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How Long To Write A Story?
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How long does it take you to write a story?
Flutterby Pharie
Well considering I still have an unfinished story from Christmas, and an unfinished story from the current comp....ah....what does that tell you? lol
♥ Listen, touch, and look around in the air and on the ground. If you watch all nature's things, you might just see a fairy's wings. ♥
Moderator
At least a month, usually more. I write, then rewrite. Check for errors and add little bits here and there.
I can't let it go until I feel it's completely done.
I wish I could write quicker, but it just doesn't happen!
I can't let it go until I feel it's completely done.
I wish I could write quicker, but it just doesn't happen!
Active Ink Slinger
I voted for a day, but it depends entirely on the story. Some of them arrive fully formed in my head and need only Hephaestus to crack open my skull for them to leap forth complete onto the screen. Others are a mere whisper of an idea that I have to keep editing as the voice gains strength and confidence.
Active Ink Slinger
Can't really vote in the pole it varies so much. I can whip out the poems pretty quick but the stories are a whole other animal. Some in a day some a whole month or more as the inspiration hits me.
Bunny12
Bunny Rabbits cute and fuzzy they want to love you but they have razor sharp teeth - don't piss them off!
Bunny Rabbits cute and fuzzy they want to love you but they have razor sharp teeth - don't piss them off!
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Hey Roc...funny you asked this, because I just did an interview for another site last week and they asked the same thing and I was discussing it with another author earlier...
Here is what I wrote for the interview...
> Q. How long does it take for you to write a story? Could
> you talk us through the process?
I usually work the story out in my head before I start...otherwise, I would sit in front of the computer and stare at a blank screen. Still, it takes me about an hour per page in Word to write a story. That includes coffee and cigarette breaks, though. I think my process is different from most writers. I don't write "rough drafts" and then go back through them. I sit there and get it right the first time. In fact, once I type the last word and put the date, I post the story on another site. I don't even read the story until after it posts, and then only to correct any errors I might have missed...the site I post on first allows a 24 hour edit period.
That's the story behind my stories...so, in other words...the longer ones tend to be an all night process...
Later,
Alan.
Here is what I wrote for the interview...
> Q. How long does it take for you to write a story? Could
> you talk us through the process?
I usually work the story out in my head before I start...otherwise, I would sit in front of the computer and stare at a blank screen. Still, it takes me about an hour per page in Word to write a story. That includes coffee and cigarette breaks, though. I think my process is different from most writers. I don't write "rough drafts" and then go back through them. I sit there and get it right the first time. In fact, once I type the last word and put the date, I post the story on another site. I don't even read the story until after it posts, and then only to correct any errors I might have missed...the site I post on first allows a 24 hour edit period.
That's the story behind my stories...so, in other words...the longer ones tend to be an all night process...
Later,
Alan.
You know you want it, you know you need it bad...get it now on Amazon.com...
Lush Erotica, an Anthology of Award Winning Sex Stories
I usually draw in felt/ink something (like the title - or doodle with the inspiration) ... my brain starts to want to tell the story ...
Then when I sit down at the computer, within 2-3 hours the story is written and a further hour or so to re-read, take a break, make tea, look at it objectively, re-edit and do final read through.
If my story took longer than that to write, I would wonder if I am squeezing the sensual aspects out of it - over thinking, over writing.
I have rarely cringed after submitting a story. If at the end of the writing, I didn't like it - I'd delete it. I can't re-write something I've done badly into something better. It's best for me to start with a new clean page to doodle on and let my inspiration take me to a better place.
Van
Then when I sit down at the computer, within 2-3 hours the story is written and a further hour or so to re-read, take a break, make tea, look at it objectively, re-edit and do final read through.
If my story took longer than that to write, I would wonder if I am squeezing the sensual aspects out of it - over thinking, over writing.
I have rarely cringed after submitting a story. If at the end of the writing, I didn't like it - I'd delete it. I can't re-write something I've done badly into something better. It's best for me to start with a new clean page to doodle on and let my inspiration take me to a better place.
Van
I write stories under different "Pen" names.
