What have you learned since you started writing stories for Literotica?

[StillStunned]

That's the word: intimidating

We're just people, like you. Handsomer, cleverer, better-spoken, of course, and overall better. But still just people.

We're definitely not short, fat and bald.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

It's popular to shit on the readers around here, but this site (and all the others like it) only exists because of them.

I don't view it as denigrating the readers when we advise writers on what to expect from the readers here.

In order to appreciate the readers, you need to be aware of what their expectations are and what they aren't, and a lot of that is category dependent. Loving Wives is probably the best example of this, but similar "expectations" are evident in other categories. These expectations can influence reader understanding and tolerance for a story that might be viewed differently elsewhere.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I don't usually advise people to write how they write. I usually (well, always) advise them to write how they'd read. You're your own first fan; if you write something you'd enjoy curling up with and getting immersed in, others will too.

You'll get back to it. We always do. Most of us struggle at times with completing stories or bringing our ideas to life in the first place. It'll pass.

That place where your written voice and your spoken vote comfortably match is what I consider your natural authorial voice. It's what you sound like when you are having a comfortable conversation with family or friends. I think it is important that a new writer finds that voice early on.

It sounds easy, doesn't it? Just write the story down like you were telling it to your sister or your best friend. But it's not so easy, because you will likely run into what is probably the biggest impediment that new writers face, self consciousness. You write a sentence, a paragraph, a page, and you think, that sounds phony or pretentious, or shallow or mundane. Too fancy? Too pedestrian? Too much me? Not enough me?

If I knew a clever trick to get you past that hurdle, I'd tell it to you, but I don't think there is one. The only way past it is through it. It's your moment of truth, are you going to write or not? Press on, one word at a time if need be, or as Anne Lamont had it, bird by bird. The more you write, the more your true author's voice will emerge.

It's like a singer finding their natural range. Once you are comfortable in it, you've established a base on which you can build anything your imagination conjures.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Write the story (with @SimonDoom's permission)!

I'll put it in my queue. Expect it about 2032.

 

[MelissaBaby]

We're just people, like you. Handsomer, cleverer, better-spoken, of course, and overall better. But still just people.

We're definitely not short, fat and bald.

Maybe two out of three?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I don't view it as denigrating the readers when we advise writers on what to expect from the readers here.

In order to appreciate the readers, you need to be aware of what their expectations are and what they aren't, and a lot of that is category dependent. Loving Wives is probably the best example of this, but similar "expectations" are evident in other categories. These expectations can influence reader understanding and tolerance for a story that might be viewed differently elsewhere.

That's not the behavior from the writers I'm referring to.
In fact, I think knowing those things is an important part of writing. You should understand audience expectations.

 

[lovecraft68]

That's not the behavior from the writers I'm referring to.
In fact, I think knowing those things is an important part of writing. You should understand audience expectations.

Hmmm....or on a site like this where no money is involved, but the readership is vast and varied, you write your story your way and the right readers find you.

You mold your base, not the other way around. Issue with that is you might not hit that right away and need to be able to handle some underwhelming numbers and maybe some crappy comments before it all comes together

 

[Wolfblackthorne]

I have learned that writing still feels daunting tome even though Literotica is the only place I have ever published a story.

I am aware there are still a lot of things to learn and master before I can reach my goal of writing a book. I have also learned it is wise to have help in the editing department. I make so many mistakes still.

I am unsure about audience expectations in some categories, but I have learned I need to try to make a cohesive storyline as best as possible so more people enjoy my writing.

 

[Erozetta]

Hmmm....or on a site like this where no money is involved, but the readership is vast and varied, you write your story your way and the right readers find you.

You mold your base, not the other way around. Issue with that is you might not hit that right away and need to be able to handle some underwhelming numbers and maybe some crappy comments before it all comes together

I have one very loyal reader that I keep disappointing, yet he keeps coming back to tell me he's mad at me for writing stuff he hates that he feels compelled to read because of how I wrote it. (And ends up enjoying it even though he doesn't want to.)

I keep apologizing...

I should write something fluffy for him.

 

[SkyBubble]

Too many assholes obsessed with makin' babies.

Well, we're not reproducing at replacement rate.

 

[UncleJunior]

The rush of chasing numbers is fun, but the stuff that challenges you is what sticks.

 

[BellaBestia]

I have one very loyal reader that I keep disappointing, yet he keeps coming back to tell me he's mad at me for writing stuff he hates that he feels compelled to read because of how I wrote it. (And ends up enjoying it even though he doesn't want to.)

I keep apologizing...

