SA as backstory - will it fly?

[anthrodisiac]

Vague implication only, a phrase or two with no detail. As soon as you go into any kind of detail, sexual content wise, you're up against the line. Violence, however, is permissible, provided it's not sexualised - which is a fucked up standard, but here we are.

In a nutshell, Literotica is not for teenage catharsis.

Unless it's 18-year-old twins.

 

[liliput1]

"That's a lovely dress you're wearing, Mrs. Cleaver."

Oh my god.

<thousand yard stare>

 

[ElectricBlue]

Unless it's 18-year-old twins.

Nineteen, to be safe.

 

[Stanfield2025]

Unless it's 18-year-old twins.

You writing about 18-year old twins?

 

[Stanfield2025]

Stating what happened plainly is not a chance I would personally take, but I'm not an expert on the interpretation of the guidelines.

However, subtle implication can be powerful. First time, a reader might not notice it. Second time they go through the story? It hits like a ton of bricks.

 

[anthrodisiac]

You writing about 18-year old twins?

Not to my knowledge. I have exactly one incest story idea, a weird one, and it's definitely not twins.

 

[liliput1]

Not to my knowledge. I have exactly one incest story idea, a weird one, and it's definitely not twins.

Well I'm sure if you ever decide to pursue that, you'll come up with something... clutch.

 

[Stanfield2025]

Not to my knowledge. I have exactly one incest story idea, a weird one, and it's definitely not twins.

Ah. That was just so specific. And my story involves 18-year-old twins, haha.

 

[THBGato]

Any concrete examples come to mind where something like this is addressed, or someone had rejections based on something similar?

You've read my story "Twenty", right? That contains flashbacks to sexual abuse as a teenager: Poppy is raped at a party while drugged. She was 15.

Also, Mary's innocent passion (not by me, but a regular Hall of Famer) features a woman escaping from a forced marriage that must have been consummated at 14.

Younger victims than that? Clara and the Solar System (which you beta-read) does allude to that happening to Chénxī. But, if you recall, I don't give any detail.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

I have a WIP with a similar backstory for one character. I already wrote a kind of 'had to get it out of my head early' very rough draft of the scene where that information is revealed, but I know that when I end up joining up the actual story from the beginning, I'll probably have to change some amount of it. I'm going to have to be very careful when I do, and even more careful as what's mentioned in the note at the end is elaborated upon further. However, I think it can be done.

Content Warning, for the obvious reason, but also because the erotic parts of the story are T/I as well (she and brother help each other heal), and bearing in mind that any and all parts of this are subject to change:

"Oh Brad, you're so much more caring and attentive than--" she broke off suddenly, looking like she had just caught herself about to say too much. I felt her body tense up beneath me.

"Than... who?" I asked.

She looked away in shame, or so I thought. Then I realized her eyes had locked onto a framed photograph on the wall.

"My God, Mel, not... Dad?!" I asked, horrified.

She continued to stare at the picture of our father being presented with an award for excellence in something-or-other for a very long moment, still with the same expression of guilt, before slowly nodding.

My entire understanding of our childhood had just reshaped itself in that one instant of confirmation. I didn't know what to say.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"I made sure you didn't," Melanie muttered gloomily, still not looking me in the eye. "It was the price for being 'Daddy's little girl'."

[she's feeling guilty because at first she didn't know it wasn't supposed to happen and by the time she did, she was too used to being spoiled and could have stopped it at any time by telling someone but didn't]

 

[BobbyBrandt]

How specific do you need to be?

A history of underage familial abuse will not get your piece denied, absent definite sex that was against your character's will.

I can think of many ways to make it clear that there was abuse without running afoul of that rule, personally. It's about being nonspecific, which needn't mean nonevocative.

I agree.

It is the author's responsibility to tell the tale without providing the "gory" details of the physical assault itself.

There is nothing in Lit's rules or policies that prohibit an underage character from having thoughts or emotions, even where sexual activity is concerned, as long as these scenes are not presented in a context that incites arousal. This is done regularly in stories here.

Make it work.

 

[onehitwanda]

I'm obviously not going to write anything graphic, but wondering how obvious this can be. Like can she say in dialogue that she was sexually abused by her father when she was young? Or will I need to keep it vague, imply rather than confirm.

Imply and allude.

 

[Soixenta]

In my series Mage & Moonshadow, one of the characters ran away from home after being abused.

Matches a Missing Person case. Jennifer Decker. Ran away from home 4 yrs ago, age 16, with one Nathalie Dawson. Both presumed victims of abuse. Dawson found dead 2 yrs ago. Homeless. Decker occasional client at shelter.

[....]

"Nobody calls me that." Her voice was like an Arctic wind. "Nobody, except the Vicar, whenever he touched me. And my mother, when she beat me after I told her."

Ted, the primary character, reflects how awful life at home must have been for her to prefer life alone on the streets.

 

[Cagivagurl]

I'm obviously not going to write anything graphic, but wondering how obvious this can be. Like can she say in dialogue that she was sexually abused by her father when she was young? Or will I need to keep it vague, imply rather than confirm.

I believe you can say it exactly as it happened... Yes, she was sexually abused, so long as you keep it straight and factual... She was raped, it affected her badly, stayed with her for the rest of her life... Maybe she has frightening nightmares....
Maybe she wakes in the night at the sound of a squeaky floorboard...
Leave out the graphic sexuality, focus on the horror, the hate... The depression...
I think and it is only my opinion, but you should be fine....
There are other stories on Lit that discuss similar incidents...

 

[redgarters]

Thank you, all good answers that give me reference points to work from. I'll think this over and perhaps revise some of what I've already got on the page.

You've read my story "Twenty", right? That contains flashbacks to sexual abuse as a teenager: Poppy is raped at a party while drugged. She was 15.

Also, Mary's innocent passion (not by me, but a regular Hall of Famer) features a woman escaping from a forced marriage that must have been consummated at 14.

Younger victims than that? Clara and the Solar System (which you beta-read) does allude to that happening to Chénxī. But, if you recall, I don't give any detail.

Very good examples, I have indeed read all three, thanks for the reminder!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

If it is just saying somebody was sexually abused as a child, then I think it would fly.

BUT, the ultimate - the only - judge is in the end Laurel, the owner. If in doubt, DM her and ask. I have found her to be responsive and helpful in such things.