Where to start?

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Hi, I have been reading on and off on literotica, and recently, after reading a few pieces, I have discovered an urge to write some stories, for literotica...but I am scared.

I have quite a few experience writing short stories, usually with a team where I submit the storyboard and my editors fix the minor details and publishes them, on newspapers and on the internet. They have been great hits, but if I am to write erotica, I am all alone. I know these editors in real life and am too embarrassed to let them know my darkest secrets.

I need advice and encouragement...I am scared and at the same time thrilled to step out of my comfort zone. Where should I start from?

 

[JackLuis]

Fear Not Nubie!

You could try the Volunteer Editors, see Editors forum. ( See "My New Best Friend" for a view of the gig.)

Give it your best shot and take the flack, it's the only way.

Just leave Loving Wives to the masochistic.

The worst that can happen is you find out you suck, but no one knows your name and you can always use this identity as an alt.

 

[SamScribble]

Hi, I have been reading on and off on literotica, and recently, after reading a few pieces, I have discovered an urge to write some stories, for literotica...but I am scared.

I have quite a few experience writing short stories, usually with a team where I submit the storyboard and my editors fix the minor details and publishes them, on newspapers and on the internet. They have been great hits, but if I am to write erotica, I am all alone. I know these editors in real life and am too embarrassed to let them know my darkest secrets.

I need advice and encouragement...I am scared and at the same time thrilled to step out of my comfort zone. Where should I start from?

It's just a guess, but I suspect that English may not be your first language. Either that or you are not a very good proof reader. In either case, get yourself an editor. You may well have some good stories to tell (I hope so), but if you can't tell them in good written English you're probably going to cop a bit of flack. Other that than that, have fun and good luck.

 

[Acktion]

Hi, I have been reading on and off on literotica, and recently, after reading a few pieces, I have discovered an urge to write some stories, for literotica...but I am scared.

I have quite a few experience writing short stories, usually with a team where I submit the storyboard and my editors fix the minor details and publishes them, on newspapers and on the internet. They have been great hits, but if I am to write erotica, I am all alone. I know these editors in real life and am too embarrassed to let them know my darkest secrets.

I need advice and encouragement...I am scared and at the same time thrilled to step out of my comfort zone. Where should I start from?

At the risk of sounding like a Nike commercial, just DO it.

You already have some idea of what you think is sexy since you say you've been reading them. Odds are that you actually already have a story in mind if you've gotten to the point of posting what is, actually, a declaration of intent to write one.

First, pick a perspective. Are you going to try to tell this story from the first person (I), the third person (Jack and Julie), whether limited or omniscient can wait, or the second person (you).

Now, write it. As you go, you will quickly discover that the only difference in writing the storyboards you mentioned and erotica is in your mind at the writing stage. After it is written, that's a different story.

SS took a guess that you may not be a native English speaker. I'm no great shakes at editing, but even I noticed the relatively small error in "editors" and "publishes". Lit has several volunteer editors, although it's been awhile since I availed myself of their services (often to the detriment of my little tales of a little tail). You are right to be a little wary of using the same editing team that you use for your working Storyboards, however. The saying "don't shit where you eat" became a saying for a reason. I doubt there is anyone who wouldn't benefit from fresh eyes looking over what they wrote.

As an alternative, you can do your own editing, but it's difficult to do. To begin with, you have to store the story for long enough that you don't remember writing it. A month might be long enough, but I would suggest a year. Then, when you read it, you can only read one sentence at a time. However, just be aware that you are probably still going to miss things.

"Which category should I write for?" may be the question you are asking. JL has a good point about the Loving Wives category. Posting there is just asking to have candy shoved in your pockets, be strung up from a tree, and being beaten with a stick while the onlookers yell "Pinata! Pinata!" I would only do that for your first if you know you have a thick enough skin.

On the other hand, the Incest category is in some ways a "gimme" gimmick. I say that even though I can't write believable Incest worth a damn. Also, you will typically get more views and higher voting than other, less taboo, subjects which will in turn skew your perception of your actual ability to write a dirty little sex story.

