A place to discuss the craft of writing: tricks, philosophies, styles

[rampe]

It's a lot to read here and maybe I pick something to my own writing.

My starting point is quite different than it's for the most writers. My own language difference a lot from English. I think I can write quite understandable text in English because English speaking editors can edit them and there is usually quite a lot to edit. You can tell the same thing in so many ways. Something that works in Finnish the best propably don't work in English. There is a lot to learn and I think that I have learnt something during my 45 or something stories.

I started writing quite purely putting my fantasies on the paper that circled on my head. I also used my real life experiences and spiced them up. My first stories are quite shorter than nowadays. I don't know if it is a good or bad thing but I like to write about situations and things I like and it often makes my stories to have less readers for example but why we write? Not for the money I think so you just write what is interesting or therapeutic for you.

In the longer stories I often think how I can keep the readers interest going on? I don't want everything happen always very quickly so I could maintain some realism in the story. I think the reader likes a story if one can imagine themselves into that or relate their own life to it.

If you look just the statistics of the story you usually notice that longer stories have less votes. So not so many have read them to the point where you can give the stars. That goes with the multichapter stories also. Every new chapter has a lot less readers than the one that was before it. I don't write many chapters to my stories because of that anymore.

Then there is the thing in what category you put that story? Many readers tend to read stories from particular categories and they are expecting that they have something to read that they are used to or they don't like them. So it is quite important also to find the right category but the story description is as important when you want that the right readers find your story. When you have a lot of followers that isn't that important anymore but if you have 300 and something like me it counts. I also write to the smaller groups anyway so it is important that those people can find your stories.

The story I write so that first I have some basic idea what happens and where. What are the characters and so on. Then I start to write and during the writing I mold the things the way I think the story can flow forward nicely. When I have a point where I think the story doesn't go forward nicely I take a break from writing and usually the solution cames to my mind in some point and I can carry on. Good story never comes in a hurry.

I would like to write so much more into this but it is already quite long so I save something to the future. I hope somebody can catch what I'm thinking and would have something to say about these things I pointed out.

 

[TheLobster]

Hey @rampe . Another Finn, eh? For such a small country, there seems to be quite a lot of you here Glad to have you on board in any case.

As for your questions, most of them -- especially about story length and keeping reader's interest -- brush against the general principles of writing. There's always going to be an audience for straightforward fantasies, but if you want to elevate your craft further, there are always readers who are looking for quality stories here. You may find it satisfying to strive to improve your writing, beyond just the simple laying out of events; or you can stick to simple and clear prose that tells simple and linear narratives.

It's all up to you!

However, while I haven't read any of your stories thoroughly, since they're waaaaay outside of my wheelhouse, I skimmed a couple and noticed you tend to start by laying out everything in large expository passages. It's not exactly a crime here, given that many people look for stories suitable for, ahem, one-handed reading, but there's value in trying to capture your reader's attention with some intriguing event right off the bat (not necessarily a sex scene). A character in a story doesn't need lengthy introduction before they do anything; they can start right away, and you as the author may drop small pieces of their background along the way. Oftentimes, this makes for more compelling and effective writing, even if its ultimate purpose is primarily to titillate.

Then there is the thing in what category you put that story?

The two categories you have the most entries in -- Fetish and Transgender -- are both very diverse and welcoming. As long as you tag your stories well, which you seem to do, they will find their audience. You've got quite a few high-ranked ones, including those with the Hot badge, so you appear to be doing well enough in this regard

There's plenty of advice regarding titles and description, likely including in this very thread, so I won't repeat most of it here. When it comes to attracting readers who come here to, well, come, clear and simple titles -- incl. straight-up porn ones -- tend to work best. I like to get more creative personally, even if it means lesser engagement, but that's a balance you'll have to work out for yourself.

One last piece of advice is that if you plan on participating in the forums, add a link to your profile to your forum signature.

Most importantly, though, have fun and keep writing!

 

[rampe]

Hey @rampe . Another Finn, eh? For such a small country, there seems to be quite a lot of you here Glad to have you on board in any case.

As for your questions, most of them -- especially about story length and keeping reader's interest -- brush against the general principles of writing. There's always going to be an audience for straightforward fantasies, but if you want to elevate your craft further, there are always readers who are looking for quality stories here. You may find it satisfying to strive to improve your writing, beyond just the simple laying out of events; or you can stick to simple and clear prose that tells simple and linear narratives.

It's all up to you!

