Question for All Readers!

[SweetErika]

These are great responses, thank you!

I'd like to address/clarify a few points that have come up in discussion:

1) This is not intended to be a stroke story. Yes, I want to make the sex arousing and plentiful enough to please the readers who are looking to get off, but that's ancillary to writing a solid, entertaining story.

2) I'm at 2000 words now - what I estimate to be about the halfway point. The first 750 words are an erotic/sex scene, but the majority is NOT sex (though eroticism is woven in throughout).

3) The poll wasn't intended to pigeonhole people, but to answer a specific question I had about reading habits pertaining to an arousing story (and that question wasn't "What do readers look for in erotica in general? ). I certainly don't read solely to get off, though I DO look for pieces for fantasy material sometimes and hope to be aroused by an erotic story; that's an attitude I expect to be fairly widespread based on my experience here.

In addition, I know polls don't cover everything or do a good job at reflecting individuals' ideas/attitudes, which is why I asked for elaboration and additions from respondents.

I'm sure I'll have more than enough questions and ideas to bounce off the diverse community here as I go through the process. I apologize if anyone was offended by this particular poll, but I've learned a lot from this thread, and hopefully a better story will make up for ruffled feathers.

 

[privyjo]

Erotic Stories may or may not have sex. But the point is, the sex is NOT the single main point in the story. You have confused Erotica with Smut.

Erotica: "Erotica (from the Greek language Eros - "love") — are works of art, including literature, photography, film, sculpture and painting, that deal substantively with erotically stimulating or arousing descriptions. Erotica is rather a modern word used to describe the portrayal of human sensuality and sexuality with high-art aspirations, differentiating such work from commercial pornography."

Smut: "Obscenity in speech or writing. Pornography."

Wow - this definition sums my feelings about what an erotic story is and isn't.

Had a conversation recently with a friend and shared with her that I love to read erotica - even showed her the Lit site. At one point she asked me how I got into porn - no, I replied, I don't get into porn - I like and prefer erotica. There is a difference. We went to a used bookstore where I helped her pick out a couple of books of erotica - hopefully she will come to see the difference between smut/porn and erotica.

I can get smut/porn on a thousand different sites but don't as I, personally, mind you, find it mostly boring and a turn off. Here on Lit, though, I am much more likely to find true erotic literature. Some AV's are very erotic also. A lot of times I find the suggestion of sex more erotic, more arousing, than a blow by blow description of sexual acts. That's just me though.

But SweetErika, in answer to your questions, I am female and I do not get off while reading erotica. If I do get aroused while reading a well written story - it is dealt with afterwards - not while reading.

I will read chapter stories if they are well written. But to be honest I can get annoyed if the next Chapter is delayed for a long period of time so I agree with another poster who advised you to make it a self-contained story for the most part but that additional chapters can be posted in the future (if you decide to go this route). And please don't get onto me - I realize authors/writers have real lives and many things can arise to delay or postpone the posting of the continuing Chapter - so that's why I agree with the other poster about making it a self-contained story if possible.

And the last thing I can say and say it for a certainty - I never ever finish a story that talks about bra sizes in the first couple of paragraphs. When I see a bra size, whether its 32A or 44DD - I exit the story immediately - the mystery has gone out of the story for me.

 

[SweetErika]

Wow - this definition sums my feelings about what an erotic story is and isn't.

Had a conversation recently with a friend and shared with her that I love to read erotica - even showed her the Lit site. At one point she asked me how I got into porn - no, I replied, I don't get into porn - I like and prefer erotica. There is a difference. We went to a used bookstore where I helped her pick out a couple of books of erotica - hopefully she will come to see the difference between smut/porn and erotica.

I can get smut/porn on a thousand different sites but don't as I, personally, mind you, find it mostly boring and a turn off. Here on Lit, though, I am much more likely to find true erotic literature. Some AV's are very erotic also. A lot of times I find the suggestion of sex more erotic, more arousing, than a blow by blow description of sexual acts. That's just me though.

But SweetErika, in answer to your questions, I am female and I do not get off while reading erotica. If I do get aroused while reading a well written story - it is dealt with afterwards - not while reading.

I will read chapter stories if they are well written. But to be honest I can get annoyed if the next Chapter is delayed for a long period of time so I agree with another poster who advised you to make it a self-contained story for the most part but that additional chapters can be posted in the future (if you decide to go this route). And please don't get onto me - I realize authors/writers have real lives and many things can arise to delay or postpone the posting of the continuing Chapter - so that's why I agree with the other poster about making it a self-contained story if possible.

And the last thing I can say and say it for a certainty - I never ever finish a story that talks about bra sizes in the first couple of paragraphs. When I see a bra size, whether its 32A or 44DD - I exit the story immediately - the mystery has gone out of the story for me.

Excellent post, Jo! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and no need to worry about the bra sizes or leaving the reader hanging - I know better than to do either.

