Why We Write

[Espresso801]

Hey Literoticians!

I just started my first series on Literotica and wanted to know from other authors: what drives you to write on here? Is it to play out fantasies, relive past experiences, connect with others or something else? For me it's a bit of all of the above. Just curious to hear other opinions.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

Hey Literoticians!

I just started my first series on Literotica and wanted to know from other authors: what drives you to write on here? Is it to play out fantasies, relive past experiences, connect with others or something else? For me it's a bit of all of the above. Just curious to hear other opinions.

Hi, and welcome! A lot of writers responded to this same question about a month ago. You may enjoy some of the replies. Best of luck with your series!

Edit: another list of interesting answers

 

[Espresso801]

Vix Giovanni thanks for the referral!

 

[BrokenSpokes]

I couldn't hold it back any longer

I have a series, Hard Landing, which is version of a story that I've been bouncing around in my head for about three years. It expanded and developed dramatically during the writing of it. I could tell you where the germination of that started, but I'll hold onto that in case anyone posts that question in my AMA thread in the Story Feedback forum. But after I read stories by CareyThomas and Salandar that really hit home emotionally, I realized my story might be a (lesser) version of some of their work.

I really feel good to have gotten it out the world. But, since this is the main (or really, only) story I've been thinking about, when I finish the series I'll likely be done writing for a while.

Hard Landing, the series

 

[Hypoxia]

Rather than let the thread die -- because we've probably gathered more new authors in the last month -- I'll usher it along. My new list of canonical excuses (choose one, or more, or not):

• We MUST write -- voices in our heads insist. Maybe fantasies, maybe autobiography aka confession, maybe deep rants. But we've no choice.
• We are writing machines churning out endless material. See above.
• We are total nutcases that Laurel somehow allows aboard. See above.
• We want more masturbatory material. It's all about self-gratification.
  -
• We practice to improve our writing skills. Might even go commercial.
• We want to inform readers of important issues while they're wanking.
• We want to provoke readers, positively or negatively. Piss-em off!
• We are enemy agents fostering degradation, decadence, and angst.
• We are alien intelligences exploring the range of human totality.
  -
• We need relief from our copywriting, teaching, preaching, etc jobs.
• We have no better ways to organize and occupy our time.
• Something else entirely.

The list is non-exclusive. We each may support many infestations.

 

[Heartsongs]

Writing erotica for me is like drinking fine wine. I go to a happy place out of reality. Writing and drinking at the same time manifests, in my opinion, some really good sex scenarios. Going to go fill up now.

 

[JamesMiehoff]

I write because I got bored. I am not sure what I got bored of, I was just bored.

I started reading some of the stories posted on Usenet and thought, "Shit! Even I can do better than that." So I tried and posted a few, only to realize that Usenet is now mostly a vast dead wasteland.

So I gave up until I bumped into Literotica. Not only was it alive and vibrant, but the people are nice for the most part. Especially the ones that hang out here in the Author's Hangout.

So, nothing deep or profound, just bored. So if you have nothing better to do, click on the link below and check out some of my (slowly) growing body of work. Assuming it still works.

James

 

[Espresso801]

Great thoughts!

Sorry for letting the thread go unanswered, I didn't get notifications of the replies!

Yes these are all great points and reasons for being on here. As I writer in other areas of my life there's something liberating about being able to indulge my sexual fantasies in written form and have a reasonably good expectation that like minded people will respond to them. It's a nice change from the fickle world of mainstream writing.

And yeah I've been enjoying other people's sex writing for years so it feels good to contribute something.

Sub-question for those interested in responding: do you find that writing about sex helps satisfy your desires or just stokes the fire?

 

[SynSlave]

I write because I got bored. I am not sure what I got bored of, I was just bored.

I started reading some of the stories posted on Usenet and thought, "Shit! Even I can do better than that." So I tried and posted a few, only to realize that Usenet is now mostly a vast dead wasteland.

I haven't even heard Usenet mentioned in the last twenty years. Like newsgroups and IRC.

Sorry for letting the thread go unanswered, I didn't get notifications of the replies!

