Ideas for getting me started

[Kumquatqueen]

BDSM stories tend to either be reasonably realistic, with or without backstory or characterisation, or take place in fantastical societies, manor houses, academies etc. Again,with or without backstory.

Making clear near the beginning which type it is, and whether the tops/bottoms are male or female or both, and what sorts of kinks will be addressed, helps reassure your readers who might like Your Sort of Thing to stick with it, and gets the others to click away before they feel they've wasted time and want to retaliate with downvotes, etc.

(Thank you for the rec, @THBGato! Other BDSM stories of mine include Accredited Sadist, where A and B meet, realise immediately thanks to mutual friend they have a hobby of SM in common, and go for it 2/3 of the way down page 1. Or Bad Brat Girl, which pretty much dives straight into a d/s relationship...)

 

[bethany_s]

BDSM stories tend to either be reasonably realistic, with or without backstory or characterisation, or take place in fantastical societies, manor houses, academies etc. Again,with or without backstory.

Making clear near the beginning which type it is, and whether the tops/bottoms are male or female or both, and what sorts of kinks will be addressed, helps reassure your readers who might like Your Sort of Thing to stick with it, and gets the others to click away before they feel they've wasted time and want to retaliate with downvotes, etc.

(Thank you for the rec, @THBGato! Other BDSM stories of mine include Accredited Sadist, where A and B meet, realise immediately thanks to mutual friend they have a hobby of SM in common, and go for it 2/3 of the way down page 1. Or Bad Brat Girl, which pretty much dives straight into a d/s relationship...)

Ok that is very helpful also. This is exactly what I was hoping to hear, some ideas how to approach it. Your ideas of maybe setting it early the rough idea of where it might go so that readers will know what to expect or not. Thanks

 

[alohadave]

EDIT: And I've learned that many readers are not even reading YOUR story as written but writing their own version in their mind with their own biases as they read.

I'll admit to this. I tend to read stories as white room scenarios (and I tend to write that way as well), so adding a lot of detail is lost on me. I'm going to imagine placeholder spaces that I use when reading, not what the author describes.

I'm not really interested in location details, because we all know what a living room, kitchen, bedroom, rumpus room, classroom, etc look like.

Adding too much detail is one sign that the author may have learned from watching TV and movies and are trying to describe each scene, like describing what they see to someone else.

 

[StillStunned]

I'll admit to this. I tend to read stories as white room scenarios (and I tend to write that way as well), so adding a lot of detail is lost on me. I'm going to imagine placeholder spaces that I use when reading, not what the author describes.

I'm not really interested in location details, because we all know what a living room, kitchen, bedroom, rumpus room, classroom, etc look like.

Adding too much detail is one sign that the author may have learned from watching TV and movies and are trying to describe each scene, like describing what they see to someone else.

Yes, the human mind has an amazing capacity for filling in the blanks. I tend to only describe details that matter, or that help to set the mood, and leave everything else to the reader's imagination to fill in.

 

[bethany_s]

Yes, the human mind has an amazing capacity for filling in the blanks. I tend to only describe details that matter, or that help to set the mood, and leave everything else to the reader's imagination to fill in.

Both of you thats good ideas. I dont think I would over describe the place. just the details of what matters I think

 

[yowser]

Yes, the human mind has an amazing capacity for filling in the blanks. I tend to only describe details that matter, or that help to set the mood, and leave everything else to the reader's imagination to fill in.

While an accurate observation, there is a limit to how much filling in comes naturally. I am astonished here that so many stories have such limited detail (okay, I am one of those readers who like detail.) But if you only toss out two data points, as a reader you cannot really make a picture out of that, you just connect two dots (and get a straight line.)

Best of all is the revealing detail, the 'flavor' of a setting, the way one character raises an arm that makes you notice her clavicle, an arched eyebrow that gives you some insight into the person. A detail that provokes some emotional reaction.

And these sorts of details are sorely lacking in the vast majority of stories here.

 

[Bramblethorn]

What would be an example of that? Maybe not sure how or what a preface is in this situation.

For instance, one of my series has this note at the start:

This is a F-F story, with BDSM elements, although it takes a while to get there. Chapter 1 is introduction only; there's no sex until Chapter 2.

This story is in Lesbian Sex, but Chapter 1 covers several years of backstory which involves both the main characters dating guys, so I wanted to reassure readers that they were in the right place.

