What's your worst fear about your writtings?

[jtmalone70]

**********

 

[rikaaim]

Here are a few things I've learned:

Read. Read. Read. My husband teaches this to all of his students. And when you go into the homes of many published authors, you're almost always greeted by stacks and mountains of books, usually on a wide range of subjects. And I can tell you as a fact, our house if stuffed to the gills with hundreds and hundreds of books. The more you read, the better you come to develop your own sense of writing style. But it also serves to deepen your understanding of how to communicate through your writing.

Write. Write. Write. Which probably goes without saying. My husband has always taught what a lot of published authors have said about this: if you're not writing at least three hours a day, preferably more, then you're not taking your craft serious. Sure, you know, we sometimes lead a busy life, but you have to make a strong commitment, if you want to pull out ahead. The more you practice, the better you become. But in order to practice, you have to make time.

Edit. Edit. Edit. I can easily whip out 100 pages in a day, but then I'll spend the next week going over it with a fine-tooth comb, working out the kinks. Thoroughly editing your work is probably the most important thing you can do. And not simply working out grammatical errors, but making adjustments to the story so that it reads smoothly. As my husband tells his students, a story is like a piece of music: it must flow across the lips gracefully. I've read some stories on Literotica that are well-written, but so many more that are clunky and difficult to get through even the first paragraph. You story, like a piece of music, should have a natural rhythm. It can reach high peaks and plummet into deep valleys; trudge along at a snail's pace or whisk along at a brisk clip. This can be a truly difficult skill ot master, but then again, that's why you're always reading and writing. It's the difference between a harmonious tune and painful clamoring.

And, of course, be your own worst critic... but never sell yourself short! It just drives my husband crazy whenever he has a student present their work and say, "It's probably not very good." You might be right, but you should also be confident in your abilities. Be realistic; never think you've reached the top of your game. But it's far better to be optimistic than pessimistic.

Here is the first story I posted to Literotica about a month ago. I wrote it on a lark; a story I've always wanted to tell, but didn't know quite how to go about doing so, yet maintain some semblence of anonymity. There are a few grammatical errors; I'll readily admit that! But I've submitted a revision for publication. With five kids and a husband, sometimes I'm not as thorough in my own editing as I know I should be! Alas, we're all human in the end!

http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=173264

Your friend,

Jessica

Jessica, thank you for your advice. It is really helpful to hear it from someone who "works" in the field. The first thing I did, and am still doing, when I came to this site was post that I wanted to read everyone's writtings. I wanted to absorb all of the talent and experience here. As far as writting 3 hours a day, I'm not up to that yet. I write a little bit at a time, but I'm just really starting out. To me 12 pages in a day is good, 100 seems beyond reach at this point. My biggest problem is the editing. There are just little things that I seem to miss. I agree 100 percent that writting is like music. That's the philosophy I took when I started, being a musician already. I understand all the fine intracacies in writting, it's just applying all of them that is tough. All I have to do is practice and keep working at it. Thanks again for your post and insight. I'm sure it will help many people.

 

[rikaaim]

Thanks oggbashan That helped a lot. I think my real fear is starting. I have wanted to write for decades. Now I have the time to do and someplace to put it I'm scared. Plain and simple.
I wish I had paid more attention to those sissy courses in school. You know, the ones that had to do with English, speling, and vokabbbe - vocaa - more words, instead of
wood shop.

I feel the exact same way now. Before I never commited myself to writting. It was just a game. I could indulge my fantasy that I was a great writter and every few paragraphs that I would manage to put down on paper were pure gold. Now I come here, where real writters are, and my flaws scream at me. I never took writting seriously despite my love of it. Now that I want to take it seriously and have a place to put it, I'm scared. The only thing I can do though is not hide what I write. If I do that then I'll never have a public audience to see what I do well, and what I do bad. The good thing about this place, in the AH, is that they will always give good critical advice with love and care. Everyone here only wants to get better as writters and we strive to help each other. Sometimes the words we don't want to hear are the ones we need the most.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I think my biggest weakness is plot. Even though I hate gimmicky stories, I’d love to be the kind of writer who just spews out those perfectly crafted O Henry-type short stories, where the plot ties up neatly into an emotionally satisfying little package at the end. As it is, my writing’s more driven by description than it is by story, and I feel that as a kind of weakness.

