Why Are You Worth Reading?

[dr_mabeuse]

There are thousands of stories here. What do you think it is that makes yours worth reading? What do you think that you do that makes your stories different from most others'?

Do you have interesting plots? Do you do descriptions well? Are your characters interesting? Do you bring some special insight to the sexual experience?

Or do you just feel that anything that a fabulously interesting person like yourself has to say has inherent value?

I think this is a valid question that anyone who posts stories here should ask themselves, and it would be interesting to see what people think of their own stuff


---dr.M.

 

[Octavian]

Why am I a good read?

Don't be alarmed Doc M, I am being serious.

I have had over sixty people sending me feedback for my one serious effort, 'A Modern Love Story' and half of them have said that it was the the best or one of the best such stories they have ever read.

There are many better writers than me. I know there is one error in the narrative perspective and I suppose at thirteen Literotica pages it is rather daunting. Nevertheless it is an intriguing story with a moral. The characters are three dimensional and there is some humour too.

It has been up for a year now and I am still very proud of it.

Octavian

My stories

 

[oggbashan]

Depends what the readers want

I find the variety on Literotica fascinating.

Occasionally I read a story at random. I don't bother whether it has high votes or frequent views. Sometimes I find stories I like. Often I find things that don't appeal, but even the worst story can spark an idea.

As for mine own work - the stories are very variable. I have improved over time.(except for The Worst Chain Story Ever Chap 01 which is deliberately bad). I start to think I should delete the earlier stuff and one or two "failures" but then I get feedback liking the bad ones. You can't win.

We have had enough threads about feedback but one recent one threw me. The writer said he liked it, commented sensibly about the story, the plot, the situations and then added "I wouldn't have let her do that. I'd have walked out and left the bitch." the story is mild femdom and assumes that the man is willing to be dominated. So why did he read beyond page 1 and put so much effort into his feedback?

I am continually frustrated by my own inability to write the story I want to write. Even the final version is a pale shadow of what I tried to write. Each time I try to write better stories with believable characters and a coherent plot with a twist. Out of three stories, one might be an improvement, one might be on a par with others, and one is poor. If only I knew how to get every one to be better than the last.

My stories are never going to be high rated, nor have mass appeal. I don't write "wankable" stories unless the reader is on the same wavelength as the story.

Having said all that, I think my stories are different. They have a particular feel which would be obvious to any of my readers even if I wrote under a different name. Difference is not unique. Most authors on the site who have more than 10 stories posted have developed a voice of their own even if they are writing in a range of categories. Which brings me back to the first sentence of this post.

I find the variety on Literotica fascinating.

Og

 

[Pookie]

I think my stories are different because of my style. I don't think my plots are any more exciting or erotic than any other writer.

I put a lot of effort into making my stories seem as realistic and believeable as possible. I try to write so that the reader can attempt to "live" the story as they read it. I attempt to make my characters come to life for the readers. I also try to make my sex scenes mean something, to support the plot.

I'm no more interesting than any other author. In fact, I'm probably very boring compared to most other authors. But I like the style of stories I write, and I hope others that like the same enjoy the ones I write.


Pookie

 

[oggbashan]

Boring ... no

I have just been to Pookie_grrl's profile. All her stories except one are in the "Incest" category which I don't normally read, so I read the one that isn't.

It isn't boring. It is a long way from being boring. It is a good story, well written with a plot that works.

I' d have to read her other stories to decide whether her work is special, but I'm willing to try even if I don't like the category that most of her stories are in.

That makes her work "special" and "interesting" as far as I am concerned because she's made me want to read something that I wouldn't normally read.

Who knows? I might gain from it.

Thanks, Pookie_grrl

Og

 

[Sabledrake]

I like to think it's because I can tell a good tale. I believe that my main strengths are in description and coming up with interesting characters. My educational background is in psychology, so I am always fascinated by what makes people -- real or fictional -- tick.

As for the actual writing of the sex scenes, I often feel a bit hampered because vulgar terms turn me off, but overblown flowery bodice-ripper ones make me laugh. Trying to find some middle ground there ... that's one of my challenges. So is writing from a male POV, or portraying acts that I -- in my admittedly vanilla personal life -- have never tried.