One tip I've seen here, and that I've adopted for longer, slow-burn works, is to give at least a hint of sexual content within the first 5-600 words. If only a mention of sexual thoughts and some physical reaction. This lets your readers know that the good stuff will happen eventually, as long as they hang in there.

More generally, I think those first ~600 words should give the reader a feel for the tone of the story. Doesn't have to lay out the whole plot, but enough to give them the vibes and let them decide whether it's worth their time to keep reading. I've seen too many here where I get to the end of the first page (Literotica pages, ~3700 words) and I still don't know where the story is heading or what I'm meant to be caring about.

 

[bethany_s]

For instance, one of my series has this note at the start:

This is a F-F story, with BDSM elements, although it takes a while to get there. Chapter 1 is introduction only; there's no sex until Chapter 2.

This story is in Lesbian Sex, but Chapter 1 covers several years of backstory which involves both the main characters dating guys, so I wanted to reassure readers that they were in the right place.



More generally, I think those first ~600 words should give the reader a feel for the tone of the story. Doesn't have to lay out the whole plot, but enough to give them the vibes and let them decide whether it's worth their time to keep reading. I've seen too many here where I get to the end of the first page (Literotica pages, ~3700 words) and I still don't know where the story is heading or what I'm meant to be caring about.

Ok, thank you for both suggestions.

 

[Bramblethorn]

While an accurate observation, there is a limit to how much filling in comes naturally. I am astonished here that so many stories have such limited detail (okay, I am one of those readers who like detail.) But if you only toss out two data points, as a reader you cannot really make a picture out of that, you just connect two dots (and get a straight line.)

It's not necessarily about "filling in". When I read a story, I'm generally not forming a mental picture of the characters, even if the author has described them in detail. I might latch onto a few specifics like "tall", particularly if they affect how people interact, and I'll pay attention to social signifiers like "dyed hair" that tell me something about a character's personality etc. But most of the time I don't pay attention to things like hair and eye colour; I'm content to follow the story without filling in that detail.

As a kid I read Lord of the Rings many times. I can recite the inscription in the One Ring from memory, in Black Speech. I can tell you that Aragorn, son of Arathorn, also went by Elessar and Strider; I couldn't tell you what his face looked like, or what colour his hair or eyes were. Those are not details that have ever mattered much to me. I think the Rohirrim might be blonde? But that's about as far as I could describe any of the characters visually, excepting the general racial traits and the fact that Merry and Pippin end up exceptionally tall for hobbits.

Best of all is the revealing detail, the 'flavor' of a setting, the way one character raises an arm that makes you notice her clavicle, an arched eyebrow that gives you some insight into the person. A detail that provokes some emotional reaction.

Those details, I appreciate! Body language as part of a conversation, by all means. But I don't get much out of detail for the sake of detail.

 

[Mastered_again]

Ok thanks. Yeah it might be a chapter thing. Not really trying to make "stroke" stories, but maybe each individual chapter after it gets going could be that lol

You'll never please everyone, so write as you feel it. Personally, I prefer some background and how their relationship evolves, knowing why the characters get together, their emotional states, needs and desires makes the sex scenes better when they get around to it. I go for a slow burn rather than an immediate explosion, but that's me and may not fit your approach.

If you're going to write in chapters, get them all written before submitting. Nothing worse than "Doh! I should have included something about this in chapter 2" when you're writing chapter 5 (and chapter 2 is already posted).

Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you start a thread and pose a question, like you did here, you'll get suggestions.

 

[bethany_s]

You'll never please everyone, so write as you feel it. Personally, I prefer some background and how their relationship evolves, knowing why the characters get together, their emotional states, needs and desires makes the sex scenes better when they get around to it. I go for a slow burn rather than an immediate explosion, but that's me and may not fit your approach.

If you're going to write in chapters, get them all written before submitting. Nothing worse than "Doh! I should have included something about this in chapter 2" when you're writing chapter 5 (and chapter 2 is already posted).

Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you start a thread and pose a question, like you did here, you'll get suggestions.

Thank you! Everyone has been such a help. Thanks for the suggestion of writing all the chapters. Might take a while though lol.