The worst feeling, of course, is to write something you feel is really good, then put it out there and have it ignored or not understood. This is, after all, a venue where a lot of readers are looking for no more than a story about a dad, his underage daughter and a Shetland pony or something. We all labor under the limitation that a writer can’t be any better than the capability of his readers.

My biggest fear is that one day I’ll just burn out and lose the emotion that makes me want to write. Corny as it sounds, there is a little flame inside that starts to burn as I write, and if I lost that, I’d be through.

--Zoot

 

[sack]

I have no fears....

That's just me, I have no fears about my writing or anything else I do. I come from a strong Italian family where you had to shout constantly to be heard above the din and self-reliance needed to be developed rather quickly. I write very fast, all of my stories were completed in a few hours, and just do minimal editing. I want my submissions to read like they were written in a white heat, the "studied" type of story that has been analyzed to death and written over a six month period turns me off.
Yes, Jessica is correct that the story should flow well, which is why I reread each paragraph ALOUD! Because I am not a professional writer, I don't worry about my submissions being nuggets of gold. If someone, somewhere, is emotionally moved, or sexually aroused by one of my stories, then it has succeeded, never mind the dumb ratings. I also play and teach piano and do think there is a definite rhythm to a well written story.
Most of the stories on this site are reasonably good, it's the poems that concern me. You cannot simply string nonsense words together and call it a poem, even Lauren Hynde couldn't get away with that!! Many poems herein have very poor structure, numerous misspellings, grammatical problems, and say next to nothing. Writing a really good poem is much more difficult than writing a good story. EVERY word counts, even one misspelling looks glaring since there are fewer words, and "less is more".
Last, but not least, read the great literature of course, but be careful, one can easily unconsciously copy Yeat's style for example. Isn't it very exciting that Colleen Thomas, Carson, Abstruse, etc. have developed a unique style to a degree that their stories are instantly recognizable? Bravo to them!
I thank God that my spouse isn't an English professor. I want my writing to be a passion, not an obsession. There is really no reason to be insecure about anything in this world, but especially regarding writing, something which is NOT an exact science. Mandy's Letter to Santa Claus got to 4.83 in the ratings despite numerous issues with sentence structure, paragraphing, flow, etc. Why? Because it was emotionally perfect. And that is the hardest thing to do my friends, have your story ring EMOTIONALLY true. No amount of technical mumbo-jumbo and help from English Professors will bring an "academically perfect" story to life...or make it any more believable.

Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope your best story/poem yet is waiting in the wings!!

Sack

 

[sack]

I forgot to give credit.......

where credit is due, to the author of Mandy's Letters to Santa Claus....Erotica Whispers. Her "A Christmas for Carol" is another must read, never mind the mechanical problems. If all authors could tap pure emotion as skillfully as Erotica Whispers does, I would enjoy this site a lot more. Congratulations on your gift, Erotica, most authors don't get to the amazing level of your writing!

Sack

 

[wishfulthinking]

Re: I have no fears....

I have a long series, and they have all been relatively well received. I have a big fear that I will write a big doozy of a chapter, and of the resulting backlash. As silly as it sounds, I don't know how I'll react.

 

[carsonshepherd]

My biggest fear is that one day I’ll just burn out and lose the emotion that makes me want to write. Corny as it sounds, there is a little flame inside that starts to burn as I write, and if I lost that, I’d be through.

--Zoot

Due to some major life changes in my late teens I quit writing for a couple of years. Didn't have anything to say really. And then when I was about 21, and starting to know I wanted to write seriously, I got some very hurtful criticism from an ex-partner who had much more education than I have, and that caused me to quit for quite awhile.

But I realized I can't quit. I've tried, but I always come back to it. Even "breaks" are never as long as I plan. I think I'm tapped out of ideas and need some time off, and then the ideas start coming like they'll never run out.

I'm self-confident enough now not to let anyone's negativity stop me from expressing myself. I can handle criticism now, and I am so much more in touch with my own emotions. Maybe in another ten years... who knows what I'll be able to do. When that flame is there - nothing can make it go out.

 

[Seattle Zack]

Sometimes a writer can be his own worst critic. Stephen King threw one of his early manuscripts away, convinced it was complete garbage. His wife rescued it from the trash and submitted it to a publisher without his knowledge. That was Carrie, his first novel.

