## future sticky post

Post by zanev » Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:49 am

Here you guys go, you can start working on the story guidelines here...
I close my eyes, Inis Mona
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Inis Mona
As long as I breathe
I'll call you my home

### Re: future sticky post

Post by bondagefreak » Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:23 am

Thank you Zanev, for moving us forward with the project.
I will start off here, but I will do so slowly so as to allow as many of our members to participate.
Hopefully Xtc, Jason T, shootbinladen, Scottstud, drawscore and our other writers will follow suite.
I would like to work on composing the introduction part of the guide.
Here is the draft I have to offer for the guide introduction.
___________________________________
GUIDE: How to write a good story
Hello dear writer,
This guide has been written and put together by a collection of our members and the authors of our most successful stories, to aid you in your own journey. Writing a story takes time and skill...but writing a good story takes even more time and skill.
For most of us, writing is a hobby. We do it for our own enjoyment, but also for the enjoyment of others.
We want our stories to be liked and enjoyed by those who read them and we also want to get some positive and constructive feedback.
To achieve this though, the stories we write need to be well written and involving.
Here are some tips our forum has to offer to help you write good stories:
___________________________________
TIPS/ADVICE
A FEW EXAMPLES OF GOOD STORIES
CONCLUSION
If this is acceptable, we can move ahead to the next step.
If would be good to hear from many of you, in hopes of gathering tips and pointers that can help new ones write good stories. What are some of the characteristics found in high quality stories ?...etc
This should take MAX a few days.
Then we can gather a handful of examples, compose a conclusion and ask Zanev to revise and post with his account.

### Re: future sticky post

Post by drawscore » Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:14 pm

I posted this back in February, and since it seems applicable to this thread, I've dredged it up, and it is re-posted here:
Writing is an acquired talent or skill. Usually, the more of it you do, the better you become. To that end, here are some tips for writers that might be of help to our budding litterarii: (lit-ter air'-e-i)
1. Don't use no double negatives.
2. Make each pronoun agree with their antecedent.
3. Join clauses correctly, like a conjunction should.
4. About them sentence fragments.
5. When dangling, watch your participles.
6. Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
7. Just between you and I, case is important.
8. Don't write run-on sentences they are hard to read.
9. Don't use commas, which aren't necessary.
10. Its important to use apostrophe's correctly.
11. Try not to ever split infinitives.
12. Correct speling is essenshul.
13. Proofread your work to see if any words out.
14. A preposition is a poor word to end a sentence with.
15. Don't be redundundant.
Hope this helps.
Drawscore

### Re: future sticky post

Post by burner59 » Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:44 pm

Oh well thanks a lot for covering everything Drawscore! XD
But, to add onto your list:
Use colons and semi only when applicable,
Seperate paragraphs,
Indent, and
Spell correctly (I'm sure that we have all passed English at some point in time, and there is a reason why spell check exists.)
And most importantly, don't use all caps whenever un-neccessary.
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### Re: future sticky post

Post by bondagefreak » Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:11 am

Love the list ! But I disagree with burner59...this covers only a small part of what we need to prepare.
Grammar, spelling and punctuation, etc, only represent a small aspect of writing a good and involving story. So there is lots of room for others to participate.
A new writer could be very good with his grammar, but be completely off the mark when trying to get others to like and enjoy what he/she writes.
drawscore does mention something important. "Writing is an acquired talent or skill. Usually, the more of it you do, the better you become." But also, learning from the way others write, does help a lot...hence why we are trying to put together this guide.
One tip I have to offer:
TIP 1 - Don't try to cram too many actions into a short text.
Creating an involving story, means creating scenes and describing actions so that your readers will be able put themselves into the shoes of either character. This is a forum for bondage addicts. Sentences like "He tied her to the chair." just don't cut it. You need to describe the actions with some detail. Make the events in your story as though they were real, so that we can be "there" with the characters.
Sentences like "He tied her to the chair." will only leave readers wondering: How was she bound ? Did she scream ? Did she offer resistance ? Was she in pain ? How was she secured to the chair ? etc, etc.
Avoid oversimplification and spend some time to develop all the actions that take place in the storyline.

