Whats up with the story ideas section?

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

Does anyone who writes actually use the story ideas board? Or is it just non writers describing their ideal story to a wall?

I'm not sure why it exists to be honest.

 

[alohadave]

I've used it for inspiration a couple of times.

A lot of it is people looking for someone to write stories about their wife in sexual situations. Some of it is barely concealed hookup attempts.

 

[Rob_Royale]

There are a few of us that are regular contributors there, but I only comment if I find something I can work with in the suggestion. Some of the more off-the-wall ideas, I just leave alone. I would say that Dave is correct, we get a lot of 'please write my slutty wife' requests and odd stuff from non-writers, but there are a few gems in there. It's worth wading through the muck to find them and chat with like-minded folks. It has been quiet though for a while, sadly.

But as they say, if you built it, they will come. Throw up an idea and we'll bat it around for a while.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I browse through it every now and then. I've picked up two ideas over the last few years that have become the basis of stories I would never have thought of.

I don't go in expecting much, but it's nice to find a nugget.

 

[AlinaX]

It used to be more fun - for me, anyway. The mod kept shutting me down, which [] me off, and now I only dip in from time to time.

 

[Unblemished]

I got some useful ideas there once. Haven’t gotten round to uploading the results, but it was productive. Many of the threads seem rather bizarre though, like they’re competing to find the kookiest shit imaginable.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

There are some posts from real, unkinked people looking for somebody to write for them. I've got a couple of solid stories that way.

 

[KeithD]

I don't read that thread.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Does anyone who writes actually use the story ideas board? Or is it just non writers describing their ideal story to a wall?

I'm not sure why it exists to be honest.

Your initial impression is mostly correct. Most of the posters there - with a few exceptions - have never submitted a story. It mostly exists for guys (most of them seem to be male) to have bull sessions in which they try to top the previous responses. Concepts about blackmail, unexpected public nudity, gang bangs, and so forth are often put forward. Some of them admit that they can't write (or believe that about themselves) and hope others will do it for them.

I guess some of these concepts are picked up for real stories eventually. I almost did that once but I changed my mind. I did ask for advice at least a couple of times.

Knowing how Lit works, the category will always be there. Usually, I prefer to keep any ideas I have for myself rather than just giving them away.

 

[John_Vandermeer]

I wrote synopses of a few of my first Lit stories there before writing the stories up. For me it was useful to "air" the story idea and work out a few details before going ahead and writing it. I do not feel the need to do that anymore. And I found the board not very active and the comments not always very useful, with the exception of comments by actual authors that also frequent AH.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Does anyone who writes actually use the story ideas board? Or is it just non writers describing their ideal story to a wall?

I'm not sure why it exists to be honest.

I have a white board, the little magnet holders that look like tumb tacks with out blades, and dry erase markers. I never use it except to doodle one and again.

 

[Carnevil9]

The Story Ideas board is my favorite board of them all! It's always my first stop.

I've written several stories based on ideas discussed there. Not that I'm out of my own ideas, but sometimes you hear one that just sings to you and you have to write it.

I've also "workshopped" ideas that I wanted to write but wasn't sure I had thought it through all the way. You always get some unexpected perspectives there.

But the best part of Story Ideas is that it is just fun. Hell, real writing is a little bit of creativity followed by a lot of hard work. But just kicking around ideas is all of the creative, fun stuff, with none of the actual work!

 

[Rob_Royale]

The Story Ideas board is my favorite board of them all! It's always my first stop.

I've written several stories based on ideas discussed there. Not that I'm out of my own ideas, but sometimes you hear one that just sings to you and you have to write it.

I've also "workshopped" ideas that I wanted to write but wasn't sure I had thought it through all the way. You always get some unexpected perspectives there.

But the best part of Story Ideas is that it is just fun. Hell, real writing is a little bit of creativity followed by a lot of hard work. But just kicking around ideas is all of the creative, fun stuff, with none of the actual work!

Completely agree.

 

[AlinaX]

It was fun until it wasn't.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I've used it for inspiration a couple of times.

A lot of it is people looking for someone to write stories about their wife in sexual situations. Some of it is barely concealed hookup attempts.

A problem with using it for hookups is that is is difficult to tell if I person lives in Michigan, Scotland, or Australia. Or, if it ways something like "East Coast," that is not really helpful. To use it for "dating" one would have to be persistent (i.e., making it a numbers game, which dating is anyway), desperate, or willing to invest in airline tickets.