Many of us jokingly call Lit a porn site, but you're so right about there being a huge distinction between porn and erotica, and I'm glad you're sharing that with people like your friend.

 

[privyjo]

Excellent post, Jo! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and no need to worry about the bra sizes or leaving the reader hanging - I know better than to do either.

Many of us jokingly call Lit a porn site, but you're so right about there being a huge distinction between porn and erotica, and I'm glad you're sharing that with people like your friend.

Thank you, Erika. I almost did not make a post but I - well - I do have some strong feelings on the subject of well written erotica! I look to reading your story - you will let us know when you post your story, right?

No, I did not think you would find it necessary to utilize bra sizes in you writing but hey - thought I would get the word out to those who still find it necessary to do so!

 

[SweetErika]

Thank you, Erika. I almost did not make a post but I - well - I do have some strong feelings on the subject of well written erotica! I look to reading your story - you will let us know when you post your story, right?

No, I did not think you would find it necessary to utilize bra sizes in you writing but hey - thought I would get the word out to those who still find it necessary to do so!

I'll definitely post the link here when the story's posted. I'd love to hear any thoughts, and am not above shameless self-promotion!

And, I'll continue to campaign for no bra sizes when I'm editing for other authors. The one who was using "35 C" the other day got a long explanation on the sizing system, womens' bodies and how bra sizes should never be used to describe the yumminess that is the breast.

 

[privyjo]

I'll definitely post the link here when the story's posted. I'd love to hear any thoughts, and am not above shameless self-promotion!

And, I'll continue to campaign for no bra sizes when I'm editing for other authors. The one who was using "35 C" the other day got a long explanation on the sizing system, womens' bodies and how bra sizes should never be used to describe the yumminess that is the breast.

*sighs and shakes head*

35C?

And Colleen Thomas wrote such a nice essay on the whole system of bra sizes! Writing erotica is not a talent I possess but I read what is written about writing it!

And please do self-promote! Sometimes that is what gets me to read some stories!

 

[AchtungNight]

And, I'll continue to campaign for no bra sizes when I'm editing for other authors. The one who was using "35 C" the other day got a long explanation on the sizing system, womens' bodies and how bra sizes should never be used to describe the yumminess that is the breast.

I agree with you 100% about bra sizes in stories. Far better to be vague- "slim," "athletic," "voluptuous," etc. and let the reader's imagination fill in the blanks.

 

[Dilbo]

The fact is, I will beat off and cum as I am reading, if the story is stimulating enough. Then I will pass the reference along to a young married I know whose hubby is very well endowed but doesn't know how to, or even cares about, fulfilling her own needs. Then we discuss the story in private cyberspace and make each other cum. We can usually time it so we orgasm within a minute of each other.

 

[Charles12]

I'm working on a story that starts with a ~750 word erotic/sex scene. I'm assuming it's enough to get a fairly large percentage of (male readers especially) off now, and I'm pleased with what I've written so far.

It's at the point now where I could:
a) submit it on it's own (after a short conclusion and editing, of course), so it'd basically be all sex;

b) continue adding to it, so it'd look like sex-story-sex-conclusion;

c) submit it as the first chapter of a series and keep writing more chapters.

My concern about 'b' is that readers will get off with the first sex scene and back out before the story finishes.

I'm hesitant to start a series for various reasons, including the fact that I've heard a lot of readers won't seek out additional chapters and I'm worried the readers who don't get off (or aren't trying to) with this first chapter will be left disappointed.

My questions for you:

1) If you got off on the first scene of a story like this, would you continue reading? Are you a male or female (I want to get and idea and please both genders with this one! )



2) Which of the above three options would you prefer as a reader? Short and sex-focused, longer with sex at the beginning and throughout, or a chapter story starting with sex as Ch. 1?



3) If you have any other input or suggestions as a reader and/or author, please share!

Poll to follow shortly, but I'm far more interested in your thoughts and the discussion, so if you have a moment to explain your choice, answer my questions, or add somethng else, I'd be grateful.

Thanks in advance, and I'm really looking forward to hearing from you!

1. I'm a guy. If I got off, I'd continue reading.

2. Short and sex-focused.

 

[CURIOUS55861]

I prefer not to get off until the last page. That's when I prefer the climax of the story to be anyways.

 

[SweetErika]

1. I'm a guy. If I got off, I'd continue reading.

2. Short and sex-focused.

Thanks for your input, Charles. My story's in the editing stage right now and about 8000 words, but maybe I'll write a shorter one next time. It does have plenty of sex, according to my beta readers, though!

 

[TheEvelyn]

New author, but maybe my opinions count!

I don't masturbate as I read these works, no matter how hot the sex is. I will perhaps think about it in bed later, and just allow things to happen...

If the sex is at the start, fair enough, I can live with that. I do, however, need characterization to keep me interested enough to keep reading.

