What Are Your Story Pet Peeves?

[SweetErika]

The ubiquitous mirror scene. You know the one, almost all the stories have that mirror where one character walks by and can't help but stop to admire their perfect measurements and washboard abs or firm ass and then the same dreaded phrase comes: not bad for a 30/35/40 year old.

I never noticed how common that was, but now that you mention it...

However overused though, I don't mind, and even like, the mirror scenes when they're integrated into the plot, written well and have a purpose other than giving the standard, crappy physical description.

 

[SweetErika]

I once read where the male character's name kept changing. I think it was Will and became Bill. I actually finished it because I wanted to see who finished in the end.

I've seen that, too. You're a more patient woman than I, Cate, because I can't keep reading if it looks like the author failed to proofread/edit. I figure if they can't be bothered with simple things like spellchecking, looking for inconsistencies, asking for a proofread or fixing errors after they've been pointed out, I can't be bothered to read their story. There's no excuse for not trying to make it better or more legible for the reader.

I have purposely not given physical descriptions of the characters in my story. I might say a hair color but not much more. I picture characters in my own way while reading and want the reader to project themself into the story.

I like that in a well-written story.

I might be alone in this, but physical descriptions don't carry over to my fantasies, so I almost prefer they be vague when I'm reading something for arousal purposes.

 

[Eilan]

another pet peeve: "porn perfect" characters, where all the women and men resemble porn actors rather than actual people.

I don't think I have the skillz to do humor/satire, but I've always wanted to write a story out of porn clichés gone wrong.

 

[silverwhisper]

well, surely snark is a form of humor, no? in which case, i think you have the l337 skillz to pull it off. :>

ed

 

[midwestyankee]

I don't think I have the skillz to do humor/satire, but I've always wanted to write a story out of porn clichés gone wrong.

Go for it! I'd love to see this.

 

[silverwhisper]

MWY quoth
a story that doesn't actually begin until the twelfth paragraph. come on, folks, nothing really matters until something happens. we don't really care what music you were listening to while waiting for your precious date to show up horny at your apartment.

interesting. i disagree.

ed

 

[midwestyankee]

interesting. i disagree.

ed

The music is only interesting if it drives something important later on. More often than not, when I see this sort of opening, it's in a story that moves at the pace of a novel. In a longer piece, taking your time to establish mood and setting makes sense. In a story there isn't time for a long drawn out prologue. Get it on is my motto. Grab your reader by the throat and start making him feel something.

 

[silverwhisper]

perhaps i'm not quite following. i'm curious where you draw the line b/n establishing character/mood and too slow.

ed

 

[midwestyankee]

perhaps i'm not quite following. i'm curious where you draw the line b/n establishing character/mood and too slow.

ed

In a short story, establishing mood and setting has to happen fast, or be woven into the story piecmeal. There just isn't enough space for long rambling prologues. If a story hasn't begun to grab me in the first five minutes of reading (that's only a few paragraphs), then I stop reading. Why waste any more time if the writer can't say anything compelling by that time? What reason do I have to believe that the pace will pick up and that the story will suddenly develop some strength? None.

 

[bobsgirl]

In a short story, establishing mood and setting has to happen fast, or be woven into the story piecmeal. There just isn't enough space for long rambling prologues. If a story hasn't begun to grab me in the first five minutes of reading (that's only a few paragraphs), then I stop reading. Why waste any more time if the writer can't say anything compelling by that time? What reason do I have to believe that the pace will pick up and that the story will suddenly develop some strength? None.

I agree with you. This is going to sound awful, but I do the same thing with extremely long posts too. Especially if it's not broken up into paragraphs.

 

[silverwhisper]

[nods]

sorry, was projecting a longer format than erika was asking about. nevermind. :>

ed

 

[BreeCarter]

when you get 3/4 through a story and it sounds really hot, and then they break out saying it was their sister they were fucking or some sick shit like that.

 

[zekealicious]

Amen to that Bree!

 

[Sarojaede]

The ubiquitous mirror scene. You know the one, almost all the stories have that mirror where one character walks by and can't help but stop to admire their perfect measurements and washboard abs or firm ass and then the same dreaded phrase comes: not bad for a 30/35/40 year old.

I don't mind mirror scene's as long as they are somehow integral to the plot or understanding the mood/personality of a character and not solely for the purposes of the character admiring his/her perfect measurements and thinking "not bad for a 30/35/40/45/etc. year old".

 

[BreeCarter]

Amen to that Bree!

true story.

 

[Eilan]

Another one that bugs me is unlubed anal sex. On rare occasions, I've had anal with just my own wetness as lube. But the stories where the guy just rams his dick in there? Ow.

That might get some people off, but it doesn't do a damn thing for me.

 

[SweetErika]

Another one that bugs me is unlubed anal sex. On rare occasions, I've had anal with just my own wetness as lube. But the stories where the guy just rams his dick in there? Ow.

That might get some people off, but it doesn't do a damn thing for me.

All inaccuracies really get me. My experience with authors who write things like unlubed/unprepared anal and women coming upon entry or right after their hymen's been torn is that they just don't know any better. They either don't have experience or have misinterpreted the experiences they've had, and write in fantasy mode.

 

[Nightbird]

Threads like this scare me, cuz I keep waiting for people to point out my mistakes in the stories I've written.

 

[SweetErika]

Threads like this scare me, cuz I keep waiting for people to point out my mistakes in the stories I've written.