Depending who I am at the time, the stories differ in length and
the time I spend writing them.
Luckily, I took "typing class" in High School.
I have known a few people that can type faster that me with two
fingers, and I think having both hands on the keyboard at the
same time if beginning to be a thing of the past.
From what I see on the television and internet, all you need is
your thumbs.
Using your thumbs comes in handy while eating a "Big Mac",
smoking a cigarette and sending a a message to your friend
sitting in the car next to you.
Depending who I am at the time, the stories differ in length and
the time I spend writing them.
Luckily, I took "typing class" in High School.
I have known a few people that can type faster that me with two
fingers, and I think having both hands on the keyboard at the
same time if beginning to be a thing of the past.
From what I see on the television and internet, all you need is
your thumbs.
Using your thumbs comes in handy while eating a "Big Mac",
smoking a cigarette and sending a a message to your friend
sitting in the car next to you.
Internet Philosopher
Most of my stories are long, my last being almost 12 thousand words. I'll usually spend 3 to 5 weeks on each story from typing the first word to time of submission. Fortunalty for me, I love to write and don't mind long hours at the keyboard.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
The Wild Girl anthology need not be read in any order but does take place in the following timeframe
Wild at Heart- 1968. The story of Dani’s Great Aunt Evie.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/wild-at-heart
Wild Oats. Part 1&2. -2021. Dani is 16 and sets her sights on her stepfather.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-1
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-2
Wild Child. 2025. Dani is now 20 years old.
Quote by Milik_The_Red
Most of my stories are long, my last being almost 12 thousand words. I'll usually spend 3 to 5 weeks on each story from typing the first word to time of submission. Fortunalty for me, I love to write and don't mind long hours at the keyboard.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
I was thinking that. If it's a short story that's one thing. If it's a novel that's a whole other "story". LOL
Internet Philosopher
Quote by chefkathleenQuote by Milik_The_Red
Most of my stories are long, my last being almost 12 thousand words. I'll usually spend 3 to 5 weeks on each story from typing the first word to time of submission. Fortunalty for me, I love to write and don't mind long hours at the keyboard.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
I was thinking that. If it's a short story that's one thing. If it's a novel that's a whole other "story". LOL
Lol...well said
The Wild Girl anthology need not be read in any order but does take place in the following timeframe
Wild at Heart- 1968. The story of Dani’s Great Aunt Evie.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/wild-at-heart
Wild Oats. Part 1&2. -2021. Dani is 16 and sets her sights on her stepfather.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-1
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-2
Wild Child. 2025. Dani is now 20 years old.
Internet Philosopher
Quote by PrivateEye
I write stories under different "Pen" names.
Depending who I am at the time, the stories differ in length and
the time I spend writing them.
Luckily, I took "typing class" in High School.
I have known a few people that can type faster that me with two
fingers, and I think having both hands on the keyboard at the
same time if beginning to be a thing of the past.
From what I see on the television and internet, all you need is
your thumbs.
Using your thumbs comes in handy while eating a "Big Mac",
smoking a cigarette and sending a a message to your friend
sitting in the car next to you.
So what your saying is that most people are hunt'n peckers?
Just kidding. All I can say is that I haven't found a forty pound keyboard styled in art deco with a 1 inch travel on the keys. My hs typing class used ancient typewriters that took the strength of sampson to use. Thank god for Word........
The Wild Girl anthology need not be read in any order but does take place in the following timeframe
Wild at Heart- 1968. The story of Dani’s Great Aunt Evie.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/wild-at-heart
Wild Oats. Part 1&2. -2021. Dani is 16 and sets her sights on her stepfather.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-1
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-2
Wild Child. 2025. Dani is now 20 years old.
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Quote by chefkathleenQuote by Milik_The_Red
Most of my stories are long, my last being almost 12 thousand words. I'll usually spend 3 to 5 weeks on each story from typing the first word to time of submission. Fortunalty for me, I love to write and don't mind long hours at the keyboard.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
I was thinking that. If it's a short story that's one thing. If it's a novel that's a whole other "story". LOL
Have you done a novel? And how long did that take???
