going through the whole process of writing a story for request. At first maybe I thought my ideas weren't good enough to be made into stories, but now I think mine are just as good as any others = )

It sort of makes me sad that whenever I start to write a story "for" someone else I get distracted and can't finish...I guess it's frustrating whenever you can't finish an idea.

babble babble babble babble

 

[snooper]

Twice

Both got posted here (long ago under a different name, and now removed).

The first one the reader didn't like, because he couldn't recognise himself in it. That nearly put me off.

The second liked it but it was a hell of a fight to persuade him that I couldn't use real names in fiction which was basically the truth embroidered considerably.

I won't try a third unless something really special comes along.

On the other hand, bits of ideas from the Story Requests board appear in lots of my novels.

 

[English Lady]

I have written one by request and even been paid for it,i enjoyed the challenge and i think i did it quite well,the person i wrote it for was very pleased with it! i'd love to do some more actually!

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I love doing requests! I would guess that maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of what I have posted here was written by request.

The whole thing is wondefully perverse: I only write for women, and I only write what appeals to me. Very often I make myself the male protagonist. (What the hell: why not?) The piece then becomes both her fantasy and mine as well. The intent is always to sexually arouse, so they're short on plot and long on sensuality and description: strokers, basically. I won't deny the sexual thrill I get from arousing someone through what I write. (There should be a name for this kind of perversion0 It's the greatest motivator I know of.

It's also very illuminating. I've done some stuff involving fetishes or kinks that I just couldn't understand at first, such as women who like to be forced to dress and act as sluts. I thought I had a handle on it, but after talking to these women, I got a much better understanding of the psychology and appeal. The same with voyeurism and exhibitionism. It made me aware of this deep ambiguity a lot of women have about displaying their own desires
in this culture. I've also gotten some great suggestions for scenes and situations.

In my experience, women's fantasies are almost always more interesting than men's, because they're not as bluntly physical. Women fantasize about being in specific social situations or locations. Their fanatasies have more psychological nuance than men's.

The only thing I ask in return for writing a fantasy is their comments and feedback, but knowing that I'll have the comments of at least one attentive reader is probably more than most of us can count on when we post a story here.


---dr.M.

 

[Jack T. Ladd]

Requests? Apart from the one requesting me to write from a prison Island in the tropics...non so far...still time, still a virgin..what fun!

 

[oggbashan]

Yahoo Clubs/Groups

My stories started out as requests from specific Yahoo Clubs now Groups.

Some of them I have posted, some I haven't.

The Virgin Unbirth was written for the Unbirth Group on Yahoo. Not my sort of thing but I enjoyed writing it because the Groups' members commented intelligibly on the various drafts and it ended up as a far better story than my original plan.

Also various Scarf fetish groups have stories from me. I started by re-writing stories translated from German. Originally I intended just to tidy up the English in one story but I ended by tidying up the story as well. Then my version was translated back into German. Weird.

Another incomplete story was for a Transformation Group who like men (and women) transformed into "girly" - their word - items. The story is turning into a novella but may never be finished because the premise is too extreme. Part of the story is posted on the group but I'm stuck because the characters are too good to waste on the ridiculous plot. Having said that, the Group onceiwasaman has some fantastic ideas in its files by adding text to selected photos. Even if the idea doesn't appeal the group is worth visiting just to see the originality of thought.

Harold Plays The Hero was written as a gift for a friend who wanted a story set with the ladies in crinolines. That was a hit with the intended audience.

I can write a short story for a particular request but the story won't develop far unless I have sympathy with the idea.

I couldn't write a story with precise parameters. I can write to a theme but not to specified details.

Og

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

I thought of trying it once, my brother-in-law gave me the details to write a story for him. It didn't work, I couldn't get into the plot or the characters. My stories are my fantasies and my life experiences, it's really hard for me to get into someone elses fantasy. (Unless of course I share the fantasy).

Wicked

 

[DoveCoteDigital]

Personally "writing to order" is next to impossible for me.
I usually write from inspiration, be it emotional pain, desire, joy... any of those work.
A suggestion may inspire me, but that's as close as I get to writing to meet the request of another.
http://www.slavestribute.com/BDSM-EZine/bdsm-graphics/people/slavedove.jpg

 

[Sabledrake]

I have written stories as presents for people, and I've also hired myself out to write to someone else's specific plot and characters.

