What Makes a Good Story for You?

[Ohmo]

It is easy, sometimes fun, to find and reveal our pet peeves and dislikes, but I wonder how helpful they are for writers.  I think it is easier to do it write (so shoot me, I like an occasional pun ?) the first time rather than constantly trying to edit out the unacceptable.  

With that in mind, what makes a good story for you as a reader?  Here's what I like to read:

• More show than tell;  70/30 works for me.
• A story that starts at the beginning and ends at the end.
• Technically correct.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but a story is much more fun to read if written with good grammar, sound syntax, accurate spelling, and correct punctuation.
• A plot.

How about you?

 

 

[ValentinesStuff]

I've been trying to figure out how to answer this without listing things I dislike.

 

#1 I want a story, not just a scene. 

#2 Internal consistency. Yes most ABDL stories make very little sense in the world we live in, but they should at least make sense within the context of the story. If mommy puts baby in diapers, she shouldn't punish him for using the diapers, or doing other baby things.

#3 Some aspects of realism. If your story is set on normal earth, then normal earth things should happen. If it isn't let the reader know somehow.

#4 Paragraphs, and coherent sentences. (I just saw a story, the first sentence was 74 words long.)

[WBDaddy]

9 hours ago, ValentinesStuff said:

#4 Paragraphs, and coherent sentences. (I just saw a story, the first sentence was 74 words long.)

Funny thing, I recently saw a story where the first chapter was 74 words long.   

[BabySofia]

9 hours ago, WBDaddy said:

Funny thing, I recently saw a story where the first chapter was 74 words long.   

That's about half of the 'books' on WattPad from my browsing experience. I'm pretty sure I've seen some that used the grammatical skills both of you have mentioned... 

To the original question:

A GOOD story to me uses correct grammar for the most part, and uses a mixture of dialogue and description in the work. There's been more than one work on here that they have a great storyline, but my head explodes at the poor writing.

For me a good story also gets you involved in the characters in such a way that I can disappear into the story. I want to get to know the characters, and as I do so I want them to behave in a manner that makes sense for them. (Characters shouldn't suddenly behave in completely opposite ways unless there's a really good reason)

 

[DiaperedPrince]

22 minutes ago, BabySofia said:

Characters shouldn't suddenly behave in completely opposite ways unless there's a really good reason

This is so hard to ensure sometimes. I'm currently rewriting and rewriting a scene over and over again just because no matter how I write it it seems unrealistic. Tips on how to keep characters consistent?

18 hours ago, ValentinesStuff said:

I just saw a story, the first sentence was 74 words long.

9 hours ago, WBDaddy said:

Funny thing, I recently saw a story where the first chapter was 74 words long.   

You guys mind sending links? I am now intrigued.

[BabySofia]

22 minutes ago, Diapers Pwease said:

This is so hard to ensure sometimes. I'm currently rewriting and rewriting a scene over and over again just because no matter how I write it it seems unrealistic. Tips on how to keep characters consistent?

I tend to try and keep characters consistent by building up their backstories before I start writing them. Even minor characters I try and get some basic stats on them unless they're 'Extra #85' in the story credits. If I find the character growing I add more information to their bio in the section. Beyond that I just try and get inside their heads more than anything personally.

[DiaperedPrince]

To answer the OP:

• I love genuine moments where people in the story feel loved, and the story feels real enough that you feel like you're in it and you feel the love
• I'm a big fan of tech and code and futuristic stuff, so DD has become one of my favorite genres since I first discovered it in March
• Cute moments
  • "Pick me up please" moments from Exchanged by BabySofia
  • Talking around a pacifier (real words not fake baby talk and cooing)
  • Other assorted unique cute moments (Little Conditions by YourDiapersCute is chock-full of them)

[WBDaddy]

2 hours ago, BabySofia said:

I tend to try and keep characters consistent by building up their backstories before I start writing them. Even minor characters I try and get some basic stats on them unless they're 'Extra #85' in the story credits. If I find the character growing I add more information to their bio in the section. Beyond that I just try and get inside their heads more than anything personally.

