Articles we want to see Date Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 11:11 PM PST Topic This Website I know everyone wants to contribute and to be heard. It's a major part of the human psyche to want to reach out and feel someone else there. We understand. We want to reach out too and to feel someone there, we are just tired of it being something icky and messy. We have never bothered to formalize the rules out what we want in a submission before, because we had this insane belief that people would get it and we wouldn't have to. We were wrong. Either that or we just can't stand slogging through term papers about pants, wishful and misguided wannabe porn, or more diary entries. Here is a list of things of things that we would like to see in the incoming folder in future. Parables that make sense to someone other than the author Parables illustrate a universal thought in a clear and unique way. A universal thought in this context means universal to the members of this site, not to the mass population. See "My Fairy Tale" by psychopixi for a good example of the kind of parables that we want to see here. That one has already been written though, so don't rewrite it and submit it again. Sex in all its many facets (except virgin porn) There is not nearly enough sex on this site. Sex is interesting to everyone who doesn't have icky issues. Submitting interesting sex stuff will make people with issues leave, and give interesting people fun stuff to read. Don't just submit porn though. Porn is fine, but unique views on sex in any form are going to be received the best. What we're talking about here is Complicated sex. Please don't post anything cliche'. No introductions to polyamory, or BDSM starter speeches. We are grownups, or aspiring grownups. We want to read more advanced discussions of these topics, not insulting sex 101 classes. We want to read something we don't already know. See "Thing to do in Dayton when you're Poly" by meranda_jade for a good example of this. Actual Shmeng that has happened to you (Not your friend or your cousin's ex girlfriend's father's bestfreind's classmate) with the drama pulled out. See "Seattle Common Law Theory" By Devin. Don't send imaginary shmeng. We can tell, no really we can. Don't send a diary entry telling how mean everyone is to you, doesn't understand you, and how they are all wrong. That is you making shmeng, not telling about it. Don't tell us about politics that you have heard about somewhere. Don't repeat some real reporter's work. Something that was requested There is a forum for articles that people would like to see. If you think you can write one of these, give it a try. If the request is for someone specific to write it, you should understand why that particular person was asked to write it, and ask if they're already working on it before you start though. How to articles These should be instructions on how other people can live better. You should ask before writing one of these. You should also have more experience on the subject than anyone else on the site. If you submit something theoretical, we won't post it. If it's something that someone else is more qualified to write, just let them write it. See the "How to get laid" series by callei, Devin and Shade for examples. Complete (as in finished) fiction that is interesting and about at least one of the above (This can include virgin porn, but only in a negative light, please). If you are writing a story that has more than one chapter, you must submit at least 10 chapters (or the whole story, whichever is less) before we will post chapter one. Too many people submit chapter one thinking they're going to finish it later - or submit chapter one asking for feedback on it. Get your feedback elsewhere - email it to people privately - post it when it's done. "Toy Dolls" by Shade is obviously the best example of this on the site. All articles must have these qualities or they will be deleted. Something that is good to read, not just that reads well If you don't know what we mean by this, chances are you cant write it either so dont sent it in. We must understand them If you have to whine "you don't understand me" when we reject it, then it should have never been submitted. That phrase should be saved for your parents. They are obligated to try and fail to understand you. We are not. If you think you've written something brilliant, and that we're just not evolved enough to comprehend it, perhaps you're posting it in the wrong place. The smart thing to do would be to leave, and find people who are intelligent enough to understand you. Never coming back would be a good idea too. They must be layered If there is nothing metaphoric or ironic about it, it better have some other kind of alternate meaning. If it's not deep, all it can be is shallow. You can tell a straightforward story, but if it doesn't at least indirectly hint at something bigger, then it'll be boring. It doesn't matter if it's something that matters to you. If it matters that much to you, you should be selfish with your writings. Hoard your stories, don't let other people see them. They're too important to share. A modern and conversational voice Write like you talk. This does not mean how you talk at Ren Faire. We don't mean how you talk when you're on meth. Write how you talk every day. If you don't write how you talk, write how someone else (who's alive) talks. Olde English is unacceptable. Meth Mind Vomit is unacceptable. If every word is more than 3 syllables, then you should be writing for a medical journal if you want to sound intelligent - you'll just sound like a dork here. We may make exceptions to this rule for parables ONLY, but ONLY if they are otherwise very good. Pointless Diatribe If you want to rant about something take it somewhere else. If you want to harass someone or some group, do that somewhere else. If you want to rail against faith and life, seriously take it somewhere else. If you are so caught up in your hate that you cant tell that it is a pointless diatribe, we will tell you. Also see the faq about submissions. Everything else will either be sent back, if we are in a good mood, or tossed if we are too bored to deal with it. Or made into a multipost if we are feeling wicked. This article comes from Shmeng http://www.shmeng.com/ The URL for this story is: http://www.shmeng.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=659