I've been writing a lot lately. And I've come to the realization that I'm not a very good writer.

No, I'm not fishing for complements! I mean, this realization isn't exactly a shock to me. I've known for a long time that I have an ability to string words together, and that I can sometimes even get them to make sense. But I've known for years that when it comes to actual storytelling, my skills are woefully lacking, to say the least.

That never stopped me from wanting to write before. I always thought, "Keep writing and you'll get better." Sort of like exercising, I figured. So I told myself, "You're not going to see results right away, but if you just keep doing it eventually your stories will be amazing!".

The thing is, though, I exercise all the time. And my body stays fit. But I also write all the time, and my stories, well... they're not getting any better.

And that pisses me off. Because I read a lot. I love words, I love books! When I was dancing I was the only girl who read paperbacks during her breaks, because even in a dressing room at a strip club I couldn't resist the temptation to read. The other girls made fun of me sometimes for it, but that never bothered me. And to this day, I spend so much money on books it's stupid. So you would think that by now I would have learned how to craft a good story. I've read so many! But I clearly haven't.

A few weeks ago I realized that maybe I've been going about my writing the wrong way. Maybe I just assumed that since I knew the basics of English grammar, and was more less well read, I could become a good writer without ever having to actually study the craft. Yes, the craft! Don't giggle. Anyone who has ever tried to write fiction will understand me when I say writing is definitely a craft, a skill with rules that you need to master in order to be good at.

Unfortunately, though, I've only just realized this myself.

What if I had realized this back when I was going to college? If I had respected writing more, maybe I would have studied it. But it's too late for that now. Long time readers of this site will know that I can't afford college anymore. My college days are long gone and I have no degree. :( It's too late to go back and try to actually learn how to write.

I still think I could be a good writer, though. I have a ton of stories inside me-- I'm never lacking for ideas. I just lack the skill to tell my tales correctly.

So what should I do? For weeks now I've been obsessed with learning how to actually write good stories. I even checked out a book from the library (embarrassingly the book is intended for high-schoolers!) not long ago about the "essentials" of good fiction writing. Reading it has been an eye-opening experience but it's almost to much to bear! I'm so, so far behind the curve when it comes to writing good stories. Grr.

I need advice. I need help! College isn't an option but I have a lot to learn. Please, please... if anyone out there knows of a good book, or a good website, or a good... whatever! When it comes to the craft of writing, that is... if any of you reading this stupid little blog entry has a good idea of what I should do next in order to become a better writer, please tell me!!!

...and if you say, "Just keep writing" I'll kick you in the balls. :P

Recommendations!

"...clearly I'm geeked about finding a new author... to enjoy. Thank you for all the work you've put into your stories. I'm just mad I never discovered you before... I've been reading this stuff (erotica) for 13 years now, have been on SOL.net for more than four years, and only today I finally find you? It just is not fair! :("

Have you ever read a book that was so good you just had to share it with your friends right away? You loan the book out to someone and beg your friend to read it. Once they've done so you tell them to pass it on; you'd rather have more people enjoy it than have it back in your possession. If you never get the book back you don't care, so long as you know it's being enjoyed over and over again by many people, probably some of whom you don't know. You just want everyone, the entire world, to be able to experience the same giddy thrill you got from reading that novel the first time.

I'm like that. Lol, my bookshelf is packed tight with books I hate. The ones I love I just have to loan out, I just have to share them.

It has been a long, long time since I read an erotica story online that made me feel this way.

Now I have. Earlier today I discovered an amazing author named Rache. And she wrote a story that was so incredible that I nearly fainted while reading it. I was at work when I read it (slow day!). Once I started I just couldn't stop.

Let's cut to the chase: here's the link to her story (make sure you're logged into www.storiesonline.net first-- for the noobs it's a free sex-story site but you have to be registered to view its content; no spyware, no ads, 100% free, the real deal-- go reg, then click the following link): Long Fall to Forever.

Rache is the author. And I read all the installments of "Long Fall" at work. And I was pleased to discover the author has written many, many more stories besides on SOL. Because "Long Fall" is not only hot and well written, it's also intriguing, genuine, and compelling.

Right now I'm reading another of her stories from the same "world" LF takes place in (a story entitled "Runaway Dream"). I'm only about 1/4 of the way through of RD, but it is just as exciting, compelling, and awesome as the first story of hers I read, if not more so.

I don't want to spoil anything for you by telling you what these stories are about. Suffice it to say they're graphic, stirring, and definitely of the "forbidden" genre. And they are just... well, if you're like me you'll be hooked by the plot right away. I don't know how else to describe it.

I will say this: Rache is a terrific writer. She is superior to me in all ways when it comes to character development, plot, and creativity. And I don't easily say that!!! My ego is huge. But the fact that she can craft stories like this... wow. I didn't want to stop reading. I didn't want to stop cumming! Argh....

