Female centric stories

[Ianus4]

Personally, I think this insistence on a "male-centric" vs. "female-centric" dichotomy is an overreaction. Especially here on Lit, which celebrates diversity. No two men are alike, and neither are any two women. On that basis, we could also distinguish between “extrovert-centric” and “introvert-centric” stories. Fundamentally, we’re all human beings—dominant or submissive, hypersexual or asexual, rough or gentle. Regardless of what’s between our legs, we may long to be nurses, teachers, carpenters, scientists, CEOs. We may crave tenderness or roughness in bed, or a more receptive or assertive partner. The same goes for erotic literature. Many men read lesbian romances written by female authors, and straight romances written from a male POV by female authors also have many male fans. Why couldn’t a male author write a novel that women can relate to?
Obviously, every group has its own specific issues that an author outside that group cannot directly experience (e.g., prejudice against queer people, or say, a man’s performance anxiety in bed), but if there is sufficient openness to the subject, this need not be an obstacle.
I'm afraid some of them fall victim to gender stereotyping in their characters. For example, they trap themselves by making long blonde hair, DD-cup breasts, an hourglass figure, 6 feet, 6 inches, six-pack, six figures, and a huge sex drive mandatory in their stories. In visual erotica, this can be spectacular, but the great advantage of written erotica lies precisely in what cannot be shown in a picture or video. That’s why I don’t like overly detailed physical descriptions, because they lock the imagination into stereotypes—even on the author’s part.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Personally, I think this insistence on a "male-centric" vs. "female-centric" dichotomy is an overreaction.

Oh, good! I feel so less lonely being the only one who understands what the fuck gender is by each day that passes.

Can I kiss you?

I'm afraid some of them fall victim to gender stereotyping in their characters. For example, they trap themselves by making long blonde hair, DD-cup breasts, an hourglass figure, 6 feet, 6 inches, six-pack, six figures, and a huge sex drive mandatory in their stories. In visual erotica, this can be spectacular, but the great advantage of written erotica lies precisely in what cannot be shown in a picture or video. That’s why I don’t like overly detailed physical descriptions, because they lock the imagination into stereotypes—even on the author’s part.

Tbh this is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison. Like the 750-word stories and flash fiction, there's an audience for those (who are not necessarily writers for the 750-word stories, as many here always state that these stories are only for other writers), it just so happens they cater to a niche, thus if you are willing to trudge among the low ratings (pro move: don't do the stupid disclaimer of "this is a story of 750 words;" let them rage if the thing ends early, why would you make it your problem that they don't like short stuff?), you might actually carve a niche for it. @SmilingLez doesn't go beyond 2K on her stories, @PennyThompson rarely goes beyond 2 Lit pages, and @EmilyMiller has better rated 750-word stories than mine, and honestly, both my short and long forms of stories have seen the same performance, so I don't even know why people are encouraged to write long here, but I think I went outside the subject for far too long already.

Anyway, now that the rant ended.

If there is an actual audience for flash fiction, why couldn't there be an audience for the stuff that we see as bad? That type of erotica has had an audience since Anaïs Nin and the others being angry at their patron for requesting his fantasies being talked back at him. If that wasn't the case, there would be no erotica on XNXX, or ridiculous fanfics in WattPad that already are too hyperbolic (I'm talking about dicks that are the size of street blocks, and I wish I was lying), and some of the WattPad stuff I'm aware is done like that on purpose. Damnit, wouldn't it be an interesting experiment to release both the stereotype and the non-stereotype to see which one hits better?

Then again, if minmaxing your ratings is your thing, you be you. I don't stress myself too much on that as far as I'm concerned, because even if I get to do that experiment, I know the data would be skewed because the rating system here, and everywhere else, is not designed to be objective. Honestly? I only had one comment saying that a story I wrote sounds like it was written by a man, and it was an anonymous. Even my ex, a cisgender woman, laughed at that and pretty much said anon doesn't know shit. After all, I never thought about my writing being "X gender centric" before switching to erotica because it will reach whoever it needs it.

In a nutshell, your writing is valid, write whatever you want. Just focus on treating your readers good instead of all readers.