I should write something fluffy for him.

lol denial ain’t just a river in Egypt

 

[SkyBubble]

For instance, before posting here, I wasn't aware of my tendency to write very long sentences

FWIW, the opening of the Declaration of Independence is one very long sentence. And Jefferson was considered the best writer in the Continental Congress.

 

[SkyBubble]

I've learned that I'm not a writer at all.
I'm just a reader who penned a few stories to see if I could do it. I have no literary knowledge, and no real desire to dive off into the technical aspects or analytics of writing. I got a little taste of acceptance with my eight submissions, and thought briefly about pursuing it more, but after finding AH and hanging around for six months, I've realized that I'm not a writer. I have no feeling of dedication to the craft, like most of the people here. Anything decent in my writing was strictly by accident while I was just trying to tell an interesting story, using my own imagination and wit. I'm a simple pantster, and wrote all of my stories straight into the lit writing tool, using the "save draft" function until I was finished. It was fun, until it wasn't. I'm okay with just being a reader.

If you have more stories to tell, please do.

 

[SkyBubble]

I've never found dialogue hard to write. Maybe we should have a thread it, so we can all learn from each other.

Neither have I.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

I have one very loyal reader that I keep disappointing, yet he keeps coming back to tell me he's mad at me for writing stuff he hates that he feels compelled to read because of how I wrote it. (And ends up enjoying it even though he doesn't want to.)

I keep apologizing...

I should write something fluffy for him.

I mean, do you want to?

I write for me, then I post what I think someone else may also enjoy.

 

[Erozetta]

I mean, do you want to?

I write for me, then I post what I think someone else may also enjoy.

Sometimes.

I am capable of it, lol. And I do enjoy writing fluff from time to time. But, mostly, no, my draw is in writing really fucked up people.

 

[SkyBubble]

Me exactly. I penned all of my stores before I ever found AH. Like you, after being here and observing some writing discussions, I went back to my stories and tried to see what I had done right and wrong.
As a consequence, I found myself over thinking everything I was trying to write, afterwards, which made it less fun and not really just plain old me, the way I would tell the story. My stories have been well received, but I can't find the same mindset I had before I started learning about the technicalities of writing.

You're a writer; you have published stories. Tell it the way you tell it. Maybe you can learn a few things from the forum; even good writers do. But don't let it crimp your style. What readers want and the site wants is your unique voic.

 

[SkyBubble]

Another thing I learned:

I'm not the only professional procrastinator here.

I never procrastinate.

I haven't gotten around to that yet.

 

[SkyBubble]

Damn it, now he knows!!!!

Better stock up!

 

[SkyBubble]

it just starts feeling overwhelming and eventually you start doubting and questioning yourself as to why your ( ie me) don't look at things that way, or even can't.

We all go through that, from the most amateur writer to the professional. And we all go through Empty Screen Syndrome.

Here's a writer's trick many have employed successfully. If you've hit a block or it's feeling like a slog, put it aside. Go write something else, something totally unrelated. ("And now for something completely different.") When you hit a block on that, pull out the work you were stuck on. Read through it. See if anything comes. Writing a wide range of things helps keep your writer's mind flexible and gives you a different perspective when you get back to a project.

 

[SkyBubble]

It sounds easy, doesn't it?

Not easy. Simple, but not easy.

 

[SimonDoom]

(I've gotten two death threats and one where someone said they were going to find me, rape me and pour acid in my cunt because they thought I was a woman) did give me a 'wow' type of moment.

This would be a very interesting topic for discussion, probably for a separate thread: what is the experience of male authors who have written under female pseudonyms? I haven't done this, but I'll bet it's eye opening.

 

[Erozetta]

This would be a very interesting topic for discussion, probably for a separate thread: what is the experience of male authors who have written under female pseudonyms? I haven't done this, but I'll bet it's eye opening.

I'm now up to four death threats due to my writing.

Two were on Reddit, and two were from here.

The two on Reddit were on a story that was ultimately a tragic romance. The readers did not like the "tragic" part. I left Reddit shortly after that, lol.

The two from here were mild in comparison.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm now up to four death threats due to my writing.

Two were on Reddit, and two were from here.

The two on Reddit were on a story that was ultimately a tragic romance. The readers did not like the "tragic" part. I left Reddit shortly after that, lol.

The two from here were mild in comparison.

I'm sorry to hear about that.

It would be interesting to do a thorough, systematic study of the different experience of male versus female erotic authors. I've never remotely encountered the things some of the women authors talk about here. I've had goofy negative feedback, but that's about it.