That's what I'm attempting to do now...right now it is nine pages of notes and two opening sentences...seems novel writing is a whole different animal...
And I agree with others here that poems are usually fairly quick...though it took me three days to do "I'd Do It For You"...longer than any story...
Later,
Alan.
You know you want it, you know you need it bad...get it now on Amazon.com...
Lush Erotica, an Anthology of Award Winning Sex Stories
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Quote by chefkathleenQuote by Milik_The_Red
Most of my stories are long, my last being almost 12 thousand words. I'll usually spend 3 to 5 weeks on each story from typing the first word to time of submission. Fortunalty for me, I love to write and don't mind long hours at the keyboard.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
I was thinking that. If it's a short story that's one thing. If it's a novel that's a whole other "story". LOL
Have you done a novel? And how long did that take???
That's what I'm attempting to do now...right now it is nine pages of notes and two opening sentences...seems novel writing is a whole different animal...
And I agree with others here that poems are usually fairly quick...though it took me three days to do "I'd Do It For You"...longer than any story...
Later,
Alan.
You know you want it, you know you need it bad...get it now on Amazon.com...
Lush Erotica, an Anthology of Award Winning Sex Stories
Quote by Exakta66
I don't write "rough drafts" and then go back through them. I sit there and get it right the first time.
Anyone thinking they do it right the first time should read it again just because of their overconfidence.
I hate to pick you out of the crowd Exakta, but you sit amongst a crowd of authors who do check their writing and tell them you do it better because you "get it right the first time"; insinuating that the others do not do it correctly.
I've only read one of your stories (The Woman in the Blue Chair), but you misused the word "passed" instead of "past" since it is the past participle of the verb “to pass” when someone walked by something, "walked" putting it in the past.
Another misused word is "caste" which is a societal term and not to cast light on something.
**"Oh fuck." I thought to myself.** Oh Fuck should not be in quotations, it is a thought and not spoken words.
And a few commas were needed where there were none, and a few semi-colons in place of a few commas or periods would work better as well.
This is from one story of no proof reading. If you read the story after finishing, you will notice things that spell-checker's do not.
Sorry, no one is perfect.
Quote by Exakta66Quote by chefkathleenQuote by Milik_The_Red
Most of my stories are long, my last being almost 12 thousand words. I'll usually spend 3 to 5 weeks on each story from typing the first word to time of submission. Fortunalty for me, I love to write and don't mind long hours at the keyboard.
My poems though are a completly differant story. Both of the poems I submitted were written in about an hour.
I was thinking that. If it's a short story that's one thing. If it's a novel that's a whole other "story". LOL
Have you done a novel? And how long did that take???
That's what I'm attempting to do now...right now it is nine pages of notes and two opening sentences...seems novel writing is a whole different animal...
And I agree with others here that poems are usually fairly quick...though it took me three days to do "I'd Do It For You"...longer than any story...
Later,
Alan.
Yes as a matter of fact I have written a novel. It has taken me years to write because I don't write everyday. I write as a hobby and when I'm in the mood.
Internet Philosopher
I just posted the final chapter in a 9 chapter work. In total, it runs about 70000 words and took me a year to write (there was time spent on other works in between). That time includes revisions, rewrites, time mulling plot direction, etc. Each part was checked and still there are many errors that I missed. Whether you get it right the first time or go back as I do, there is always a chance to miss something, especially in a long work.
The Wild Girl anthology need not be read in any order but does take place in the following timeframe
Wild at Heart- 1968. The story of Dani’s Great Aunt Evie.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/wild-at-heart
Wild Oats. Part 1&2. -2021. Dani is 16 and sets her sights on her stepfather.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-1
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-2
Wild Child. 2025. Dani is now 20 years old.
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Quote by freefallin1309Quote by Exakta66
I don't write "rough drafts" and then go back through them. I sit there and get it right the first time.
Anyone thinking they do it right the first time should read it again just because of their overconfidence.
I hate to pick you out of the crowd Exakta, but you sit amongst a crowd of authors who do check their writing and tell them you do it better because you "get it right the first time"; insinuating that the others do not do it correctly.