Overall, I do consider myself a good writer, worth reading. I've got creativity, and I've spent many years and millions of words honing my skill, which are two of what I feel are the essential parts for compelling writing.

Sabledrake

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Octavian: why do you think that story got such a positive response? What do you think you did so well in there that made it different?

To everyone else: Please don't take this as a personal challenge for you to justify posting to Literotica. That's not what I meant at all.

I was just curious as to what people thought made their stories worth reading: if you have a special style, what is it that you feel makes your style special? Do you think you have an especially erotic imagination? Do you think you have a gift for telling a story? Do you think you have a gift for description? Do you think your stories are sweet or funny or compelling? What?

I think a lot of us write simply because we can't not write and then we have to do something with what we've written, so we post it. I suppose too that there may be some people who post stories that they do not think are special or noteworthy.

But really: don't you think you have some special strength or talent that makes you different? Can you describe what it is?


---dr.M.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I guess i should put my own neck on the block too.

I think I do passion well. I love to take my characxters to the state where they're insane with lust and I think I describe that state pretty well.

I think I have some insights into the psychology of D/s behavior & can describe that fairly well too, which give such scenes richness and depth.

I think I have a good ear for language, a sense of rhythm and sound, and I pay a lot of attention to the way something reads.

I also pay a lot of attention to the 'sexuality' of physical setting and things we don't usually think of as sexual. This is something I would like to get much better at because I think it's fascinating and it's something I'm always aware of.

I won't list where I'm weak because that would take too long. And it goes without saying that what I've listed above are just things that I hope I'm good at. I may just be deluding myself.

---dr.M.

 

[jfinn]

A couple of short stories ago I received an email from a reader who said that he never much looks at author's names when he starts something, but about halfway through this story he thought to himself, This sounds like jfinn. It was a great rush to think my style is strong enough to cause this kind of identification even in one person.

I write plot and character driven love stories. That's probably the biggest difference between my work and a lot of other stories; my people are almost always in love before they have sex and if they aren't, they will be soon. There's also a great deal going on in my stories that have nothing to do with sex and I strive for a realistic view so characters wear condoms, are clumsy and have normal size boobs and dicks.

A lot of readers seem to like that. At least that's what they tell me. My stories make them believe that what my characters find is possible in real life. Maybe that's the term for my writing, hopeful erotica.

I think like a lot of authors, I started writing erotica because I wasn't seeing a kind of story that appealed to me, or rather not enough of them. I figured that there would be others out there who felt like I did, so I wrote for all of us. So far I've been overwhelmed by the response.

I'm always reading on one forum or another that erotica has to be short, smutty and sexually ideal. I break all those rules, but my experience is that there is room for all kinds of approaches to erotica so I'll think I'll stick with mine.

Interesting thread Dr. M. Thanks for starting it.

Jayne

 

[gauchecritic]

My stories apparently have too much sex in them. I write them this way on purpose.

I write stroke, with hopefully believable characters. The kind of story I like to read has a flow which makes you want to carry on reading until the inevitable climax.(pun intended) What I like to read is how I try to write.

When I finally sit down at the keyboard after weeks or at this point months of thinking and the story begins to form I become sidetracked by the characters.

Now that you've made me think about it Doc. these asides, flights of fancy et.c which I include tend to re-inforce particular parts of the story at the time. They give other details which are relevant which can only be apparent through asides, flashbacks or whatever.

This is an unconscious thing.

One of the intended reasons for the extra sex is so as to fill the story with sexual encounter without going on and on about the climactic scene. Long purple passages about sex are unrealistic to me, however short they are in real life they last for a long time if you are a participant, not by being drawn out in words.

That's what I like to read so I suppose I'm adding to that library if you will.

Gauche

 

[KillerMuffin]

I have voice. This is different from style and tone and all that rot. My voice comes through no matter what style or tone I use. A smart woman with an MLA and a nice job with a publisher told me that she can always pick out a KM story simply by the voice. I am choosing to believe her.

My plots are sometimes interesting and I have some great characters.

I'm also a damned good writer.

Lastly, I've written to porno stories that have both aroused people and made them cry. Not many people can say that.

