Ideal Story Length

[intim8]

I haven't learned the ratio to site page length yet

About 3K words per page, give or take some factors I haven't figured out (maybe character count or how they count whitespace). When I started writing here, I pulled a few random pages of posted stories into my editor to do a word count just to see.

I do a fair amount of writing outside this site, and I always just go by word count. It's the definitive size of a story, and between books, magazines, web sites, phones, and whatever else, page count is all but meaningless.

 

[alohadave]

About 3K words per page, give or take some factors I haven't figured out (maybe character count or how they count whitespace). When I started writing here, I pulled a few random pages of posted stories into my editor to do a word count just to see.

I do a fair amount of writing outside this site, and I always just go by word count. It's the definitive size of a story, and between books, magazines, web sites, phones, and whatever else, page count is all but meaningless.

Approximately 3750 word per Lit page.

 

[intim8]

maybe I screwed over readers who are looking at the chapter as an indipendent read vs. following the series through.

From my reading, and some of the feedback I get, it is a minor concern. I do make sure to have at least one payoff scene in each chapter, preferably near the end, but I've gotten good feedback on chapters that end with longish scenes that are not sexual. If they're standalone, the readers seem to prefer it end with a bang, though a good story can have a denouement.

 

[intim8]

The seduction is the best part half the time.

When I'm writing the build up, I can really hammer out the words, but when I finally get to the sex scene, I almost get bored writing it. Almost. Yeah, the anticipation is the thing.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

A story might have chapters - the 104k novel has seventeen chapters, each of which told a self-contained sub-element of the story. Similarly, my series have parts or chapters (I use the terms interchangeably), but again, each sectIion resolves itself.

I also have standalone stories that are a single Lit submission. One is ten Lit pages (about 38k words) which has internal chapters, but I chose not to publish them separately - they'd have been too short.

I don't have hard and fast rules, it's whatever suits that particular story.

It really is just easier that way. I started doing the latter when the story had chapters, but wasn't very long, like my halloween contest story.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

About 3K words per page, give or take some factors I haven't figured out (maybe character count or how they count whitespace). When I started writing here, I pulled a few random pages of posted stories into my editor to do a word count just to see.

I do a fair amount of writing outside this site, and I always just go by word count. It's the definitive size of a story, and between books, magazines, web sites, phones, and whatever else, page count is all but meaningless.

Word count is more the length of the story. Page count is the size, in my opinion. Writers always swear by word count, so do writers who read, but there seems to be some readers who just look at page count. Even though Lit isn't exactly the only site that does it, but I think with it's auto page add, it makes some readers jaded on the size of, or length of a story/chapter.

On my other account, I've been publishing an incest story. When I first started writing years ago, I had this notion that four word page long chapters were best-- for reasons. I since stopped that, it was dumb. Especially after talking to either Keith or LC68 about it and perfect sense was made. Could've been EB, too. With cautious abandon, my stuff started to fall around 10-14 pages long. Where the jadedness comes in, is a few chapters have comments stating they're too short. If you move the chapters into word or any processor, you'd see they aren't that short. Word count might be off slightly, but it'll be the same page count roughly as a "proper" length chapter. For example, there's a chapter that's 12 pages long and is 2 Lit pages and another that's also 12 pages, or at the least 11¾ pages and is 1 Lit page. Word counts are within probably 100-200 of each other. Maybe. One probably had way more conversation than the other. Paragraghs make more words.

 

[intim8]

some readers who just look at page count.

For sure. And even I do, when I am reading here, or when I pick up a book or something. But that's because once you are here, or have a book in your hand, the page size is a given, so the page count is a more tactile gauge. When you're familiar with a site, or paperback books in general, it's a readily familiar indicator. And word count is not always available.

But I think the question was written in the context of writing. I put my stuff on multiple venues, and potentially even more to maybe include print some day. I have stuff I've written, and am writing, that I have no idea how they'll be presented, or if whatever venue even has pages at all. So when I am assessing how much to write, I go for word count. When I'm looking at a particular venue, I might get a feel for the page count readers expect, but then I translate that to word count to start writing.

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

About 3K words per page, give or take some factors I haven't figured out (maybe character count or how they count whitespace). When I started writing here, I pulled a few random pages of posted stories into my editor to do a word count just to see.