I've only read one of your stories (The Woman in the Blue Chair), but you misused the word "passed" instead of "past" since it is the past participle of the verb “to pass” when someone walked by something, "walked" putting it in the past.
Another misused word is "caste" which is a societal term and not to cast light on something.
**"Oh fuck." I thought to myself.** Oh Fuck should not be in quotations, it is a thought and not spoken words.
And a few commas were needed where there were none, and a few semi-colons in place of a few commas or periods would work better as well.
This is from one story of no proof reading. If you read the story after finishing, you will notice things that spell-checker's do not.
Sorry, no one is perfect.
Hey FF...never implying that I was pefect or that one way is really better than another, just the way I do it...but, thanks for pointing out things that needed to be corrected...I mentioned in another forum post recently on editing, that I have a hard time correcting my own errors because my mind seems to automatically correct them as I read my own stuff, no matter how many times I try...
Actually, shouldn't 'Oh fuck' be in single quotes? I did notice that one later...
Alan.
You know you want it, you know you need it bad...get it now on Amazon.com...
Lush Erotica, an Anthology of Award Winning Sex Stories
Internet Philosopher
Quote by Exakta66Quote by freefallin1309Quote by Exakta66
I don't write "rough drafts" and then go back through them. I sit there and get it right the first time.
Anyone thinking they do it right the first time should read it again just because of their overconfidence.
I hate to pick you out of the crowd Exakta, but you sit amongst a crowd of authors who do check their writing and tell them you do it better because you "get it right the first time"; insinuating that the others do not do it correctly.
I've only read one of your stories (The Woman in the Blue Chair), but you misused the word "passed" instead of "past" since it is the past participle of the verb “to pass” when someone walked by something, "walked" putting it in the past.
Another misused word is "caste" which is a societal term and not to cast light on something.
**"Oh fuck." I thought to myself.** Oh Fuck should not be in quotations, it is a thought and not spoken words.
And a few commas were needed where there were none, and a few semi-colons in place of a few commas or periods would work better as well.
This is from one story of no proof reading. If you read the story after finishing, you will notice things that spell-checker's do not.
Sorry, no one is perfect.
That's pretty much what I was trying to say. I would like to go back and edit my stories, but am hesitating because I don't want to burden the staff with having to re read all of it just to correct typos.
Hey FF...never implying that I was pefect or that one way is really better than another, just the way I do it...but, thanks for pointing out things that needed to be corrected...I mentioned in another forum post recently on editing, that I have a hard time correcting my own errors because my mind seems to automatically correct them as I read my own stuff, no matter how many times I try...
Actually, shouldn't 'Oh fuck' be in single quotes? I did notice that one later...
Alan.
The Wild Girl anthology need not be read in any order but does take place in the following timeframe
Wild at Heart- 1968. The story of Dani’s Great Aunt Evie.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/wild-at-heart
Wild Oats. Part 1&2. -2021. Dani is 16 and sets her sights on her stepfather.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-1
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/taboo/wild-oats-part-2
Wild Child. 2025. Dani is now 20 years old.
Matriarch
Quote by Exakta66
I don't even read the story until after it posts, and then only to correct any errors I might have missed...the site I post on first allows a 24 hour edit period.
That's irresponsible and creates more work for Moderators in the long haul.
I urge everyone to read your stories repeatedly prior to submitting. The moderators have enough on their plates already, we don't want extra work caused by sheer laziness.
Quote by Exakta66
Hey FF...never implying that I was pefect or that one way is really better than another, just the way I do it...but, thanks for pointing out things that needed to be corrected...I mentioned in another forum post recently on editing, that I have a hard time correcting my own errors because my mind seems to automatically correct them as I read my own stuff, no matter how many times I try...
Actually, shouldn't 'Oh fuck' be in single quotes? I did notice that one later...
Alan.
I'm not sure on the single quotes, I often see thoughts written as italicized if anything at all. The only rule I've seen for single quotes is when you're quoting inside of a quote or referring to something in a quote from previous conversation.
