Why do women like Gay Male stories?

[Hypoxia]

Even Kinsey, more than 50 years ago, discussed the fluidity of human sexuality and pretty much said that everyone has the physical ability to be bisexual; but that the innate preference for one or the other genderwise will fall heavily to one side or the other of the straight/gay scale in the overwhelming majority of people.

Black comedian and social critic Dick Gregory used to riff that whenever he encountered a paper form that wanted to know his race, he always wrote "off-white", and let them figure just how far 'off'. Similarly, IMHO most humans are "more or less" bisexual, and we and they just have to figure *how* more-or-less.

Human consciousness and sexuality are of near-infinite complexity, and are dynamic, not static. And wherever we trend on the "more-or-less bi" scale, we aren't glued to one spot. A lifelong 'straight' person might find themself attracted to a specific person of another sex, not to other-gender folks in general. Have they gone bi, or are they just smitten?

I've given up saying what I 'am' in general, with specifying an identity. The only honest answer is where I am right now, what I'm doing. Thus, I'm only a photographer during the times when I am actively doing photography; and I'm a flautist only when I'm doing flute work, playing or studying. And I'm only straight at the times I'm sexually with someone of the other sex.

Back to the OP: My answer to 'why' is that these stories are windows upon other worlds, curious worlds, and safe windows. We can look upon other worlds without risking ourselves, unless we wish to.

 

[sr71plt]

IMO, sex is sex is sex, especially for a male. If he can get it up, he can have sex (and probably doesn't want to stop short of that at that point). It doesn't matter who or what else is present at the moment.

If he can't get it up in a situation, in the words of Amadeus' duke, "There it is then." That's just the way it is.

 

[UltimateSwitch]

Hey all. As a female writer of GM stories I suppose I always use the How is two men not better then one? Excuse. But in a bid of shameless self promotion I've entered one into this years Valentines contest and would love some feedback either here or on the story. Its called The Down Low and I am sorry for interrupting. Thank you.

 

[CountGustaf]

Hey all. As a female writer of GM stories I suppose I always use the How is two men not better then one? Excuse. But in a bid of shameless self promotion I've entered one into this years Valentines contest and would love some feedback either here or on the story. Its called The Down Low and I am sorry for interrupting. Thank you.

Yeah, well, what can I say? About two screens down, way before any sex was even in the offing, I was bored. This site is about erotica, right? Sex, right? Two screens down and not even hope of sex, that's when I walk away.

There's a trick for film script writing: When is the absolutely last moment you can enter a story? That's the exact moment you should enter it. Works for other literature as well.

 

[PennLady]

Yeah, well, what can I say? About two screens down, way before any sex was even in the offing, I was bored. This site is about erotica, right? Sex, right? Two screens down and not even hope of sex, that's when I walk away.

This site covers a wide range of "erotica." There are stories in some categories with sex on every page, and stories in other categories where the author builds up to the sex. What bores one person intrigues another. If an author doesn't get to the sex fast enough for you, no problem, but others may think the pacing is just fine.

And I haven't read the story in question. I just say that as someone who has written stories that take a while to get to the sex.

ETA: Just read the story. I have my own issues with it, but it's only one page and how you could think there was no hope of sex, I'm not sure. It was pretty well set up that there would be.

 

[Tsotha]

Yeah, well, what can I say? About two screens down, way before any sex was even in the offing, I was bored. This site is about erotica, right? Sex, right? Two screens down and not even hope of sex, that's when I walk away.

There's a trick for film script writing: When is the absolutely last moment you can enter a story? That's the exact moment you should enter it. Works for other literature as well.

Interesting. I walk away if it gets to sex within three screens.

 

[UltimateSwitch]

This site covers a wide range of "erotica." There are stories in some categories with sex on every page, and stories in other categories where the author builds up to the sex. What bores one person intrigues another. If an author doesn't get to the sex fast enough for you, no problem, but others may think the pacing is just fine.

And I haven't read the story in question. I just say that as someone who has written stories that take a while to get to the sex.

ETA: Just read the story. I have my own issues with it, but it's only one page and how you could think there was no hope of sex, I'm not sure. It was pretty well set up that there would be.

Thank you! I know it's not perfect but that first comment confused the hell out of me. I was trying to figure out how you could even get two screens down without having gotten to the end of the story let alone the sex.

 

[CountGustaf]

This site covers a wide range of "erotica." There are stories in some categories with sex on every page, and stories in other categories where the author builds up to the sex. What bores one person intrigues another. If an author doesn't get to the sex fast enough for you, no problem, but others may think the pacing is just fine.

