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A Serious Decision Concerning "18 Weeks"


skinnydragon

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I think I mentioned somewhere that 18 Weeks was begun in the middle of September '14 and finished sometime in April '15. I am (obviously) not a writer by profession, but the story just kept pouring out as I wrote all the chapters, every one. Then, of course, the hard part. I must have rewritten the chapters thousands of times, moving stuff around, adding and subtracting characters, etc. I'm sure every writer does this, but I certainly had never written a 250,000 word story before!
Prior to submitting each chapter, I continue rewriting, modifying and changing the emphasis of certain characters. I'm sure that's probably common too. My point in mentioning all this is that I still consider this story unfinished ...a work in progress.
Looking ahead, at the upcoming chapters, I've made a decision. There is sex, and it plays a part in the development of the plot and (possible) resolution of the story. But I have begun excising graphic elements of the sex scenes. I've come to the conclusion they don't belong in this story. With one possible exception, these boys are not professionals and don't have much experience. The sex will still be there, and except for the humor found in some inept fumbling or unexpected discoveries, just not in gory detail.
I hope this is acceptable, and I'm sorry if you don't approve, but I'm resolute about this.
DavidDragon

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My opinion, I don't know that you'll find anyone who won't approve of your decision.  It is a good sign, I think that you've recognised what works and what definitely won't. Somethings are better left imagined, and most likely, leaving out improves the quality of the story. In the case of your story and it's direction, I think awkward and inept fumbling is okay and par for the course. 

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I'd say it is completely acceptable. The boys, as you mention, are young and inexperienced. I think it would be unrealistic if they were anything other than awkward and fumbling.

 

I haven't started reading your story as yet, but I will be soon. From its description, I gather it is more than just about a young man finding someone and having mad passionate sex. What he feels and experiences are the core and that is what I am looking forward to reading. 

 

This is your story and you need to write it in a way that makes you happy with the finished product. :)

 

PS. I think it's safe to say, that people who are reading your story are not doing so  solely to fulfill a need for racy sex scenes - there are enough stories out there to fill that void.

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I'm glad that I'm not the only one who has been facing this dilemma. Yeah I've had the same problem and reached the same conclusion. I don't think that your story will lose any of its appeal by ommiting graphic sex and I it's a good call Skinnydragon.

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Man Dragon, I have been searching for everything you've posted to 'Like' so you can get out of Mod Review quicker--200 is the magic number, so the more posts you make in blogs, discussions, or chapters, the faster you achieve freedom. :)

I must be different from most writers, I think. I don't outline except in the most general way...and when the words hit the screen, I fiddle with them, then it's off to my beta...after those fixes, the only thing I alter is missed typographical errors. My work is done. I talk some points over with my beta, to keep from being wildly dramatic, otherwise my story is an 'improved' version of my own past...Mikey is me, except he found a partner.

I'd never written a sex chapter before this story, and I've tried not to make it frivolous...each time, I use it to emphasize some aspect of my characters' developing bonds...you make me wonder if I'm a smut-monger now, which has worried me since the beginning. I hope you don't find my story offensive.

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OMG CG, not at all!. I never meant to imply that sex didn't belong in anyone else's story. In fact, there's plenty of sex in my story and more yet to come. What I meant to say and probably didn't achieve too well, was that this story has lighter feel (to me, the author) and while the sex is there, stopping the flow to absorb a detailed scene would impede the forward momentum that even I felt as the story was being written.

 

Haha ...even that description was pretty clumsy, no? 

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OMG CG, not at all!. I never meant to imply that sex didn't belong in anyone else's story. In fact, there's plenty of sex in my story and more yet to come. What I meant to say and probably didn't achieve too well, was that this story has lighter feel (to me, the author) and while the sex is there, stopping the flow to absorb a detailed scene would impede the forward momentum that even I felt as the story was being written.

 

Haha ...even that description was pretty clumsy, no? 

 

Actually, it makes sense to me. You're telling a story here, and while there is sex in the story, it's not what Twoey is about (both the person and the story). You'd rather keep going to the action that you feel is important, and place less emphasis on the parts of the story that are not as important. There's nothing wrong with that, and it makes sense to me.

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