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Persistent deleting and redrafting are the signs of a writer who takes pride in her work and is sensitive to the power of words. I too am a painfully slow writer, whether it's writing an academic dissertation under my own name or producing anonymous erotica. I find writing erotica amazingly liberating because I can let my imagination fly wherever it wants to go. But I agree, translating sexual fantasies into narrative is hard work. My advice is: Don't spend any time reworking what you've already written until you've reached the end of your first draft and you have a complete narrative. If you have a finished narrative to work on, you'll find that the redrafting process is far more constructive and fruitful.

Having said that, I find it very difficult to heed my own advice, because I find that tinkering with what I've already written is less daunting than confronting the blank white pages of what remains to be written.
 
Speaking as this Forum's worst possible writer I have to admire the writing of popular authors like David Baldacci who tells a good story and keeps it moving without ever using long words or over description. What he always does is to research the background to his stories which makes them so believable. When I was at school I would sometimes ask my mum for help if I had to write a story for homework..she had a natural talent. Recently I began a book about my family history. Without doing historical research online I would not even have been able to begin.
 
The process I use when starting a story is just to write. Whatever comes to mind gets written down, even if it's only a few words that don't seem to fit anywhere, I get it down.
Usually it flows pretty well for me, and when writing erotic stuff I'm horny as hell, so I don't stop writing until my thirst has been quenched, so to speak.
After I have a decent amount written I'll go over it and edit the crap out of it until I'm absolutely satisfied. Usually three or four drafts; not rewrites but alterations. Every word is taken into consideration. This usually takes weeks because I like to come in for edits completely fresh.
The final draft will be done completely cold, meaning I'll start reading it as a reader and not a creator, and if it flows perfectly and gets me off without me taking issue with any part, I'll know it's done. If any part distracts from the journey or causes any dissatisfaction, it gets addressed.
Personally I don't usually use words like tits or pussy because I like my stories to have a slightly classic element to them. I want to use language that makes the most vile, disgusting things sound eloquent and beautiful.
If you've read any of my stories hopefully you'll know what I mean.
Anyway, that's my take on it. I hope it helps.x
 
Sassi said:
Dear writers of crux-stories
I would like to ask you something. I do write stories about crucifixions myself.
I had to learn a hard lesson: writing stories is much harder then inventing them!
Again and again, an idea comes to me, flying through my mind. It seems everytime to be the best idea in the world. I am fully enthusiastic, I take notes in my brain and than on paper in a ring binder. I really WANT to write the story.
But when it comes to write it, the torment starts. Then I poke around to find my way through the sentences. I do not get ahead. I am dissatisfied with every second sentence.
On my computer keyboard, the delete key is the most used of all!
Writing goes slow and it is exhausting. Inventing a story is so much easier then to write it down!
Inventing a crux story is big fun. Writing is a hard job.
It is really strange that I have so many good ideas and when I start to write them down, a lot of those stories „die away“ after some pages on my computer.
How do you see the situation? Do you have the same problems like I have or do you just sit down and write the hell out of your keyboard?
I am kind of curious how your writing works.
Greetings to you all
Sassi:hello:
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I have the same problem, Sassi. I cannot just sit down and write the hell out of my keyboard. I edit as I go along. I also have doubts about the quality of my writing, and whether anyone is going to read my stuff anyway. But, if you enjoy the act of putting words on paper, and you want to share the ideas you have, then it's just a matter of getting out of your own way. I have to stop and try to come up with the perfect word or phrase before I go on. This increases the effort and reduces the enjoyment. I think I'bogo's advice above is good, and I'm going to try to follow it. I just thought of an analogy that might be useful. In fine art painting, you work from the outline to the detail. That's because you want the painting to be a unified whole, where all the perspectives and shades and brush strokes and all the other aspects of the painting mesh. If you focus on one single detail at a time (as I did when I took up painting) then you find that as you work outwards, the perspective becomes skewed or inaccurate, the colors don't quite blend, etc.

