Rookie Scribe
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i enjoy the writing of a story, usually with a photo of the female character as inspiration, but roughly how long should the story be?
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how long should a good story be
Lurker
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A story can be told in a couple of sentences, or it can be agonisingly long. Somewhere in between is probably best, but having an idea of what the plot is, who the characters are, where it is going to be posted or published and what the expectations of the readers might be could helpful to factor in as well.
However above all, I would suggest knowing where the story is going, not taking too many irrelevant detours along the way or getting caught up in the description of details that aren't necessary, and getting to the point without an excess of gratuitous stuff that can lead to confusion or annoyance of the reader. Confusion can lead to being bored and uninterested, and the reader will abadon the story.
Respect your readers, respect your characters, respect yourself. There is no general rule as to the length of a good story.
What a good story is would be a different question.
However above all, I would suggest knowing where the story is going, not taking too many irrelevant detours along the way or getting caught up in the description of details that aren't necessary, and getting to the point without an excess of gratuitous stuff that can lead to confusion or annoyance of the reader. Confusion can lead to being bored and uninterested, and the reader will abadon the story.
Respect your readers, respect your characters, respect yourself. There is no general rule as to the length of a good story.
What a good story is would be a different question.
Matriarch
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Although there are no hard and fast rules, take a look at the Editor's Choice section, that will probably give you an indication. Anything under 1000 words is generally not enough, more than 10,000 words is a big effort to read, unless the story is incredibly well written.
It really depends on the style of the story, if it's a romantic seduction, it is likely to require more plot depth and character development, than say a quickie in the woods type story.
Oh, and welcome to the site
It really depends on the style of the story, if it's a romantic seduction, it is likely to require more plot depth and character development, than say a quickie in the woods type story.
Oh, and welcome to the site
Lurker
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I was thinking about 'how long is a good story' and came up with this:
If you rely upon detailed descriptions of certain events that continue a story along its path, there more likely will be more words/characters in said story. It has been a long standing belief of mine that a good author can weave a work of literary genius in as few sentences or as many paragraphs as are required and still hold the reader's attention.
If you rely upon detailed descriptions of certain events that continue a story along its path, there more likely will be more words/characters in said story. It has been a long standing belief of mine that a good author can weave a work of literary genius in as few sentences or as many paragraphs as are required and still hold the reader's attention.
Active Ink Slinger
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Here's my 'award winning' 179 word teenage angst lesbian love story.
I'm in Love With Her
I can't go on like this. I have to tell her. I have to stop living a lie and denying my true feelings.
It's not wrong how I feel. I didn't plan things this way.
I'm just a girl who loves another girl and it's a true love, a caring love, a very special love, a very sexy love.
When I'm with Hazel everything feels so magical. I feel so alive, it's the only time I feel I'm being fair to myself.
I can be the girl I want to be. I can let go and be happy and simply follow my heart.
So I have to tell her I'm in love with her. Tell her how I want things to be from now on.
I'll tell her now and hope she understands.
"Mum."
"Yes sweetheart."
"You know Hazel?"
"Your new friend?"
"She's not just a friend Mum."
"What do you mean Steffanie?"
"I'm in love with her."
"Oh."
"And she's in love with me"
"Oh."
"Say something Mum."
"Stop being ridiculous Steffanie."
I knew this wouldn't be easy.
steffanie xxx
I think the format is effective and a possible category on Lush
I'm in Love With Her
I can't go on like this. I have to tell her. I have to stop living a lie and denying my true feelings.
It's not wrong how I feel. I didn't plan things this way.
I'm just a girl who loves another girl and it's a true love, a caring love, a very special love, a very sexy love.
When I'm with Hazel everything feels so magical. I feel so alive, it's the only time I feel I'm being fair to myself.
I can be the girl I want to be. I can let go and be happy and simply follow my heart.
So I have to tell her I'm in love with her. Tell her how I want things to be from now on.
I'll tell her now and hope she understands.
"Mum."
