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Mistress_of_words
Over 90 days ago
Straight Female, 42
United Kingdom
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Active Ink Slinger
Quote by swollenQuote by Kiki28Quote by swollenQuote by Mistress_of_words
Innocent
Have you ever turned a chat session into a story for Lush?
Innocent
Have you ever turned a real sex session into a story for Lush? !! lol x
Innocent
Have you ever turned a Lush Story into reality ?
Innocent until proven guilty !
Have you ever been dogging?
Guilty, innocent, innocent (for now) and oh so very innocent.
Have you ever had sex at sea?
Active Ink Slinger
I've only ever read one published book that was written in present tense and I was not inclined to read the sequel.
What's wrong with present tense? Personally I think it has to do with expectation. Past tense generates a greater sense of anticipation because there is an unspoken assumption that the issues in the story have been resolved, somehow, and that is why the story is being told.
I think you have a point there. I write almost elusively in past tense. I could recount all the various reasons why I've learned to do that but I'm sure Morgan has a section on her board that would say the same things.
However, a few weeks back I tried for the first time to convert a chat session into a story (The Anonymous Honeymoon) and I kept finding myself slipping into present tense as I went along.
What's wrong with present tense? Personally I think it has to do with expectation. Past tense generates a greater sense of anticipation because there is an unspoken assumption that the issues in the story have been resolved, somehow, and that is why the story is being told.
Quote by Loislane
I think the present tense thing is a roll on effect of cybering where it is all in the present tense. I have no issue with present or past tense as long as the author is consistant with it and doesn't switch half way through.
I think you have a point there. I write almost elusively in past tense. I could recount all the various reasons why I've learned to do that but I'm sure Morgan has a section on her board that would say the same things.
However, a few weeks back I tried for the first time to convert a chat session into a story (The Anonymous Honeymoon) and I kept finding myself slipping into present tense as I went along.
Active Ink Slinger
Innocent
Have you ever turned a chat session into a story for Lush?
Have you ever turned a chat session into a story for Lush?
Active Ink Slinger
Ok, so this isn't a sex scene, just a kiss, but it makes my stomach flutter every time I watch it. James McAvoy and Christina Ricci in Penelope:
Active Ink Slinger
Great question. It is always good as an author to evaluate yourself and identify your strengths and weaknesses.
I write outside of Lush as well but I will answer this purely in regard to my erotic fiction.
I write about character making a connection. The important part of the story is what that connection is and how it is made. The sex is just part of the process. In my stories I try to make sex the physical expression of something deeper, be it love, lust, the will to dominate, thrill seeking, whatever. Finding that underlying motivation is what (I hope) keeps my stories interesting and different.
Do you tend to have recurring themes (or characters) in all your erotic stories?
You could call the idea about connection I mentioned above a recurring theme. I have written a couple with an exhibitionism element because that is something that excites me. I keep my options open on re-using characters, but they have to have another story to tell. Simply having more sex is not another story.
Do you prefer writing stroke fiction or do you aspire to creating high end and complex literary tales?
I like to think I'm aiming for and hitting somewhere in the middle. I want my stories to be stories, not just descriptions of sex, so I tend to have reasonable lead ups (in most cases).
Does your style involve the use of humour, quirkiness, or tongue-in-cheek satire?
It depends on the character. I try to find each character's distinct voice. If they are quirky and satirical then the writing should come out that way.
Do you relish the dirty details or do you prefer to leave more to the imagination during sex scenes?
Again, this depends on the story and the characters. I like to think I put in the minimum appropriate detail on a case by case basis. I try to avoid describing the obvious in favour of the unique and relevant.
Do you prefer writing stories with romance and intimacy?
Romance? Sometimes. Intimacy? Always. Even my quickie encounters and darker reluctance tales hint at a deeper connection that you would call intimate. Maybe I just don't believe in sex without intimacy.
Do you mainly write true-life tales from your sexual past?
Not at all! I take bits of my own experience and use them to build details, but never whole stories.
I write outside of Lush as well but I will answer this purely in regard to my erotic fiction.
I write about character making a connection. The important part of the story is what that connection is and how it is made. The sex is just part of the process. In my stories I try to make sex the physical expression of something deeper, be it love, lust, the will to dominate, thrill seeking, whatever. Finding that underlying motivation is what (I hope) keeps my stories interesting and different.
Do you tend to have recurring themes (or characters) in all your erotic stories?
