Reminder about what AH should be about

[MillieDynamite]

What?

So you never get into a back and forth where you progressively refine your understandings of what each of you intend? And then, when you've discovered the nub of difference, you can agree to disagree? Like.... conversation?

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Aren’t you offering unsolicited advice here?

Nope. Nice try though.

My opinion was solicited by prior comments.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Nope. Nice try though.

My opinion was solicited by prior comments.

 

[Rob_Royale]

So you never get into a back and forth where you progressively refine your understandings of what each of you intend? And then, when you've discovered the nub of difference, you can agree to disagree? Like.... conversation?

A fair point and were you and I having private chat, most definitely a conversation. But public forum posts with different POVs rarely go that way.

 

[TheLobster]

A fair point and were you and I having private chat, most definitely a conversation. But public forum posts with different POVs rarely go that way.

Indeed. In a public forum, whether you like it or not, you’re not really speaking your arguments to the other person. You are speaking them to the audience who already agrees with you, to both increase your social standing within that group and to rally them to support you in your current spat.

The only way in which such conversation can be productive is when neither your nor your interlocutor’s audiences offer said support — and at that point, it’s basically just private chat which happens to take place in public.

 

[nice90sguy]

Well I certainly find more than one or two a week that are fun to participate in.

...and to your credit, the threads you start are often about sex and sexuality, kind of what I meant by "tangentially related to erotic writing".

I have a real social life (mainly centered around my local pub, where Ive just been crowned "customer of the year"), and my close family members. I'm pretty lucky I guess to live in a liberal city and have friends and loved ones from different age groups and with diverse sexuality and relationship status.

But there was a time when my social life extended to the AH, where people here would shoot the shit, talk about their lives (without treating this place as a confessional, psychiatrists couch or a platform to seek validation) and generally contribute opinions, emotions and observations that made other people smile, think or even grimace.

There are a lot of newbies to writing who value this forum for the often excellent writing advice we give, from experienced people who know the mechanics, quirks and rules of this site.

I'm certainly not saying that threads like that are a problem -- but in my opinion the "socialize" part of this forum is too often neglected:

"A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing." [emphasis mine]

 

[StillStunned]

I'm certainly not saying that threads like that are a problem -- but in my opinion the "socialize" part of this forum is too often neglected:

"A place for writers and readers to socialize and discuss the craft of writing." [emphasis mine]

Personally, I'd prefer more discussions about actual writing - examples and counterexamples of word choice, rhythm, sounds, imagery, what we try to achieve and what the actual effect is. Preferences for styles and when to use them, how they impact the story and reader engagement. Foreshadowing, themes, structural repetitions, plotting, all that kind of stuff.

It seems weird that the one topic that recurs again and again is 2P POV.

 

[ElectricBlue]

It seems weird that the one topic that recurs again and again is 2P POV.

Only because you keep bringing it up. The rest of us know it's bloody awful .

 

[TheLobster]

It seems weird that the one topic that recurs again and again is 2P POV.

NO! Bad kitty! Bad!

 

[nice90sguy]

Second Person is the most abused point of view. It can be done well. Really. I like to think I proved it, but that's pure arrogance on my part. Unfortunately, it's one of those POVs that's next to impossible to do well and usually only works under certain conditions. My Second Person story essentially "feels" like one is reading a letter written to someone else.

Almost all of the Second Person stories on the site are the author speaking directly to the reader. This is a total no-no in my book. I don't know anyone with the sheer talent to write a story like that without instantly alienating 95% of their audience. I tell everyone "don't do it." Personally, I believe that Laurel should remove and reject any second person story written in this vein simply because these stories are terrible. The writing didn't do it, just a poor choice of perspective. That's just me, there are some people who claim to adore these stories.

That was posted on a thread I started abhout POV in 2002 (not quite pre-Ogg, but close) The poster was a really good author here BTW.

Only because you keep bringing it up. The rest of us know it's bloody awful .

and a very old topic.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Speaking of writing, the discussion of writing, the art of writing, for me, the first step is a solo affair. However, from the first draft forward, it becomes a group effort. The editor goes through, sends back suggestions and or corrections. I do my second draft, send it forward, and get a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Regardless, once it's ready, the cover artist and I talk about what I want. Eventually, between the three of us, the summary is written, the search tags are decided on, and finally, the editor/publisher posts at Amazon and ZBookStore. Then those who purchase it join the gang. Or they don't I cry my eyes out over no sales.

 

[AG31]

A fair point and were you and I having private chat, most definitely a conversation. But public forum posts with different POVs rarely go that way.

Thanks for getting back to me and clarifying.

 

[AG31]

Indeed. In a public forum, whether you like it or not, you’re not really speaking your arguments to the other person. You are speaking them to the audience who already agrees with you, to both increase your social standing within that group and to rally them to support you in your current spat.

Baloney, I say! Just baloney!

 

[IWroteThis]

Indeed. In a public forum, whether you like it or not, you’re not really speaking your arguments to the other person. You are speaking them to the audience who already agrees with you, to both increase your social standing within that group and to rally them to support you in your current spat.

That makes no sense. If two people are having an argument rather than a misunderstanding, by definition they have different viewpoints. Therefore, the audience can't already agree with both of them.

Now, if you meant the part of the audience who agrees with one of them, I still disagree with you. When I argue a point, I'm not preaching to the choir. There's no need. I'm putting my argument in front of those who need to see it, which is those who are undecided or disagree with me.

That said, I do agree that I rarely argue with the intent of convincing the person I'm directly arguing with. It's the same as a teacher using a blackboard (for us old folks), a whiteboard (for the middle age group), or a smartboard. They're not trying to educate the board, just the bored students trapped in the classroom.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Everyone is free to post and respond as they wish but personally I'd like to see more posts and responses actually discussing writing and the related topic of submitting works to Literotica

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