And, correct me if I'm wrong here, but this isn't throwing that backstory into the opening chapter, it's just writing it for your own personal reference, and revealing bits of it to the reader as you see fit.  

Because that's exactly how to do backstory.  

2 hours ago, Diapers Pwease said:

• I love genuine moments where people in the story feel loved, and the story feels real enough that you feel like you're in it and you feel the love
• I'm a big fan of tech and code and futuristic stuff, so DD has become one of my favorite genres since I first discovered it in March
• Cute moments
  • "Pick me up please" moments from Exchanged by BabySofia
  • Talking around a pacifier (real words not fake baby talk and cooing)
  • Other assorted unique cute moments (Little Conditions by YourDiapersCute is chock-full of them)

Yeah, don't read my contribution to the DD.  You'd hate it.  It has almost none of that.   

[DiaperedPrince]

11 minutes ago, WBDaddy said:

Yeah, don't read my contribution to the DD.  You'd hate it.  It has almost none of that.   

Aww that's a shame. You're a really nice guy and from what I've heard your stories are really well-liked.

[WBDaddy]

12 minutes ago, Diapers Pwease said:

Aww that's a shame. You're a really nice guy and from what I've heard your stories are really well-liked.

Because I went all the way dark with mine.  My "what if" scenario was "what if a Little managed to murder his/her "adoptive" (non-consensual) "parent"?  Starts out after the fact, so it's not like you have to walk through it (except in flashbacks), but...  

And there are no heroes in the story; everyone's a villain in the end.  It's a full-on dystopic take on the DD.  

Worse, it's written in second person, so it sucks you in even harder as the main character does things that really aren't hard to imagine yourself doing.  Thinking and feeling things it's not hard to imagine yourself thinking and feeling.  

[DiaperedPrince]

12 minutes ago, WBDaddy said:

Because I went all the way dark with mine.  My "what if" scenario was "what if a Little managed to murder his/her "adoptive" (non-consensual) "parent"?  Starts out after the fact, so it's not like you have to walk through it (except in flashbacks), but...  

And there are no heroes in the story; everyone's a villain in the end.  It's a full-on dystopic take on the DD.  

Worse, it's written in second person, so it sucks you in even harder as the main character does things that really aren't hard to imagine yourself doing.  Thinking and feeling things it's not hard to imagine yourself thinking and feeling.  

So I've heard. Personally I hate second-person writing. I don't want to be the MC, I want to root for them. To each his own I guess, I stick to happy stories. ?

Here I am writing a story where basically everyone that shows up for more than two sentences is a good guy...

[WBDaddy]

12 minutes ago, Diapers Pwease said:

So I've heard. Personally I hate second-person writing. I don't want to be the MC, I want to root for them. To each his own I guess, I stick to happy stories. ?

Here I am writing a story where basically everyone that shows up for more than two sentences is a good guy...

Be careful with that.  No conflict = nothing interesting. 

[DiaperedPrince]

11 minutes ago, WBDaddy said:

Be careful with that.  No conflict = nothing interesting. 

Thanks. I've got two or three antagonists planned out who should add some conflict, but also it's the DD, so there's that massive Little vs Society conflict that will for sure make things interesting.

[WBDaddy]

52 minutes ago, Diapers Pwease said:

Thanks. I've got two or three antagonists planned out who should add some conflict, but also it's the DD, so there's that massive Little vs Society conflict that will for sure make things interesting.

Yeah, that was kind of something I wanted to accomplish with my own story, to really enhance and bring right into everyone's faces the Little vs Society conflict.  But as I said much earlier, it was also about doing something really unique in the space.  People were already starting to do edgier stuff that addressed the almost slavery-like conditions that the DD suggested, but no one had gone there, right?  And it was a hell of a challenge for me, figuring out what there looked like...  

[BabySofia]

6 hours ago, WBDaddy said:

And, correct me if I'm wrong here, but this isn't throwing that backstory into the opening chapter, it's just writing it for your own personal reference, and revealing bits of it to the reader as you see fit.  

Because that's exactly how to do backstory.  

That's correct. It stays as a long segment at the bottom of my working document that I mark off with a Heading 1 format so I can flip back to it quickly when I need information.