### Re: future sticky post

Post by drawscore » Tue Sep 11, 2012 1:07 pm

Mr. SpellCheck is your friend. (Unlike Mr. Grenade, who is no longer your friend once the pin is pulled.)
Use SpellCheck. It will cut down a lot of errors. However, it is not perfect, and will not catch everything:
SPELLBOUND
I have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC.
It plainly marques for my revue,
Mistakes eye cannot sea.
I've run this poem threw it,
And I'm sure your please to no,
Its letter perfect in it's weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.
Run that through your spell checker, and it won't find any errors. Therefore, having a real person proofread the story, is essential.
Drawscore

### Re: future sticky post

Post by Jason Toddman » Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:20 am

Soooo.... is this it?
Far from covering everything, this isn't much to work on at all. Barely scratches the surface, if anything.
And it's too random to make an orderly manual out of it.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: future sticky post

Post by bondagefreak » Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:17 am

Exactly, but I am waiting for a few others to chip in. There is no way Zanev can publish this as a guide with "tips from our authors" if only two or three participants are involved.

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:30 am

Suggestion: could we suggest some examples of writers who DO demonstrate a "Good" writing style. They don't need to be perfect but should demonstrate good style.
Obvious suggestions would be:
Sarobah (obvious literary quality: takes time to set scenes and establish characters, just plain clever writing, doesn't start with formulaic description of characters but establishes them in the body of a piece, being Austrailian (no-probably not that one), etc.
Squirrel Clear paragraphing, well punctuated, etc.
Neither writer presents merely an un explained list of tie-ups buut weaves them into a proper story. That might be better than a list of stylistic considerations.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by zanev » Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:55 am

When you guys are done ONE of you PM me and tell me, key word being one.
I close my eyes, Inis Mona
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Inis Mona
As long as I breathe
I'll call you my home

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:20 am

I suggest Jason inform Zanev of progress. Any objections?
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by drawscore » Sat Sep 29, 2012 3:24 pm

Just to be annoying:
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes;
But the plural of ox should be oxen not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
But the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?
If I spoke of my foot and showed you my feet,
When I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
If the singular is this, and the plural is these,
Why shouldn't the plural of kiss be called kese?
Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet the plural of hat would never be hose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Now if mouse in the plural should be, and is, mice,
Then house in the plural, of course, should be hice,
And grouse should be grice and spouse should be spice
And by the same token should blouse become blice?
And consider the goose with its plural of geese;
Then a double caboose should be called a cabeese,
And noose should be neese and moose should be meese
And if mama's papoose should be twins, it's papeese.
Then if one thing is that, while some more is called those,
Then more than one hat, I assume, would be hose,
And gnat would be gnose and pat would be pose,
And likewise the plural of rat would be rose.
Drawscore

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:22 am

I'll pm those involved in this discussion with what Jason Toddman and myself have been discussing. There's an idea that I'm not sure about posting openly involved.
My own opinions to follow!
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:07 am