A simple, practical idea might be to set a deadline for yourself, and announce it so you can be held accountable. That worked for me with the first chapters of "Mina." As a matter of fact, I think I'll take my own advice and set a deadline for my next chapter. Ok, I'll have the next chapter of "Mina Berkeley's Voyage" up next Sunday. There. Now I have to follow through or I'll be a hypocrite who's giving advice he can't follow himself.
 
Sassi said:
Dear writers of crux-stories
I would like to ask you something. I do write stories about crucifixions myself.
I had to learn a hard lesson: writing stories is much harder then inventing them!
Again and again, an idea comes to me, flying through my mind. It seems everytime to be the best idea in the world. I am fully enthusiastic, I take notes in my brain and than on paper in a ring binder. I really WANT to write the story.
But when it comes to write it, the torment starts. Then I poke around to find my way through the sentences. I do not get ahead. I am dissatisfied with every second sentence.
On my computer keyboard, the delete key is the most used of all!
Writing goes slow and it is exhausting. Inventing a story is so much easier then to write it down!
Inventing a crux story is big fun. Writing is a hard job.
It is really strange that I have so many good ideas and when I start to write them down, a lot of those stories „die away“ after some pages on my computer.
How do you see the situation? Do you have the same problems like I have or do you just sit down and write the hell out of your keyboard?
I am kind of curious how your writing works.
Greetings to you all
Sassi:hello:
Click to expand...

Every writer has different habits and techniques. When I write I usually have only a very general idea of where I am going. I get inspired as I write rather than being inspired beforehand to the extent of seeing the entire arc of the story.

Sometimes the words come easily on a story or poem, other times I struggle. I've largely given up some ideas. Just can't find the words.

I agree about ideas. I'll get a sudden thought that seems like the genesis of a great story only to have it wither away when I try to put it into words. I usually write a lot more than I end up using. Just relax and let the words flow. Usually that works for me, but not always.

I love writing dialogue but it is very difficult to keep the words of two or more speakers in sync. It takes practice.

Welcome Sassi. You have the same problems we all do.
 
Sassi said:
How do you see the situation? Do you have the same problems like I have or do you just sit down and write the hell out of your keyboard?
I am kind of curious how your writing works.
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I recognise the problem you describe, Sassi.
My best crux story has been developing in my head for several years and remains unwritten.
So far I have succeeded in writing two or three extended picture captions - but only short texts.

I try to write quickly, before I become distracted from my original concept.
Different ideas come into my head whilst I write, so I make brief notes of those, and return to them later.
I have to keep in mind that I am working out a solution to the problem presented in the original plot, but without giving away too much too soon.

As other members have observed here, dialogue is very effective for developing a plot, and it is also very engaging for the reader.

I find it easier to write far too much, including all of the unsatisfactory sentences and paragraphs.
Later on, I can return to the start and edit all the parts which don't work. At that stage, I will be working with a manuscript rather than a blank page.

There are many experts among our members who willingly give advice concerning their specialist subjects and related terminology, and they appreciate being asked for their help.
Many stories are collaborations, in which two heads together can solve a problem which one head alone would find awkward to resolve.

Ultimately my writing is like my visual artwork - produced in a rough draft to start with, followed by repeated refinement.
Rarely does something work out right the first time.
The creative process can be challenging, but I believe my best results come when I am enjoying the process.

I hope this helps. :)
 
We definitely have the same problem, you and I. Took a quick glance at my google doc, and whatever 33x5 is, that’s how many stories I started, although there might be some double dipping. I could look at the title for each one, and tell you what the story is, but I’m usually inspired by how a story is going to end, and not how it’s going to begin, which is frustrating.

However, after being a member here a few years I do have a few observations.

Tree is the most prolific writer, and he is a master of using pictures and manips to fill in the parts of the story where words fail. He also leaves each chapter open ended so it can go in many different directions.

I myself, have recently being focusing on reimaginings of fairy tales, like the Frog Prince or The Princess who never smiled. Parody, while the soul suffers for not being original, can add structure to your story.

