I do not want any donations for my writing in monetary form, but I do have a request that involves no money.
Let me quote Idiocracy "I love money, no, like I REALLY love money, tho."
As much as I love money, I STILL don't write for money and I wouldn't accept money. (I don't knock anyone who does - I just don't. That's not why I am here.)
Obviously, I could try to make some money with Patreon or Bookapy but I write for the JOY of it.
I write so that I can see through the eyes of my characters in real time as I pen down the most interesting point in their lives.
My endings are often terrible (IMHO) because I am trying to say goodbye to a beloved character and leave them somewhere that nothing interesting is happening or else I'd just keep going with that story and I have other stories to tell.
I take them as far as I think they need to go - obviously, more things happen to them later. I've done sequels to play with a beloved character again, but generally - at some point - we have to part ways, and I have to conclude the story, and that's difficult.
I also write for a selfish reason, and that is I write the kind of stories I would like to read. My hope is that it inspires people to write something like it/of the same theme, or even with those characters in a new adventure.
I have a couple deals that I made with myself:
1. Completely write the story before publishing it. I have two on here before I made that deal which are languishing because I don't know how to end the story. I don't like to leave readers hanging. (I will probably remove them).
2. Read as much as I write. Unfortunately, a small percentage of stories on the site interest me. I've read most of the older ones that I enjoy. I still find old ones from time to time that I missed.
I try to stay FRESH as an author. Exposure to other people's styles and ideas is helpful to keep me trying new techniques or types of stories.
I read as much as I wrote, but it has to be something that would potentially turn my screws.
If it is a story about Frankenstein riding a surfboard and granting wishes to his Futa Harem? or Lifetime Melodramatic movies about a busy exec who comes home for Christmas and meets her high school sweetheart selling Christmas Trees?
I'll be honest, I am not going to be able to read it. You can/should write that if that's your thing. Don't let me limit you! I am just trying to get you to write anything and hoping if you read my stuff - it's going to be up my alley.
I'll watch/read things that I do not want to do personally. I'll watch a Horror movie, it doesn't mean I want to participate in one and live through it. I write situations the same way, but they have to appeal to me on some level.
I get it; if my stuff doesn't appeal to you - wouldn't want to convince you otherwise.
What I want to do, though is ask you in the nice way possible - if you read my stuff and want to GIVE BACK to me? Consider writing a story if you haven't even done it before.
If you don't think you can, you are underestimating yourself.
I started out thinking nobody would read my stuff. Trolls actively discouraged me (And still sometimes do) but I keep going. I just hit block and keep rolling.
The ONLY people who are going to put down your story and discourage you from writing (besides you) are TROLLS.
If you are trying, and starting out - most authors on here will appreciate and lend a hand to you to get you started because we were where you are.
I certainly was and I certainly will. I am not the best. Am I trying to be? no. I am trying to have fun. It's FUN writing, not a chore and it shouldn't' feel like anyone is judging you.
Trolls are sad weepy little fucks that get their jollies knocking shit down and trying to make everybody else as frustrated as they are - who cares what they think? They are meaningless, their time is clearly worthless since they spend it trolling, so their opinions are equally as valuable as they are. They have so little power in their real lives that they seem intent on trying to have power over someone else's self-esteem. The moment you accept that they had none- they fuck off because they don't want to be reminded how sad they are.
(Which I just did, because IDGAF).
I spend zero fucks on trolls. I used to, but now I spend all my fucks on people who are worthwhile.
So here is my deal to you:
Let's say you are a fan of my stories and think "You know, I've enjoyed Eddie's stories...maybe I should give him something for his effort."
Give me a story. I'll drink the ink before it is dry as long as it's something along the themes of my stories.
I really don't give a fuck what you write, as long as it gets you off. I am just saying -I'll be flattered as hell if you write something I'd enjoy because of something I took my time writing.
Otherwise, I could just write for my personal edification and that of my friends, and stop wasting my time trying to fine tooth edit these stories before posting.
Hit me up with a press of contact author and let me know where you posted it/the name of it, or just send it to me in system mail on here.
I don't trade email addy's on any other site - here is just fine!
If you haven't written before, you probably have a lot of reasons that boil down to "I dont think I can"
You can.
Imagine you are sitting across the bar from me, and we are shooting the shit. We know each other well enough that it's not weird to tell each other stories.
I tell you some freaky shit about a mom that likes getting her ass slapped, and you enjoy it.
YOUR TURN.
Think of a freaky situation, or the most interesting time in someone's life, or a coming of age, or basically a STORY YOU WANT TO READ BUT IT DOES NOT EXIST.
That becomes your 'premise' - sort of a seed of a story. That and a little time is all you need to get started.
Write What You Know/Like: If you aren't writing something you are interested in then don't do it. I don't feel I do fight scenes well or I'd write a bunch of stories that include it.
However, I do research things that I do not know to include in my stories.
In order to get started, don't do that. Just stick with something you know, and would enjoy. My world is middle America, Trailer parks, Suburbs.
Most of my stories are in that comfort zone of a setting that I can visualize and sink my teeth into.
After you do ONE story, you can think about getting out of your comfort zone, but don't do that at first. What's wrong with comfort, anyway? Take all the time you need, and you will grow as a writer with time.
I wrote a pretty cool story called "My Son's Dared Me" Set in the UK. I researched life over there - but it made me uncomfortable trying to write believable English characters. Stick with what you do know, and maybe even base some characters on almagamations of people you met and life experiences you had. They will ring true that way.
What I do is create the main characters and that initial premise. "Okay, it's a hot mom with big titties, and her son is getting bullied" and all the main characters and then I do something called Free Write.
You may be familiar with this concept;
FREE WRITE STEPS
1. Do not have any plan other than some characters and a setting/situation.
2. Write
Just put your fingers on keys and write. Do not give two fucks about story arcs, or grammar or punctuation - nothing. Just tell the story to your Uncle Eddie, while we sit in the bar and check out asses and tits and shoot the shit.
Tell a story, like you are talking to a friend you know. That's a good way to start.
That's what I do. "Free Write" - you are just telling a story and if you want to spend the whole chapter describing a meal, then do it.
See what you get. If you like it after you read it, edit it - spell check and tweak. Remove garbage, elaborate on the details.
You can get a tool called Grammarly for your browser to help you spell check, or the paid version. Ms Word. Editing is a bitch. I got nothing there to make that easy. Having something WORTH editing I can help with.
If you do that for me, I'll keep doing that for you.
I'll probably keep doing it anyway, because by writing I get to see the world through the eyes of my characters and enjoy living in their world instead of this shitty one - but I had to ask.
Give it a shot. You can even use a pseudonym to hide your account handle if you are worried about it.
SOL makes it SO easy to submit a story. It couldn't be simpler. It's just an upload wizard.
You get free membership if you publish enough stories - so that's nice.