For what it’s worth, herewith, my twopennorth:
I think possibly that a style guide would be useful. Grammatical guidelines like Drawscore’s excellent jokes are unlikely to be understood by people who make such mistakes. Such people are unlikely to understand that, in the sentence, “A preposition is not a proper word to end a sentence with.” The word “with” IS a preposition.
Here are some of my bugbears/suggestions:
People tend to use contractions when speaking. “Johnny, I have told you before: please do not do that to the cat.” sounds odd unless “have” and/or “not” is/are being used for emphasis. On the other hand, contractions over-used outside direct speech can grate.
Modern style does not require paragraphs to be indented. Therefore it is important to leave a space between them. When writing dialogue, each change of speaker requires a new paragraph.
Leave a double space between sentences.
Q.) Why do we need correct grammar? A.) To make clear what we mean.
Q.) Why do we need correct punctuation? A.) To make clear what we mean.
Q.) Why do we need correct spelling? A.) I think you get the idea.
It is arrogant to put before people a piece of “work” that you have not checked.
Don’t keep changing tenses and don’t write to me as the second person in the present tense. “You walk in the room but you don’t see the big, scary monster lurking there so you scream” I KNOW that, I am there! Or are you giving me instructions? In fact avoid the historic present completely.
My biggest bugbear: people who start a piece of prose as if it were a script because they are too lazy to work descriptions and characterisations into their accounts of situations.
Oh no it’s not, that’s my second biggest (See what I mean about checking?), the biggest one is the “stories” that are merely lists of who did what with which and to whom with no connecting narrative, characterisation, description, motivation, . . . . . (Aargh! . . . . . It’s alright - I’ll take one of my pills now and lie down in a darkened room for a while.)
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by drawscore » Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:44 pm

>>>I think possibly that a style guide would be useful.<<<
It's only useful if people use it. If they don't use it, it's about as useful as pockets in underwear.
>>>Leave a double space between sentences.<<<
Yes. Unfortunately, there are some programs that don't recognize the second space, or any additional spaces. You can type in ten spaces between sentences, and the program will still give you just one.
But that's not a bad list. An addition might be to write to a specific level. In my works, I try to write to the high school (10th-11th grades) level. The theory, is that if you write above that, younger readers won't understand it. Write below that, and the older readers will think you are "talking down" to them. An example of writing well above the high school level would be something like:
"A triumvirate of optically deficient rodents.
Observe how they perambulate.
They all perambulated after the horticulturist's spouse,
Who removed their posterior appendages with a culinary instrument.
Have you ever observed such an optical phenomenon in your entire metabolic existence,
As a triumvirate of optically deficient rodents."
In case you didn't recognize it, that's "Three Blind Mice" translated for lawyers, politicians, and bureaucrats.
Drawscore

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:26 am

> drawscore wrote:>>>I think possibly that a style guide would be useful.<<<
> It's only useful if people use it. If they don't use it, it's about as useful as pockets in underwear.
> Drawscore

Jockstraps!
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by MattyH » Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:35 pm

Delete
Last edited by MattyH on Sun Dec 02, 2012 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

### Re: future sticky post

Post by drawscore » Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:31 pm

Minor errors we can live with. Glaring errors, especially spelling errors, detract from the story the writer is trying to tell, and are a huge turn off.
And it's so easy to correct a lot of the errors before they ever get posted. On this board, we have a built in spell checker, which puts a red wavy line underneath the misspelled word. All you have to do, is position the cursor over the word, and right click. You get a pop up menu listing the correct spelling. Click on that, and the misspelled word is replaced with the correctly spelled word.
Drawscore

### Re: future sticky post

Post by TUfriend » Wed Oct 10, 2012 9:14 pm

Has title been mentioned? It's obviously the first thing you see. The better the title, the more likely I will click on a story. I almost never read "X's first TUG"s or "My first tug" because I feel like they are all the same quality. That's not to say its a bad quality story, but its like putting a cute guy in sweat pants and a hoodie. On the inside its good, but the outside is unattractive that its a turnoff. Also, most people don't have time to read every story. So they will choose the ones that are more interestingly titled. One of my most popular stories(and my stories are meh) is titled "Never Underestimate the power of toilet paper." It makes the reader curious and is more enticing to read. Also, gender tags help a bit. Here is how I read them(although some deviate from the pattern):
M=male adult
m=male under 18
F=female adult
f= female under 18
(Tier(s)/tied)
ie. (m/m) is about one boy tieing up another boy.
Heil Toddman, the Wonderful Wizard of Odd
I'm a nerd with a dangerous side.
See my most recent TRUE story, "SPL Initiation", here.
Read my most recent FICTIONAL story, "The Birth of a Whovian", here