Now, with a story that is truly yours, I’ll tell you what my old short story professor told me. Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post. If you want to change a large part of the story, do a second draft, and then edit a third time as you post. It’s hard work, which is why I’ve procrastinated doing it, but I’m working on it. One of my favorite authors, and Wragg’s too, I believe, is PG Wodehouse, the author of the Jeeves and Wooster stories. He does draft after draft of his story until every sentence is interesting. We don’t have to go that far but we can strive towards it.

The hardest part is rereading your own work. You judge it, and you definitely judge it from the perspective of the worst possible person finding it and humiliating you about your fantasy. You need to be stoic, and cold, put on your English professor glasses, and judge it based on what you’re trying to do.

Most of this is a note to myself, but I hope it helps you too.
 
jacksjg89 said:
Now, with a story that is truly yours, I’ll tell you what my old short story professor told me. Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.
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That is how I write as well. Often, I find that if I make changes (other than typos) I later decide that I preferred the original.

I'm not sure there is a correlation between how many drafts you do and the quality of the ultimate work. Among professional authors, some edit endlessly and some find when they get in a groove things flow quite quickly. I think the same is true of art-Picasso produced tens of thousands of works in his lifetime-sometimes three or more in a single day. Other painters, like Vermeer, did one a year or so. Yet both were certainly great.
 
windar said:
That is how I write as well. Often, I find that if I make changes (other than typos) I later decide that I preferred the original.

I'm not sure there is a correlation between how many drafts you do and the quality of the ultimate work. Among professional authors, some edit endlessly and some find when they get in a groove things flow quite quickly. I think the same is true of art-Picasso produced tens of thousands of works in his lifetime-sometimes three or more in a single day. Other painters, like Vermeer, did one a year or so. Yet both were certainly great.
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I was talking specifically about not editing your first draft, just get it all down, without hitting delete. Don’t edit for the sake of editing, but just make sure everything has its place.
 
Wow, great thread!

I'm not a typical writer and not very productive also. I wrote only four stories and all are a bit different. I use for writing a exclusive room in my house with a old and slow PC (WinXP). All the graphic stuff I produce in a other room. In the Atelier I not can stories write and in the writing room I not can producing paintings or manips.

A other thing, writing need all my power. A few nice manips I can made by the way or when a member posted a picture that me call, manip me!

1. "The captured Slave Pair". I wanted easyly try to write a story. The only storyline, crucifixion at the end. On a Mayday, I had free and the weather was rain, rain, rain. I start do 10:00 am with writing and finished the story after midnight. I knowed at morning not, what I will write this day. But it coming many thoughts as I wrote.

Remarkable, after this writing coming many ideas for other stories in my brain. Ok, a few goed wrong and not to the finish.

2. "The Heirloom" The idea coming at work and I wrote it in a few hours after work. I do not other things on this evening also.

3. "The Decision" A longer project. I wrote it after work and weekends. Maybe so 1 - 2 Months. Many reworking, inserting chapters with ideas, which coming while writing.

All three stories, I wroted before my time here started. And the friendly Eulalia and Wragg translated the stories to English.
The cut-outs and manips was later easier for me and needed not so many time and concentration. And no writing, no ideas.

4. "Stardust", a result of the Tash-Affair. It brought back the motivation for writing, a short time.

And I made the Manips long time later after the writing for the English translations and this forum.

Maybe I should try go back once time in the writing room for a new story. But I would need a volunteer Translator for this forum.
 
Sassi, I think my main problem is getting started, and finding time. This is why so little of my writing has appeared here. I have a few potential stories but they are bubbling under the surface. However, when one gets going properly I am like Barb, shooting ahead and letting the story and characters find their way. This is why I enjoyed writing with Barb so much, it was a constant backwards and forwards, playing off each other.
Having a deep well of potential plots and twists and characters may help, being a reader has usually helped one to become a writer.
We are all different.
"Writing goes slow and it is exhausting. Inventing a story is so much easier then to write it down!
Inventing a crux story is big fun. Writing is a hard job."
So, my advice would be to try and write the way you create in your head. Let the scenes flow, just get it all down and polish it later. You may be surprised at how well it comes out if you give it free rein.
 
