Firstly, I call my writing smut. There are those who would say it's erotica, others say it's porn. Either one is good for me, I don't take 'porn' as a denigration. All I would hope for is people think it's good. I got started because of a lovely lady with whom I had an online relationship. She encouraged me to write erotic stories because of the fantasies I would email her. Eventually, I agreed and she became my muse, proofreader, critic and #1 fan. I submitted a couple and used the rejections to get better. The more I wrote, the better I became. I am far from finished learning and am always striving to get better. The process is ongoing. She was happier than heck with my first 'sale' and demanded more. Now, I have a few stories that are at 3pillows. Writing a story can be frustrating, annoying, aggravating, satisfying, rewarding and so many more things. When I read a story or novel, it's like a movie in my mind. I picture the characters, the scene and location. That's why I usually prefer the novel rather than the movie made from it because I've already sort of made the movie. It's the same when I write. I 'see' the characters, the scene, and try to put it down. Sometimes, everything comes out easily, the pictures are there and the words just flow. Other times, it's like pulling teeth, just plain painful. The source or inspiration can be something I've seen, a phrase that comes to mind which I want to expand on, a suggestion from a friend about what they want to read. After noodling the idea around for a few days I start. I try to get a few pages down and see where it goes. Often, the original idea changes and the story writes itself. I have to let the story sit for a couple of days before I re-read it simply so that it seems fresh. Otherwise, I see what I 'thought' I wrote rather than what actually appears. Then I can catch the silly mistakes much easier. Still, some slip through and that's why a proofreader is paramount. Sometimes, I can have a 4k story done in a couple of days, sometimes weeks, sometimes longer. It can be frustrating in that it's not the same all the time. But, that's the way of many things, very rarely exactly the same all the time. When the story is done, proofread, edited and read again, it's time to submit it. The story is my 'baby', cherished and nurtured and now it's out in the world. And, fingernails get shorter from chewing as I wait for a response. This is just a little about how and why I write. Others do it differently and for different reasons. Whatever works for you is great.
Do you ever re-read your stories afterwards and think, "Wow, did I really write that?" Of course you have largely forgotten all the pain and effort it took to write it in the first place. Almost like a mother who largely forgets the pain of childbirth when she decides to have another.
After I finish a story, then comes the submissions. Trying to find a buyer/publisher. If a website takes it, they may want some more editing done. Once it's published/posted, then I put it into a 'sold' folder. I may look at it again a few months later. If a story doesn't sell right away, I'll check the markets and calls for submissions to see if it fits anywhere. Sometimes, a little tweaking here and there and it will fit for a call. If it still doesn't sell, I'll park it for awhile to see what a few months can bring. Perhaps a demand happens for that story or I come up with some brilliant idea. Looking at story later brings mixed feelings. I'm always striving to be better all the time so, presumably, my writing has improved. I'll look at something written a year or two previous and always want to make changes. There has been enough distance so I'm reading what's actually there rather than what I wanted to put there. Sometimes there will be an internal cringe at the choice of words or how badly the scene was set up. I'll always be my own, worst critic. Doesn't matter how well received, I'll believe that I could have, should have, done better.
