More insights into the writing process, this time from Craig Sorenson:


Craig Sorenson’s thoughts about "Beyond Redemption":

When I write a story, many things can inspire me. I've worked from very well-formed plots with strongly defined characters and outlines. I've worked from very complete characters that shape the story line as they go through the experience. On the other end of the spectrum, I've worked from single ideas, sounds, words or visions, and just let the stories breathe on their own.

For "Beyond Redemption," the opening image, a crucifix gently swaying, suspended by a finial in the center of headboard, then a cinematic pan, back to a woman bound to the bedposts, a gag in her mouth, looking up on a man who steadily, purposefully, fuck her, was the sum of inspiration. Dark visual cues, mysterious characters, and I had an initial sense of "what is going on with these two?" The meaning of the religious symbolism, and how that was reflected in the actions that unfold in the story, grew in my mind as if I was hearing the story as much as writing it. Later, I was reminded of musicians who say that an idea sometimes hits them, and they feel like they are just trying to keep up with the song as it unfolds. "Beyond Redemption" was like this, and I was kind of winded after the first draft.

I tend to be heavy-handed with revisions, and "Beyond Redemption" was no exception, but the revisions in this story tended to be more in the details. The changes between past to present tense, a technique that I sometime like to use to give a sense of immediacy, was a natural part of this story, whereas I usually consciously work these shifts into stories.

A good number of my short stories are written calls for submission; this was not of them. The story sat on my hard drive after the writing, until Rachel Kramer Bussel's call for Best Bondage Erotica 2012 came along. It seemed a good possible home. In truth, I thought the story might be a bit of a stretch for her taste, so I was quite grateful when the story was chosen to be included in this collection.

I love to share a story that came from inside me, and I hope that readers can find the same attraction as they step into the world of these lovers' difficult lives. I hope that they will find themselves drawn in, and in this story, find something worth redemption. less

There's something about a man who submits to a much weaker (physically) female that I find intriguing. I know that submission itself has very little to do with the physical stature of the parties involved. It's just that for me, submitting often involves (consensual) physical force, so a dynamic that doesn't leaves me full of all sorts of curiosity and questions. less

I don't know what sort of question that was. Some do, some do not. It's a choice. I view submission as a very strong thing, it's strong to be willing to give over that power to someone. But some do not view things as I do. The book that I was talking about was interesting, because it showed how the dominant ones needed their submissives just as much as their submissives needed them. I like how it parallels actual D/s. less

There's something about a man who submits to a much weaker (physically) female that I find intriguing. I know that submission itself has very little to do with the physical stature of the parties involved. It's just that for me, submitting often involves (consensual) physical force, so a dynamic that doesn't leaves me full of all sorts of curiosity and questions. less

Well, I suppose that you could take me for an example. I've not ever had a submissive who was smaller than me. I'm extremely short and thin, so most feel that I appear "weak" or something. I'm not though, because I both have a strong mind and am strong physically. So it works out nicely. Then again, I'm a male Dominant, so it's a bit different.

I find larger male submission to smaller female domination to be very alluring and sexy, actually. When the male is undeniably male, and the female has such a prowess. Very, very sexy. less

Well, I suppose that you could take me for an example. I've not ever had a submissive who was smaller than me. I'm extremely short and thin, so most feel that I appear "weak" or something. I'm not though, because I both have a strong mind and am strong physically. So it works out nicely. Then again, I'm a male Dominant, so it's a bit different.

I find larger male submission to smaller female domination to be very alluring and sexy, actually. When the male is undeniably male, and the female has such a prowess. Very, very sexy. less

I've noticed that with any of the books we've discussed here, folks have really perked up when anything really kinky comes along. Does anyone remember book or stories we've discussed before that are particularly memorable? I know some from Take Me There made a real impact. less

I don't know what sort of question that was. Some do, some do not. It's a choice. I view submission as a very strong thing, it's strong to be willing to give over that power to someone. But some do not view things as I do. The book that I was talking about was interesting, because it showed how the dominant ones needed their submissives just as much as their submissives needed them. I like how it parallels actual D/s. less

You know, I find that a smaller male dom might be a solution to help females drop their shields in a way in case they had been abused in the past. While you are still strong, you do not give off that air that "you're stronger just because you're bigger in a bully sort of way". Does that make sense? I suppose that it could help focus on what's going on than what's you look like. less