However, while I haven't read any of your stories thoroughly, since they're waaaaay outside of my wheelhouse, I skimmed a couple and noticed you tend to start by laying out everything in large expository passages. It's not exactly a crime here, given that many people look for stories suitable for, ahem, one-handed reading, but there's value in trying to capture your reader's attention with some intriguing event right off the bat (not necessarily a sex scene). A character in a story doesn't need lengthy introduction before they do anything; they can start right away, and you as the author may drop small pieces of their background along the way. Oftentimes, this makes for more compelling and effective writing, even if its ultimate purpose is primarily to titillate.


The two categories you have the most entries in -- Fetish and Transgender -- are both very diverse and welcoming. As long as you tag your stories well, which you seem to do, they will find their audience. You've got quite a few high-ranked ones, including those with the Hot badge, so you appear to be doing well enough in this regard

There's plenty of advice regarding titles and description, likely including in this very thread, so I won't repeat most of it here. When it comes to attracting readers who come here to, well, come, clear and simple titles -- incl. straight-up porn ones -- tend to work best. I like to get more creative personally, even if it means lesser engagement, but that's a balance you'll have to work out for yourself.

One last piece of advice is that if you plan on participating in the forums, add a link to your profile to your forum signature.

Most importantly, though, have fun and keep writ

Yes, another Finn. I don't know how many Finns are here. I have noticed maybe two plus myself. Maybe we just make a lot of noice?

As you noticed I tend to introduce characters and the playground before the story really starts. I know that can be boring and many readers give up because the sex doesn't start at once. That's my bad but it is my style. In like to know the start point where the all starts and grow up the tension little by little untill the end. So I have to somehow develope my writing so that it keeps the readers reading the story and wait when the fun is starting to happen.

I also like to change things so that my stories wouldn't look like the same so I might test different approach in my future story.

About the categories, I have many Transgendered stories and those are easy to put in the right section. Then there is those stories that have romantic development and people are finding each other and so on and have a hetero relationship but they can have pegging sessions. The story itself could be romance but some romance readers might not like the pegging? It could be put to Anal section like I have put some. There people are expecting that the anal used is that female character's? It could be put on the Fetish also. There readers might like that it would go more around that anal and fetish stuff than the romance which is the main part of the story.

Like you noticed I put tags quite a lot. I try to think what words I would use if I search stories. Maybe some people use those same words as me but they also might use some others. I just have to hope that some of the tags is dping the job.

Like you wrote, I have decent success with my stories generally if you are looking just the rating how many stars they have had. Quite often there isn't so many voters or hearths that I would like my stories to have. Like said, pure sex fantasy would work the best but I have tried to develope to storyteller that have readers also without instant sex.

One thing at least I have to improve, is my English. Without the excelent editors that have helped me, my stories would be a lot harder to read.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

As you noticed I tend to introduce characters and the playground before the story really starts. I know that can be boring and many readers give up because the sex doesn't start at once. That's my bad but it is my style. In like to know the start point where the all starts and grow up the tension little by little untill the end. So I have to somehow develope my writing so that it keeps the readers reading the story and wait when the fun is starting to happen.

That can be how you write it but it doesn't have to be how you publish it. Once it is written out, it can be cut/paste shuffled around to make the info come forward gradually rather than one large block at once. You can edit to mix it in between story bits, or sexy bits.

 

[rampe]

That can be how you write it but it doesn't have to be how you publish it. Once it is written out, it can be cut/paste shuffled around to make the info come forward gradually rather than one large block at once. You can edit to mix it in between story bits, or sexy bits.

Yes, I already got that from @TheLobster 's text. But like I wrote it is my style. When I am reading the others stories I like to picture the setting and the people in my mind first and then I can picture the story better in my mind. Sometimes I had it hard to read stories when I have to think "who is this person? How she connects to this story."

" Of course I could write like: "He pushed his 48 years old uncut cock into her two years older pussy that had red hair like she had also in her other end above her green eyes."

I know that I can always develope my writing and I try to make those introduction section more interesting and shorter but I think that my story will rarely start with some action. That can be some others but not mine. Of course characters that appears to the story during the story are introduced then and so on. My stories aren't that black and white but I like that the story doesn't start with the rush more like calm before it.

I understand that everyone doesn't like it but you can't serve everyone. Some kind of a compromise would be possible.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Yes, I already got that from @TheLobster 's text. But like I wrote it is my style. When I am reading the others stories I like to picture the setting and the people in my mind first and then I can picture the story better in my mind. Sometimes I had it hard to read stories when I have to think "who is this person? How she connects to this story."

" Of course I could write like: "He pushed his 48 years old uncut cock into her two years older pussy that had red hair like she had also in her other end above her green eyes."

I know that I can always develope my writing and I try to make those introduction section more interesting and shorter but I think that my story will rarely start with some action. That can be some others but not mine. Of course characters that appears to the story during the story are introduced then and so on. My stories aren't that black and white but I like that the story doesn't start with the rush more like calm before it.