[spark]

I don't always know what I'll like, but I can usually decide if I don't like something pretty fast, and my interest better be peaked quickly.    The same is true with traditional TV shows, or books.   I knew that I had no interest in Chad (tv show on TBS) in the first break.   Ted Laso peaked my interest before they even went to commercial.    I think I need need an answer to "Why do I care about this character?"

If that isn't answered quickly, I move on.   Occasionally I'll move forward with a story, but I'll lose interest when I see certain tropes.   Punishment porn, or sadism for sadism's sake generally turns me off.    I'm not a big fan of stories where the main character is helpless and being tormented and held as a virtual captive by a sadistic antagonist.   A lot of black mail stories fall into this category, and lose points on realism.   Usually in blackmail stories, it's the threat of exposure.   It makes the assumption that using a diaper is far worse publically than torturing the little.  In reality, the potential exposure of being a little (or even just needing diapers) is far less damaging than being emotionally and physically abused by a tormentor.   And if that is the story, the conflict needs to be overcoming the tormentor.

I understand that a lot people are seriously fascinated by spanking scenes, and they are big turn ons.   For me, spanking scenes don't typically work very well.   There are a few stories that I've read where spanking is effectively used to pacify and breakdown the main character.   For me, if it's used to force a reluctant regressee into the regressive state and doesn't cross to masochism, it works.   I don't like the stories that use maintenance spankings.  Discipline is only for misbehavior.

For me, I like stories where the CG sees the main character as a small child.  One who needs guidance and caring, and most of all attention.    The main character is not acting like a baby.  The CG believes the little is emotionally still a child and needs to be cared for as a child.   That can make the conflict a little bit complicated, because the CG is acting in the best interest of the little.  Or at least in what they feel is the best interest of the little.   The very best stories I've read include cases where the CG is flawed and there is some of that abusive/caring dichotomy going on.   There is a self-conflict with both characters, as well as the intra-personal conflict between the CG and little.

Ending a story is also super difficult for me, and I rarely see it done well.  Even in well written stories.  This is where I always get stuck.   I get the little diapers and he has accepted this fate, or can't do anything about it.    In the first case, the conflict i complete, but the ending is unsatisfactory  It's a shaggy dog story, because why have an inner conflict about regression if you're just going to completely regress anyway.   The 2nd case is an example where the main character is hopeless, which isn't satisfactory either.  I don't want to read about Cinderella if can't get to the ball.   On the other hand, the ABDL version of happily ever after isn't realistic nor satisfying either.   I don't want the little to be contented as a little without any concept of adulthood.  There should be some balance with the outcome of the little.

[DiaperedPrince]

2 hours ago, spark said:

For me, I like stories where the CG sees the main character as a small child.  One who needs guidance and caring, and most of all attention.    The main character is not acting like a baby.  The CG believes the little is emotionally still a child and needs to be cared for as a child.   That can make the conflict a little bit complicated, because the CG is acting in the best interest of the little.  Or at least in what they feel is the best interest of the little.   The very best stories I've read include cases where the CG is flawed and there is some of that abusive/caring dichotomy going on.   There is a self-conflict with both characters, as well as the intra-personal conflict between the CG and little.

What's a CG?

[BabySofia]

48 minutes ago, Diapers Pwease said:

What's a CG?

Caregiver

[DiaperedPrince]

17 minutes ago, BabySofia said:

Caregiver

Ahh thanks, Google didn't tell me.

[ValentinesStuff]

9 hours ago, spark said:

   In the first case, the conflict i complete, but the ending is unsatisfactory  It's a shaggy dog story, because why have an inner conflict about regression if you're just going to completely regress anyway.   The 2nd case is an example where the main character is hopeless, which isn't satisfactory either.  I don't want to read about Cinderella if can't get to the ball.   On the other hand, the ABDL version of happily ever after isn't realistic nor satisfying either.   I don't want the little to be contented as a little without any concept of adulthood.  There should be some balance with the outcome of the little.

Too many stories end with "Cinderella" getting dressed. Many of these are only "ABDL" because the MC is put in a diaper, but the word diaper could be replaced by any other article of clothes and nothing would change.