You could call the idea about connection I mentioned above a recurring theme. I have written a couple with an exhibitionism element because that is something that excites me. I keep my options open on re-using characters, but they have to have another story to tell. Simply having more sex is not another story.
Do you prefer writing stroke fiction or do you aspire to creating high end and complex literary tales?
I like to think I'm aiming for and hitting somewhere in the middle. I want my stories to be stories, not just descriptions of sex, so I tend to have reasonable lead ups (in most cases).
Does your style involve the use of humour, quirkiness, or tongue-in-cheek satire?
It depends on the character. I try to find each character's distinct voice. If they are quirky and satirical then the writing should come out that way.
Do you relish the dirty details or do you prefer to leave more to the imagination during sex scenes?
Again, this depends on the story and the characters. I like to think I put in the minimum appropriate detail on a case by case basis. I try to avoid describing the obvious in favour of the unique and relevant.
Do you prefer writing stories with romance and intimacy?
Romance? Sometimes. Intimacy? Always. Even my quickie encounters and darker reluctance tales hint at a deeper connection that you would call intimate. Maybe I just don't believe in sex without intimacy.
Do you mainly write true-life tales from your sexual past?
Not at all! I take bits of my own experience and use them to build details, but never whole stories.
Active Ink Slinger
I agree with everything Stephanie said, so I'll try to make some new suggestions.
1. Sometimes less is more. When describing your characters, look for a few details that are important to who they are, rather than generic details that could apply to anyone.
2. Try to integrate your description into your action. So, for example, rather than saying:
"She had long dark hair."
Say something like:
"She flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder."
Good luck
1. Sometimes less is more. When describing your characters, look for a few details that are important to who they are, rather than generic details that could apply to anyone.
2. Try to integrate your description into your action. So, for example, rather than saying:
"She had long dark hair."
Say something like:
"She flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder."
Good luck
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Hornykez
My first ever story being approved and published on lush
What he said. Nice work Kez!
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Quote by DirtyMartini
Just curious MOW, since you feel so strongly, do you actually change words and phrases in your first draft...or just correct spelling errors and the like?
Just seems like double work to me if you actually change your first draft...then again, maybe I'm just lazy...
On which pass?
I edit, edit and edit again. Of course it depends on the length of the piece and how happy I am with the draft. Usually my first edit is more of a re-write to catch plot errors, missing or conflicting description and add in any better ideas I've had since the 1st draft. On the second edit I look for language issues; poor sentence structure, weak verbs, showing vs telling etc. Grammatical errors come last.
Like I said above writing and editing are two different processes. A writer friend of mine explained to me once that they use different sides of your brain. When you write the first draft you take the easy route using weak verbs, you repeat yourself, you contradict yourself etc. The trick is accepting that it's okay to do that, because you will catch all that in the edit. Then you will write more passionately to begin with, and produce a better more polished result in the long run.
It is double the work, but I think it is worth it.
Active Ink Slinger
I was just being pedantic :P
If anyone is looking for a resource to help with visually conveying emotions, there is a clever little "emotion thesaurus" on "The Book Shelf Muse" on Blogspot, which matches up body language and behaviour to emotions and thoughts:
NOTE - the blog mentioned above is a) a writers resource blog, not somewhere that publishes fiction, and b) not my blog. I don't think this goes against the rules, but let me know if it does.
If anyone is looking for a resource to help with visually conveying emotions, there is a clever little "emotion thesaurus" on "The Book Shelf Muse" on Blogspot, which matches up body language and behaviour to emotions and thoughts:
NOTE - the blog mentioned above is a) a writers resource blog, not somewhere that publishes fiction, and b) not my blog. I don't think this goes against the rules, but let me know if it does.
Active Ink Slinger
Start with the basics. Rather than looking for ways to improve your erotic writing, just look for resources on writing in general. General concepts such as show vs tell, dialogue mechanics and character voice are just as valid for erotic fiction as they are for any other genre.
One book I have found vastly improved my writing was Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Brown and King.
My strongest piece of advice is never to treat your first draft as the finished product, and don't assume that improving as a writer will enable you to do so. Writing and editing are two different processes and you need to get good at both of them to be your best.
Hope that helps
MOW
xx
One book I have found vastly improved my writing was Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Brown and King.