And Stephen King has had some modest success since then.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

Being not able to spell things properly!!!!

 

[impressive]

But I realized I can't quit. I've tried, but I always come back to it. Even "breaks" are never as long as I plan. I think I'm tapped out of ideas and need some time off, and then the ideas start coming like they'll never run out.

Ain't this the TRUTH?

I told myself that after I completed my Winter Holidays contest story that I was done -- finished -- taking a break -- 'til after New Years. Then, I wrote & submitted 6 poems and another story -- all of which have blown my previous work away in the ratings.

I should take "breaks" like that more often.

Fears? None. I know that I'll never been a professional writer -- and don't aspire to it, either -- so I write for my own pleasure. I like what sack said about the emotional truth in writing -- although I do strive for technical accuracy as well.

 

[matriarch]

Not sure if its a fear, but basically I'm a lazy cow. I really have to be kicked to get on and write.

I spend way too much time on here talking when I should and could be writing.

I have a whole file full of ideas, started, partly written, not quite finished story. I lack the urge, the impetus to just sit down and get on with it.

*sigh*

Like now.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Not sure if its a fear, but basically I'm a lazy cow. I really have to be kicked to get on and write.

I spend way too much time on here talking when I should and could be writing.

I have a whole file full of ideas, started, partly written, not quite finished story. I lack the urge, the impetus to just sit down and get on with it.

*sigh*

Like now.

Kick!

 

[matriarch]

Kick!

Generous boy. Thank you !!

 

[Guest]

Being not able to spell things properly!!!!

LOL! Very subtly done!

I've been trying to think of a way of putting that for days.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Re: Re: What's your worst fear about your writtings?

LOL! Very subtly done!

I've been trying to think of a way of putting that for days.

I wasn't gonna say it... I thought you Brits were supposed to be genteel and polite...

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: What's your worst fear about your writtings?

I wasn't gonna say it... I thought you Brits were supposed to be genteel and polite...

You got us well wrong then! Admittedly, Lew and I in particular are rather extreme examples of Brits, but we're not that different from the rest.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Re: Re: Re: Re: What's your worst fear about your writtings?

You got us well wrong then! Admittedly, Lew and I in particular are rather extreme examples of Brits, but we're not that different from the rest.

When I have to keep myself from saying something... it BURNS!

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What's your worst fear about your writtings?

When I have to keep myself from saying something... it BURNS!

I know that feeling well! That's why I usually give in to the beast.

 

[oggbashan]

Not sure if its a fear, but basically I'm a lazy cow. I really have to be kicked to get on and write.

I spend way too much time on here talking when I should and could be writing.

I have a whole file full of ideas, started, partly written, not quite finished story. I lack the urge, the impetus to just sit down and get on with it.

*sigh*

Like now.

I am too much of a gentleman to kick a lady. Besides you might repay my virtual kick with a real life one when we meet next week.

So, please, pretty please:

WRITE A STORY! NOW!

Isn't that better than a kick? You can have a hug if you have written one by the 4th January. You can decline the hug. Even if you do, I will be delighted that you have written. So will you be.

Og

 

[lewdandlicentious]

Re: Re: Re: What's your worst fear about your writtings?

I wasn't gonna say it... I thought you Brits were supposed to be genteel and polite...

Fuck off!!!!

 

[lewdandlicentious]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What's your worst fear about your writtings?

When I have to keep myself from saying something... it BURNS!

Don't then!

Just tell them to Fuck off!!!

 

[Guest]

PMSL!!!!!

 

[matriarch]

I am too much of a gentleman to kick a lady. Besides you might repay my virtual kick with a real life one when we meet next week.

So, please, pretty please:

WRITE A STORY! NOW!

Isn't that better than a kick? You can have a hug if you have written one by the 4th January. You can decline the hug. Even if you do, I will be delighted that you have written. So will you be.

Og

Ogg......have a virtual hug now for making me smile. Badly in need of one. Thank you. The real one will be waiting for you on 4th.

I will take that as a challenge........see what I can do.

 

[she_is_my_addiction]

My worst fear? That my first ever story will be so rotten it won't even get a decent glance in its direction.

I want to post a story sometime next week or so, but I'm freaked out about it. It's half done and a post-Xmas story called Merry Christmas Elita.