I understand that everyone doesn't like it but you can't serve everyone. Some kind of a compromise would be possible.

I've got 100+ submissions. I've been refining my style the whole time, trying to improve my storytelling and readability, and I don’t think I'm anywhere near perfect (or even great). I do think I'm better than I was at the start, and I like to think I've still got the functioning grey matter to keep learning.

We'll see!!

 

[rampe]

I've got 100+ submissions. I've been refining my style the whole time, trying to improve my storytelling and readability, and I don’t think I'm anywhere near perfect (or even great). I do think I'm better than I was at the start, and I like to think I've still got the functioning grey matter to keep learning.

We'll see!!

I think you are a great writer and excellent editor. One great thing is that you still try to improve. I think it must be harder and harder when the level rises.

 

[StillStunned]

Adding @EmilyMiller's new discussion to this thread: Literotica writing lore which may not be as helpful as people think.

 

[OrionVale]

I think of writing like painting a living mural. Everything just flows out of my fingers and into the world. When I write I try to visualize everything the person or creature I'm writing might hear, see, smell, or feel. Then put that into words. The characters breathe life into themselves and become their own people. Ones I just tell the story of rather than move like puppets to my will. I try to give each character a unique little spark, that they then nurture and grow. Sometimes I don't even feel in control of my own story. I am just a vessel for it I suppose. I may have started it, but it grows outside of the boundaries I tried to set for it. Characters evolve in ways I can't predict.

 

[AG31]

The advice to vary your sentence structure is usually good, but here's a case where the exception proves the rule. Ann Cleeves begins almost all of her narrative sentences with a simple subject, then a simple verb, followed by modifying phrases. Every few paragraphs, she'll start the last sentence with an adverb.

Instead of being boring, I find this calming.

I wish I knew what makes it calming instead of boring.

Note: This is based on one chapter in one book. Maybe she doesn't always do this, but I bet she does, because she has quite a recognizable style.

 

[AG31]

As I was paying attention to Cleeves' narrative style, I couldn't help noticing her dialogue. She doesn't have a particularly good ear, but I don't mind it. Her dialogue is soothing too.

 

[AG31]

Please give your characters distinct names, especially the intermediate characters. Don't name one George and another Gordon.

 

[old_prof]

Please give your characters distinct names, especially the intermediate characters. Don't name one George and another Gordon.

This helps your proofreading as well as the readers. My original series has two Marys (which became a joke in the story itself) plus a Maria and a Marty. Killer on proofreading.

 

[StillStunned]

I tried different style with my newest story. It can be found from here:

https://www.literotica.com/s/when-it-all-went-wrong

I would like to read what you think that was the change to better or worse?

I don't really have time to read and analyse multiple stories. How about you describe what you changed about your style, and what you trying to achieve?

 

[MelissaBaby]

Please give your characters distinct names, especially the intermediate characters. Don't name one George and another Gordon.

And you might want to do yourself a favor and use the most common variant of a name. I specifically named a character Sarah with an H and spellcheck changed it to Sara every damn time. Good luck with any characters named Makayla or Brittany.

 

[StillStunned]

And you might want to do yourself a favor and use the most common variant of a name. I specifically named a character Sarah with an H and spellcheck changed it to Sara every damn time. Good luck with any characters named Makayla or Brittany.

I just completed a fantasy series with character called Xunaxa, Theayala, Arivor and Lurrock. Lots of red squiggles, and no direct way to see if you've misspelled a name.

What I do is select "Ignore all" or, if I know I'm going to use the name often, "Add to dictionary". This gets rid of all the squiggles unless I actually mistype the name.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

This thread is both awesome and simultaneously overwhelming. Like going to a buffet and trying to eat everything.

As someone who has written for 20+ years, didn't go to school for it, and never thought they'd ever publish anything or get more than one or two friends / lovers to read their stuff, I probably come at writing very differently. So I don't feel like I'm in any way shape or form ready to give advice to anyone.

One thing I wanted to mention, which I try to do very hard to do, is to write about things I know. When I read a story, and see a glaring fault, like a shell-casing left at a murder scene that helped break the case wide open, except it was from a revolver... which doesn't eject spent shell-casings, it immediately breaks my suspension of disbelief, and I struggle to keep reading.

Aside: I re-wrote this post about 4 times and kept asking myself, "Is this really going to add any value to anyone?" but clearly I went ahead and posted it anyway

Also, this is my first post, so, Hi!

 

[StillStunned]

This thread is both awesome and simultaneously overwhelming. Like going to a buffet and trying to eat everything.

