I wrote the wrong story

[ShelbyDawn57]

It wisheds it'd been a girlie, just like its my dear papa.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I felt like that was implied in this setting. Don't want to spell out the obvious.

But I'm trying so hard to be obvious...

 

[Britva415]

It is a publishable story

Do you want to, though?

What would make you want to publish it?

Just, the "flex" of increasing your story count? The opportunity to appear on the New Stories lists and earn yourself some visibility? Something more?

I'm not belittling those goals, just trying to see if the motivation to publish it comes from the story content or from more of reasons to desire "volume." It's a legit desire.

Anyway, if it were me, and if I decided to write two "versions," I would not make them appear to be "versions" of the same story, I would change the names and the setting and have them really be two unrelated stories. Do they have to be lumberjacks? What about pumpjacks or longshoremen or miners or something? And which story gets to "keep" the lumberjacks and which story gets changed to some other guys?

In fact, I might go ahead and do this to the reluctant version of the story anyway, in order to maximize the motivation to follow through with writing the original one.

 

[iwatchus]

What would make you want to publish it?

Someone I want the adrenalin rush of watching a story, especially after last week, when all three stories went off like rockets, each in their own way. And that was after not publishing anything in two months, so it was sorely needed (by me).

And if I submit it in R/NC, I check off a category I will never intentionally write for. It's how I ended up with one in LW.

 

[Britva415]

Someone I want the adrenalin rush of watching a story, especially after last week, when all three stories went off like rockets, each in their own way. And that was after not publishing anything in two months, so it was sorely needed (by me).

And if I submit it in R/NC, I check off a category I will never intentionally write for. It's how I ended up with one in LW.

Relatable

 

[Writer61]

All depends on whether the 'Lumberjack Song' is included or not.

Every time I have visited Canada, this song has been playing in my head.

In South Africa, I hear 'Biko', which has an entirely different vibe.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I'm frustrated with my active WIP and not sure what to do with it.

I had sat down to write a light, but silly sex romp story with specific elements in it. It was supposed to be exhibitionism, group sex and a dash of reluctance all around a lone female in a room of lumberjacks.

What's coming out of my fingers is a lone woman in a roomful of lumberjacks, but it has become heavy and the reluctance has become the dominant theme of the story.

I have not finished the story yet, but I'm not sure what I want to do with it. Finished, I think it will be a passable story, no more. Not one of my better efforts. I still want to write the story that was in my head originally. Should I publish this and then publish a different version of the same scenario in a month or two. This one would probably go in R/NC, which is a new category for me. The story in my head belongs in E&V (or possibly GS). Would it be too weird to write two version of the same scenario. Both would be from her perspective.

I'm torn on this one. Suggestions?

I've had this happen a few times and I've gone on to write both stories. They Used to Call Me Mouse and The Pulitzer are probably the best example.
I started Pulitzer first and it wasn't going where I wanted, so I finished it as Mouse and then went back to finish Pulitzer later.
Two very different stories emanating from the same kernel. I'd suggest you keep going with the R/NC version and then revisit the more consensual version and let it take you where it wants to go.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Someone I want the adrenalin rush of watching a story, especially after last week, when all three stories went off like rockets, each in their own way. And that was after not publishing anything in two months, so it was sorely needed (by me).

And if I submit it in R/NC, I check off a category I will never intentionally write for. It's how I ended up with one in LW.

How'd that work out. I have on in process that started as EV, and is very quickly becoming a serious BTB, and I don't know if I want to finish it. So far, i think I've managed to stay off the radar of the LW bunch and I don't know if I want to sticky my head up in that room.

 

[TheLobster]

It's how I ended up with one in LW

That's the kind of unforeseen circumstances that, when retold, deserve a pause, and a record scratch, and a "Yup, it's me. You might be wondering how I got into this situation..."

 

[dirk2024]

Let me rephrase my question. Should I throw this one away? It is a publishable story, or would be if finished.

(It is definitely Reluctance not Non Con, which I would never touch.)

And @yowser has a point. I might not write the story I had envisioned. It may not make enough sense for me to write it.

I guess I will follow @Jackie.Hikaru 's advice and set it aside and see what I feel like in a few weeks.

I'm curious. Say you set this one down and went back to your original concept; EV. You complete that story, you're satisfied with the product, so you publish it and receives some good marks/comments.

Would you pick up the reluctant version again?

 

[Rob_Royale]

From experience, my advice is to double back to that fork in your creative road and get back on track.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I'm frustrated with my active WIP and not sure what to do with it.

I had sat down to write a light, but silly sex romp story with specific elements in it. It was supposed to be exhibitionism, group sex and a dash of reluctance all around a lone female in a room of lumberjacks.

What's coming out of my fingers is a lone woman in a roomful of lumberjacks, but it has become heavy and the reluctance has become the dominant theme of the story.

I have not finished the story yet, but I'm not sure what I want to do with it. Finished, I think it will be a passable story, no more. Not one of my better efforts. I still want to write the story that was in my head originally. Should I publish this and then publish a different version of the same scenario in a month or two. This one would probably go in R/NC, which is a new category for me. The story in my head belongs in E&V (or possibly GS). Would it be too weird to write two version of the same scenario. Both would be from her perspective.

I'm torn on this one. Suggestions?

So, your first mistake was starting a story with a plan.
That never ends well.

 

[TheLobster]

So, your first mistake was starting a story with a plan.
That never ends well.

Indeed.