My strongest piece of advice is never to treat your first draft as the finished product, and don't assume that improving as a writer will enable you to do so. Writing and editing are two different processes and you need to get good at both of them to be your best.
Hope that helps
MOW
xx
Active Ink Slinger
Like I said, immersive. ;)
Good example.
Of course there are grades of showing vs telling.
Some might say using the word ineffectually is still telling. To take it all the way you can drop that and go with "A ceiling fan slashes at the syrupy air but barely creates a whisper of draft"
Good example.
Of course there are grades of showing vs telling.
Some might say using the word ineffectually is still telling. To take it all the way you can drop that and go with "A ceiling fan slashes at the syrupy air but barely creates a whisper of draft"
Active Ink Slinger
Thought I'd add my two cents:
I think showing vs telling is often an issue of confidence. You don't trust your reader to follow what you mean, so you try to explain it. Instead of saying she hugged her arms round her middle, you say, she hugged her arms round her middle, defensively. Or worse, she looked defensive.
The more you grow in confidence as a writer, the easier it becomes to trust that you can get the message across with your visuals.
A good story can be told; telling doesn't necessarily mean bad writing. But I think it does tend to mean less immersive writing. The very nature of telling puts you one step back from the action, with the narrator, or the author, acting as a buffer. It's a choice of style that needs to be based on the story and the characters.
I think showing vs telling is often an issue of confidence. You don't trust your reader to follow what you mean, so you try to explain it. Instead of saying she hugged her arms round her middle, you say, she hugged her arms round her middle, defensively. Or worse, she looked defensive.
The more you grow in confidence as a writer, the easier it becomes to trust that you can get the message across with your visuals.
A good story can be told; telling doesn't necessarily mean bad writing. But I think it does tend to mean less immersive writing. The very nature of telling puts you one step back from the action, with the narrator, or the author, acting as a buffer. It's a choice of style that needs to be based on the story and the characters.
Active Ink Slinger
Ice hotel, that place is awesome.
WYR feed your partner or lick food off their body?
WYR feed your partner or lick food off their body?
Active Ink Slinger
I agree with Lisa.
Writing erotic fiction is the same as any other fiction really, your job is to draw the reader into the scene, make them forget they're reading. So, tell us the things we can't imagine.
A cock's a cock, telling me it's seven inches long with a bulbous head just tells me it looks like a cock. It's like describing an elephant as large and grey, it's just wasted words. Focus on the action and the thoughts and feelings of your narrator and keep your descriptive details for those things that make your characters and settings unique, then you'll really draw people in.
Writing erotic fiction is the same as any other fiction really, your job is to draw the reader into the scene, make them forget they're reading. So, tell us the things we can't imagine.
A cock's a cock, telling me it's seven inches long with a bulbous head just tells me it looks like a cock. It's like describing an elephant as large and grey, it's just wasted words. Focus on the action and the thoughts and feelings of your narrator and keep your descriptive details for those things that make your characters and settings unique, then you'll really draw people in.
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by overmykneenow
ooo, ooo please Miss, I know, I know!
Though technically (pedantically) they're just a couple of adjectives that are pretty meaningless on their own
You want to get really pedantic its a participle adjective (a verb used as an adjective) and an adjective.
Is it a hunchback of declining power and influence? Technically that would be an accurate use of those words, but I'm guessing it's not the one you're referring to.
Active Ink Slinger
I prefer writing fiction, but reading a mixture of both.
Fiction usually makes for a better story, but they always say "write what you know." The best fiction is inspired by experience, but not restricted by it. Personally I prefer the extended advice "write what you know, or what you can research."
Fiction usually makes for a better story, but they always say "write what you know." The best fiction is inspired by experience, but not restricted by it. Personally I prefer the extended advice "write what you know, or what you can research."
Active Ink Slinger
Two people, so far, my best friend and my writing buddy who thinks I should submit to playboy or penthouse or something.
Boyfriend doesn't know yet... probably only a matter of time. I suck at keeping secrets. I'm hoping the reaction I get is "all these guys lusting over my girlfriend and she's all mine, sweet!" rather than, "stop flirting with other guys you unfaithful harlot."
Time will tell :P
Boyfriend doesn't know yet... probably only a matter of time. I suck at keeping secrets. I'm hoping the reaction I get is "all these guys lusting over my girlfriend and she's all mine, sweet!" rather than, "stop flirting with other guys you unfaithful harlot."