"Yes sweetheart."
"You know Hazel?"
"Your new friend?"
"She's not just a friend Mum."
"What do you mean Steffanie?"
"I'm in love with her."
"Oh."
"And she's in love with me"
"Oh."
"Say something Mum."
"Stop being ridiculous Steffanie."
I knew this wouldn't be easy.
steffanie xxx
I think the format is effective and a possible category on Lush
Matriarch
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Are you proposing a short stories category Steff?
Active Ink Slinger
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Quote by nicola
Are you proposing a short stories category Steff?
Just an idea - Sexy Anecdotes.
Might make a good competition if nothing else. Under 200 or 300 words or whatever.
Lurker
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For me many of the stories are a bit too long and I find myself searching for the juicey bits, but then I'm and impatient wanker who can't wait to approach the climax. Now your smooth mature slick longsuffering male might well want a teasing tale that streches out his pleasure. The intellectual boffin might well linger over the prose forgetting he is reading a sex story lost in a world of adjectives. But in Lush we have a world of choice.
Alpha Blonde
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I think it depends on if someone starts reading when they are already horny... or if they read because they want a sexy story and it makes them horny while reading it. If the reader is already hard/wet when they reach for erotica, they will likely just want to skip directly to the sex scenes.
I tend to write complete stories, but I don't skimp on the explicit scenes at all. I try for a 60:40 ratio when it comes to story:sex. I assume some people will scroll down, and that's their choice. I'm not offended by it.
As a reader, I prefer stories... otherwise, it just feels like "flash-porn". For a quick-fix if I'm already horny, I tend to be more of a porn-vid girl myself. If I'm reading erotica, I want the complete experience.
I tend to write complete stories, but I don't skimp on the explicit scenes at all. I try for a 60:40 ratio when it comes to story:sex. I assume some people will scroll down, and that's their choice. I'm not offended by it.
As a reader, I prefer stories... otherwise, it just feels like "flash-porn". For a quick-fix if I'm already horny, I tend to be more of a porn-vid girl myself. If I'm reading erotica, I want the complete experience.
Active Ink Slinger
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My stories tend to be longer than most bacause I usually end up adding alot of detail and descriptions. Mine also tend to have more than one sex scene so they are naturally longer. 15,000 to 20,000 words are not uncommon for me to submit.
Again, as previously mentioned, it is all dependant on what you are looking for and what sort of story you are planning on writing. Quickie sex in the backseat of your dads car could only take a page or two, but a full blown weekend of sexual debachery could be as many as 15 to 20 pages.
Again, as previously mentioned, it is all dependant on what you are looking for and what sort of story you are planning on writing. Quickie sex in the backseat of your dads car could only take a page or two, but a full blown weekend of sexual debachery could be as many as 15 to 20 pages.
Flash a Trucker... It's appreciated!!
Read my latest story at; http://www.lushstories.com/stories/exhibitionism/a-weekend-at-the-cottage-part-1.aspx
Cocolicious
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Quote by Dancing_Doll
I think it depends on if someone starts reading when they are already horny... or if they read because they want a sexy story and it makes them horny while reading it. If the reader is already hard/wet when they reach for erotica, they will likely just want to skip directly to the sex scenes.
I tend to write complete stories, but I don't skimp on the explicit scenes at all. I try for a 60:40 ratio when it comes to story:sex. I assume some people will scroll down, and that's their choice. I'm not offended by it.
As a reader, I prefer stories... otherwise, it just feels like "flash-porn". For a quick-fix if I'm already horny, I tend to be more of a porn-vid girl myself. If I'm reading erotica, I want the complete experience.
I came to the forum searching for an answer to this question, of course there are varying opinions on the matter, but I do like this ratio idea. I thought that a story that I'm about to submit might be too long. I'm not so sure now.
Thanks for this tip and maybe it will work for me and others.
Lurker
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I good story does not need to be that long. Let your readers fill in the details in their minds, that is what we do best. To much detail will draw away from the good story in my opinion.