What makes a good 750 Word Story

[EmilyMiller]

You making me want to watch Tomb Raider again.

You could read this instead:

By The Horns - a Cara Loft and Julianna Jones Adventure

 

[MelissaBaby]

What makes a good 750 story? Apocalypse!

That's becoming it's own subgenre.

The Blowjob at the End of the World

The Last Gasp

 

[M_K_Babalon]

Unfortunately, each year the project returns, the gang of 750-word haters grows. I've lost count of how many people have clicked on mine not to read them, but just to say they hate 750-word stories. I (almost always remember to) put it in the title, so they can't claim I tricked them into clicking…

This isn't specific to 750s, but it happens more often as you try to cut our unnecessary words. Don't assume the audience knows anything, and don't expect them to Google things they don't. I thought Rule 34 was a common meme. From the comments I got on Terminated, I was wrong. I wonder if it would be scoring higher if more readers had arrived already understanding the reference.

It doesn't always work, but I try to add a twist or mic drop at the end. I've found the response is better if you create a hard stop of sorts.

I got hammered for this one multiple times this year, but try not to leave plot threads open. Keep the story focused and tight. Sometimes the story needs to be open-ended, but not everybody will accept that. You'll see lower ratings and lots of FTDS comments.

Now, with all that said, I'll give you my big three.

First, don't force a story into 750 words. A good 750-word story is a story that naturally fits in 750 words.

Second, focus on the story you want to tell. A good story will leave readers wanting more. That's why we have prequels and sequels.

Third, listen to feedback. Some people will tell you to just ignore the negative comments, but that's bad advice. It gives context to the story's rating. You don't have to agree or comply, but you should learn what you can from it.

It doesn't help that since contest and challenges take presidence over other submissions, and folks will publish several of them. Not many do the challenge, but those that do, will submit one to one for practically every catagory, thus there's a flood of them.

 

[AG31]

You make fair points.

so you'll likely have a lot of readers just getting revved up by the time it ends, which would be frustrating and thus could lead to lower scores.

Aha! Interesting point! I wonder if it applies more to men that women...

Use established IP (fanfiction). People who are into it already have a mental picture so you don't have to describe the characters or setting, just drop names.

For myself, I find information about back stories, however conveyed, distracting.

 

[AG31]

750 words doesn't give you much room to show.

That's overused advice anyway.

750 words of pure show is probably about right.

 

[IWroteThis]

It doesn't help that since contest and challenges take presidence over other submissions, and folks will publish several of them. Not many do the challenge, but those that do, will submit one to one for practically every catagory, thus there's a flood of them.

And?

As you said, they cover the spectrum, so they're not choking off any particular category. They're quicker to review, so I don't see them preventing plenty of stories from getting approved. I mean, how many 750-word stories can be reviewed in the same amount of time as an 80K-word novel? Sure, it's probably less than the 100+ needed to match the word count, but I bet it's a lot more than 1.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

And?

As you said, they cover the spectrum, so they're not choking off any particular category. They're quicker to review, so I don't see them preventing plenty of stories from getting approved. I mean, how many 750-word stories can be reviewed in the same amount of time as an 80K-word novel? Sure, it's probably less than the 100+ needed to match the word count, but I bet it's a lot more than 1.

Talking about why the hate grows... the few people that write them often write several. At least two stories. That's several folks writing several stories in several catagories. It doesn't matter how quick they are to review, the point is contest and challege stories take priority, they're reviewed first, and when time comes are released first, and everything has to wait. I'm just providing insight on a possible why people hate them. It's quite possible the whole first page of any catagory could be full of them. There is a thread from two years ago where we are talking about the fact there is so many submissions. One user wrote one for practically every single catagory.

 

[RocketGrunt]

As far as disgruntlement, I think it comes more from being pushed off the reader lists than being pushed down the moderator's task list. If your story comes out on a day where more than 10 stories came out, then there's a chance it lands in the 11th slot or worse, and that means that people who load up the category don't see your story unless they remember to hit "more new stories" and load a second page. The reduction in viewership is very significant. I did a sample on the Loving Wives board a while back, and found that after being on the site for a day and a half the stories in the first ten had an average viewership that was more than four thousand views higher than the ones that landed 11+.

So like, on the 4th of February, there were 27 offerings on Erotic Couplings, which means that 17 stories were pushed behind the "more new stories" button. And 2 of the stories that came in above the fold were 750 word challenges. I could imagine someone being kind of annoyed by that.

Now, posting on Erotic Couplings is signing yourself up to get styled on in that particular way. The board averages more than 20 stories a day, which means that you are literally more likely than not to get stuck behind the "more new stories" button. But to go back to Loving Wives for a bit, where the above the fold bonus is quite noticeable and obvious, 750 word challenge stories have appeared in the first ten stories today, yesterday, the day before that, and the day before that. That's four days in a row where at least one author is probably missing out on literally thousands of views because there is a novelty contest going on.