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Thu Oct 11, 2012 1:44 am

> TUfriend wrote:Has title been mentioned? It's obviously the first thing you see. The better the title, the more likely I will click on a story. I almost never read "X's first TUG"s or "My first tug" because I feel like they are all the same quality. That's not to say its a bad quality story, but its like putting a cute guy in sweat pants and a hoodie. On the inside its good, but the outside is unattractive that its a turnoff. Also, most people don't have time to read every story. So they will choose the ones that are more interestingly titled. One of my most popular stories(and my stories are meh) is titled "Never Underestimate the power of toilet paper." It makes the reader curious and is more enticing to read. Also, gender tags help a bit. Here is how I read them(although some deviate from the pattern):
> M=male adult
> m=male under 18
> F=female adult
> f= female under 18
> (Tier(s)/tied)
> ie. (m/m) is about one boy tieing up another boy.

Although there is much sense in what you say, I must disagree on a personal level. Some people's first posts are tremendous. Some aren't. But that's in the same proportion as any other group of writers. I wouldn't like to deny myself the enjoyment of reading any post form a good writer. I can always stop after the first few lines of drivel if that's what it is.
I have found that putting descriptions such as m/m into the titles puts a certain constitueney off even starting to read a story. Certainly, I have enjoyed reading the better written stories in certain categories that would not nomally attract me.
I do agree with you about titles but my most popular story has a really crummy title that doesn't seem to have put too many readers off.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by cellofello » Thu Nov 29, 2012 2:16 am

> MattyHerich wrote:Did I miss something? [...] I thought all stories and experiences were welcome on this board [...]
> If you don’t like the style, grammar, and content - why not just move on????

I think you are indeed missing something. Yes, even badly written stories are allowed on the board. But that doesn't mean that people are going to like them, or even bother reading past the first few mangled sentences. Some stories are so badly written that I find them too painful to read even though I realize there is probably a hot story hidden underneath the leaden prose. In other words, I DO move on, and without making a comment.
Presumably a writer wants readers. (Indeed, one thing besides poor writing that turns me off is whining for comments.) Why do you post stories here, Matty? After all, if you don't care about readers, you might as well just keep a private diary rather than posting your stories in a public forum like this. The suggestions here are not meant as, "You must do this in order to post here". They are meant as, "The more you follow these rules, the more people you will have reading your stories and liking them (and commenting on them, if you care about that)". Go back and reread the introduction that bondagefreak wrote.
BTW, Matty, just to be clear: I do find your stories readable, even if (I trust you'll forgive me for saying this) you seem to be in little danger of having your sleep interrupted by a phone call from Stockholm.
I'll endorse what someone else said earlier: Sarobah is a superb writer. Anyone wanting to learn how to write a story that others want to read would do well to study her stories.
Last edited by cellofello on Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:02 am

I see what you're syaing, mate, but could we change the word "rules" for "suggestions"? Surely we're trying to help, not to exclude.
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by cellofello » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:27 am

> xtc wrote:I see what you're syaing, mate, but could we change the word "rules" for "suggestions"? Surely we're trying to help, not to exclude.

But if we don't make them rules, then we can't tie them up and punish them when they break them!

### Re: future sticky post

Post by xtc » Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:04 am

Will you please stop confusing the issue with facts?!
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
More by the same author: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22729

### Re: future sticky post

Post by chloroformmeplease » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:26 pm

