I think you might want to change your mindset here, Julie. Being a good author isn't about following a standard of what you think is "good;" it's about perfecting your own voice. When I look back at some of my earlier works, I cringe at some of the grammatical errors, and the overall 'cheese' in my narrative, but it is still unequivocally my voice. I have since gotten a lot better at writing with my voice, but it's a constant battle to improve, and one of the best ways to do that, is by reading other people's works. If I admire the way someone did something, or if someone writes in a way I never would have thought of, my first reaction isn't a temptation to plagiarize, or to be disheartened by the other author's skill. What I do instead, is see how I can incorporate what I liked into my voice. Then it's not stealing, but learning. If someone turns a phrase in way that intrigues me, I see how I can use it in my lexicon. If someone structures a sentence in a way I never would have thought of, I see how I can use that structure with my own phrasing.

When you see something another author does that wows you, you should not be disheartened; you should be inspired. People follow you and read your works because they love the voice that tells it. Always seek to improve that voice, and you'll be golden.

 

From where do you click on the votes? I look at my posted stories, but it doesn't allow me to click on the votes.
Tina

 

Click on the actual number of votes.

 

I don't see anything like "Actual Number of Votes". What screen are you looking at when you see that?
Tina

 

When I click on the number of votes, it brings up a "Vote List" but it's always empty.

 

Hi to all the wonderful people that put their words into stories. I am Sara, I am not a great writer, but i love to read and i find myself drawn into a good story, the beautiful people here that take the time to help out fellow writers and give constructive advice is well and truely appreciated, i guess we all start somewhere, and as the topics here interest me i have tried to put my fantasies and desires into words, not always very well but i have recieved enough good advice that i feel confident in attempting to move forward with my love of writing , hopefully now better educated in how to continue , many thanks to the kind words and encouragement from some of the wonderful authors here.

 

Which is why I select "Only registered voters" to eliminate the anonymous 'troll' votes. It doesn't work all the time, but it helps. I do the same thing with the comments as well.

 

On the topic of writer's block: I find that my I'm limited in my creativity and will to write when I'm influenced by external stresses or a lack of sleep. It can be difficult to put everything else aside and focus long enough to write something I'm proud of. Getting started again after a break can be the hardest part, but once I've begun writing I find it hard to stop. So my advice for anyone else who struggles with writer's block is to just power through and put words on paper. That can be therapeutic in and of itself.

I'm really enjoying reading everyone else's thoughts on this forum, your insights are invaluable. C:

 

I agree wholeheartedly, Loretta. That right there is the exact reason I wanted to start this forum - I post mainly to this website but noticed that as time went on the community felt more and more fragmented. For what it's worth, I'm already grateful to have met the friends I've made through this very subforum, and thank you all for being such active, and surprisingly consistent, participants in this forum and community.

 

Talking with people and trusting people to have your best interest in mind are two very different things. I like to dip my toe before I dive head first. Makes for a more imformed decision. If people need to trash your stories to make themselves feel more relevant, maybe its best to let them as aposed to fighting someones narcissistic behavior's.

 

I totally agree with TCS's post. When someone writes a negative comment or votes down a story, it has very little to do with the quality of the writing. I'll use my Femme Domme series as an example.

I've received dozens of emails and comments telling me in no uncertain terms the direction they want the series to go because these readers want their particular kink satisfied. Pegging is awesome to some, despised by others. Some men want to read about their wives fucking the entire football team, while others think cuckolding is a mortal sin.

For me, it comes down to never being able to please everyone. I think you have to get to a place where you're writing for yourself, even if that means scores and comments take a hit.

 

If anyone needs help editing a story (<10,000 words) I can help (under the assumption that you may do the same for me in the future).

 

I might take you up on that offer sometime, White Walls. I would of course be happy to reciprocate. C:

 

@Loretta Roberson I'm assuming you are referring to a verbal altercation and not a physical fight.

For me it's all about emotion and how your characters interact with each other. My husband and I have had some pretty good fights over the years and I really draw from that when I write. In my relationship with him, there are always "low blows" things you say In the Heat of the Moment and then regret later because they were so ugly. When you write, the extreme makes an impact on the reader.

I'm not sure if this helps, but I hope it does.

 

@Loretta Roberson

Like, an actual fight? If you mean a fist fight, and not a verbal fight, I think its most effective to first start out with a tension-building scene...

The bar had been cleared for us, the patrons crowding the makeshift ring, blocking any hope of exit. There was no backing out now. The air was thick with tension, the sounds of clinking glasses and revelry dwindling to give way to the muted tones of excited whispers, and bated breaths. Tony squared up across me. Six foot-three, easily over two-hundred pounds, and enraged with liquor and testosterone, he would've struck an intimidating figure for a less experienced fighter. But that wasn't me. I looked at him, and all I saw were flaws. Too slow, too bulky, too fucking stupid. This would be easy. We assessed each other, eyes never leaving our locked positions, our bodies adjusting as the gap between us closed with each calculated step.

Then go to the action suddenly.

And he struck, a meaty fist colliding into my jaw, wrenching my head to the side. That was unexpected. I stumbled back as the crowd erupted; apparently my face was the starting bell. Tony came at me like a bull, no tact, no footwork, only brawn and rage and the sight of weakened prey. I barely ducked his next blow, sidestepped a hay-maker that would've embedded me into the floorboards, then dance backward, catching my breath and my bearings. Tony charged again, his shirt darkened with his exertion, his teeth bared in a snarl. He telegraphed his next move, and I had a heartbeat to lean back as the uppercut sang past my chin. He was open. I continued the motion, rotating downward, building momentum, and finding my angle. My fist collided into Tony's outstretched ribs, and I felt them give under the knuckles. Tony grunted, doubling over and backing away. I'd hurt him, but adrenaline was keeping the fear out of his eyes, and replacing it with blind wrath. He came at me again, not bothering to even get into a stance, just relying on his weight and momentum to overwhelm me. I sidestepped, ducked, and sent a blow into his gut. It should've bent him in half, but it was like my fist met a wall. Oh, fuck. His hands were on me. Meaty fingers wrapping around my face, their stench in my nostrils. Before I could even register what had happened, the back of my head was driven against the floor, a concussive shock blasting through my skull. Boom. My face whipped to the side, an iron taste filled my mouth. Boom. My neck warped with the next blow, my teeth chipping flakes onto my tongue. Boom. A crunching noise, a visceral pain, and my sinuses were filled with blood. The world was blurry. The faces were laughing, and cruel. There was a cheer, a bellow of victory, and Tony stood over me, fists raised in triumph, face tilted to receive the adulation of his peers. My head flopped to the side. I was too dazed and too pained to feel the humiliation. That would come later, when I replayed this moment over and over again before I went to sleep. I felt something cold and wet on my face, and realized that Tony was pouring his beer on me. The patrons laughter was that of demons, and Tony's imperious stare was that of the devil himself, but I only cared about one face in the crowd. She looked at me, pity in her sapphire eyes. Then Tony's arm was wrapped around her, and she melted into his embrace, the pity fading from her gaze to stare up at him with unbridled admiration. Tony looked back at me, then grabbed Laura by the ass, and pushed her giggling into the crowd.

Ok, I went a little overboard with this, but you get what I did, right? Action, reaction, break. Action, reaction, break. That's the rhythm of a fight, so that's how you should write it. Sparsely sprinkle any internal monologues, as you want to convey what they're feeling, but you don't want to break the action with a lengthy tangent (that is, unless the fight itself is just the backdrop for a more important internal narrative). Make sure to include visceral sensations with the action so that the blows being dealt don't seem ineffectual. Hope this helps!