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PrivateRickmers
Over 90 days ago
United States

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Several days ago "Just Once in My Life," by the Righteous Brothers began to play in my mind. It was never a favorite of mine, but now I listen to it again and again on Youtube. I like the sound, and the lyrics are appealing to me also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2vMp0kJHyo

There's a lot of things I want
A lot of things that I'd like to be
But girl I don't foresee
A rags to riches story for me
There's just one little dream
I've got to make come true
There's just one round I've got to win
I can't be a loser with you

Chorus:

And baby, baby
Just once in my life
Let me get what I want
Girl, don't let me down
Just once in my life
Let me hold on to
The good thing I've found
Don't let me down
Baby, say that you'll be stayin'...

'Cause I couldn't face the day
If you weren't here by my side
And if you went away
Then I'd be left without any pride
I've given up on schemes
'Cause every one fell through
I've given up so many things
Don't ask me to give up on you

(Repeat Chorus)

That old pot of gold
Ain't so easy to find
But if you'll stand by me
Girl, I'll keep peace of mind
I can't give you the world
But I will work hard for you, girl
Yes, I'll work hard (everyday)
All my life (you will see)
If you won't leave me (baby, don't leave)
Please don't leave me (oh no don't leave)
Just do this for me, baby

(Repeat chorus twice & fade out)
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by DirtyMartini
5 Creative Flaws That Will Expose Your Lack of Storytelling Experience...

There are a million ways to cripple a story. Here are five of them. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being inexperienced (we’ve all been there). Unless it shows up in your story in a way that detracts from it.

Anyway...here is the link...do you agree with all of them?
http://storyfix.com/5-creative-flaws-that-will-expose-your-lack-of-storytelling-experience


Somewhat to my surprise I have not been guilty of any of those flaws. My writing has been called sparse, but you know where you are in one of my stories, and you know what is happening.

I will write, "He put on his coat and walked to the drug store." Someone else might devote a page to describing that, but is a page really necessary? Anything in addition should be relevant to the story. Why does he walk, rather than drive his car? Does he have a car? If not, why not? (I don't, BTW.) Is his coat expensive, inexpensive, old, or new? What kind of a neighborhood does he walk through? If the answers to any of those questions are relevant the story, they probably should be included, otherwise they should not be.
Active Ink Slinger
I submitted my story in a Holiday Season contest on an erotic stories website. Although those who commented on my story had nice things to say, my story is not winning the contest. That is because there is no sex in it at all. I asked another poster if she knew of a internet forum that featured stories like mine, and she recommended this one.

My story is a PG Rated love story about a German soldier and a Jewish girl during World War II. When I post it I hope some of you read it and like ti.
Active Ink Slinger
The main thing I want to know from a reader of one of my stories is, "Did you enjoy it?"

When asked to evaluate the writing of someone else I will first consider technical quality. Are there misspelled words, errors of grammar, and errors of capitalization? If there are, I have difficulty taking the story seriously. The next thing I will consider is appeal to me. The third thing I will consider is appeal to the intended audience. Many internet forums and websites feature pornographic stories, but my tastes in erotica are fastidious, and I will admit that to someone asking for my evaluation.
Active Ink Slinger
The main thing I want to know from a reader of one of my stories is, "Did you enjoy it?"

When asked to evaluate the writing of someone else I will first consider technical quality. Are there misspelled words, errors of grammar, and errors of capitalization? If there are, I have difficulty taking the story seriously. The next thing I will consider is appeal to me. The third thing I will consider is appeal to the intended audience. Many internet forums and websites feature pornographic stories, but my tastes in erotica are fastidious, and I will admit that to someone asking for my evaluation.
Active Ink Slinger
If you have a choice between using a large word and a small word, use the small word. If you have a choice between using a large word and several small words use the large word if it has fewer syllables than all of the small words.

Shorten the sentences whenever possible by dividing them. When you use "and" you can often begin a new sentence. When you use "but" you can often begin a new sentence beginning with, "Nevertheless."
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Quote by Louise


My grandfather used to be a typewriter salesman. He sold and repaired them for most of his life. Everytime I see one I'm taken back to his workshop. I can almost smell the turpentine he used to clean them. And the 'bing' noise they made when they got to the end and had to be reset to the right. He always used to type the ' the quick brown fox...' phrase to use all the letters in the typewriter.


A teenager might look at a typewriter and wonder,"Where's the enter key?"
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Quote by scooter
Lisa,
I can't think of one.
I've never had much problem with similar words. My problem lies in spelling them.
Sometimes I'll spell them wrong but know better. Of Course the spell checker can't find it because it's a real word.
Simple stuff like; no and know, even Ben and been. Once I get tired who knows what may come of my fingers?
But the true meanings are not a problem.


If spell checker does not help, try using an internet search engine. Try various spellings. The search engine will help. You can also get a definition of the word to make sure you are using it properly. I managed to get through high school and college with nothing but a manual typewriter and a dictionary, but personal computers, word processing, and the internet are invaluable helps to a writer.
Active Ink Slinger
If we are talking about why some authors fail to become professional writers, I think we should acknowledge that the odds against earning one's living by writing fiction are rather daunting. My advice is that one should accept the odds, and write the kinds of stories one would enjoy reading if someone else wrote them. After doing that it may be beneficial to modify the story to reach a market of readers, but one should not compromise one's tastes and standards. In posting stories on the internet I will not use obscene words, for example.
Active Ink Slinger
If we are talking about why some authors fail to become professional writers, I think we should acknowledge that the odds against earning one's living by writing fiction are rather daunting. My advice is that one should accept the odds, and write the kinds of stories one would enjoy reading if someone else wrote them. After doing that it may be beneficial to modify the story to reach a market of readers, but one should not compromise one's tastes and standards. In posting stories on the internet I will not use obscene words, for example.