 

[Lifestyle66]

I'll admit to this. I tend to read stories as white room scenarios (and I tend to write that way as well), so adding a lot of detail is lost on me. I'm going to imagine placeholder spaces that I use when reading, not what the author describes.

I'm not really interested in location details, because we all know what a living room, kitchen, bedroom, rumpus room, classroom, etc look like.

Adding too much detail is one sign that the author may have learned from watching TV and movies and are trying to describe each scene, like describing what they see to someone else.

Even the details of the characters we write are often glossed over in a reader's mind and replaced with their own bias.

In my latest story, I have one commenter saying they don't see the wife as a militant feminist. But they gloss over the fact she used her fiancée/husband as a tool to provide support, while she didn't care who got her pregnant (cuckolded him). Then there's the minor blurb when the girl says she goes to the women's center after meeting a nice guy, so they can give her a dose of "all men are shit" so she'll dump him, and the MC's ex-wife is her counselor pushing that opinion.

So, there are readers viewing my story as 'the women MUST have a reason for hating the MC', and they igonre all of the detail of the women he describes as always using him (he even finds that his own mother cuckolded his father!) Those readers just don't WANT to read those details, so they don't.

 

[Mastered_again]

Thank you! Everyone has been such a help. Thanks for the suggestion of writing all the chapters. Might take a while though lol.

Once written submit one chapter every few days (1 week, tops). Take it from my experience. I wrote and posted 11 chapters, but then it was 8 months before 12, 13 and 14. Readership fell off tremendously

 

[bethany_s]

Once written submit one chapter every few days (1 week, tops). Take it from my experience. I wrote and posted 11 chapters, but then it was 8 months before 12, 13 and 14. Readership fell off tremendously

Ok that was actually another question I had was how soon to release each section. Ok cool makes sense thanks

 

[Mastered_again]

Ok that was actually another question I had was how soon to release each section. Ok cool makes sense thanks

But the decline in readers hasn’t stopped me from continuing the story. I'm still enjoying the writing and I'm deeply invested in my characters (maybe too much, but it's personal).
Along those lines, readership will decline with subsequent chapters as not all are willing to invest the time. On the plus side, those that keep reading are and it is gratifying to have a "dedicated" following

 

[ElectricBlue]

I havent had time to read much yet, kind of new still. But yeah I should do that some and get some ideas and how things flow. Thanks

Maybe you should cast your eye over a range of stories in different categories first, so that you see there is a very wide range of approaches, a wide range of styles, and there's very good writing and very bad.

Your questions suggest you might be thinking, "There's one way to write smut, help me find it," but there's not. There are a thousand ways. Long stories, short stories, erotica, porn, gentle romance, full on filth, delicate little pieces that start slowly, full on sexcapades that start at an orgy.

My very strong recommendation is, don't start with your proposed long story with lots of chapters. Your questions indicate you're not ready for that yet. Instead, get a dozen or so short (4k - 6k) - that's two Lit pages - standalone stories under your belt. Keep them simple, two characters, straightforward encounters. That way, you'll iron out the basic technicalities of writing: tense, grammar, punctuation, the essentials for good writing; and more importantly, you'll discover your own natural style - you clearly don't know that yet.

Once you know how to "write" you're ready to become a "writer", but do your apprenticeship first.

 

[Cagivagurl]

Hi all. I was encouraged by a friend at another site to maybe post some of my stories. He asked me to be bold and write about the experiences I had with a fwb that was mostly dom and bondage related type of relationship. And he thought it was really good what I wrote. But was just 2 of the times of many encounters. My question is would readers want to hear the leading up to part of the story, how we met and how the relationship developed? Or do most readers just want the steamy bits lol? Its kind of a long story and maybe sets the rest of the stories.

I hope you press forward and write.
It is fun, and can be very fulfilling. My advice go for it.... With gusto.
As too what you should write....
Think about the types of story you like to read. There is an audience for most anything in here.
I love stories full of deep and wonderful characters. My emotions changing as if they are on a roller coaster. I want dialogue, lots of rich beautiful dialogue. There are people who want nothing more than sex and more of it thank you...
There is no one answer that is correct because thankfully we are all different.
Last bit of advice from somebody who knows nothing.

Write what you want to write and to hell with it...

