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It’s Too Long (that’s what she said)
by GR on 12/16/2020
Wonderfully written. Good plot. But way too long.
Cute but a bit long
by Anonymous user on 12/18/2020
I liked the interaction and build up of the characters, but it did drag on a bit. Also a few odd spelling errors toward the end were off putting to the overall quality.
by GL on 12/21/2020
It was a very long story, but you deserve the first prize. It dragged on for much longer than it should have.
by GR on 12/19/2020
What happened? After one page of drivel I gave up. Your other stories have been so good
Looong
by Anonymous user on 07/21/2020
You never use one word when 100 will do. If you could cut about half the filler, there's a story in there.
One of the main complaints I get about my stories is that they’re too long.
This, despite the fact that my profile on Literotica states that I write longer stories. This, despite the fact that my multi-part stories are clearly labelled as being multi-parts. This, despite the fact that Literotica’s new mode shows a word count right at the top of the story.
And you know what? They’re right.
Wordiness is something I know I struggle with. The story as it exists in my head is detailed and all-encompassing. Even on my longest, most meanderingly annoying pieces of drivel, there are mountains of things that get cut.
I see the characters differently than the readers do. I know more about them. That’s not a brag, that’s simply because I created them. I’ve joked before that creating characters is like giving birth, and in a less-painful-and-bloody way, it is… if you were both giving birth AND telepathic. I know the backstory. I know their deepest secrets and why they are the way they are. I know those things because I decided those things about them.
The same goes for plot, and backstory, and setting. In Finding Home, I knew what Noah and Lacey’s apartment looked like. I could see it in my head exactly, the layout, the nicks on the wall (that never get mentioned in the story; I just knew they were there, and in my head, that mattered). As the person creating this world, I have insight that I then have to try to translate to other people.
I also don’t write straight erotica. I mean, I do, and I have, but the stories that these comments are appearing on aren’t those ones. I write romance primarily, and I try to write in a way that is conversational and engaging. I’m not writing an instruction manual of how to get someone off; I want to create a story that contains characters the reader wants to care about.
It’s not always easy to do that. More importantly, it’s not easy to do that without using words to convey what I’m trying to say. All I have at my disposal is a (virtual) sheet of paper and some text, and with that, I have to create an entire universe. Sometimes, that means the stories get a little long.
Do they have to? Not necessarily. Am I aware that I should try to take out some of the extraneous detail? Yes, absolutely. Is it going to be perfect every time? Of course not. Being a writer is not something you win at. You don’t wake up one day and simply accomplish everything there is to accomplish about writing. It’s a skill you continue to grow and hone over time. Each story is going to help you learn more, try new things, see what works and what doesn’t.
I’m well aware of the fact that some people don’t like the length of my stories. I’m also well aware of the fact that I get comments like these even more often than I get the ones telling me the stories are too long:
Need more!
by Anonymous user on 10/23/2020
I so hope like the other sequels you did for Lacy and Noah, you will decide to do another sequel to this! I don’t want this to be over!!
This can't be the end!
by Anonymous user on 11/06/2020
I loved this story so much. I loved the love between Noah and Lacey. Please give us more!
I want more! :)
by BR on 07/10/2020
I love these two characters. I want to read more about Jessica & Andrew's escapades! What happens after dinner? Or during?
Sequel!!
by Anonymous user on 12/04/2020
Omg!! That was so good! But it ended way to fast!! I need more! I need to know what happens! Would her friend be upset? Would her sister be mad? What did her parents think when she didn’t return? Soo many more questions!! I need more! Lol! Hope you will continue. It was so dang good. I was so upset when it ended!
The point is, no matter what, people are going to have different preferences for different things. At the end of the day, I have to write what I feel is right, and if that doesn’t work for everyone, well, that’s to be expected. I can’t think of a single story that everyone in the world loves just the way it is.
Lastly, I don’t mind getting comments about stories that aren’t working for people. I do, however, feel the need to tell people that I do read all my comments. So those comments and messages that get personal/insulting towards me? Yes, I absolutely read them.
My stories are all available for free on Literotica; I do my best to make sure they’re well-edited and enjoyable, but there’s going to be some mistakes as I learn. To the readers who help me along the way with constructive criticism and encouragement: thank you so much. I want to improve as a writer, and your help is so greatly appreciated.
About The Author:
Cheryl Terra writes romance stories for people who hate romance stories, as well as for people who love romance stories. Writing is one of her greatest passions and she can often be found sitting in front of her laptop, ignoring the world around her as she finds elaborate ways for her characters to hook up with each other. When she’s not doing that, Cheryl enjoys knitting, spending time with her pets, annoying her fiancé, and trying to convince people civilization exists in the vast stretch of Canada between Vancouver and Toronto.
Members of my Patreon community get early access to all stories as well as bonus content such as song pairings, extra scenes, and Q&As. Subscribe to my Patreon to check it out!