And I haven't read the story in question. I just say that as someone who has written stories that take a while to get to the sex.

ETA: Just read the story. I have my own issues with it, but it's only one page and how you could think there was no hope of sex, I'm not sure. It was pretty well set up that there would be.

I wasn't saying there was no hope of sex. I was saying that two screens down there was no sign of any hope of it. We were not even approaching the subject.

But what do I know? I'm a rookie at this. How about you help me edit my next lit story? It won't be gay male and I'll need a woman's support, because it'll primarily be female POV.

 

[UltimateSwitch]

Sir? I'm just curious but are you sure you read the right story? Mine is barely 2000 words...so I'm rather confused about how you got that impression. There is a bit of build up but Barely a page worth so I'm confused. Sorry to bother you...

 

[PennLady]

I wasn't saying there was no hope of sex. I was saying that two screens down there was no sign of any hope of it. We were not even approaching the subject.

Just to be clear, we both read "The Down Low" by UltimateSwitch, right? It's a short, one-screen page story. So when you say "two screens down," I'm guessing you mean that you hit Page Down twice? Seriously -- I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

Anyway, I admit to going 'outside' the story to a degree. I had a short story, in Gay Male, suggested by the author and a Valentine's Day story. With all of that in mind, plus the fact that we are immediately introduced to two male characters, I figured there would be sex; since it's a short page, it had to happen soon.

Also, the fourth paragraph:

"Yeah, I'm down. You want to go find someone?" Tyrell asked. It was the usual way of it. That was how they did this. Dom shrugged.

That's kind of cryptic, but again, given all the info I have at this point and my suppositions, that indicated sex. So that's why I'm curious that someone would think there was "no sign of any hope of it."

That's how I looked at it; others will look differently, and some will think it's fast enough, others not fast enough. No problem.

But what do I know? I'm a rookie at this. How about you help me edit my next lit story? It won't be gay male and I'll need a woman's support, because it'll primarily be female POV.

PM me when the story's ready and if I have time, I'll look it over.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Really? If the stories here show that its not all that realistic.

Many Gay males are far more promiscuous than any straight man or woman. The adult personals on any website in any part of the country are full of Gay NSA blow job adds and my wife's 4 friends who are Gay and all live together have a house that is almost literally a revolving door.

Not saying there's anything wrong with that if that makes them happy, but it's far from loving tender relationships.
I'm sure those exist, but they would be the ones people don;t hear about as much. Monogamy no matter what the gender is seen as less than sexy here.

It's possible to be nonmonogamous and loving and tender

I do agree with you that gay men probably aren't any more sweet and sensitive on average than straight men. I know some who are lovely and some who are vicious and catty. But the stereotype seems to be popular in fic.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Hey all. As a female writer of GM stories I suppose I always use the How is two men not better then one? Excuse. But in a bid of shameless self promotion I've entered one into this years Valentines contest and would love some feedback either here or on the story. Its called The Down Low and I am sorry for interrupting. Thank you.

Caveat: GM isn't my thing so I can't speak for your target audience, but here's my two cents' worth.

- Initial pacing seemed fine to me. Some people like to get to the sex in a hurry, some like to take their time setting up the situation. I'm very much in the second camp, but there are plenty of readers for both those styles.
- Overall, I think this might've worked better as a longer story. You're going for an emotional payoff at the end, but you didn't give yourself a lot of space to build up that tension and get readers involved.
- Some grammatical issues that would benefit from an editor. In particular, check the rules for punctuating speech.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Black comedian and social critic Dick Gregory used to riff that whenever he encountered a paper form that wanted to know his race, he always wrote "off-white", and let them figure just how far 'off'. Similarly, IMHO most humans are "more or less" bisexual, and we and they just have to figure *how* more-or-less.

Human consciousness and sexuality are of near-infinite complexity, and are dynamic, not static. And wherever we trend on the "more-or-less bi" scale, we aren't glued to one spot. A lifelong 'straight' person might find themself attracted to a specific person of another sex, not to other-gender folks in general. Have they gone bi, or are they just smitten?

I've given up saying what I 'am' in general, with specifying an identity. The only honest answer is where I am right now, what I'm doing. Thus, I'm only a photographer during the times when I am actively doing photography; and I'm a flautist only when I'm doing flute work, playing or studying. And I'm only straight at the times I'm sexually with someone of the other sex.

