My initial thought was to send this as a private message, and then I realized I had already gone public in this thread, and so I figured, “what the fuck” …

e e norcod, in the reply above, provides wise counsel. It is hard to disagree with his advice, especially for “amateur” writers submitting stories in this forum.

I started this thread for a different purpose, however. I have earned a living as a writer for the past three decades – but not as a writer of fiction. (My income tax returns excluded) By profession, I write for magazines and newspapers, for international corporations and for local special interest groups. I am a “commercial writer” in the same way there are commercial artists and commercial photographers – my pen is for hire. I deal in carefully targeted pieces that have quite specific goals: to inform, to lobby and persuade, to motivate, etc. Research into audiences is a significant part of what I require when putting together a piece. When speaking to marketing and journalism classes, I usually begin my talk in Mandarin … the look of puzzlement is fun, and it emphasizes the message: know your audience or your message will be lost.

Therefore, before submitting my “Snippets” to bdsmlibrary.com, I did some research, and gave them to a handful of close friends for review. Every story I submit here is pre-tested.

Now, that’s not to say that I don’t write for myself. I do. The stories here and the stories I have not posted start from a personal desire to express myself. I have been using bdsm as a genre because (a) I enjoy it in practice and fantasy and (b) there is an interested audience of intelligent and expressive people who can identify with what I am writing.

I don’t write snuff (except for the Snippets) because I don’t like snuff stories. I don’t write about teens or children for the same reason. I could … I choose not. I apply the same approach to my “real-life” – if I do not support or believe in what I am asked to write about, I turn the job down.

The other reason for this thread is, as stated, ego. As is everyone else I know who is involved full-time with a creative activity, I am a performer. And as such, I need applause and critics. I will die without it. I know this, I accept this as part of who I am.

I thank you, e e norcod, for your advice and counsel. I genuinely appreciate your taking the time to offer it, and I value what you say.

Sincerely,
Fox