Wragg said:
Tell me about it, Sassi... :(



That can be a problem. I want to care about the character and it does take time to build them into a character that I can believe in, and whose reaction to the cross induces emotion. My problem is that by then I'm in love with her, and I don't want to kill her :crybaby2::doh:
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I also tend to like filling in the scene and playing with the character rather than getting straight to to "Wham, bam, thank you ma'am" bits. This makes my writing somewhat long-winded, but I also find that some characters start to take on a life of their own.

I write sporadically, when time and opportunity allow. And I agree, writing in a language that is not your own is not easy.
 
Dear Cruxies
I am totally overwhelmed about sooo many answers! WOW! Thank you very much.
I found out: I am not alone. I am not the only one. That´s a good feeling.
I really liked to read all your answers but the most important message was this one:
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
When I read that it made BANG inside my head. It did feel like I ran into a wall. It opened doors inside my mind!
I did read it once and twice and again and again.
It is like playing music. If you play guitar, you cannot stop and start again in the middle of a song just because you made one Little mistake. You have to play the complete thing.
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
I will think at those words when I start a new story.
Big thanks for this special hint! I hope it will help me to become a better writer.
And my thanks to all of you.

Greez´n´kisses
Sassi
 
Sassi said:
Dear Cruxies
I am totally overwhelmed about sooo many answers! WOW! Thank you very much.
I found out: I am not alone. I am not the only one. That´s a good feeling.
I really liked to read all your answers but the most important message was this one:
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
When I read that it made BANG inside my head. It did feel like I ran into a wall. It opened doors inside my mind!
I did read it once and twice and again and again.
It is like playing music. If you play guitar, you cannot stop and start again in the middle of a song just because you made one Little mistake. You have to play the complete thing.
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
I will think at those words when I start a new story.
Big thanks for this special hint! I hope it will help me to become a better writer.
And my thanks to all of you.

Greez´n´kisses
Sassi
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As you write,just let your inner feelings flow.
 
Sassi said:
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
Click to expand...
That's my way of working too. An idea comes quickly, working it out in a story is more difficult, although I have written short stories in one rush. I try to work out some plot and characters. But that needs inspiration which stays away sometimes.
Concerning this thread, I made up my inventory, and I found I have fifteen stories under construction. :confused:
Patience has its own reward!:oops:
 
@ jacksjg89:
Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.

Thanks for that hint! It really works! I have written a short Story and it went well.
I have to translate it and looking foreward to post it here at the Weekend.
 
Sassi said:
Dear Cruxies
I am totally overwhelmed about sooo many answers! WOW! Thank you very much.
I found out: I am not alone. I am not the only one. That´s a good feeling.
I really liked to read all your answers but the most important message was this one:
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
When I read that it made BANG inside my head. It did feel like I ran into a wall. It opened doors inside my mind!
I did read it once and twice and again and again.
It is like playing music. If you play guitar, you cannot stop and start again in the middle of a song just because you made one Little mistake. You have to play the complete thing.
„Don’t edit your work while you are writing. Get the full story down, whether you like it or not, and then, as your start posting your chapters here, edit each one as you post.“
I will think at those words when I start a new story.
Big thanks for this special hint! I hope it will help me to become a better writer.
And my thanks to all of you.

Greez´n´kisses
Sassi
Click to expand...

Sometimes the right question can be as inspiring as the right answer. Thanks for asking the question that started this thread, Sassi. Obviously you got a lot of people thinking about their own writing process. As a result of thinking about my process, and taking some of the advice offered on this thread to heart, I finally completed another chapter of the story I've been procrastinating over for months. I tried to be aware of and avoid the stumbling blocks I put in my own way. I was not entirely successful at that--I still stop and edit far too much while writing the first draft, and I still wonder if anyone is going to actually read what I write, but I got it done.
 
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