 

[SmilingLez]

In a nutshell, your writing is valid, write whatever you want. Just focus on treating your readers good instead of all readers.

100% agree.

My beef is a male believing that he wrote a story from a female's perspective. That is impossible. A brain drenched in testosterone as early as 7 weeks gestation cannot write anything from a female perspective.

Yes a male can write a female centric story. However, the female MC is created in the mind of a male.

The same it's true for straight people writing gay erotica, gay people writing straight erotica, etc.

My gay male on-the-job story, Office Quickie is (gay) male centric however I did not write the story from a (gay) male perspective.

 

[StillStunned]

why would you make it your problem that they don't like short stuff?

 

[Duil2]

100% agree.

My beef is a male believing that he wrote a story from a female's perspective. That is impossible. A brain drenched in testosterone as early as 7 weeks gestation cannot write anything from a female perspective.

Yes a male can write a female centric story. However, the female MC is created in the mind of a male.

The same it's true for straight people writing gay erotica, gay people writing straight erotica, etc.

My gay male on-the-job story, Office Quickie is (gay) male centric however I did not write the story from a (gay) male perspective.

Wow, my interpretation of that was totally different.
When anyone says they are writing from the perspective of, I take it to mean they are writing from the 'point of view' of the character. So if their main character happens to be female, they are writing from the perspective of a female - it's her point of view.
Of course it's impossible for a man to think he can have the perspective of a woman in actuality, but I didn't think that's what the OP meant. I thought he meant female point of view with a female main character so from a female perspective.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

View attachment 2625027

I'll say this, cat to cat: people pleaser.

 

[lovecraft68]

100% agree.

My beef is a male believing that he wrote a story from a female's perspective. That is impossible. A brain drenched in testosterone as early as 7 weeks gestation cannot write anything from a female perspective.

Yes a male can write a female centric story. However, the female MC is created in the mind of a male.

The same it's true for straight people writing gay erotica, gay people writing straight erotica, etc.

My gay male on-the-job story, Office Quickie is (gay) male centric however I did not write the story from a (gay) male perspective.

So basically your opinion is you can only write exactly who you are with any accuracy? You sell yourself short by pretty much saying you couldn't write convincingly as a gay male or straight guy or anything you're not? Like I said before if you put that limit on yourself, that's your call, but don't project it to others.

But I'll let Mr. Harris know that unless he's a serial killer that eats his victims, he needs to remove his books and shame on him.

Seriously, if that's your take, fine, it's yours, but get off your box and let other people have their takes, opinions and write what they want. You're not the fiction police.

You've been here a year and have five stories to your credit, but sit here acting like you know how everything works here and how readers should feel and other authors should write and what they can and can't write?

That's an amazing accomplishment, please take your well-deserved bows.

 

[Actingup]

In some good news, this thread is now powering three small Canadian towns not otherwise connected to the grid. Well done all!

 

[SmilingLez]

So basically your opinion is you can only write exactly who you are with any accuracy? You sell yourself short by pretty much saying you couldn't write convincingly as a gay male or straight guy or anything you're not? Like I said before if you put that limit on yourself, that's your call, but don't project it to others.

But I'll let Mr. Harris know that unless he's a serial killer that eats his victims, he needs to remove his books and shame on him.

Seriously, if that's your take, fine, it's yours, but get off your box and let other people have their takes, opinions and write what they want. You're not the fiction police.

You've been here a year and have five stories to your credit, but sit here acting like you know how everything works here and how readers should feel and other authors should write and what they can and can't write?

That's an amazing accomplishment, please take your well-deserved bows.

I am saying my brain was not drenched in testosterone as early as 7 weeks gestation. I have no idea what a hard-on feels like. I have no idea what blue balls feel like. I have no idea what a male orgasm feels like. I have no idea what male gaze is.

Yes I can write a male centric story however I cannot write it from a male perspective because I am not a MALE!

Seems like you missed the point of what I said. Congratulations to you as well for pretending you understand and experience everything about being a female. Take your well-deserved bows as well, unless you are experiencing menstrual cramps.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

So basically your opinion is you can only write exactly who you are with any accuracy? You sell yourself short by pretty much saying you couldn't write convincingly as a gay male or straight guy or anything you're not? Like I said before if you put that limit on yourself, that's your call, but don't project it to others.

