Writing a story with yourself as a character

[creativeboyinspring]

Hello all!

I thought I would share to see if this has happened to any other authors. I've written lots of stories on Lit. Most are not realistic with characters/things that happen. (The Devil, traveling rapist women, evil welcoming committees, one student taking over his school, even a tree that strips people and etc).

For the Valentine's contest I wrote a realistic story where the character is based on myself. Well...this story was the first story that I got comments and mail saying how unbelievable it was. People said they couldn't get into it because of how unbelievable the main character was. A part of this is because I set it at a dive bar and the character is immunocompromised, (which I am thanks to cancer a long time ago). I can't go to overly crowded places where there may be sick people but I can and do go to a neighborhood bar once in a while that has maybe six or seven people in it and none are sitting next to me.

People also said how the character's thoughts and things he was not remembering were not believable, which again confuses me as they are. They are my own experiences as well as thoughts. I could understand if I wrote I was kidnapped by aliens or if I had sex with my entire college class, but it was nothing like that. These are clear thoughts/emotions I've had multiple times or memories from my past.

I am assuming people felt this way because the story made people too uncomfortable or hit too close to home? Otherwise I don't get the response. Not gonna lie, it hurt as that was the first time I made a main close to how I am and people said they didn't believe it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[ElectricBlue]

People also said how the character's thoughts and things he was not remembering were not believable, which again confuses me as they are. They are my own experiences as well as thoughts. I could understand if I wrote I was kidnapped by aliens or if I had sex with my entire college class, but it was nothing like that. These are clear thoughts/emotions I've had multiple times or memories from my past.

I am assuming people felt this way because the story made people too uncomfortable or hit too close to home? Otherwise I don't get the response. Not gonna lie, it hurt as that was the first time I made a main close to how I am and people said they didn't believe it.

It's often the way. Readers can't tell the difference between truth and fiction.

They don't believe it's true when it is, and they're convinced what is complete fiction is true. There's not much you can do about that.

I suspect you're right, with the sentence I've put in italics.

 

[creativeboyinspring]

Thank you. Think I needed to hear someone else have the same opinion. I guess it is easier to believe fiction over truth, especially in an erotic sense.

 

[Nynah]

I read the story you referenced and I found it beautifully tragic. The main character is quite relatable and sympathetic in an uncomfortable way; I don't mean that in a negative sense. It's more that the story touches on themes and topics that, by their very nature, don't sit easy with most folks.

I believe some of your readers found it unrelatable because this is an erotic fiction site, after all. I would guess that most people who frequent Lit are looking for stories where the main character is wish fulfillment in whatever way is suitable for a sexual narrative. Your story's main character wasn't that, they didn't get the happy ending that is the usual endpoint for most works here.

As someone with immunocompromised loved ones, your story definitely resonated with me on a level that I suspect not too many other people on this site share. It made me sad, but I don't regret reading it at all.

 

[creativeboyinspring]

I read the story you referenced and I found it beautifully tragic. The main character is quite relatable and sympathetic in an uncomfortable way; I don't mean that in a negative sense. It's more that the story touches on themes and topics that, by their very nature, don't sit easy with most folks.

I believe some of your readers found it unrelatable because this is an erotic fiction site, after all. I would guess that most people who frequent Lit are looking for stories where the main character is wish fulfillment in whatever way is suitable for a sexual narrative. Your story's main character wasn't that, they didn't get the happy ending that is the usual endpoint for most works here.

As someone with immunocompromised loved ones, your story definitely resonated with me on a level that I suspect not too many other people on this site share. It made me sad, but I don't regret reading it at all.

Nynah, that is an interesting point. The majority of people that read the romance stories on Lit are probably looking for an erotic equivalent of to a rom-com, so when they see my story it isn't what they want (even if there are erotic sections). Tho I would assume they would think "this story sucks" or "this story isn't for me," rather than believe the main character is not believable. Then again, if they already dislike the story for the content, they could look for any and all reasons why they dislike it rather those reasons be shared by most other readers or not.

And thank you very much for your kind words. You flatter me with your praise. I know my version of romance is different than most these days.

 

[Durken82]

I wrote a realistic story where the character is based on myself. Well...this story was the first story that I got comments and mail saying how unbelievable it was.

Kind of ironic, huh?

 

[Just_Jeremy]

I feel a little of yourself creeps into every story you write (I know, it sounds contrite.), but what I try to do is, if I feel the need to self-insert somewhere, I make myself a background character, someone who just pops into the story in some small, maybe inconsequential capacity, but not as main plot driver. That way I can 'contribute' without being obvious about it.

 

[WordsIntheWyld]

I toyed with the idea of writing about myself, but then I realized it would be less of a story and more of a verbal minefield where every personal detail felt like an open invitation for unwanted opinions. And let’s be honest—if anyone dared to critique it, I wouldn’t gracefully accept feedback; I’d shed my thick skin like a molting lizard and launch into full defensive mode, armed with sarcasm and a well-placed side-eye.

 

[ICantLeafYou]

Some of my stories are fantasies of mine written in the first person, the "I" in those is myself.

 

[Zippy100]

I have written several stories based on my own sexual high jinks. My 75 year old mother also features. She isn't glamorous and good looking. Quite the opposite. She's 5'5". Very chubby, huge saggy titties, massive nipples, really hairy pussy. Not very attractive. But these are facts

 

[WordsIntheWyld]

I have a friend, let’s call him Rick, who introduced me to Literotica.com under the pretense of "creative expression." He just wanted me to chronicle my pre-marriage escapades so he could live vicariously through my wild dating life. He was obsessed with the stories, treating my past like a soap opera he never wanted to end. To this day, the man has zero chills; he’ll casually bring up exes or random flings right in front of my wife as if he’s trying to get a rise out of her for sport. And with my wife's legendary Irish temper? Yeah, it's not exactly a wise move. If I ever feel like blowing up my marriage for no reason at all, maybe I’ll indulge him with a new story. Until then, Rick can keep dreaming.

 

[Bloodandglitter]

I like to think that my main female character is my alter ego. She looks nothing like me but I just wish I was like her-lookwise and personality wise. Plus she gets to take part in a steamy foursome quite frequently (in chapters to come!)

 

[kinkbunny]

I thought it would be fun to dress up and try and act out a story using toys or something sometime.

 

[Ssbbw4u1974]

I write about BBW/SSBBW in some of my stories..i like to think it's me