Torn between BDSM and SF/Fantasy categories. Help!

[FeralPunk]

I feel that my series is stuck between two categories. The story takes place in a post-collapse science-fantasy setting, with hunter-gatherer tribes in conflict with slave-takers from a decaying city. So, Sci-Fi & Fantasy.

But the erotic elements of the story are largely BDSM. Part 4 is about ready to publish. It's a long chapter featuring a slaver who has been captured and enslaved herself, gradually bonding with her captor. It's story-driven rather than constant sex, but there are bondage elements throughout.

So where does it go? Part 1 and part 3 went into the BDSM category, and the latter still has the Hot label. Part 2 contained no BDSM so I put it in Sci-Fi & Fantasy. People there loved it.

What are your opinions? Am I more likely to alienate kinksters with magic and robots, or fantasy readers with slavery and kink? Where will it do best?

 

[EmilyMiller]

Sounds more like RNC.

 

[Bamagan]

I doubt it will matter greatly at this point. Readership tends to fall off a bit more with each subsequent chapter of a series. So, you've likely already attracted your core audience from both categories; anyone who was going to be alienated probably already has been, and anyone who is keen on the story, setting, or characters will probably follow it regardless of which category the next installments land in (until or unless you go off the rails and introduce wildly different themes or sex acts, perhaps).

 

[anthrodisiac]

Probably SF&F, given it's built within a very sci-fi sounding world, and themes of slavery aren't all that uncommon within SF&F, especially in post-apocalyptic societies.

But @Bamagan is also right that given it's a chaptered work, people who started with you are going to say. However, given that SF&F is a very serial-friendly, chapter-work heavy category, people stumbling across chapter 4 are more likely to go back and read chapter 1 if the premise seems interesting enough, compared to other categories where chaptered works aren't as predominant.

 

[ElectricBlue]

What are your opinions? Am I more likely to alienate kinksters with magic and robots, or fantasy readers with slavery and kink? Where will it do best?

How long do you intend it to go on for?

If it turns into an ongoing series, I'd drop it into Sci-Fi and Fantasy and leave it there. As @Bamagan says, you've got your audience now.

You've discovered the downside of category hopping, which is a divide in your readers. Don't category hop, would always be my advice.

 

[FeralPunk]

Sounds more like RNC.

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain the acronym?

I'm not in the US, and I'm really hoping this isn't a Republican National Convention reference (ew).

 

[NotWise]

I suspect the readers in SF/F are more wiling to accept BDSM content than the readers in BDSM are willing to accept SF content.

 

[FeralPunk]

@Bamagan @anthrodisiac @ElectricBlue - Thanks for your advice! I had noticed that when people feel they have to start from part 1, that's the part that gets the most views. A shame really, because it's the weakest installment in some respects.

I hadn't intended to serialise it, it just kind of happened. The thing started as a writing exercise and I can't say how long it will go on for. But it's definitely worth knowing that Sci-Fi & Fantasy readers tend to be more up for the long haul, and multiple chapters. Maybe that's the answer, as long I signpost early on that this is a BDSM story.

 

[FeralPunk]

I suspect the readers in SF/F are more wiling to accept BDSM content than the readers in BDSM are willing to accept SF content.

I was thinking that could be the answer. Somehow I feel like kinky nerds might be more prevalent than nerdy kinksters.

 

[NotWise]

I was thinking that could be the answer. Somehow I feel like kinky nerds might be more prevalent than nerdy kinksters.

Yeah, readers in SF/F take all kinds of sex in stride, but I hear that readers in BDSM have rules about what sex is acceptable and how its done right.

 

[FeralPunk]

Yeah, readers in SF/F take all kinds of sex in stride, but I hear that readers in BDSM have rules about what sex is acceptable and how its done right.

That sounds like a minefield. Care to share? I'm not at all new to the BDSM scene and I can say I understand the most common perspectives, particularly around consent, and the sorts of themes that would normally play well in that community. But I'm not that active on Literotica specifically, so if there's a particular culture around the BDSM category here it would be good to learn about it.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain the acronym?

I'm not in the US, and I'm really hoping this isn't a Republican National Convention reference (ew).

RNC was presumably meant to be Reluctance/Non-Consent.