Sorry, and that's really not the intent behind it, NB. I can't say I'd be offended if authors avoided or went back to edit a lot of these things, but it's more about preferences and learning (for me at least) than anything else.

 

[tanyachrs]

If I'm reading porn I like the porniness to start pretty near the top. Honestly, if it doesn't I skim until I find it.

Even in full-length, non-porn I think the story should start at the beginning. Character development and scene setting should be woven into the story, not dumped in a big glob at the top. In the best stories there's a sense of tension right from the beginning. Even if nothing is happening, you feel that it's about to.

 

[TBKahuna123]

See, I step away for a few days and miss great threads like this!

I've always hated stories with no plot and shallow characters. While they might be good to jerk off too, there's no litterary value to them. That gets old quick. When I started writing, I was worried that I was putting too much non-sexual content into the stories, but what I found from the feedback I got, is that this is what readers liked. A good non-sexual plot that the sex can intigrate into is my preference. And characters you can relate to, that have real personality, not just insatiable sexual appetites.

Vulgarity, now there's an interesting eye of the beholder kind of question. I know that I agonized over the use of the word cunt. I mean, how many times can you call it a pussy, and vagina just doesn't sound erotic to me. Cunt though is a strong, powerful word; aggressive and sexy word, if not used as an insult. In many ways it is very similar to fuck.

It's funny that people mentioned describing bra sizes and the like. This is something that I fell into early on, and had to wind my way back out. I consider it growing as an author.

Tired plots, yeah I agree with this one too. This doesn't mean you should shy away from old faithfuls just because they've been done poorly 600 times. Just do it right.

I'm gonna talk about characters again, because to me this is the biggest pet peeve I have. Not every male character has to have a huge cock, not every female chracter has to have long flowing hair and huge fake tits. That's not to say NONE of your characters should have those traits, but do so when it's appropriate. Unless she's a stripper or a porn star, or scandanvian, is a female character gonna have 38 DD breasts? If she does, is she gonna have a 20 inch waits? Not unless they are fake and then you should describe her degenerative back condition as well.

I'm less concerend about realism than others who've posted here are, for a couple reasons. First, you're telling a story, a fantasy. While it should be plausible, that doesn't mean it has to be perfectly realistic. I have one story I wrote that involves sex in an airplane bathroom. While a very sexy scene that could be plausible, anyone who has ever tried to urinate in an airline bathroom knows it's probably not big enough for any serious action, even solo. Second, erotica like any telling involves getting your reader to buy into the fantasy world. Suspension of disbelief, the ability to not worry about whether every little detail is realistic. That's what good writing can do for you. Unless you are trying to write a how to book or convey accurate information, trying to get too realistic can lead to getting overly technical, which is another of my pet peeves. I think it hurts the fantasy.

I can't wait to read your first story Erika! I'd offer my editting skills, but I suck as an editor.

 

[TBKahuna123]

I once read where the male character's name kept changing. I think it was Will and became Bill. I actually finished it because I wanted to see who finished in the end.

I've done this! I made the mistake of starting two series of stories at the same time. At one point I got the names of the male cahracters mixed up. only a couple times in a long story, but people noticed and it was really embarassing.

 

[SweetErika]

I'm less concerend about realism than others who've posted here are, for a couple reasons. First, you're telling a story, a fantasy. While it should be plausible, that doesn't mean it has to be perfectly realistic. I have one story I wrote that involves sex in an airplane bathroom. While a very sexy scene that could be plausible, anyone who has ever tried to urinate in an airline bathroom knows it's probably not big enough for any serious action, even solo.

Second, erotica like any telling involves getting your reader to buy into the fantasy world. Suspension of disbelief, the ability to not worry about whether every little detail is realistic. That's what good writing can do for you. Unless you are trying to write a how to book or convey accurate information, trying to get too realistic can lead to getting overly technical, which is another of my pet peeves. I think it hurts the fantasy.

Welcome back, and you make excellent points, as usual!

I think the key phrase there is 'good writing.' If it's a well-written piece, the author can get away with less realism because I won't even notice those fantastic details in the context of the story. As quality goes down, however, I need more realism; they're no longer telling a tale in my mind, they're recounting events that happen to turn me on.

A great author can weave in an 8" cock, and I won't even blink, but when that detail is coupled with other problems, the author/story loses credibility, and I'll just hit the back button.

So, fantasy is wonderful IF the author can pull it off and make it seem like reality.

I can't wait to read your first story Erika! I'd offer my editting skills, but I suck as an editor.

Is it just me, or are there stages of writing erotica, just like there are stages of grief?
First, enthusiasm.
Then, confidence.
Now, I'm second-guessing, worried about using friends as guinea pigs and embarrassing the hell out of myself in the process. .
What's next?

No problem on the editing; between myself, beta readers and the editor I have in mind, it should be covered. You'll be free to sit back and cringe.

 

[silverwhisper]

on lit, the next stage is obsessing about your score. don't worry when it happens: we all go through it the first time. do yourself a favor and let us know when it goes up so you can get some comments. :>

ed

 

[midwestyankee]

on lit, the next stage is obsessing about your score. don't worry when it happens: we all go through it the first time. do yourself a favor and let us know when it goes up so you can get some comments. :>

ed

Maybe I'm an oddity, but I'm not even sure that I know how the scoring system works. I know that one of my stories has an H next to the title but that's it. As far as I'm concerned, getting it written into a shape that pleases me and my few readers is what matters.