Cagivagurl

 

[bethany_s]

Thank you to everyone that gave me some help in what direction to go with my writing. I officially published the first part of my story just now! So nervous lol. It has to be approved first I assume. But please give me some feedback in case I need to change how the rest will go. Thank you all

 

[StillStunned]

Thank you to everyone that gave me some help in what direction to go with my writing. I officially published the first part of my story just now! So nervous lol. It has to be approved first I assume. But please give me some feedback in case I need to change how the rest will go. Thank you all

Congratulations! May all your stories be approved immediately, and may all your ratings be 5s!

 

[bethany_s]

Congratulations! May all your stories be approved immediately, and may all your ratings be 5s!

Lol thank you. How long does it usually take to get approved?

 

[StillStunned]

Lol thank you. How long does it usually take to get approved?

In my experience anywhere between a few hours and a week. It depends on a number of factors: category (R/NC in particular seems to get extra close scrutiny), how long your story is, how busy Laurel is.

Some people say new writers are scrutinised more closely too, but I never experienced that. My first story was approved within a couple of hours, and all subsequent ones the same day.

 

[Gamblnluck]

My rule of thumb is, if it's interesting for you to write, it's going to be interesting for someone to read.

Your dilemma is whether or not to include the (presumably nonsexual) background details of the relationship.

I always tell people to think whether the story would make sense to you if somebody told it to you. If you were sitting in a bar, having a drink and somebody was telling you the story would you enjoy the telling or say, "WTF? That makes no sense! You sound like you are just trying to get yourself off while telling this. Back up and explain enough so I know what is going on!"

I personally do not like the stories that always start like a resume either: " My name is and hers is and we are both 5' 9" and her measurements are.... We met in highschool but did not get together until after college." Nobody cares if it does not impact the story.

Often I back into a little history to round out the characters. But every story is different. You do your thing and you will find out soon enough how it is received. I've seen great plots shot down in flames because of the way they were told.
Plus that depends on the category. Some categories, a jerk off scene with virtually no story to get in the way of the telling, gets a high rating.

 

[Mogrem]

Maybe begin with steamy parts and then go backwards in time to give back story.

I always tell people to think whether the story would make sense to you if somebody told it to you. If you were sitting in a bar, having a drink and somebody was telling you the story would you enjoy the telling or say, "WTF? That makes no sense! You sound like you are just trying to get yourself off while telling this. Back up and explain enough so I know what is going on!"

These are both amazing pieces of advice (which I often forget to follow).

On the first one, that's actually really simple and is basically a courtesy to the reader. As a reader faced with many, many stories you do want enough backstory for it to make sense, but you are here for the steam, so you need to know what sort of steamy you're going to get before you're prepared to get to know the characters. It doesn't have to open with an actual sex scene (although that's not a bad idea if you're unsure); instead if you're confident in your writing you can just let people know what to expect through tone and voice ("She was always into people who had a certain something, a dangerous quality" tells you to expect one thing; "They'd been best friends for the longest time when he finally plucked up the courage to take it further" tells you to expect another thing. Cue the exposition.)

The second advice I love because it cuts through a lot of more elaborate advice and gets to the basics. We know a good story when we hear it, so imagine hearing it. In fact it can help to read it out loud (or into a pillow, if you're not in that kind of house).

Thank you to everyone that gave me some help in what direction to go with my writing. I officially published the first part of my story just now! So nervous lol. It has to be approved first I assume. But please give me some feedback in case I need to change how the rest will go. Thank you all

Good luck. Followed you so it should crop up on my feed when it gets through the net and hopefully I'll see it to read and comment.

 

[Mogrem]

Thank you to everyone that gave me some help in what direction to go with my writing. I officially published the first part of my story just now! So nervous lol. It has to be approved first I assume. But please give me some feedback in case I need to change how the rest will go. Thank you all

Good start.

 

[bethany_s]

So my next dilemma. The preface to my story published earlier today. I have the next 2 “chapters” written, although I need to do a final edit and clean them up. The preface was kind of the “teaser” that occurs in the timeline between my next two submissions. Chapter 1 (the next submission) will be about how I met him and how it led up to the preface. Chapter 2 will immediately follow the Preface event. My question, should I repeat the Preface as an actual chapter in the correct succession of events? Or do I just make a note to the reader to go back to my Preface to fill in those details? I’m thinking some readers might skip the Preface and read chapter 1, then chapter 2, and wonder why is there a gap in events.