 

[ElectricBlue]

That sounds like a minefield. Care to share? I'm not at all new to the BDSM scene and I can say I understand the most common perspectives, particularly around consent, and the sorts of themes that would normally play well in that community. But I'm not that active on Literotica specifically, so if there's a particular culture around the BDSM category here it would be good to learn about it.

Gatekeepers, essentially, who will down-vote a story if it doesn't abide by their "rules".

You'll get a better long haul result in Sci-Fi and Fantasy, I think, especially if it's going to go for a bit. Just use tags sensibly, and write your fictional story, not the factual lifestyle.

 

[FeralPunk]

RNC was presumably meant to be Reluctance/Non-Consent.

Ohhh okay. Then no. Despite the setting, consent is a really central theme through this story, and nothing sexual happens to a character before their desire has been established. It's a tightrope to walk, given the context of their world. Whether I pull it off will be up to the readers, but reluctance/non-consent wouldn't fit.

 

[FeralPunk]

Gatekeepers, essentially, who will down-vote a story if it doesn't abide by their "rules".

You'll get a better long haul result in Sci-Fi and Fantasy, I think, especially if it's going to go for a bit. Just use tags sensibly, and write your fictional story, not the factual lifestyle.

I'm so curious as to what these rules are. But sure, maybe I'm shooting for the kinky nerds.

 

[NotWise]

I'm so curious as to what these rules are. But sure, maybe I'm shooting for the kinky nerds.

My knowledge there is purely second hand, and mostly regarding the "gate keepers," as EB put it. I've also read a few readers' comments on BDSM stories. Between those two, I decided to steer clear.

Consensual light bondage floats in most categories, and that leaves me no need to put stories in BDSM.

 

[HordHolm]

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain the acronym?

I'm not in the US, and I'm really hoping this isn't a Republican National Convention reference (ew).

R/NC = Reluctance/Non-consent

 

[NotWise]

R/NC = Reluctance/Non-consent

Yeah, but "Republican National Convention" made me laugh.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain the acronym?

I'm not in the US, and I'm really hoping this isn't a Republican National Convention reference (ew).

Reluctance / Non-consent.

Being enslaved ≠ BDSM, which is IRL highly consensual

 

[EmilyMiller]

Yeah, but "Republican National Convention" made me laugh.

Yeah - I thought the same

 

[anthrodisiac]

That sounds like a minefield. Care to share? I'm not at all new to the BDSM scene and I can say I understand the most common perspectives, particularly around consent, and the sorts of themes that would normally play well in that community. But I'm not that active on Literotica specifically, so if there's a particular culture around the BDSM category here it would be good to learn about it.

That's because BDSM has dealt with a ton of misinformation and people misunderstanding it as a "big man take woman" or shit like that. Like @EmilyMiller said, BDSM is all about respect, consent, and mutuality, and when people see 50 Shades-level bullshit there, it's a massive misrepresentation of actual BDSM culture and continues to propogate harmful stereotypes. So they get a bit tetchy about people going, "Ah, a man who forcefully makes a woman be submissive to him is what BDSM actually is!" even though that goes against almost every principle of BDSM and would result in anybody in that community being shunned, and probably reported, rightfully, to the police.

SF&F is very tolerant toward the premise you have, as is R/NC.

 

[FeralPunk]

@anthrodisiac & @EmilyMiller

Oh absolutely. I wouldn't react well to those stereotypes either. Contrary to what may have come across from my original post, the story I'm telling is absolutely grounded in consent, otherwise I wouldn't be interested in writing it. Consent underpins the situation the characters find themselves in, and is demonstrated through the characters' actions, in holding off rather than taking advantage, as well as being an active consideration explored socially, through conversation, and internally as their feelings develop. Actual slavery and associated sexual coercion is not a turn-on for me, and writing fantasies about it can propagate harmful messages about the kink scene as you've said. But I'm not writing Gor or Gilead here, I'm throwing a character from a coercive, slave-taking culture into the pragmatic captivity of someone from a target society, horizontally organised around absolute equality and with *very* strict mores against all forms of coercion. And sparks fly. It can be viewed as a BDSM fantasy because the resulting dynamic is consensually chosen, and it explores themes common in the kink community such as release of autonomy as an autonomous act.