My one and only complaint about her is that she doesn't seem to proofread her works before posting. DO NOT CONSIDER THIS OBSERVATION AN INSULT, THOUGH! She occassionally makes a mistake like writing "your" instead of "you're". She occassionally makes a mistake by not identifying an article with its infinitive properly. Lord knows I've made many of the same mistakes. I'm just saying her stories aren't perfect.

But they are amazing. And easily the best erotic fiction I've read... ever?

Oh, I almost forgot! That quote at the beginning of this blog entry? That's from a fan mail I wrote to her earlier today. And though I always write to any author whose story "satisfies" me, I never gush like that. Never. I have literally never written such an embarrassingly complimentary e-mail to another writer before.

That's how much I loved this story. If you trust my judgment in such things, ignore the story codes. Just read either story I just posted links to. Or read her other ones... she's written over 100 (omg). And make sure to send her encouraging feedback, even anonymous feedback!

Let her know Shannon/PunkyGirl sent you! :P

-shannon-

SG Part Five (already)! :)

That's right, I just posted Part Five of "Suburban Girl" to storiesonline.net and alt.sex.stories.moderated! It should only take a couple hours before it shows up on SOL, and it usually takes a good 12-hours or more before it shows up on ASSM. I wish wish wish I could just upload the story here, too, but as I've mentioned before there seem to be some FTP problems at ASSTR.org. Grrr...

Anyway, you know what's crazy? Suburban Girl is about to reach 68,000 words! That means its on pace to easily eclipse "A Teen Slut's Saga" in length... crazy! When I started writing this story I had figured that by part five I'd be almost done, but once again I've kinda gone nuts and decided to make my poor victim (in this case, Becky) endure a lot more than I'd originally planned. Shrugs... it's been fun for me at least! And for some of you, too, based on the feedback I've been getting!

Speaking of feedback, I want to apologize to everyone who has taken the time to write me about this story and still waiting for my reply. I hope you believe me when I say that your letters really, truly inspire me to keep writing, and are very much appreciated! The same goes to those who have posted about SG in the forum, commented on this blog, or sent me anonymous comments via SOL's feedback thingy. I wish I had the time to reply to each letter and comment I've received but, well, I only have so much time every day to work on the story so I usually choose to spend all of it doing just that (which is why I'm already up to part five)! I hope you understand...

Okay, so you'll be able to see "Suburban Girl" Part Five at this link once SOL posts it. Make sure you're logged into SOL first or I don't think the link will work. As always, your "10/10/10" votes at that site are much appreciated, too! I've been getting a lot of them and they've helped to keep SG hovering at around the 8.42 average (for a while it dipped below 8.21...). Thanks!

shannon

p.s. In case you didn't notice, I've been labeling every post about SG in this blog... if you've missed any of my other SG related posts (or just want to stroll down memory lane!) you can always click the "Suburban Girl" label at the bottom of this post to see them all. :P

SG Part Four!

Yes, it's here! I just posted "Suburban Girl" Part Four to Storiesonline.net (if you're logged into that website right now you can click this link to go straight to it; if not, just login to SOL and do a search for "Suburban Girl"). I also posted it to alt.sex.stories.moderated but, as you know, posts to that newsgroup often take a while before showing up... so be patient, or sign up for SOL and see it now. :P

As always, if you're there anyway, go ahead and give "Suburban Girl" a 10/10/10 score! I appreciate SO MUCH all of you who have done so but there are so many anti-forbidden genre ppl out there right now that I literally received two 1/1/1/ scores last week. From the same person. Listen to this (actual) e-mail where the jerk confesses as much:

From: Truce2B
Date: October 31, 2007
Subject: {SOL} Feedback: Suburban Girl
Message: We all are sinner in the eye of the lord but you are sin more. You write becky to be a young slut a young girl with problmes. You give her no dviniation so she goes dogs. NO DIVINATION. she goes slave? you make her ultimate sinner! You must , need, rot in hell. Give me your real name. i will send u there. I will hunt u down and do lords work. In mean-time u get 1s from me and my other*. Your story will bury. NO ONE SHOULD READ IT. 1111111111111111111111111111111s are all u get.

*I got all 1's (1.1.1) for Suburban Girl twice last week, like I said. The first came at 1:12am Oct. 31, and the second vote occurred at 1:20am, Oct 31. The above e-mail came at 1:48am that same day. Coincidence? Shrugs!

Anyway! I hope (most) of you enjoy part four of SG. Bye!

-shannon-

OMG, I wrote that?!

Ugghh!!! I was just rereading chapter six of "A Teen Slut's Saga". I liked it at first but then I got to chapter seven and had to stop.

IT IS SO BAD. I mean, chapter six is so horribly written that I am at a loss to explain why I ever posted it. And chapter seven? Even worse.

I've written worse things but I never posted them! Why did I post this crap? Ughhhhh.

I write all the time, you see. I just don't post CRAP like this. Is it possible I actually thought at one time that chapters six and seven of ATSS were good? Shudder! I so hope not. Could I have been that fucking dumb?

I am utterly embarrassed to realize how bad my writing can be.