A question for fellow authors.

I've often had a good idea for a story that I've wanted to share with LSF readers although it it had little or nothing to do with a Library of Spanking Fiction. In such cases I've needed to work a spanking into the narrative to make it suitable for inclusion here. So for my latest submission, Caught With his Pants On (plug) I made an effort to concentrate on the spanking aspect from the first line onwards with less emphasis on the storyline. So I have a question for my fellow authors. Do you build your story around a spanking or sometimes work it in afterwards almost as an afterthought?

I have one story here that I revised after completion to make it a spanking story. I have maybe a dozen stories here that were written as (and intended to be) spanking stories that could very well have worked as non-spanking stories (some of which received essentially that very comment from readers). I have written (a very few) non-spanking stories which of course, are not here, and I have absolutely no intention of making into spanking stories. By far the largest portion of my body of work were written specifically as stories - that's where they were headed from conception, and that's where they ended up, even though many times other themes we're developed in addition. All too often when I DO try to write a non-spanking story, I come up with characters, settings, ideas about conflict, but... I get stuck on plot and conflict resolution unless somebody ends up getting spanked.

This is a question I have debated a lot with myself, both as a reader and as a writer. As a reader, there’s a fair number of stories in the Library that I think would have been better without a spanking, and I have sometimes been tempted to say so in the comments, but I don’t think I ever have. The problem is that this only happens to really good stories - to a spanko, a bad story is always better with a spanking (unless the spanking makes the story unbearably much longer).

There are several reasons why a spanking may weaken an otherwise good spanking story. The most frequent one is probably that the spanking is psychologically implausible; another, and perhaps even more disturbing, is that the spanking may dilute the readers’ sympathy or draw it in the wrong direction as there is somewhere much more dramatic going on in other parts of the story.

As a writer, I think my stories are pretty evenly divided between those that had a spanking inspiration from the very beginning and those that where originally inspired by something else, and where I had to work a spanking into the story. The latter ones are usually inspired by places I have been, scenes I have observed, or things that have happened to me that have nothing (or very little) to do with spanking, and coming up with a matching spanking can often be a hard and frustrating task. I have some story ideas that have been hanging around for years, and where I have the characters and the setting, but where I have never been able to come up with a plausible spanking plot.

On the other hand, as Rick points out, spanking stories have one big advantage: You know how it’s going to end, and that gives the writing process a focus. For me, it would have been much harder to write stories without that help.

Hotspur
There's a difference between a "spanking story" and a "story with spanking in it."

(I thought it'd be useful to break this down but you can skip this part. A "spanking story" can be likened to an "action movie." While any film can have a car chase or a fist fight, an action movie sets up an expectation that there will escalating action in climactic moments. This is why serialized action movies tend to get more ridiculous. This isn't a bad thing but after the first film, plausibility is exchanged for the conceit, agreed upon by creator and audience, that this is a different world where problems are solved by high action.

The second example can have the spanking anywhere. I think if the story is short enough, this can still be satisfying for a spanko audience. I think in some ways, it can be more satisfying, because a spanking that is juxtaposed against a vanilla world and story can have much more contrast than a spanking in a world that expects it.)

Both of these can fit in the library but I think the common element that makes each approach work is the "story" part.

Any good writing tutorial will talk about motivating and justifying action through character. They'll also talk about having the consequences of action affecting character. If any element is shoved into a story without this, it's likely to feel off. There can be a voyeuristic spanking in the background of the story but if it's directly affecting the main character, I think it's very, very hard to make it work without following the principles of consequence and character motivation.

This is a most interesting subject and, from the personal perspective, I find the spanking is always front and entre of both my short stories and my longer serials.With the latter there is, of course, much more space available for character development, but this can be used to more easily develop both the emotions and both description and background. Personally, I feel that there should be a reason for each and every spanking and that it should resonate with the characterisation of the individuals concerned. If this is the case it provides ihe .opportunity for minor characters to form the basis of future stories (or even series) and prequels or sequels can be developed. The risk is that one may tend to overcomplicate things with too many characters and excessive description loosing the readers' interest. Iknow that this can be a weakness of mine and my reader numbers for series make this abundantly clear. Still when one writes, as I do, to give something back for all the enjoyment that the work of others in LSF give me then it is a lesser issue and .y hope is at least some readers find my efforts worthwhile.

I tend to find the story more important than the spanking. I also like to have a reason for the spanking, so that’s how I tend to build the story. I also like to develop characters. To a certain extent I experiment with the stories I publish here. Then I use the results of the experiments in the non spanking works, mostly fantasy novels that no one will ever read.

I think I agree with njrick in that a good story is a good story, regardless of the elements. I've always been a fan of spanking scenes in mainstream movies. I've spent countless hours roaming video store shelves and considerable fortunes renting tapes and dvds, just for a glimpse of a spanking. Many of the films have proven to be poorly written, poorly produced, or just plain poor. Scenes rarely last for more than a few seconds, rarely get the mood or the flavor just right, yet there's something about them that just does it for me.

In contrast, there are dozens of spanking video producers who use high definition cameras, stunning models in just the right positions, and plots to satisfy almost any desire. Many videos have teasers or clips that are free or low cost, and can be watched or downloaded on-demand. In theory, this should tick all the boxes, yet, even videos with my favorite actresses, wearing my favorite outfits, and encapsulating my favorite situations, don't offer me the same thrill that mainstream scenes do.

I think the same is true of the stories I create myself, and the ones I most enjoy reading. While spanking is usually the impetus for most of my writing, I like the action to be organic, framed within a realistic and plausible plot, and not bullying the narrative. In fact, the part I struggle with most while writing, is the action, describing the spanking that I've spent so much time and effort trying to introduce. Still, I'd rather that the 'chase scene' be lacking than to compromise the part that got us there.

I've always maintained that a good spanking story is no different than any other genre of fiction. The story has to be about people and the people need to be relatable to the reader. They should seem like people you might know in real life. The spanking should just be something that happens in the course of the story. The spanking, when it happens, is a lot more poignant when the ready has a sense of who the characters are and what they're about.

I see what Hotscot means; there's a certain thrill of seeing a spanking in a non-spanking movie. It's the difference between watching a professional stripper performing, and catching sight of a neighbour undressing in front of her window, having forgotten to draw the curtains!

This may be the end of this thread, as I seem to have a knack for threads drying up once I comment. I must bore people to death with my comments so they stop commenting.

I may complicate things a bit more. Some of my stories start with a spanking premise, as in I have an idea for a spanking, in a particular setting, or maybe the spanking is somewhat different in nature. Then I try to devise a story that facilitates the spanking and makes it somewhat plausible.

However, I think most of my stories are stories about relationships, and how spanking is part of those relationships. It can be parent / child, educator / student, or two mates such as a man / wife. I have some serials that include all these scenes. I like to examine relationships, as well as how the person being spanked feels about it, what led to it, as well as the person giving the spanking and how they feel about what they are doing. I write a lot of what Alef calls "slice of life" stories, where an event is described, a child makes a major mistake, and a parent or educator has to correct them, teach them why it's was wrong and give them a motivation to not repeat the behavior. In these cases, nothing is off limits. I even have a story of a wife who learns she has cancer, and at one point has a melt down born of fear. She and her husband have a spanking relationship and he in desperation sets her mind at ease with a well delivered spanking.

In short, I do have stories that center around a spanking being given for whatever reason, but most center around relationships where spankings happen, and examine those relationships. I hope this long winded diatribe helps at least a bit.