Artistic Tart
Quote by Exakta66
I sit there and get it right the first time. In fact, once I type the last word and put the date, I post the story on another site. I don't even read the story until after it posts, and then only to correct any errors I might have missed...the site I post on first allows a 24 hour edit period.
Please tell me you dont do that here because if you do I might throw something at you.
For real, I bust my butt for weeks on one and havent even submitted it yet, the first one ever without another member holding my hand on it, and you know what? I will proofread that shit twenty times and it will still have things wrong with it when it gets posted.
But you say its always right and you never check it? Is there really that big a difference between writing hundreds of stories and writing two or three? How can you get that good at grammar where you dont even have to check it?? I bet you still make mistakes only you refuse to read your own stuff so you don't catch them the reader or the moderator does!
Pffffttt! I bet you frustrate the hell out of some mods, Alan.
Xuani
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Hey Xuani...I am not saying I necessarily get it "perfect" the first time...I don't know that there is a "perfect" story...actually there is one, but it's not mine...
The thing is, I know myself well enough to know that if I start "editing" after I write that can be an endless thing...I will try to make it "perfect" and the story will never get posted...
The best thing that works for me is to write it up and put it out there, otherwise it may never go...
The errors tend to get pointed out by others, and I really do appreciate that...I've already established that I am not good at proof reading my own work...my mind sort of passes over the errors no matter how often I read my stuff...besides, if I kept my stories around a month or so before posting I would have an unmanageble backlog...I tend to get a fair amount of ideas I want to write up...
That explains why the first 40 or so stories I posted on Lush never had to be sent back for editing...the errors were all already picked out by readers over a period of months in some cases...
And yes Nicola...I am very concious of the job the mods have...I certainly wouldn't want to do it...
Cheers,
Alan.
The thing is, I know myself well enough to know that if I start "editing" after I write that can be an endless thing...I will try to make it "perfect" and the story will never get posted...
The best thing that works for me is to write it up and put it out there, otherwise it may never go...
The errors tend to get pointed out by others, and I really do appreciate that...I've already established that I am not good at proof reading my own work...my mind sort of passes over the errors no matter how often I read my stuff...besides, if I kept my stories around a month or so before posting I would have an unmanageble backlog...I tend to get a fair amount of ideas I want to write up...
That explains why the first 40 or so stories I posted on Lush never had to be sent back for editing...the errors were all already picked out by readers over a period of months in some cases...
And yes Nicola...I am very concious of the job the mods have...I certainly wouldn't want to do it...
Cheers,
Alan.
You know you want it, you know you need it bad...get it now on Amazon.com...
Lush Erotica, an Anthology of Award Winning Sex Stories
Artistic Tart
I hear all that Alan but get a damn proofreader before you submit it. I bet you would get more readers and less attitude if you took that one simple step. As for me I got two people proofing after a moderator was nice enough to tell me to fix my mistakes before they rejected it. That goodwill dont last forever though baby, so now I have others help me on the back end too. Okay I said enough here but that just pissed me off when I read it. Sorry everyone.
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
Quote by LadyX
I hear all that Alan but get a damn proofreader before you submit it. I bet you would get more readers and less attitude if you took that one simple step. As for me I got two people proofing after a moderator was nice enough to tell me to fix my mistakes before they rejected it. That goodwill dont last forever though baby, so now I have others help me on the back end too. Okay I said enough here but that just pissed me off when I read it. Sorry everyone.
Never had anything rejected for form, grammer or spelling...only for content...
You know you want it, you know you need it bad...get it now on Amazon.com...
Lush Erotica, an Anthology of Award Winning Sex Stories
Quote by Bunny12
Can't really vote in the pole it varies so much. I can whip out the poems pretty quick but the stories are a whole other animal. Some in a day some a whole month or more as the inspiration hits me.
I agree, at least when it comes to stories on this site. The two novels and one screenplay I'm developing from home are in a whole other realm. For Lush, it also doesn't help that I only get on from work, so I'm writing the story as I do my job...not exactly the most condusive system to either side, but it works for me
