want to write

[Morrighan]

I've never outlined my stories either, but then, I've never finished one. I write until the inspiration leaves me, and rarely does it return. "The Punisher" is actually the longest piece that I've ever been consistently happy with, and sorry to disappoint the fans, but I don't know that I can go back and finish it.

Back to advice--as far as whether you do or don't outline, or how, when, and where you write, there can be no advice, really. Every writer is different. Some can sit themselves down from 9 am to 5 pm and write something wondrous. Others, myself included, can only hope inspiration will strike and that there's a computer somewhere when it does. Inspiration struck me once in my truck on my way to work, and I actually went 85 mph trying to get to my computer in time before it left me. (Didn't make it). Sounds funny, I know, but it's the essence of art. Find out what works for you and stick with it. If you're as temperamental a writer as I am, I'll pray for you.

Morrighan

[Lord Douche]

Not outlining your story is fine for something that goes on this site most of the time; little plot or character development, and lots of sex. If you want to put plot in though, you need planning, if you want it to be any good. Or else you quickly become lost.
LD

[Powerone]

Not outlining your story is fine for something that goes on this site most of the time; little plot or character development, and lots of sex. If you want to put plot in though, you need planning, if you want it to be any good. Or else you quickly become lost.
LD

I have to disagree. I have never written an outline for any story that I have written. I usually have an idea of what the story is going to be about, but by time i am finished, that has usually changed. I think an outline is a little too structured.

P1

[Morrighan]

I half-agree with Powerone. Outlines are a personal preference. Some people have to have an outline--my mother is one. She has her stories laid out chapter by chapter. As I've said, I'm a temperamental writer. There are really very few rules when it comes to writing.

Morrighan

[Lord Douche]

No offence Powerone, but most of your stories don't involve too much plot, at least not the ones I've read I was meaning a long story, with a detailed storyline and things like that. You need to have an outline of the storyline, rather than each individual chapter.
LD

[GaryWilcox]

I suspect that Parker... my favorite writer on BDSMLibrary, just a hair ahead of Woodsman'sGame, Kallie Thomas, and Faibhar... doesn't outline and just writes plots off the top of his head.

But that's because he's a brilliant writer-- not everyone can do the complex plot thing, planning or not.

For a new writer starting out, I do recommend habits of discipline. Outlining plots will probably help. But don't get locked in to something if you see a better path.

[Lord Douche]

Of course not. I've changed the direction of my story several times through writing it. It always takes a little thought, trying to keep it consistent with what happened previously, but that's half the fun!
LD

[Powerone]

No offence Powerone, but most of your stories don't involve too much plot, at least not the ones I've read I was meaning a long story, with a detailed storyline and things like that. You need to have an outline of the storyline, rather than each individual chapter.
LD

No offense taken. I just look at what the readers love. My stories have won two Literotica Readers Awards for 2003. My latest story on Literotica got 34,000 views in 2 days. I write for the readers not the writers. They seem to like my plots. As for long stories, I have never seen a "short story" that I could do in less then 17 pages.

P1

[LaJan]

And all I ever got was one single "Editor's Pick" at Literotica! Worse, they rejected all the stories I got to post here, saying something about them being "tasteless, worthless drivel"...

I am sooooo jealous. :[

No offense taken. I just look at what the readers love. My stories have won two Literotica Readers Awards for 2003. My latest story on Literotica got 34,000 views in 2 days. I write for the readers not the writers. They seem to like my plots. As for long stories, I have never seen a "short story" that I could do in less then 17 pages.

P1