As in most things there are two sides to this guideline whether one would like there to be or not.
If there is a member who has been contemplating writing a story here and then they saw this thread they might consider strongly to not write. Someone mentioned even if a story has been badly written there might be a very good story there.
Another person wrote if the the first few sentences are so hard to follow because of spelling errors or bad grammar they will not even comment and simply move on. I agree with that statement.
I also remember the first time I published a story on the internet in a forum. I received positive comments on the story but when I looked back and re-read what I had written I noticed many spelling errors due to bad typing on my part. Who knows there may even be typos in this comment I am making now. I find sometimes and more often than none my fingers cannot keep up with my thought. When I use Googlechrome instead of Windows Internet Explorer my spell check is automatic and therefore I am one step ahead of the ball game sort of speak.
I am using Windows at the moment to type this. I also have OpenOffice.org which came with my windows program which I now use to write when posting stories either here or other forums or yahoo groups with similar interests as we have here.
It is difficult to educate every would be author here. However we must make some sort of effort. I do believe this thread was set off track a bit when someone asked why it is such a big deal.
Not everyone has the skill to write well. I do have an idea and you can disagree or agree but I think it might help. Since there are already categories in place for types of stories among other things why can't the powers that be set up yet another category?
We have ranking according to how many posts so why not a story writing category for new authors? Call it whatever you like if you decide to implement my idea. I am not saying it should be done in place of guidelines for writing but it would be a place where newer authors,story tellers,writers might not feel so judged since people will know they are new to writing in the forum.
It is just a suggestion but I do hope you consider this idea. You could even run sub categories once you open the new authors category, True Tugs, Fictional, etc.
Please let me know what you think about my idea. Thank you sincerely.
Treat others as you wish to be treated. Having said that I will not sit idly by while someone is disrespecting another just because they think they are better than everyone else.

### Re: future sticky post

Post by Jay Candice » Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:52 am

My turn. I would not count myself as around the level of skill as xtc, Tufriend, Jason T, and Sarobah. But I do have experience with writing.
As stated above, not everyone can be a writer. We can't tell you everything that is needed to make a story interesting and fun. But we can help. The most important thing to remember when writing is that you decide what happens. Don't let others influence what you really want to write. After, you're the one behind the keyboard. It's your story, not theirs. Don't even get me started on requests, that's not what I mean.
I just want to go over a few points. Give your characters personality. When you have dialogue, stretch it out, as if you were the one saying the words. Would a real human being say "Yes" or "No" to every question? Not at all! See what I did there? I used "Not at all" opposed to the generic "No". Real people say things like "sure", "No problem", "Nope", "Never!". Things like that. You want your characters to have individual personalities. Don't make Bob exactly like Tim. Don't make Anna love the same pink shoes as Jane. Everyone is different, and that doesn't change in writing.
Use your own style. Don't try to copy someone else's. Use your own voice, not someone who you really like. Let's say that you see BarryTheBondageWriter. He's so awesome! He writes a hundred posts a day, and they're all good. So, he posts a story about Chris going over to Lee's house, then Lee does a surprise ninja tackle and ties him up! So, what your NOT supposed to do is write a story about Dan going to Fred's house, when Fred does a football tackle and chains him up. No, do not do that. You want your stories to be original. Once again, it's your story. You're the one telling it.
Details are important. Instead of "I tied her wrists tightly", try giving description. "As I got out the rope, I fastened it firmly around her wrists and wrapped it around, tight as I could. I wrapped it with increasing speed, making sure to keep the rope tight, with each loop her chances of escape lessened and lessened." Which sounds better? I admit, sometimes I myself am lazy, and have gone with option one. But always, if you can remember, try to put as much details as you can. Don't just say that he's tall! Describe eye color, hair color, his expression, all those things that make people people! However, you don't want to put too much detail. Too much distracts the viewer from what you want them to see. If you talk too much about the green tree, with flowing branches and blistering leaves, that swirled in the wind of the night sky, it'll distract your reader from the awesome kidnapping that's going on.
It's needless to say that grammar and spelling are important. But those parts have already been covered. So I think that reading above is good enough. This really is all that I have to say. It's more about writing a refined story, rather than covering grammatical and spelling errors. As mentioned before, something like the Title will get you to read it. Something like this will get people to keep reading it. Have fun writing.
Last edited by Jay Candice on Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
In the end, it matters not how many breaths you took, but how many took your breath away.
-shing xiong
We are not retreating, we are advancing in another direction
-General Douglas MacArthur
Fall down seven times, stand up eight
-Japanese Proverb