Erotic Couplings is kind of a catch all for stuff that doesn't fit a niche somewhere else. The rest of the categories are pretty self explanatory or have a disclaimer notice where they are not.

If you think you notice your story going down a certain category track, I would review about ten random stories from that category to see how what you are writing fits.

When it's done, edited, and the category is selected, submit and be damned like the rest of us. Not everyone will like it. That's fine. Some will. Don't take them any more seriously than the ones who don't. Be polite and don't try to defend what you did with a story. If you feel the need to, then they are right and the story wasn't the best you could write it.

Now, write another one.

And then another.

Oh, and don't forget to let us know how it went. And to be kind to other newbies that are trying to get started down the road.

Best of luck.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Hi, I have been reading on and off on literotica, and recently, after reading a few pieces, I have discovered an urge to write some stories, for literotica...but I am scared.

I have quite a few experience writing short stories, usually with a team where I submit the storyboard and my editors fix the minor details and publishes them, on newspapers and on the internet. They have been great hits, but if I am to write erotica, I am all alone. I know these editors in real life and am too embarrassed to let them know my darkest secrets.

I need advice and encouragement...I am scared and at the same time thrilled to step out of my comfort zone. Where should I start from?

Start by giving yourself permission to suck. No, really. Experience is the best teacher and in order to get that experience you have to be willing to make mistakes.

Literotica is a great place for that. As long as you remain anonymous, there are pretty much no consequences for failure. If you write something and later decide that you don't like it, you can delete that story, or delete your entire profile and pop up under a new name when you think you've got something better.

I do second the recommendation to find yourself a volunteer editor if possible; everybody works better with a decent editor.

 

[HeyAll]

Here are some basic tips that I use with every story:

1) What's the story about?

Do you want it to be about office sex? Incest? Voyeur?

2) What's the tone of the story?

Is the story romantic? Dirty? Depraved? Lustful? Light-hearted?

3) What's the best way to set up the story?

In other words, what's the main character like? Why is he/she doing what he/she is doing? What are the plot points necessary to tell the story?

Before long, you might have something good.

Best of luck.

 

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Thank you SO MUCH for your advice and encouragement. Yeah, English not my first language but I have been learning and practicing it for the past 13 years non-stop, so I'm confident about it.

I have browsed the editor forums and have posted a thread asking for Voluntary Editors. I hope to get some news soon!

 

[Handley_Page]

Tell the story with no sexual content; a beginning, middle & end.
When you have a working tale, add whatever sex you want.
Then send it to an editor.

 

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Tell the story with no sexual content; a beginning, middle & end.
When you have a working tale, add whatever sex you want.
Then send it to an editor.

Nope. Not possible at all. The storyboard itself spells of "erotic", rotten to the very core.

I'm beyond saving.

 

[robertreams]

What the hell are you afraid of? There are only millions of assholes out here waiting to pounce on your story and tell you how shitty it is. BUT, here is the beauty of being a writer they cannot touch you, but you can imagine them in your next story and kill them on the first page. I heard that Stephen King said if one wants to be a writer one must not be afraid to kill someone every day.

Seriously, my advice is to find yourself a good editor to help you, then blame everything on him/her.

 

[closeads]

What the hell are you afraid of? There are only millions of assholes out here waiting to pounce on your story and tell you how shitty it is. BUT, here is the beauty of being a writer they cannot touch you, but you can imagine them in your next story and kill them on the first page. I heard that Stephen King said if one wants to be a writer one must not be afraid to kill someone every day.

Seriously, my advice is to find yourself a good editor to help you, then blame everything on him/her.

The editors I know I know then all in real life, hence why I am seeking an online editor to keep my identity a secret.

 

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Quite a while have passed and I felt like I should post an update. I have found myself a very nice editor and am feeling much more confident about publishing my erotica in English. I have been writing a lot lately and I feel so grateful for all your encouragement and directions. I wrote so much, I even came up with an ending before filling in the story.

It's a happy ending, like I'm feeling now. If you'd like, I can send you the unedited ending for those who don't mind spoilers. It is the least I can do.