You're not good for my arrogance level today, Dr. M. As we all know by now, I have a rotten problem with it.

 

[Guest]

It’s not difficult to speak about my writing, I have no false modesty *and* no pretensions. I am my hardest critic (sometimes too hard but it works itself out, usually). Only one of my stories is up with 2 pending and the 4th in progress (to give some background on how the girl got into her sex-work). I’ve received very good feedback compliment-wise and a bit of very good criticism. My constant nemesis is verb tense, always overlooked when I write from the first-person (I rarely write otherwise), and of course as the writer I always miss a typo or two. I wrote poetry for 30 years and it shows in my prose, can’t help it; so I was wary about writing erotica and having it come out daffy or too literary. I think I’m managing well, at least per my critics.

One criticism I’ve chosen to reject: I'm not sure you’re going to please the BDSM readers as the story is too sensitive and they seem to prefer harder stuff. It is shaped like a scent of a delicate blossom when they seem to want stories that slap you in the face. But the other responses I’ve received contradict this; e.g.: You are a beautiful writer, I almost rarely finish an entire story and I couldnt stop reading yours. It was sexy, perverse and very arousing all at once.

It was also suggested I cut the beginning to get to the sex scene sooner, and to put in dialog to make the characters more 3-D. I can’t do this for the elevator scenes, it’s just not my style. There is plenty of good literature with interesting characters who do not speak, so that doesn’t worry me. As for the writing before, between & after sex—that’s why I’m writing for Lit. and not some smut site.

Here are other thoughtful comments which I agree with and see not reason to paraphrase in speaking of my work:
After rereading the story this morning, I realized that I was wrong; there really is enough background for the "Girl." But you, the polished author, knew that didn't you? …
You did a good job, I must say. The story was fresh and original - something difficult to do here at Lit! …
Loved your story, very original and imaginative. Can't wait for the rest. …
The story reads well and is a nice cameo. I hope you can keep the tension going for the next chapters. The feel of the story is right for Japan and is delicately phrased. …

 

[MathGirl]

Why are you worth reading?

I'm mainly not.
MG

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmmmm!!!!!

I haven't a clue why people read my stuff, I'm just glad they do, I have two of my eight tales in the hot list, very warm feeling.

I have more positive feedback than negative, nice!! but not the end of the world if it were the other way about.

I'm not an author by trade or inclination, I'm a true amateur, if peeps appreciate what I write it's a bonus, I love it.
If they hate it, well the words tough and shit spring to mind, not my problem mate, and I won't improve so don't waste your time asking me to, I just don't have the time.

There are some very serious authors on this site, and some of them are very, very, good, I admire you all for your effort and dedication.

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

 

[Guest]

Re: Why are you worth reading?

I'm mainly not. MG

Oh, MG, MG, MG!!! There's a handful of writers on Lit. who I re-read and you're one (Earl, Octavian, Pops and Flicka are others that come to mind). I won't mentin the DG work (and one can tell it's real work) but your other stories are so lovely and writerly refined. You have your own real voice (as do the above others) and that's really something, believe me.

A mutual fan wrote to me recently in discussing his fave writers (you and me): "MG's big 'O' fascinated me because the events seemed to give a glimpse into the female mind and experience which is certainly different than my male perspective. ... I shall be forever grateful to her. ... MG's work sucked me into writing feedback."

Please take care and keep popping in but, please please, know you're so wanted and needed (by more than me).

love, Perdita

 

[Gabriel_Lee]

Personally, I don't care if people find my stuff interesting to read or not. I find my stuff interesting enough to me to write. There is plenty of work which I haver started, but don't have the interest or drive to continue - some people would call this writer's block. I choose to call it lack of interest.

After saying that, I love the fact that people do read what I write and give me positive feedback more often than negative. I never seek feedback, because I prefer the unsolicited sort. The fact that someone makes that effort is important to me.

I like to say what I want to say in the way I want to say it and I am careful how I do this. Any apparent error is probably intentional; occasionally I like to trip my readers - I think it's good for them.

I am not a professional writer and, to a certain extent, I don't care about the art of writing. I just like the feeling of power, but to exercise it properly, I need to keep my readers with me.