 

[MK_Whimsy]

Now, posting on Erotic Couplings is signing yourself up to get styled on in that particular way. The board averages more than 20 stories a day, which means that you are literally more likely than not to get stuck behind the "more new stories" button. But to go back to Loving Wives for a bit, where the above the fold bonus is quite noticeable and obvious, 750 word challenge stories have appeared in the first ten stories today, yesterday, the day before that, and the day before that. That's four days in a row where at least one author is probably missing out on literally thousands of views because there is a novelty contest going on.

That's an interesting point and is making me rethink taking part in a project like this (at least too much), since I wouldn't want to be a nuisance.

 

[Actingup]

I love the format, but I'm trying to limit myself to one a year (so now a total of two!) to avoid being part of the deluge. I'd be interested in seeing data on scoring trends. My effort from last year is hovering at a score of 4.49, but this year's is 4.12. Extrapolating from two data points is meaningless obviously...

 

[PennyThompson]

I wouldn't be opposed to Lit having a Microfiction/Flashfiction category in the same way it had a Poetry category, and then raising the minimum word count of non-micro categories.

But, with love, to me people hating on 750s are just yelling off their front porch at the kids and their rap music

Lit allows stories that are 750 words long. It's the size limit that Laurel landed on 25+ years ago for whatever reason. If she had chosen 1,000 words as the minimum, today people would be complaining about the Thousand Word Challenge.

Microfiction, Flash Fiction, and short stories are a legitimate and respected genre of literature. An effectively constructed story under 1,000 words is both challenging to write and incredibly satisfying to read, at least to some people. If it's not to your taste, that's fine! Plenty of other things on Lit are.

There are writers on Lit that pump out sub-thousand-word stories multiple times a week all year round. The community can accommodate them. Getting a couple dozen writers to try the format for one month out of the year is Fine Actually

 

[Actingup]

I wouldn't be opposed to Lit having a Microfiction/Flashfiction category in the same way it had a Poetry category, and then raising the minimum word count of non-micro categories.

But, with love, to me people hating on 750s are just yelling off their front porch at the kids and their rap music

Lit allows stories that are 750 words long. It's the size limit that Laurel landed on 25+ years ago for whatever reason. If she had chosen 1,000 words as the minimum, today people would be complaining about the Thousand Word Challenge.

Microfiction, Flash Fiction, and short stories are a legitimate and respected genre of literature. An effectively constructed story under 1,000 words is both challenging to write and incredibly satisfying to read, at least to some people. If it's not to your taste, that's fine! Plenty of other things on Lit are.

There are writers on Lit that pump out multiple sub-thousand-word stories multiple times a week all year round. The community can accommodate them. Getting a couple dozen writers to try the format for one month out of the year is Fine Actually

I think a standalone category for microfiction would be a very good way to approach this. I'll sign the (750 word) petition, under my pen name of course. Happy to co-author.

 

[StillStunned]

New comment by:
Anonymous user, 12 minutes ago
"I fuckng hate this new " micro fictiomn " Category! I don' come to Literoica to read about small tits and tiney wieners! I want massive busoms and 12" inch cocks!!! I' m a real man and I wan't to read about real Men and Women!!"

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Talking about why the hate grows... the few people that write them often write several. At least two stories. That's several folks writing several stories in several catagories. It doesn't matter how quick they are to review, the point is contest and challege stories take priority, they're reviewed first, and when time comes are released first, and everything has to wait. I'm just providing insight on a possible why people hate them. It's quite possible the whole first page of any catagory could be full of them. There is a thread from two years ago where we are talking about the fact there is so many submissions. One user wrote one for practically every single catagory.

Last year when I tossed mine into the ring, I wasn't really paying attention as a reader. This year, I've already seen too many of them to be honest. The little buggers are everywhere.

The worst part is they don't even adhere to the concept. I've seen a few in the 780 range.

 

[PennyThompson]

New comment by:
Anonymous user, 12 minutes ago
"I fuckng hate this new " micro fictiomn " Category! I don' come to Literoica to read about small tits and tiney wieners! I want massive busoms and 12" inch cocks!!! I' m a real man and I wan't to read about real Men and Women!!"

"1 star, everyone in the story was of average height"

 

[KittyOfSteele]

"I don't have fans, I have customers" - Mickey Spillane.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Back on topic, I think the key is not to force too much into the story. You've got maybe 200 words for scene-setting, 200 for some action or plot, 350 for the denouement - the climax, as it were. Sub-plots and extra characters can't be spared more than a sentence.

I've entered one 750 in each challenge. My first attempt, I put in too much complexity of relationships, and should have ditched half of it, to let the sex scene have some more words, and a bit more focus on the realisation that the couple are being watched. (Denying Alex). Not that that's what the incel readers complained about...
Also, expressing orgasm in one word with Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh was cheating, tacky, and I won't do it again.