I do a fair amount of writing outside this site, and I always just go by word count. It's the definitive size of a story, and between books, magazines, web sites, phones, and whatever else, page count is all but meaningless.

that's useful to know - good sleuthing

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

From my reading, and some of the feedback I get, it is a minor concern. I do make sure to have at least one payoff scene in each chapter, preferably near the end, but I've gotten good feedback on chapters that end with longish scenes that are not sexual. If they're standalone, the readers seem to prefer it end with a bang, though a good story can have a denouement.

ooo good hints right here

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

When I'm writing the build up, I can really hammer out the words, but when I finally get to the sex scene, I almost get bored writing it. Almost. Yeah, the anticipation is the thing.

OH MY GOD I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE!!!

 

[CyranoJ]

Let's chat - what are people's thoughts on ideal story length? What is too little? Too much?

The ideal story length is whatever is right for the story. Only write to word limits if you're getting paid. Otherwise, write to what you feel best serves the story. Some of my best-recieved stories are insanely long, including the one that (toot-toot) won me NC/R's first Literotica award.

As to "getting to the good stuff"? It depends on the type of story. If I'm writing a stroker, I get there early. If I want setup, it might take a full Lit "page" or more. It's all context dependent.

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

The ideal story length is whatever is right for the story. Only write to word limits if you're getting paid. Otherwise, write to what you feel best serves the story. Some of my best-recieved stories are insanely long, including the one that (toot-toot) won me NC/R's first Literotica award.

As to "getting to the good stuff"? It depends on the type of story. If I'm writing a stroker, I get there early. If I want setup, it might take a full Lit "page" or more. It's all context dependent.

well said

 

[susurrus]

I'm in the "write till the story's done" crowd. I've had readers complain a story's too long, yet it seems my longer pieces are the ones getting favorited more often than the shorter ones.

And the other fact is: it's impossible to make everybody happy. So, long or short, write whatever you're going to write, and it's a good bet it will find its audience.

 

[Bamagan]

There are three ideal lengths, depending on if you're writing for the Mama Bears, Papa Bears, or Baby Bears.
For short strokers, 2,991 words is what you should be aiming for. You can fudge by about 10% either way before it seriously hampers the lovability of the tale.
For those who like things in the short story-to-novelette range, 12,337 words is the sweet spot. Again, you've got a little wiggle room, about 15% either way.
The novella folks are looking for 27,662 words. You can safely go under by about 5% but over by as much as 50%.
The ones looking for novels don't have an ideal length other than a minimum of 65,006 words.

(Don't let my sarcasm get you down. Everything I said is a total fabrication.)

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

I'm in the "write till the story's done" crowd. I've had readers complain a story's too long, yet it seems my longer pieces are the ones getting favorited more often than the shorter ones.

And the other fact is: it's impossible to make everybody happy. So, long or short, write whatever you're going to write, and it's a good bet it will find its audience.

right? speaks to someone's idea of positive feedback or the reason they write. Writing for the views/favorites (which is a legit thing to think about when creating) vs. just writing to write but putting it out there anyways. I see the merit in both, or the validity in both ways of feeling anyhow.

 

[EmilyMiller]

When I'm writing the build up, I can really hammer out the words, but when I finally get to the sex scene, I almost get bored writing it. Almost. Yeah, the anticipation is the thing.

I love writing sex scenes. I don’t know if in five years time I’ll be sick of it. But, for now, it’s so much fun.

Em

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

There are three ideal lengths, depending on if you're writing for the Mama Bears, Papa Bears, or Baby Bears.
For short strokers, 2,991 words is what you should be aiming for. You can fudge by about 10% either way before it seriously hampers the lovability of the tale.
For those who like things in the short story-to-novelette range, 12,337 words is the sweet spot. Again, you've got a little wiggle room, about 15% either way.
The novella folks are looking for 27,662 words. You can safely go under by about 5% but over by as much as 50%.
The ones looking for novels don't have an ideal length other than a minimum of 65,006 words.

(Don't let my sarcasm get you down. Everything I said is a total fabrication.)

I'm taking these numbers to the bank!

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

I love writing sex scenes. I don’t know if in five years time I’ll be sick of it. But, for now, it’s so much fun.

Em

Collaboration, eh??? haha - I will say, I run out of words after a while too. How many ways can one describe a bodypart in the style of the narrator. perhaps its a skillset one can get better at

 

[EmilyMiller]

Collaboration, eh??? haha - I will say, I run out of words after a while too. How many ways can one describe a bodypart in the style of the narrator. perhaps its a skillset one can get better at

But that’s the same with anything. How do you describe going to a restaurant or driving to work or being at a party or going to a concert or playing the guitar? There are only so many words. But the experience is different. Elision is helpful.

