Why can't I get started?

I second all of brodiejlb's wise points above, especially 'just do it' (and keep at it), and point 2).

When you say...


...the phrase 'anything of worth' jumps out, grabs my throat and shakes my head so violently I can't think.

But whose definition of 'worth' is it? Yours, or that of a putative reader scorning your stuff? And is there any difference?

For me, it's very demotivating to find what I've written is c**p - it makes me reluctant to even begin to think about contemplating getting ready to tentatively approach the idea of trying maybe to consider writing anything else... ever.

But that excremental judgment isn't always accurate - sometimes a later re-reading, preferably after a glass of wine, brings a different view (even if some bits do need editing).

Try approaching your keyboard in a forgiving mood. Be kind to yourself - your kindness will be repaid.

Thanks everyone! I definitely judge myself too harshly, and there's so many fantastic writers on the site, some of whom I've been reading since my formative years, that I can get inside my own head a bit too much.

Some great suggestions here—I'm going to try to get back to it soon. I noticed many of the comments on my previous stories were asking for follow ups—maybe I can start there..

Thats not a bad idea, Writing a followup, you already have the setting and the characters, and you're comfortable with them. I only intended to write one Spank Shop, and I only recently finished #61.

Follow ups can be good. So can exploring a theme... I wrote a number of stories called "regretted gifts" - basically someone giving a spanking related gift to be used on another only to have it come back and smack the giver in the butt (literally).

Another play on a theme was the unexpected witnesses theme. Someone either sees or hears a spanking when they have no reason to expect one. Several stories with the same theme but different settings, characters, etc.


Sometimes I'll just start with a line of dialogue and go from there, working out who said it to whom - always ready to edit to make the story make sense. Other times I'll be inspired by something I read, watch, hear. Sometime I'll start with a character in mind or even do a outline - it depends on the story.

One thing I find useful is to have a list of names ready for when a minor character pops in. Nothing breaks my train of thought faster than trying to think of a name on the fly.

My process is a bit different from most writers. I have my 'file of desperation' Word document. When I get an idea I type it into the file: sometimes it's a halfway decent story outline, other times it's just an alliterative title or a few details without a plot to back them up. The last time I counted there were 153 entries, so I've got some ideas to play with.

I almost never write a single story from start to finish. Instead, I have anywhere from 3-7 stories going at one time in various stages of completion in no particular order. I might have only the ending written on one story or just the beginning or random paragraphs. I leave and come back, bouncing around from story to story filling in the details over time, which is why they sometimes wind up veering off in totally unanticipated directions.

I try to have multiple scenarios going on (younger kid, teen or college age, /m, /f, older couples with or without a sexual component, etc.) in different tenses, with 1st and 3rd person narration, so if something just isn't working I leave it and play with something else. Then, once a story is finalized I add a new idea from my file to start working on.

I would echo what the other authors said about sequels. I've had a number of follow-up stories I'd never even considered writing until someone commented "wouldn't it be great if ..." and then suddenly I'm scribbling notes.

I agree with Goodgulf that worrying about names can bog you down while writing. I have a separate file of names I've found that I liked as potential candidates. But while I'm writing I just use placeholders (xxxxx, yyyyy, etc.) for the names. Then, once I've finished the story I'll choose the names I want to use and then 'find and replace' them in the document (occasionally screwing up and missing one but it keeps the verifiers on their toes!).

Avalon
Don't worry about it being a "story." Write notes about what you want to see. Ideas you'd like to see play out and why. Ask questions and answer them. What kind of scenario interests me? Why? What is it about that really? How old are they? Where are they? Where's the resistance?

While I haven't posted that much on here, I have nearly a hundred stories and half stories written overall. I'd have to edit and refine them for them to be entertaining to anyone but me, but it's a good way to keep the ideas flowing.

Another suggestion: be inspired by what you read. Go ahead and rip it off. Write a fake sequel. This is the kind of stuff that reveals your own creativity through your enthusiasm of other people's finished product.

Start at the end and work back
Example: Pick a target and just free-flow write
A thirty year. female, school teacher, A female amateur hacker. A domineering mother-in-law, a PITA activist ....

Pick a reason: Any reason will do - free-flow write. What could your target have done to deserve a spanking? tell a lie, break a law, violate a trust, drink and drive, shoplift, not follow a strict rule she has enforced on others,.... Think of a chain of events even if not very plausible that could lead to a spanking.

Pick a spanker: - husband, boyfriend, a student, a friend M/m or F/f an old family friend. Work this character into the "chain of events"

All of a sudden you have a story outline that has your blood flowing. Do some character development, a plot twist or two and describe the spanking. You have a story.

I'm hardly one of the good authors here but I have a few short "letters style: stories appearing here. Actually I do exactly what njrick suggested. I write for myself and hope that what I like may appeal to some others. I have received some nice comments so I would classify that as some success. Personally I like short stories of the letters type likely because this is the first spanking literature I was exposed to. I also tend to write these stories rather quickly, which probably shows. I get an idea in my head and I bang it out and submit and hope for the best. I've had a few rejected but that's no big deal. So my suggestion for what it's worth, write for yourself.