But I'll let Mr. Harris know that unless he's a serial killer that eats his victims, he needs to remove his books and shame on him.

Seriously, if that's your take, fine, it's yours, but get off your box and let other people have their takes, opinions and write what they want. You're not the fiction police.

You've been here a year and have five stories to your credit, but sit here acting like you know how everything works here and how readers should feel and other authors should write and what they can and can't write?

That's an amazing accomplishment, please take your well-deserved bows.

I think you are missing an important point here.
It's entirely possible that this person can't do those things. And it's good for people to acknowledge their limitations.
The problem is when they start projecting those limitations onto the rest of us.
The fact that they can't write from a different perspective doesn't mean you or I, or OP can't.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think you are missing an important point here.
It's entirely possible that this person can't do those things. And it's good for people to acknowledge their limitations.
The problem is when they start projecting those limitations onto the rest of us.
The fact that they can't write from a different perspective doesn't mean you or I, or OP can't.

I think you're missing my point in saying I'm missing a point. I said earlier the only limits one has here are the ones you impose upon yourself, but you have no right imposing them on others. I also mentioned that in the last post, if they want to sell themselves short on what they can do, I think that's kind of sad in a way, but again, its their choice but they can't make it for others.

I've had ideas that after considering them I decided I can't pull it off for whatever reason, but that's me making that decision based on me. Not me telling you not to attempt whatever you want.

There's always room for discussion, there's exceptions to every rule, etc...but when someone continues to definitively say "No, you can't." That's not the same and they have no right to say what other people can do.

A new author here has already pulled a story they were excited to try over this bullshit, which is far from the first time, and as always, the spin doctors here act like that person is the problem, not the forum, and as always, a small few will call bullshit.

There are authors on this site with pen names of the opposite gender who have written for years as such, and no one knows the difference or maybe they don't care.

Why should anyone here care?

The real answer is no one should, but then how could some get to throw their weight around and feel important?

 

[SmilingLez]

I think you're missing my point in saying I'm missing a point. I said earlier the only limits one has here are the ones you impose upon yourself, but you have no right imposing them on others. I also mentioned that in the last post, if they want to sell themselves short on what they can do, I think that's kind of sad in a way, but again, its their choice but they can't make it for others.

I've had ideas that after considering them I decided I can't pull it off for whatever reason, but that's me making that decision based on me. Not me telling you not to attempt whatever you want.

There's always room for discussion, there's exceptions to every rule, etc...but when someone continues to definitively say "No, you can't." That's not the same and they have no right to say what other people can do.

A new author here has already pulled a story they were excited to try over this bullshit, which is far from the first time, and as always, the spin doctors here act like that person is the problem, not the forum, and as always, a small few will call bullshit.

There are authors on this site with pen names of the opposite gender who have written for years as such, and no one knows the difference or maybe they don't care.

Why should anyone here care?

The real answer is no one should, but then how could some get to throw their weight around and feel important?

The perfect example of the pot calling the kettle

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I think you're missing my point in saying I'm missing a point. I said earlier the only limits one has here are the ones you impose upon yourself, but you have no right imposing them on others. I also mentioned that in the last post, if they want to sell themselves short on what they can do, I think that's kind of sad in a way, but again, its their choice but they can't make it for others.

I've had ideas that after considering them I decided I can't pull it off for whatever reason, but that's me making that decision based on me. Not me telling you not to attempt whatever you want.

There's always room for discussion, there's exceptions to every rule, etc...but when someone continues to definitively say "No, you can't." That's not the same and they have no right to say what other people can do.

A new author here has already pulled a story they were excited to try over this bullshit, which is far from the first time, and as always, the spin doctors here act like that person is the problem, not the forum, and as always, a small few will call bullshit.

There are authors on this site with pen names of the opposite gender who have written for years as such, and no one knows the difference or maybe they don't care.

Why should anyone here care?

The real answer is no one should, but then how could some get to throw their weight around and feel important?

