Pete Fox: Blog

I just started releasing Brothel Night. An idea that I have had for a long time. Took me a few months to figure out how to write this story. I wrote 30 Word pages in about a week at the end of the summer. I also shared it with EazinAlong who had the original idea.

I also decided I was not creating art, just a fun story so stopped messing around and pushed it out. I have three more chapters not including and ending to publish this month.

Update since I posted the first chapters an editor volunteered to take a pass at it. Thanks to Steve for improving the work.

As to the girls outfits I was inspired by Black Fox Lingerie, search it out if interested in seeing the outfits, they also do photography.

I did get distracted by writing some Wheel of Time Fanfic over on Ao3 after I listened to the first book in the last week.

There will be more chapters possibly chp 2 this week followed by 3 that just need work. Any constructive feedback appreciated.

Readers just a short update.

An author I like an follow Peter Duncan (great works of his own) took it on himself to work over some syntax in my story Massage with Friends which he felt could have a higher score with a little clean up. I took his edits and followed up with my first stab at using free Grammarly program. It woks. So that is updated. Thanks Peter.

I also got a bug in my pants to look again at Dutch Daughter. A story I rewrote from another author that I always liked. I ran it through Grammarly and made a few detail additions. That has an update as of today. Maybe a part II in the future.

Lastly I finally used this program a third time on a Star Trek Picard fanfiction I have had with me for a year. Its a stoke story. Don't look for plot. You need to be familiar with the show.

I continue to work on details and improve my own spelling and grammar.

Enjoy.

My previous post 'Suspending disbelief - Writers get your details correct', hit a nerve. In a good way. I want to condense a couple of points that were the gist of the 10 or so replies.

Yes please, accurate details mater to the story is the main comment. To many stories on SOL fail in this area was the consensus. When a writer takes the time to supply accurate details the story tends to be better received. Main issue, failing to check easily verifiable information or to simply provide the information. It feels lazy. Again, trust comes into play. By supplying believable factual details that support your plot (or
fictional world) you build trust with your reader. Once the reader see's you care and have gotten real world details correct the suspension of disbelief is more likely. I believe the reader will accept your plot or premise no matter how far out if you ground the story in checkable details. Let's face it there are a lot of far out plots on SOL so the more we do to help the suspension of disbelief the better.

There are two sides to the coin. Writers who don't bother, saying details don't mater (that is the sound of me moving on to the next story in my Q). The other, too many details. I call this the 'sharing all your research and knowledge' that can have the effect of slowing down the flow or distracting from the plot. (I recently read a story, excellent writing, on SOL where half of the dozen chapters were on physics and math most of which had little to do with the story). Find the balance, think of the reader. Do the details add to the story?

But what do you do when you get the details wrong? I think as a writer if the detail is important to the overall story make the correction. I don't sweat the small mistakes I read, but it is the cumulative effect of many small ones or a big one or two that kills that suspension of disbelief. As a reader we expect the writer to do the work if you want our time. That is the feedback I received. The SOL writer Lubrican has a rule that a month after he publishes he reposts/updates again after he has received feedback to catch detail and other mistakes. Good policy.

A couple people spoke about another detractor bad grammar and spelling. I raise my hand as an offender. I would agree this can be a problem. So writers should take the time to do the basics of spelling, grammar and reading up on things like how to write dialog. It was suggested the free version of Grammarly is a good tool. I have learned a lot from editors and feedback on my few tries at erotica. There are a lot of easily fixable preventable mistakes. I do make corrections when informed but grammar is not my strength.

Another argument sent to me was that plot is more important along with strong characters than details. I would argue that plot and good characters supported by a few good details will make for a great story.

The bottom line from feedback is that readers want good details. They expect writers to do the work to check to makes sure they have their details correct. When the writers fails on the details the story fails and the reader walks away most often.

I will end with two of my favorite writers on SOL as they always post quality work. Both these writers get details correct but are also excellent at 'setting the scene' painting with words so to speak where we are going to spend time.

First Lubrican who I wrote a story based off his Prick Van Winkle epic. He does details better than well most anyone. We exchange some email and his comments on dialog were very helpful when I wrote my story based on his. A link https://storiesonline.net/s/49486/prick-van-winkle?ind=1 . All his works are good and he takes feedback.

The other melanieatplay, she has about 20 stories posted she writes mostly about the Las Vegas area. She does a fantastic job of giving the reader details they need to set the stage and see the story. I loved her short story placed in 1960 Las Vegas, https://storiesonline.net/s/22175/an-evening-at-the-copa . Again she takes and appreciates feedback.

I would love to hear about any other authors that you think do the details well. I might do a third post capturing a few to help the reader who is looking out.

My biggest complaint is writers who do a poor job of checking to make sure their facts are correct. Because when they fail its hard to suspend my disbelief on the rest of the story as needed.

What do I mean. Well in order for the reader to believe your plot often involving unlikely situations you need to ground a story in as many true facts as possible. eg If you are writing about London in the 1900s figure out a few details that place your reader there. And get them correct. Now I recently heard this from a main stream writers who has over 40 published novels. When he reads a book and finds details that he knows are wrong he starts to question the premise and the story itself. For me that is even more important here in SOL when a lot of the settings like family sex parties or sexy time travel. Know how a pistol works if your character uses one; know who the President is or when a great war started. Giving the reader a believable world will create a better story allowing the reader to believe in you no matter how far out your plot.

All this to say search engine is your friend and the tubes. Use them.

And writers don't get in a huff when people tell you your facts are wrong. Make the changes, if you care.
End of rant.

I finally reposted a reedit of this story that was in my file for a couple of years. My attempt at the first person perspective. Many writers on SOL and other sites go the route of 'true life', this is fantasy but inspired by people I have known. That was a bit uncomfortable. I want to thank aroslav for a quick review of the story and nudge. I am working on a sexy visit to an nudist resort that is sexy but yet still stays true to nudism's values.