But I not only want to see the Ball, I want to know what happens with Prince Charming and Cinderella after the Ball.

 

[ausdpr]

Including parts of life for the characters beyond just the interesting theme at hand, but at the same time not making it overwhelming or irrelevant to what makes them interesting in context of the mentioned theme (which goes for multiple genres, abdl, superheroes, sci fi, fantasy, etc). It's not something which I've done a lot of in my own writing but I do aim to, and it makes the themed parts so much more interesting if they seem grounded in a more complex life, which doesn't have to necessarily be a normal or boring one.

I tried to do it in one of my own favorite stories years ago - A Christmas Tale - and still think it's one of the better things I've written because of it. The Stairwell is another one which I still find memorable because of that element, and maybe does a better job of keeping the 'life parts' on-theme.

[spark]

20 hours ago, BabySofia said:

Caregiver

Thank you.  I figured that shorthand would work, but it probably did leave some readers out.    It's tough to think of an appropriate term for that character, because sometime they aren't really the antagonist.

[spark]

14 hours ago, ValentinesStuff said:

Too many stories end with "Cinderella" getting dressed. Many of these are only "ABDL" because the MC is put in a diaper, but the word diaper could be replaced by any other article of clothes and nothing would change.

But I not only want to see the Ball, I want to know what happens with Prince Charming and Cinderella after the Ball.

 

We should realize that not very many fairy tales end with talking about their life after the ball.    They end with the happily ever after.    The conflict in regression stories revolves around the regression.

A simple plot device in a regression story is a little trying to become potty trained.   In a traditional story, the protagonist would overcome this challenge, and at the end of the story they are potty trained.   But I want the main character to fail at this, which I think makes the conclusion difficult. 

Far too many end with the little happily sitting in a diaper playing with toys and emotionally and mentally a baby, with the caregiver perfectly happy to care for the little on a permanent basis.   They basically don’t have any dignity, but that’s the ‘Happy’ ending.   To me, that’s not realistic, even if the parameters of the story allow it

The alternative is the hopeless ending.  This usually the case where the antagonist falls into the cruel and sadistic category, and no matter what the little does – they are forever captive to the antagonist.     I don’t think that is satisfying either.

[ValentinesStuff]

14 hours ago, spark said:

We should realize that not very many fairy tales end with talking about their life after the ball.    They end with the happily ever after.    The conflict in regression stories revolves around the regression.

A simple plot device in a regression story is a little trying to become potty trained.   In a traditional story, the protagonist would overcome this challenge, and at the end of the story they are potty trained.   But I want the main character to fail at this, which I think makes the conclusion difficult. 

Far too many end with the little happily sitting in a diaper playing with toys and emotionally and mentally a baby, with the caregiver perfectly happy to care for the little on a permanent basis.   They basically don’t have any dignity, but that’s the ‘Happy’ ending.   To me, that’s not realistic, even if the parameters of the story allow it

The alternative is the hopeless ending.  This usually the case where the antagonist falls into the cruel and sadistic category, and no matter what the little does – they are forever captive to the antagonist.     I don’t think that is satisfying either.

There are other sorts of ABDL stories than those just focus on the regression. After all there isn't much conflict if the MC is already ABDL. 

You can get conflict by getting the MC into situations where they are uncomfortable. Going out in public diapered, dressed childlike, teased, or even exposed to the right people. Grocery shopping and buying babyfood for the MC can be embarrassing, they know it's for them, but no one else would. The CG can even ask which they think is better. These can even be done in the "real world," if written believably. 

I'm not big into mental regression stories, after what fun is there if you don't have the cognitive abilities to enjoy being babied.

It also doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing. The MC can be babied at home, wear diapers and still have his big boy job. Again the conflict is in the chance of exposure or other things. I read one story where the MC was sent to work diapered, with babyfood in yogurt containers. At home he went to bed diapered and dressed as a babygirl, while his wife entertained his coworker.

[DiaperedPrince]

4 hours ago, ValentinesStuff said:

and still have his big boy job

Or her. I once read a story where POTUS and her husband were in a daddy-baby relationship.