Well, now I know you are missing the point, about missing the point, about missing the point.
Which means we are left with only one option. Say to hell with the haters, go have a drink, then write some stories from whatever perspective we damn well want to.

 

[lovecraft68]

The perfect example of the pot calling the kettle

I think this is the part where I'm supposed to ask you what you mean because I care.

But I don't.

Next remark will sound pandering but it's not meant to be. I hope as you keep writing you loosen up on your "I can't" opinion and give different POV's and perspectives a go. You may surprise yourself.

 

[anthrodisiac]

In some good news, this thread is now powering three small Canadian towns not otherwise connected to the grid. Well done all!

I think we might be up to four soon.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think we might be up to four soon.

Standards must be lower these days, this wouldn't have gotten past one a few years ago.

 

[nice90sguy]

Based on some of the opinions Ive read in this thread, I'm a woman, and my wife is a man.

I have no idea what a hard-on feels like

Don't be squeamish, just grab hold of one, it won't bite

 

[EmilyMiller]

@EmilyMiller has better rated 750-word stories than mine

Is 750 word envy the new black ?

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Is 750 word envy the new black ?

In Lit? We can only hope!

 

[Voboy]

Someone said : Anyone can write anything, but he won't get it right.

Here's something I often remind writers of in cases like this:

Does every man experience an orgasm the same way?

The answer, as anyone with any sense ought to realize, is no: our sexual experiences are overlaid by our culture, our language, our feelings for our partner, our metabolism, our tiredness, our level of arousal. Any man who's ever masturbated before can tell you that, even with one individual and his hand, not all orgasms feel the same.

So... if not all orgasms are created equal in men, then why wouldn't the same be true for women?

Meaning there's no such thing as "get it right." My characters, male or female, orgasm a lot, and when I describe those orgasms? I always "get it right," because they're my characters and I understand what's gone into their orgasms. I don't always write them the same way, regardless of their gender, and that's just fine: their responses are true to their characters, as I've written them.

Again, just write. If the story is truly yours? You'll get it right because nobody else can.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Some time ago I started a thread about the female gaze after hearing it mentioned a few times in the media world.

An all time 10/10 thread.

 

[MelissaBaby]

One of the greatest compliments I've ever gotten is how well I write human characters for an archaeopteryx.

High praise indeed. I think of myself as a decent writer, and I don't think I could write realistic archaeopteryx characters.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Here's something I often remind writers of in cases like this:

Does every man experience an orgasm the same way?

The answer, as anyone with any sense ought to realize, is no: our sexual experiences are overlaid by our culture, our language, our feelings for our partner, our metabolism, our tiredness, our level of arousal. Any man who's ever masturbated before can tell you that, even with one individual and his hand, not all orgasms feel the same.

So... if not all orgasms are created equal in men, then why wouldn't the same be true for women?

Meaning there's no such thing as "get it right." My characters, male or female, orgasm a lot, and when I describe those orgasms? I always "get it right," because they're my characters and I understand what's gone into their orgasms. I don't always write them the same way, regardless of their gender, and that's just fine: their responses are true to their characters, as I've written them.

Again, just write. If the story is truly yours? You'll get it right because nobody else can.

This, this, this, this, this

 

[Mastered_again]

I've been tempted to add to this thread several times, but having published only one story here. Same mfc and mmc covered in 25 chapters, so they're pretty well defined as to their preferences, personalities and general POV, so my experience in writing male and female characters is a highly limited sample.

As a woman, I believe the my mfc is "womanly," as I write from my experience.

Obviously, not all orgasms are created equally. Depending on the situation (that's why we have multiple categories, right?), the stimuli driving it are different (both physically and mentally).

How any one individual responds to these vary, so how can we say that one FC's experience with [pick a category EC, Anal, R/NC, BDSM, E&V, etc.] be more "truly" female than another's?

 

[nice90sguy]

Again, just write.

Yes

If the story is truly yours?

No

You'll get it right because nobody else can.

No


The whole point of publishing stories (or any art and communication in general) is to share. Unless you "achieve uptake" in at least some of your readers, you've failed as a storyteller. So it has to resonate, and the cry of "yeah, but that actually happened/it's how I see it" is no excuse. But "ya can't please everyone" IS okay.