As someone who has written for 20+ years, didn't go to school for it, and never thought they'd ever publish anything or get more than one or two friends / lovers to read their stuff, I probably come at writing very differently. So I don't feel like I'm in any way shape or form ready to give advice to anyone.

One thing I wanted to mention, which I try to do very hard to do, is to write about things I know. When I read a story, and see a glaring fault, like a shell-casing left at a murder scene that helped break the case wide open, except it was from a revolver... which doesn't eject spent shell-casings, it immediately breaks my suspension of disbelief, and I struggle to keep reading.

Aside: I re-wrote this post about 4 times and kept asking myself, "Is this really going to add any value to anyone?" but clearly I went ahead and posted it anyway

Also, this is my first post, so, Hi!

Welcome, and don't be shy! We're all just amateurs here, we're mostly self-taught and just figuring things out as we go along. Your thoughts are just as valid as anyone's - perhaps even more, because we've all heard everyone else's thoughts a dozen times and yours are at least fresh.

I see your point about writing what you know, but sometimes to write the story you want, you have to venture into unfamiliar territory. Of course that's when you should pay particular attention to the details, but you don't always know what you don't know, if you see what I mean.

That's probably why professional writers have editors who are familiar with the genre and know what details to double check. Here on Lit we just have to make do.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

Welcome, and don't be shy! We're all just amateurs here, we're mostly self-taught and just figuring things out as we go along. Your thoughts are just as valid as anyone's - perhaps even more, because we've all heard everyone else's thoughts a dozen times and yours are at least fresh.

I see your point about writing what you know, but sometimes to write the story you want, you have to venture into unfamiliar territory. Of course that's when you should pay particular attention to the details, but you don't always know what you don't know, if you see what I mean.

That's probably why professional writers have editors who are familiar with the genre and know what details to double check. Here on Lit we just have to make do.

Let me clarify: I think it's fine to write about stuff, and learn about it through writing, do some research etc.

But when it comes to the crux of the story, the turning point that sets up the finale, you've got to nail that. Just my $0.02.

Some fluff:
Maybe that's just me showing what it's like to be 'new to publishing'. For context, before last week, literally 1 (!) person had ever read any significant amounts of what I've written, say 10 chapters of the first series I'm publishing. And, I totaled it up, I'm over 500,000 words in stories I never thought would see the light of day. And now I'm kind of hooked, and want to see if future parts of my first series will be received as well as my first ever published story. It's reception still surprises me.

I say that to highlight that I write because I need to get the bloody ideas and scenarios out of my head, otherwise they keep looping around, and around, and won't give me any peace. And then, later, after self editing repeatedly, I smile, hell sometimes cry, even when I re-read stuff for the umpteenth time. I develop attachments to some of my characters. If I had the chance, I'd love to take them out to dinner to learn even more about them.

Maybe I'm just more obsessive, it's entirely possible. Or maybe that's how everyone is, and I just don't know it, because I typically don't talk to other people that write.

Anyway, thanks for the friendly welcome!

 

[StillStunned]

Let me clarify: I think it's fine to write about stuff, and learn about it through writing, do some research etc.

But when it comes to the crux of the story, the turning point that sets up the finale, you've got to nail that. Just my $0.02.

Some fluff:
Maybe that's just me showing what it's like to be 'new to publishing'. For context, before last week, literally 1 (!) person had ever read any significant amounts of what I've written, say 10 chapters of the first series I'm publishing. And, I totaled it up, I'm over 500,000 words in stories I never thought would see the light of day. And now I'm kind of hooked, and want to see if future parts of my first series will be received as well as my first ever published story. It's reception still surprises me.

I say that to highlight that I write because I need to get the bloody ideas and scenarios out of my head, otherwise they keep looping around, and around, and won't give me any peace. And then, later, after self editing repeatedly, I smile, hell sometimes cry, even when I re-read stuff for the umpteenth time. I develop attachments to some of my characters. If I had the chance, I'd love to take them out to dinner to learn even more about them.

Maybe I'm just more obsessive, it's entirely possible. Or maybe that's how everyone is, and I just don't know it, because I typically don't talk to other people that write.

Anyway, thanks for the friendly welcome!

It's a rush, and it's addictive. It's one of the things that makes Lit so great: one day it's just ideas bouncing around in your head, the next a thousand people have read your story! Just thinking that people around the world have lived in a world that you created, if only for a few minutes, that's just staggering.

That's probably what keeps most of us here: you can write almost anything, and there will be readers. The hardest kink to the soppiest romance to the creepiest mysteries to weird and outlandish stuff: all those ideas that are stuck inside your head will find an audience. And every time, you get that rush again.