Time will tell :P
Active Ink Slinger
Great debate going on here. I love your definitions. :P
I think "nice guy" should mean someone who's considerate and respectful, and surely part of being considerate is learning what a girl wants. So often though nice guys are seen as those who lack confidence. I guess that's true sometimes but I also figure it's not in many cases, as it is for nice girls.
I totally get that.
I think I'm a nice girl - kind of shy, not hugely confident with new people, like to please - but get past that and I want to explore and push boundaries. Does that mean I have an edge, don't know.
My boyfriend's your textbook basic nice guy and sometimes I get frustrated that I'm often the one to make the first move and always the one to suggest new things. That's another debate though.
I think "nice guy" should mean someone who's considerate and respectful, and surely part of being considerate is learning what a girl wants. So often though nice guys are seen as those who lack confidence. I guess that's true sometimes but I also figure it's not in many cases, as it is for nice girls.
Quote by Dancing_Doll
I think the volatile relationships are when people start trying to hook up with people that are outside their own 'type'. A Basic Nice Girl is always going to feel insecure and crazy if she tries to get the "Bad Boy" to commit to her. Similarly, I'd consider myself a "Nice Girl with Edge"... I would be bored and dissatisfied if I tried to make it work with a "Basic Nice Guy"... I actually tried this once many years ago, and that was the end outcome for me. Total boredom.
I totally get that.
I think I'm a nice girl - kind of shy, not hugely confident with new people, like to please - but get past that and I want to explore and push boundaries. Does that mean I have an edge, don't know.
My boyfriend's your textbook basic nice guy and sometimes I get frustrated that I'm often the one to make the first move and always the one to suggest new things. That's another debate though.
Active Ink Slinger
Cut guys are pretty rare in the UK, as far as I know. I've never been with one.
Personally though I like the idea of natural, the idea of cutting part of it off creeps me out. I don't see how a guy having to keep his foreskin clean is any different from keeping any other body part clean. You get germs under your fingernails, but I bet you'd still let a guy put his fingers in your mouth or wherever.
Personally though I like the idea of natural, the idea of cutting part of it off creeps me out. I don't see how a guy having to keep his foreskin clean is any different from keeping any other body part clean. You get germs under your fingernails, but I bet you'd still let a guy put his fingers in your mouth or wherever.
Active Ink Slinger
Not at all. It's just they have higher standards and greater expectations. Luckily these tend to mesh nicely with those of nice girls.
Active Ink Slinger
Depends on the character/narrator, the story and the audience. In my mainstream stuff, I usually get away without ever having to give it a name at all, but you still know what's going on. Actually just writing "him" or "himself" usually gets the message across.
But, on here, I'm definitely a cock girl.
And, in my opinion, stay away from cumspitter, schlong, pulsating pussy pounding pole etc, because it just makes people laugh. It's a total mood killer.
But, on here, I'm definitely a cock girl.
And, in my opinion, stay away from cumspitter, schlong, pulsating pussy pounding pole etc, because it just makes people laugh. It's a total mood killer.
Active Ink Slinger
I've written a lot of stuff from a male POV and I think I pull it off okay. But then, a lot of what I write is fairly tame, romance with sex rather than erotica, so more on the emotional side than the physical description side.
Consider who you're writing it for. I know most of my target audience will be female and they won't know if I'm getting it write or not either. What matters more then is that you're portraying something your readers will find plausible.
The important thing is to develop your characters as individuals, that way, what you describe is not from "a woman's" point of view, it is from "<insert name here>'s" point of view. Not only will this make your POV better, it will make your story better as a whole. The more your readers can connect with the character them more invested they become in their fate.
Consider who you're writing it for. I know most of my target audience will be female and they won't know if I'm getting it write or not either. What matters more then is that you're portraying something your readers will find plausible.
The important thing is to develop your characters as individuals, that way, what you describe is not from "a woman's" point of view, it is from "<insert name here>'s" point of view. Not only will this make your POV better, it will make your story better as a whole. The more your readers can connect with the character them more invested they become in their fate.
Active Ink Slinger
Rule of thumb - one idea per sentence. That one idea may be made up of a string of two, three or maybe four associated actions, but the key word there is associated. In general shorter sentences are easier to read so don't think you need to make your sentences longer for them to be better. (There's a cock joke in there somewhere).
Send me an excerpt, if you like, and I'll take a look.
Send me an excerpt, if you like, and I'll take a look.