GL

P.S. Of my 9 stories so far posted, only my latest has scored below 4. 3.62 to be precise ... it is Driving Simon (not a link) and I would not change a word of it, despite the fact I am pretty sure why some people don't like it. I have also had some very positive feedback on the same story - those were the people I wrote for.

 

[Guest]

easy to read and you can "dance" to it

I make no claims to exceptional writing.

I make no claims to innovative writing.

I do work my damnedest to make sure that my stories are easy to read (clean of grammar and spelling errors) and are sexually arousing.

I may not be brilliant, but I seek to be consistent.

b

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Don't worry about appearing arrogant, Muffin. This is about what we think we do well. What a site this would be if any of us didn't think we were pretty good writers and worth reading. Being honest isn't being arrogant, and this should be a thread to tell everyone what you yourself think you do well without fear of appearing egotistical and without fear of contradiction. These are, after all, opinions.

And no one should have to quote fanmail to jusity their opinions of themselves. I mean, what do fans know anyhow, right? . (I usually ignore praise, or at least I certainly intend to.)


---dr.M.

 

[jfinn]

You're not good for my arrogance level today, Dr. M. As we all know by now, I have a rotten problem with it.

"It ain't braggin' if it's the truth." Will Rogers

Jayne

 

[Octavian]

Originally posted by dr_mabeuse

Octavian: why do you think that story got such a positive response? What do you think you did so well in there that made it different?

I can only guess, Doc M.
I know it has a good plot with a beginning a middle and an end, and after umpteen revisions the writing flows reasonably well.
Some of the sex scenes are hot but I think it is probably the characterisation that has appealed to most of the people who have sent me feedback.
I had a strong affection for my female character and that probably came across in the story. I like to think that the narrator, her husband, appeared as a normal guy with weaknesses as well as strengths.

However it hasn’t appealed to everyone. There is a regular contributor to this Forum who thinks it is a load of crap!

Octavian

 

[Guest]

Yes!

Originally posted by Octavian
I had a strong affection for my female character and that probably came across in the story.

Octavianissimo: Yes! I forgot about that. I've had great affection for my characters, in stories and threads. Though all I've written on Lit. is fiction I do put aspects/desires/thinking of me in my creatures, both male and female, so a special passion does direct my narratives and I think it comes across to readers. Obviously it does to yours. Best always, Perdita

p.s. like Pop tells me, and I tell others - don't waste your piss and energy on negative a**holes (or to the scientifically minded, e.g., MG: blackholes ).

 

[Alex756]

Although far from a 'great' author, what I hear most from people is that they can relate to my characters.

*shrug* maybe delving off into the horror genre isn't the smartest move for me then, but I have never been known for sense.

Maybe trying to make a character that someone can identify with and by proxy feel sexier themselves is the best reason to read what I write ... well sides the fan fiction I write that for purely selfish reasons ... mental note have not checked www.dominickeating.com lately...

I try to write an honest beleiveable story with characters that peopel can identify with. And I make liberal use of the spell checker since my inate spelling abilities are virtually non-existant.

~alex756~
http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=177120

 

[Guest]

for Alex756

Alex, I made a note to myself to read you when I read your posts re. Horror & Sex. Will get back to you then. However, I also wanted to say I love your sig. Best, Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I think my stories are lively, realistic, sensual, and funny. Ehmm... yeah. That's about it. Oh, yeah - they're sexy, too.

 

[MaxSebastian]

Well, I can write, but I started off mainly writing sexual situations, it was all mostly about the sex - as I've progressed in the last couple of years, the plot has become more important. Often I will sketch out a story plan, some basic points to remind myself where I'm going. But then I just write, from start to finish, and often I won't entirely stick to that plan, but it's there if I need it.

I'm often criticised for not describing my characters as much as some would like, but I have to say that my primary aim is to entertain the reader, everything else comes second.

I don't agonise over my writing too much, either, I just have fun with it - it flows out and I rarely have to go back and correct any of it.

But I get a lot of practice as part of my job - I'm a journalist - so a lot of it comes naturally.

Why is my stuff good to read? Because it's entertaining. Interesting story, descriptive sex scenes, sufficient characterisation without being heavy about it and readable lines that keep the eye moving across the page.