Yes these are all great points and reasons for being on here. As I writer in other areas of my life there's something liberating about being able to indulge my sexual fantasies in written form and have a reasonably good expectation that like minded people will respond to them. It's a nice change from the fickle world of mainstream writing.

And yeah I've been enjoying other people's sex writing for years so it feels good to contribute something.

Sub-question for those interested in responding: do you find that writing about sex helps satisfy your desires or just stokes the fire?

I admit my fire gets stoked in the middle of a scene. But prior to a big scene I dread it... to me it's more like infusing fan-service for the readers. But I've decided to turn my latest submission into a series and that ones nothing but "fluff" or what I dub fan service here.

Basically, I'll use any excuse to write. People commented on my last submission that they want a brother/sister follow up. That's what I'm doing now. Chapter 1 of my sci-fi serious is done but not submitted, and I'd like to go back to hardcore sci-fi and/or high/epic fantasy (non-erotic). Nano is right on top of us and I'd like to start something I can complete as a novel, as well. But if I have an audience (of any kind) I'll work in whatever people want to read.

If I was still writing for just myself I wouldn't bother submitting. It's a gray blurry area--from I've learned over the years--between writing for ones self and an audience. And catering to the audience is a big part of getting published at higher levels (even here as I'm sure some will argue).

 

[MemoryofSnow]

How I got here

Honestly, I never dreamed it would be erotic fiction that I ended up publicly posting anywhere. For most of my life I wrote only high-fantasy (elves, wizard, etc.) or adventure fiction (superheroes, globe-trotting explorers, etc). Most of my early inspirations that I emulated were adventure and fantasy writers whose work aimed solidly at 'general audience'. Much of what I wrote was really just short stories meant to provide background for role-playing games I ran (yeah, I'm a dork).

However, about eighteen years ago, I was given a copy of 'The Story of O', which changed my entire perspective on both writing and what 'erotic literature' was. It amazed me that the novel was so full of such intensely sexual depictions, but never once used an obscene word or described it anything in a way that came across as vulgar. It fascinated me too how the character, O, started off so powerless, yet was independent, but became so incredibly powerful once she gave away the last of her authority and became completely submissive.

It challenged me to begin writing more sexually charged material, my fantasy stories growing more adult and powerful. It also made me seek out real life BDSM lifestylers, learning about the culture and eventually becoming a part of it.

Fast forward about a baker's dozen years, I had moved to a new place and was trying to get more known by the local fetish scene on the website FetLife. Deciding to use my best skills, I decided to write what I had intended to be just a three-part little story about a girl selling herself as part of a lifestyle fantasy. However, by the third part, I realized it was a much bigger story I wanted to tell and that what I had was just the first three chapters of a novel. So I began writing and eventually made it to a dozen chapters.

The thing was, while I got plenty of praise and good comments on my writing, it didn't really do anything to encourage people to get to know me as a person, just beg for new chapters. I finally decided that I needed to move my work to a place better suited for publishing writing, but being so sexually based, I wasn't sure where I would be allowed to. Finally, someone suggested Literotica to me and the rest is history.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

. I finally decided that I needed to move my work to a place better suited for publishing writing, but being so sexually based, I wasn't sure where I would be allowed to. Finally, someone suggested Literotica to me and the rest is history.

Welcome!

Drop by the Authors’ Hangout for a coffee sometime.

 

[AmethystMare]

To share more widely. It's been a mixed bag of feedback but I see no harm in sharing more widely if it can give people a little fun and a break from reality. As for why I write what I write, most is commissioned work or for my partner.

 

[cymoril0001]

Because the idea popped in my head and I wanted to share it. I also enjoy writing. It's a craft that can never be perfected and everybody's voice is unique to themselves.

The only issue is time. Ideas float by me all the time and the continuation of my characters are always in my head, but it's been more and more difficult to find the time to write because of life. There are huge hiatuses between my chapters that are unintentional and I feel bad for my followers, but unfortunately life is a priority.

Why erotica? Because it is a way of expressing things I fantasize about and things I have enjoyed in life and perhaps hope to experience in life.



https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1016096&page=submissions

 

[MichaelGH]

Because at this given moment in time I do not have writer’s block.