Back to the OP: My answer to 'why' is that these stories are windows upon other worlds, curious worlds, and safe windows. We can look upon other worlds without risking ourselves, unless we wish to.

Your thesis is absurd, as a general rule. Stasis is the horse you wanna bet on.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I thought about it, prayed about it beside my bed, and made a horoscope about the appeal of gay male stories. The answer is Walter Mitty musing. Gay males are a metaphor for the docile female who dreams of a world where she can interact with males as an equal.

Never gonna happen.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

I thought about it, prayed about it beside my bed, and made a horoscope about the appeal of gay male stories. The answer is Walter Mitty musing. Gay males are a metaphor for the docile female who dreams of a world where she can interact with males as an equal.

Never gonna happen.

Except for that last bit, this is a pretty valid theory.

Putting yourself as an insert for a romance that is even-steven without any social norms holding you back. (except for, y'know, the big one)

That might be why so many GM stories take place in alternate times or worlds where gay is accepted as normal or even ubiquitous.

Congrats JBJ, you touched on something.

I am really confused as to why I've never found you offensive, even though you try so hard. Maybe it's because underneath the trolling, you just get it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Except for that last bit, this is a pretty valid theory.

Putting yourself as an insert for a romance that is even-steven without any social norms holding you back. (except for, y'know, the big one)

That might be why so many GM stories take place in alternate times or worlds where gay is accepted as normal or even ubiquitous.

Congrats JBJ, you touched on something.

I am really confused as to why I've never found you offensive, even though you try so hard. Maybe it's because underneath the trolling, you just get it.

I don't read gay stories unless Clive Barker writes them, but one of his stories I seriously like has no sex in it at all. A male prostitute makes a date for sex with an archaeology perfesser, and encounters a Roman gladiator sculpture in the home. The next day the gladiator comes to life and follows him around (he senses its following him), until the guy is assaulted by a gang of blacks who intend to kill the man for being gay. The gladiator then appears with sword etc and goes to work on the bruthas.

Its all about power and equality and calming fear.

 

[AutumnMiyuki]

I think that it has to do with vulnerability? Seeing a man who can be sensitive and knows his body and his mind well enough to submit to something taboo in order to please both himself and the other. If a man could be gay for a girl, it'd be the ideal of all situations. Hence pegging. Mmmmmmmmm. Pegging.

 

[Rckymtn110]

Story feedback

If any straight ladies here have the time and interest I would be curious about their opinion on my GM stories. Thanks in advance.

 

[CountGustaf]

Just to be clear, we both read "The Down Low" by UltimateSwitch, right? It's a short, one-screen page story. So when you say "two screens down," I'm guessing you mean that you hit Page Down twice? Seriously -- I want to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

Anyway, I admit to going 'outside' the story to a degree. I had a short story, in Gay Male, suggested by the author and a Valentine's Day story. With all of that in mind, plus the fact that we are immediately introduced to two male characters, I figured there would be sex; since it's a short page, it had to happen soon.

Also, the fourth paragraph:



That's kind of cryptic, but again, given all the info I have at this point and my suppositions, that indicated sex. So that's why I'm curious that someone would think there was "no sign of any hope of it."

Perfect as my English is ( for a furriner) there are nuances that I miss, obviously. I was nowhere near sex at this point, merely wondering what these guys were talking about.

That's how I looked at it; others will look differently, and some will think it's fast enough, others not fast enough. No problem.

It's a matter of style, of course. This is an erotica site. Verbal porn, to be frank. I don't need the actual sex up front, but I like the topic to come up early. My next story starts with a son telling his dad that there's a lady across the street, who doesn't draw her blinds, when she changes after work. And she doesn't wear panties.

PM me when the story's ready and if I have time, I'll look it over.

I'll take you up on that. After the intro I make the major mistake of changing the POV to the lady across the street for the remainder of the story. I'll be in dire need of a woman's opinion.

 

[CountGustaf]

All right. Now I've learned the limits of this sit, as far as quotes go.

 

[painful_rapture]

I've always had a guilty pleasure when it comes to yaoi manga. Not necessarily GM lit though. I've never really thought into the why of it all. I just see what I like and get wrapped up in it.
I suppose for some women (like myself) it doesn't matter who is what as long as the story is entertaining. Although, I have an aversion to lesbian stories. Not sure why
I suppose this didn't really go to answering the question. I think sometimes there isn't really a why.
That's like asking somebody why something tastes good to them. Like chocolate. How am I supposed to know why it tastes good to me? It just does...
Of course this is all just my opinion, so don't feel the need to take it seriously.