Overall, the presents are more fun, because I have the freedom to do whatever I like and I know that the surprise will be welcome by the recipient.

With the for-hire ones, I found that I felt stifled and straitjacketed into someone else's imagination, and I didn't like having anybody look over my shoulder. I also found that even when the money was offered, if the idea didn't capture at least some of my interest, I couldn't do it. I mean, I _could_, but it wouldn't feel right.

Sabledrake

 

[Chicklet]

just another note:

sometimes a request really sparks something in me. One time a request really turned me on...creatively, i mean...So i wrote it out! But what I had in mind wasn't what the other had had in mind...I was disapointed that they didn't like it, but I was really, REALLY happy with the story.

So I guess there's a fine line between using someones idea and writing for request.

Another question: Has anyone written sequels to their own stories as requested by readers?

 

[Couture]

Chicklet, your last comment is right on in my opinion. Most of the time I don't even call them requests anymore. I've tried taking requests and people have offered to pay me to write certain stories, but both cases have met with terrible results.

However, here's what I do take. I take inspirations. Tell me what you think is hot. Have a good set-up, let me know. If it inspires me, it will surely make itself into my stories.

 

[Quasimodem]

My nine to five is writing to order, not fiction, not news, but a variation of creative commercial writing. That is all I can take.

My 'own' writing is mostly fiction, and generally sci-fi. Usually, I find that removing the sexual content from a story I wrote improves its readability.

The closest I came to writing an erotic story to order happened when I tried to explain the basic Sci-Fi Gadget Plot* to a writer who had never read Sci-Fi, and needed to write a Sci-Fi story.

[She was competing in the Survivor Contest. ]

She claimed she still could not see how it worked, so I let her pick a category with which she was familiar (Toys) and tried to write a short-short to demonstrate how one followed the plot.

The story grew, the ideas worked, and “Connie’s Cure for Copulation” was born.

I still don’t think it quite qualifies as erotica, but at least its sexual content is necessary. Removing that would destroy, rather than improve the story.



* Basic Sci-Fi Gadget Plot

Take any actual device, product or service, and devise a new capability that will allow it to function either differently, or more efficiently. Project how this ‘improvement’ will - for good or bad - change how it is used, or how its use will change the people who use it. Then demonstrate - for good or bad - how this affects one single person, or a small group of people.

 

[Chicklet]

However, here's what I do take. I take inspirations. Tell me what you think is hot. Have a good set-up, let me know. If it inspires me, it will surely make itself into my stories.

very nice phrase, I like it = )

 

[PAUL C]

writing for others

I have done it a few times.

Sonali is one, (some of you may remember Viplove) and Tracey is another, only in that one the request was only to write a 'tit-fuck' story.

I have also written stories for competitions where the guide-lines have been very tight.

I found the experiences similar actually.

 

[PAUL C]

sequels and prequels

see my Paul and Jenny series.

The modern stories were written at the request of two other writers who wanted to be in them and I now have to remember what I wrote in those whenever I write the stories in the 70's.

They were fun though.

(see Dallas Adventure, Return to Dallas and The Popular Music Show).

(see also the stories by Laurie, where she takes my characters where she feels they should go).

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmm

Wrote one as a request, not posted here but a private story for a couple we know, they have actually posted it elsewhere.
It contained real names and real events as well as a bit of spicing up with a few fictional para's here and there.

They loved it, and it was their insistance that the real names were used, Pete threatened to pull the plug and stop the story if I refused to use their names or changed too much.

In truth I wasn't happy with the story from my viewpoint, too much fact for my liking, it made parts of the tale repetitive and slightly boring to an outsider, real life is never as exciting as fictional life don't you feel??
I would never have posted the tale here, or probably elsewhere, I could have, but I left it to the main characters to do as they wished with it.

I did try to write something based on a Lit story idea post but couldn't get into it and gave up half way through.

pops...........

 

[Chicklet]

Re: Hmmmmm

I did try to write something based on a Lit story idea post but couldn't get into it and gave up half way through.

what'd you do with the other half?