That said, it definitely won't land well with everyone. Its earthy, neo-stone age setting is probably the main barrier because the texture of the piece isn't classic BDSM, which is why I'm in here asking questions. But no, it does not belong with RNC (whether Republican-themed or other forms of non-consent) because if anything, consent *is* the underlying theme of the piece.

 

[EmilyMiller]

@anthrodisiac & @EmilyMiller

Oh absolutely. I wouldn't react well to those stereotypes either. Contrary to what may have come across from my original post, the story I'm telling is absolutely grounded in consent, otherwise I wouldn't be interested in writing it. Consent underpins the situation the characters find themselves in, and is demonstrated through the characters' actions, in holding off rather than taking advantage, as well as being an active consideration explored socially, through conversation, and internally as their feelings develop. Actual slavery and associated sexual coercion is not a turn-on for me, and writing fantasies about it can propagate harmful messages about the kink scene as you've said. But I'm not writing Gor or Gilead here, I'm throwing a character from a coercive, slave-taking culture into the pragmatic captivity of someone from a target society, horizontally organised around absolute equality and with *very* strict mores against all forms of coercion. And sparks fly. It can be viewed as a BDSM fantasy because the resulting dynamic is consensually chosen, and it explores themes common in the kink community such as release of autonomy as an autonomous act.

That said, it definitely won't land well with everyone. Its earthy, neo-stone age setting is probably the main barrier because the texture of the piece isn't classic BDSM, which is why I'm in here asking questions. But no, it does not belong with RNC (whether Republican-themed or other forms of non-consent) because if anything, consent *is* the underlying theme of the piece.

Sounds like SF&F then. Good luck with it.

 

[anthrodisiac]

@anthrodisiac & @EmilyMiller

Oh absolutely. I wouldn't react well to those stereotypes either. Contrary to what may have come across from my original post, the story I'm telling is absolutely grounded in consent, otherwise I wouldn't be interested in writing it. Consent underpins the situation the characters find themselves in, and is demonstrated through the characters' actions, in holding off rather than taking advantage, as well as being an active consideration explored socially, through conversation, and internally as their feelings develop. Actual slavery and associated sexual coercion is not a turn-on for me, and writing fantasies about it can propagate harmful messages about the kink scene as you've said. But I'm not writing Gor or Gilead here, I'm throwing a character from a coercive, slave-taking culture into the pragmatic captivity of someone from a target society, horizontally organised around absolute equality and with *very* strict mores against all forms of coercion. And sparks fly. It can be viewed as a BDSM fantasy because the resulting dynamic is consensually chosen, and it explores themes common in the kink community such as release of autonomy as an autonomous act.

That said, it definitely won't land well with everyone. Its earthy, neo-stone age setting is probably the main barrier because the texture of the piece isn't classic BDSM, which is why I'm in here asking questions. But no, it does not belong with RNC (whether Republican-themed or other forms of non-consent) because if anything, consent *is* the underlying theme of the piece.

Yep, definitely SF&F. My view of categories is what is the most salient part of the story. There are some other considerations, but that's the primary one. Your story is taking place entirely within a sci-fi context, so it should be in SF&F, despite any other BDSM elements that may exist within it, because the sci-fi elements is the biggest piece of the story.

 

[caleb35]

I feel that my series is stuck between two categories. The story takes place in a post-collapse science-fantasy setting, with hunter-gatherer tribes in conflict with slave-takers from a decaying city. So, Sci-Fi & Fantasy.

But the erotic elements of the story are largely BDSM. Part 4 is about ready to publish. It's a long chapter featuring a slaver who has been captured and enslaved herself, gradually bonding with her captor. It's story-driven rather than constant sex, but there are bondage elements throughout.

So where does it go? Part 1 and part 3 went into the BDSM category, and the latter still has the Hot label. Part 2 contained no BDSM so I put it in Sci-Fi & Fantasy. People there loved it.

What are your opinions? Am I more likely to alienate kinksters with magic and robots, or fantasy readers with slavery and kink? Where will it do best?

As others have pointed out, like Sci-Fi/Fantasy (perhaps with an author note at the topic just to alert readers to what some themes they'll encounter in the work). I'm sympathetic to your situation. Several times I've found that a story I wrote doesn't fit neatly into Literotica's existing categories.