“I jerked his cock, he twitched and closed his eyes at the intensity the sensation. Then I took him in my mouth. Soft lips closing around hardness. Tongue massaging, cheeks dragging on his shaft. Then a rhythm. Up and down. Feeling his response. His body tightening. His breath quickening. Deeper. Deeper still. So full, but yielding, accommodating. Embracing the intensity. Then breathe, recover. And again. Now with my hand helping. Looking up, meeting eyes. Eyes that screw closed, unable to deal with the intensity. Giving in. Thrusting. Pumping. Flooding me. Flooding me with sweet elixir. Drinking his essence. Sharing his ecstasy.”

Cock count 1. And frankly that’s superfluous.

Em

 

[StillStunned]

A modest proposal: a unit for measuring erotic story length. I suggest "strokes", "edges" and "climaxes".

A "stroke" is a sequence of text that gets the reader interested. An "edge" is a full sexual act, but the "climax" is what you and the reader build towards.

Now we can use these units to break down erotic stories. Strokes should happen every 4-600 words or so, to reassure the reader that they're not wasting their time. One edge per 3-5000 words seems reasonable. If the story isn't much longer, the edge can also be the climax. Otherwise I suggest no more than 2-4 edges to 1 climax. After this climax, you start again, although the word count until the first stroke can be higher after each climax.

So now it doesn't matter what the total story length is, as long as you stick to these measurements. Voilà!

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

But that’s the same with anything. How do you describe going to a restaurant or driving to work or being at a party or going to a concert or playing the guitar? There are only so many words. But the experience is different. Elision is helpful.

“I jerked his cock, he twitched and closed his eyes at the intensity the sensation. Then I took him in my mouth. Soft lips closing around hardness. Tongue massaging, cheeks dragging on his shaft. Then a rhythm. Up and down. Feeling his response. His body tightening. His breath quickening. Deeper. Deeper still. So full, but yielding, accommodating. Embracing the intensity. Then breathe, recover. And again. Now with my hand helping. Looking up, meeting eyes. Eyes that screw closed, unable to deal with the intensity. Giving in. Thrusting. Pumping. Flooding me. Flooding me with sweet elixir. Drinking his essence. Sharing his ecstasy.”

Cock count 1. And frankly that’s superfluous.

Em

So, when are you teaching your college course? Erotica 101 with Professor E. Miller. **I call front row!!

 

[djrip]

But that’s the same with anything. How do you describe going to a restaurant or driving to work or being at a party or going to a concert or playing the guitar? There are only so many words. But the experience is different. Elision is helpful.

“I jerked his cock, he twitched and closed his eyes at the intensity the sensation. Then I took him in my mouth. Soft lips closing around hardness. Tongue massaging, cheeks dragging on his shaft. Then a rhythm. Up and down. Feeling his response. His body tightening. His breath quickening. Deeper. Deeper still. So full, but yielding, accommodating. Embracing the intensity. Then breathe, recover. And again. Now with my hand helping. Looking up, meeting eyes. Eyes that screw closed, unable to deal with the intensity. Giving in. Thrusting. Pumping. Flooding me. Flooding me with sweet elixir. Drinking his essence. Sharing his ecstasy.”

Cock count 1. And frankly that’s superfluous.

Em

Yeah... Elision... Wait what?

 

[Theylo_Bleu]

A modest proposal: a unit for measuring erotic story length. I suggest "strokes", "edges" and "climaxes".

A "stroke" is a sequence of text that gets the reader interested. An "edge" is a full sexual act, but the "climax" is what you and the reader build towards.

Now we can use these units to break down erotic stories. Strokes should happen every 4-600 words or so, to reassure the reader that they're not wasting their time. One edge per 3-5000 words seems reasonable. If the story isn't much longer, the edge can also be the climax. Otherwise I suggest no more than 2-4 edges to 1 climax. After this climax, you start again, although the word count until the first stroke can be higher after each climax.

So now it doesn't matter what the total story length is, as long as you stick to these measurements. Voilà!

Y'all are ridiculously good at this! I feel like this is textbook of erotica level. Friggin brilliant

 

[EmilyMiller]

So, when are you teaching your college course? Erotica 101 with Professor E. Miller. **I call front row!!

I’d have quite liked to have been Professor Miller. But COVID .

Em

 

[onehitwanda]

I’d have quite liked to have been Professor Miller. But COVID .

Em

You'd be wasted in academia