My own problem with my writing is the opposite of what you describe here; I seem to need two hundred pages in order to clear my throat before the sex starts! I have no real idea how well I'm doing just yet, I have only submitted one story so far:

http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=279213

I hope it works, but the sex doesn't start until almost the bottom of the first lit page. I'l improve in time, and I may return to this story later.

TheEvelyn

 

[ungenderless]

I won't generally masturbate to stories, so maybe I'm in the minority here. But if the story is intriguing, I'll read to the very end. For example, I got hooked on this Buffy femslash one time. It was 30 chapters long. I was really enjoying the sex. However, the story gradually became so interesting that, about 2/3rds of the way through, I found myself skimming over the sex to get to the next plot development. So I think it can go either way. For me, just because I'm no longer reading it for the sex doesn't mean I'll stop reading it.

Hope that helped.

 

[SimonBrooke]

I'm working on a story that starts with a ~750 word erotic/sex scene. I'm assuming it's enough to get a fairly large percentage of (male readers especially) off now, and I'm pleased with what I've written so far.

1) If you got off on the first scene of a story like this, would you continue reading? Are you a male or female (I want to get and idea and please both genders with this one! )

If a story interests me, I'll almost always finish it. However, a story that's just sex and no character or plot won't interest me - and won't get me off. Sex by itself isn't sexy. You actually know this yourself, because I've just read (and very much agreed with) a detailed crit you've written in another recent thread.

Finish the story, and post it. It will be stronger for it.

 

[SweetErika]

If a story interests me, I'll almost always finish it. However, a story that's just sex and no character or plot won't interest me - and won't get me off. Sex by itself isn't sexy. You actually know this yourself, because I've just read (and very much agreed with) a detailed crit you've written in another recent thread.

Finish the story, and post it. It will be stronger for it.

True, though I've found knowing it and implementing it in my work are two entirely different things! Fortunately, my exceptional editing beta readers have pointed out and given suggestions on where mine fell short, and I've done my best to ensure the sex is just part of a solid plot and the characters don't seem like an afterthought (nor are they perfect or unrealistic).

My readers are giving it a final look now that I've implemented their suggestions, and it should be posted in a few weeks. I'll report back with the link, as I'd love to hear how you guys think it turned out - the comments in this thread played a big role in shaping it!

 

[FaintSautoir]

Erotic literature is a tricky thing to tackle when it comes to readers. Sometimes, the best you can do is just write the story the way you want. I believe that erotic literature has a strong tie to arousing the reader in a way that smut or basic pornography never can or will- through a somewhat personal build. If one of your characters hits the reader as important, sexy, clever, fragile (sometimes), and/or simply likable, seeing them in a sexual act is definitely a draw-on, as opposed to some super model you don't know just handing out sex like pamphlets.

I like your idea of sex in the beginning. I guess the only word of caution is to not make it completely invigorating, or you may lose some readers to their own amusment park because of it. Some of the greatest stories I've read have been ones that can draw me in sexually and briefly at first (not like some random sex scene in the beginning, but the character may be talking about something arousing or can lead into that), and then the development of the character(s) continues on afterwards. It will make the conclusion or climax of the story that much more important, and it will usually make the reader's climax that much more greater.

Don't be afraid to tease. Being a male, we love to be teased when we know that its gonna get better.

Oh, and I'd prefer the second option. It's always good to know something ends for me, though if you do have a really, really long story, chapters are the only proper way to go. And yes, I always make sure I read the whole story before I do anything else.

 

[2HotnSexy]

Keep me posted ...

I'm working on a story that starts with a ~750 word erotic/sex scene. I'm assuming it's enough to get a fairly large percentage of (male readers especially) off now, and I'm pleased with what I've written so far.

It's at the point now where I could:
a) submit it on it's own (after a short conclusion and editing, of course), so it'd basically be all sex;

b) continue adding to it, so it'd look like sex-story-sex-conclusion;

c) submit it as the first chapter of a series and keep writing more chapters.

My concern about 'b' is that readers will get off with the first sex scene and back out before the story finishes.

I'm hesitant to start a series for various reasons, including the fact that I've heard a lot of readers won't seek out additional chapters and I'm worried the readers who don't get off (or aren't trying to) with this first chapter will be left disappointed.

My questions for you:

1) If you got off on the first scene of a story like this, would you continue reading? Are you a male or female (I want to get and idea and please both genders with this one! )

2) Which of the above three options would you prefer as a reader? Short and sex-focused, longer with sex at the beginning and throughout, or a chapter story starting with sex as Ch. 1?

3) If you have any other input or suggestions as a reader and/or author, please share!

Poll to follow shortly, but I'm far more interested in your thoughts and the discussion, so if you have a moment to explain your choice, answer my questions, or add somethng else, I'd be grateful.

Thanks in advance, and I'm really looking forward to hearing from you!

I look forward to it...

 

[SweetErika]

Update!

I just wanted to let everyone know the story in question is now up! Here's the direct link: http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=281708

Thanks again for all of your opinions, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how it came out!