My next effort, Breathe, was a nice little snippet lacking a story, so I took the opposite approach and padded it out to 750 words. It's a scene, not a story, and readers don't like that.

Dan's New Job - decent effort, just has zero sex in it. Should have put it in Non-Erotic.

Women Watching Woman - could do with some more refinement as it reads as quite rushed, trying to squeeze a lot into the word count, but it's better.

Last year's effort, My Dom, in Boots, I think I cracked the balance, not cutting down phrases much to the word limit, but editing and refining words until every word counted.

This year's one (Sixties Shocker!) similarly has setup, then action, then showing off new outfit - result, and works, but didn't get polished as nicely.

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

I just submitted two for the new competition (including a metafiction about a woman drafting at 750-word story). My worst previous short-short is a 4.44. Most average about 4.6 and get a red “H”.

Curiously my highest rated story of all time is a collection of 100-word stories at 4.88!

My advice:

1. Simple hook to get it started.
2. No more than two characters.
3. One unexpected twist in the middle.
4. Clever final line that throws it all into perspective.

Set the machine in motion, then one incident has to follow another in an organic cascade. There’s no space for exposition. Everything has to do double duty—advancing the action as well as setting up what happens next.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I wouldn't be opposed to Lit having a Microfiction/Flashfiction category in the same way it had a Poetry category, and then raising the minimum word count of non-micro categories.

But, with love, to me people hating on 750s are just yelling off their front porch at the kids and their rap music

Lit allows stories that are 750 words long. It's the size limit that Laurel landed on 25+ years ago for whatever reason. If she had chosen 1,000 words as the minimum, today people would be complaining about the Thousand Word Challenge.

Microfiction, Flash Fiction, and short stories are a legitimate and respected genre of literature. An effectively constructed story under 1,000 words is both challenging to write and incredibly satisfying to read, at least to some people. If it's not to your taste, that's fine! Plenty of other things on Lit are.

There are writers on Lit that pump out sub-thousand-word stories multiple times a week all year round. The community can accommodate them. Getting a couple dozen writers to try the format for one month out of the year is Fine Actually

My solution is to bang out short stories whenever the mood takes me, and avoid all of this Anthology Angst. It does no harm to any of the stories, and so what if they don't get listed in the hundred or so 750 Worders that come out in February? It's not a competition: nobody wins, nobody loses, but to read the carryings on, you'd think it was the end of the world.

This is also me, not wanting to be like all of the rest .

 

[BellaBestia]

I had it drummed into my head in journalism class that a writer has to answer the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when and why) within the first 500 words. In the case of erotica, anything extra can be spent answering the H for how without getting too clinical.

 

[SimonDoom]

I can't say I have any special qualifications to answer this. Of my 64 stories, 8 are 750-word stories, and 1 more is just over that. Every single one has a rating under 4.5, while my average for longer stories is well over that.

At the same time, I've enjoyed writing them. They're fun exercises, and they don't take that long. I've had some nice comments, even if the scores haven't been good. So my recommendation is to look at these stories as fun writing exercises, focus on your writing skills, be creative, be concise, strip out all the fat, and just see what happens. Use these stories as an opportunity to experiment or test your skill in some area. The nice thing about these exercises is that they take so little time that they don't take time or effort away from your other writing. But I don't recommend focusing on them if you want to pad your stats (other than story totals).

 

[anthrodisiac]

But, with love, to me people hating on 750s are just yelling off their front porch at the kids and their rap music

Hey!

I don't have a front porch.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Also, expressing orgasm in one word with Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh was cheating, tacky, and I won't do it again.

It says a lot that my brain immediately went here:

 

[M_K_Babalon]

I can't say I have any special qualifications to answer this. Of my 64 stories, 8 are 750-word stories, and 1 more is just over that. Every single one has a rating under 4.5, while my average for longer stories is well over that.

At the same time, I've enjoyed writing them. They're fun exercises, and they don't take that long. I've had some nice comments, even if the scores haven't been good. So my recommendation is to look at these stories as fun writing exercises, focus on your writing skills, be creative, be concise, strip out all the fat, and just see what happens. Use these stories as an opportunity to experiment or test your skill in some area. The nice thing about these exercises is that they take so little time that they don't take time or effort away from your other writing. But I don't recommend focusing on them if you want to pad your stats (other than story totals).

That's the whole reason the challenge exists, it's a writing exercise for writers, it's not even for the readers.

 

[stickygirl]

750 words of sex will win you 5-stars but leave you a hollow, soulless wraith, walking the shadows of AH and rattling your adjectives at people then, wandering the forums, you will be inexorably drawn in the underworld of Politics.

We told you so