@iwatchus , feel free to take one of these:

 

[Milo_Grigsby]

I have had stories and characters do that, just go scampering off in a direction I never envisioned or intended. This is especially true when I get into a flow state writing dialogue (my favorite thing to write). Characters say things that surprise me or divert the story and I just lean into it. And yes, I know that is some part of me talking through the character, which may be the point. This is heavily influenced by my mood. If I am upset, angry or worried about something, that comes out. If I am happy, silly or playful, that comes out too. I have learned to recognize that and, if i am not happy with what is going on, I come back to the story when I am more in the originally intended "mood".

 

[Writer61]

So, your first mistake was starting a story with a plan.
That never ends well.

No plan survives contact with the enemy
Graf Helmut von Moltke (the elder)

 

[Z_TheWriter]

I have had stories and characters do that, just go scampering off in a direction I never envisioned or intended. This is especially true when I get into a flow state writing dialogue (my favorite thing to write). Characters say things that surprise me or divert the story and I just lean into it. And yes, I know that is some part of me talking through the character, which may be the point. This is heavily influenced by my mood. If I am upset, angry or worried about something, that comes out. If I am happy, silly or playful, that comes out too. I have learned to recognize that and, if i am not happy with what is going on, I come back to the story when I am more in the originally intended "mood".

The story I'm working on right now kinda started to have its own opinions. I wouldn't say the original plan isn't mostly still in there, but several minor background characters suddenly turned out to be much, much more important, and other characters suddenly had feelings that were not part of the plan at all.

I'm not sure if the story is better or worse for it, but it's more fun for me to write.

 

[MrHereWriting]

I'm frustrated with my active WIP and not sure what to do with it.

I had sat down to write a light, but silly sex romp story with specific elements in it. It was supposed to be exhibitionism, group sex and a dash of reluctance all around a lone female in a room of lumberjacks.

What's coming out of my fingers is a lone woman in a roomful of lumberjacks, but it has become heavy and the reluctance has become the dominant theme of the story.

I have not finished the story yet, but I'm not sure what I want to do with it. Finished, I think it will be a passable story, no more. Not one of my better efforts. I still want to write the story that was in my head originally. Should I publish this and then publish a different version of the same scenario in a month or two. This one would probably go in R/NC, which is a new category for me. The story in my head belongs in E&V (or possibly GS). Would it be too weird to write two version of the same scenario. Both would be from her perspective.

I'm torn on this one. Suggestions?

Toss it, start over, and this time have the discipline to write the story you intended to write.

 

[iwatchus]

I'm curious. Say you set this one down and went back to your original concept; EV. You complete that story, you're satisfied with the product, so you publish it and receives some good marks/comments.

Would you pick up the reluctant version again?

Good question.

 

[YmaOHyd]

No plan survives contact with the enemy
Graf Helmut von Moltke (the elder)

And yet,

Writing a book is not unlike building a house or planning a battle or painting a picture. The technique is different, the materials are different, but the principle is the same. The foundations have to be laid, the data assembled, and the premises must bear the weight of their conclusions. . .
The whole when finished is only the successful presentation of a theme. In battles however the other fellow interferes all the time and keeps up-setting things, and the best generals are those who arrive at the results of planning without being tied to plans.

Winston Churchill. Or, shorter, Eisenhower's "plans are worthless, but planning is essential."

 

[iwatchus]

How'd that work out. I have on in process that started as EV, and is very quickly becoming a serious BTB, and I don't know if I want to finish it. So far, i think I've managed to stay off the radar of the LW bunch and I don't know if I want to sticky my head up in that room.

My LW story is my lowest rated story, but it's LW, I should suspect that.

It was an interesting experience.

 

[iwatchus]

So, your first mistake was starting a story with a plan.
That never ends well.

I would describe me at most as a planter. I didn't so move have a plan as a rough image of what the story would be like. I made a run of fully pantsing it in my original series. I was finally talked into needing to reach conclusion, so I planned out an ending. I struggled with that for a few stories before I found a rhythm that worked for me.

My best stories right now follow this rough image with no planning approach, but I can't always push them through without planning. Of course, I'm writing mostly novels now, so this one was supposed to be a quick diversion between chapters. It hasn't worked out that way.

 

[Britva415]

In South Africa, I hear 'Biko', which has an entirely different vibe.

Interesting. Even now? >30 years post apartheid?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I would describe me at most as a planter. I didn't so move have a plan as a rough image of what the story would be like. I made a run of fully pantsing it in my original series. I was finally talked into needing to reach conclusion, so I planned out an ending. I struggled with that for a few stories before I found a rhythm that worked for me.

My best stories right now follow this rough image with no planning approach, but I can't always push them through without planning. Of course, I'm writing mostly novels now, so this one was supposed to be a quick diversion between chapters. It hasn't worked out that way.

I tend to start with an idea for a character, then it goes from there.

 

[iwatchus]

I tend to start with an idea for a character, then it goes from there.

That's my general approach as well. For this story, I gave her too much reluctance to the event it was building to, so that reluctance took over the story.

For my Winter contest, I apparently made my FMC too bitchy, or so my comments tell me regularly. As did my beta readers to be fair. But that was the character that was in my head, so she stayed what she was.

 

[Writer61]

Interesting. Even now? >30 years post apartheid?

It was a while ago, during apartheid, I was 18ish. A few years later, my parents wanted to go again, but I said 'no'.

What tipped me over the edge was looking for a toilet at a camp in the Kruger National Park. I was halfway there when I realised that it wasn't a place that I was supposed to go.