What makes readers horny?

[AlwaysDancing]

I enjoy when we’re inside the head of one do the characters (not necessarily in first person either).

And when the thoughts evolve from more cognitive thoughts to instinct and emotion.

And dialog … even if that dialog is a “mmmmm, unghhh fuck that’s … we … oh my god” or something equally unintelligible.

 

[SkyBubble]

Anything and everything. Unless you're a budding Shakespeare, you'll probably do best writing about stuff that makes you horny.

And Shakespeare presents many opportunities to adapt for Lit.

 

[Britva415]

Anything and everything. Unless you're a budding Shakespeare, you'll probably do best writing about stuff that makes you horny.

I think that's the absolute best that anyone can aspire to.

Even Shakespeares don't aspire to the greatness they achieve. It just happens if it happens. And it doesn't, if that's the goal initially.

 

[anthrodisiac]

I just realized this is the fundamental question I should be asking myself as long as I'm writing stories here. And oddly enough, I have very little idea what the answer might be.

I have some idea what makes me horny I when I read a story, but apparently I'm an oddball because my favorite stories (in an erotic, not literary sense) are not very popular here.

So what makes readers horny? I'm less interested in generalities (i.e. give them their kinks) than in practical advice we can incorporate into our stories. Everything from how the relationships between the characters are built up, ways to describe sexual acts, diction, et cetera.

And of course the fact that different things make different readers horny means we should consider everyone!

Some of us are very niche, so that niche is what makes us horny. Speaking for a friend.

If you want practical advice, you've gotten a lot of it, and most of it was mentioned by you in the start. Building up relatable characters that people get invested is in probably your best approach. Barring that, massively pandering to a fetish helps

But everyone is different, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach. It's why several people here have rightly mentioned writing what you like, how you like it, and enjoying the ride. If a reader happens to get turned on by what you write, all the better!

 

[MrPixel]

When "extra horny" is called for, I pick the one on the right:

 

[crookedletter]

When "extra horny" is called for, I pick the one on the right:

View attachment 2602823

The little guy seems to be slumped in dejection as he looks at his much more impressive neighbor.

 

[TheLobster]

When "extra horny" is called for, I pick the one on the right:

View attachment 2602823

You and the guy she tells you not to worry about.

 

[Katie_Mae]

The problem is this:

And of course the fact that different things make different readers horny means we should consider everyone!

makes this:

practical advice we can incorporate into our stories.

Very difficult, to some extent. If one reader's turn on is another's turn off it's hard to write a story which all readers will find erotic.

-

I don't often get horny while reading stories. That's not really the main point of reading an erotic story (for me). The turn on part, if it happens, largely happens after as you are mulling over the situation, the concepts, the "what ifs." (And I don't even require that part to be arousing, to be honest, just thought provoking.) Therefore it's important to consider a situation or a concept that I can take away and mull over.

Yet, there are people who read with the desire to become aroused while reading. I've even heard of people masturbating while reading stories.

The two are not mutually exclusive, it is possible to write a story which is erotic both in the moment and in the mulling over after stage, but many people who require the "in the moment" do not also require the "mulling over" so I don't think it's required to always do both.

One of the most erotic "in the moment" stories I've read has no visuals, because the main character is blindfolded. Yet there are people who cannot become aroused without describing visual appearance. For me, visuals are not erotic, and too much focus on them can be a turn-off.

So if my advice to you was "consider a complex concept that makes the reader stop and think" or "Blindfold the main character" then there'd be a crowd of people saying "Uh, no, keep it simple" or "Uh, how to get turned on if I'm not picturing what the character looks like?"

 

[EmilyMiller]

What makes readers horny?​

Cornigerous hormones.

 

[MrPixel]

You and the guy she tells you not to worry about.

You don't really want to know. Oh, she tells me about 'im.

 

[AlwaysDancing]

Cornigerous hormones.

Or a trumpet glued to the lips?

 

[KittyOfSteele]

I'm glad to see readers here giving their input instead of just authors who also read and write. It makes the info here less biased. Thank you, it's really valuable to know that.

 

[AlwaysDancing]

I'm glad to see readers here giving their input instead of just authors who also read and write. It makes the info here less biased. Thank you, it's really valuable to

That’s a good point … for sure it’s been a long time since I’ve written for this site … but I did and do have differing view points as a reader and as a writer (when actively writing, I mean …)

 

[nice90sguy]

For your sake, here's hoping you don't follow that same philosophy in the bedroom.

That's actually pretty deep - (amateur) porn writing is kind of masturbatory, a self-gratifying exercsie -- until the moment you publish, at which point it's no longer all about you and your pleasure

 

[yano2mch]

So what makes readers horny?

I'm less interested in generalities (i.e. give them their kinks) than in practical advice we can incorporate into our stories.

On a physical level, something visually stimulating that you like. (Hot girls in bikinis, or shy cute characters, etc)

On a mental and story level, tension, growth, relationships, seduction and winning maybe... Flaws, overcoming obstacles, and tenderness/care. Flirting, the 'will she stop me?' tension and tests while pushing boundaries. Dirty talk is a good one...

And yes, investment. If you aren't interested in the characters it's hard to be interested in the sex. Though half that investment could be baked into the character you're writing about. Ben likes girl, therefore we as the reader following Ben should also like her.

Each of these elements could likely use their own deep dive. But it needs to be compelling.

 

[AG31]

On a physical level, something visually stimulating that you like. (Hot girls in bikinis, or shy cute characters, etc)

On a mental and story level, tension, growth, relationships, seduction and winning maybe... Flaws, overcoming obstacles, and tenderness/care. Flirting, the 'will she stop me?' tension and tests while pushing boundaries. Dirty talk is a good one...

And yes, investment. If you aren't interested in the characters it's hard to be interested in the sex. Though half that investment could be baked into the character you're writing about. Ben likes girl, therefore we as the reader following Ben should also like her.

Each of these elements could likely use their own deep dive. But it needs to be compelling.

Unless you're writing simple erotica, where character is a distraction.

 

[shewantsmore]

For me reading a story,if its believable, well written, i like to put myself in a character, how would i react, or cope,reading what happens to her, my body will respond if its good,my brain sends signals, i cant get into a short story,it must have at least 2 chapters or part of a longer story, i dont have a particular genre, but must be believable, if by the end im wet aroused needing to play then i know its a good story

 

[yano2mch]

Unless you're writing simple erotica, where character is a distraction.

Agreed. Quick in and out smut doesn't need any buildup. And they are nice when you're already horny needing something to help you get past the edge. But that's like a bowl of icecream. Enjoyable, but i don't want every meal to be icecream. It quickly becomes empty of enjoyment.

I suppose there's three psychological paths one can take.

• You are already horny
• You want to be horny
• You aren't horny

Erotica and storytelling can work in all three cases, but coaxing someone from not horny to horny can be difficult, either place, mental state or the like. The other two... well... you just enjoy the ride.

When you want to be horny, you're in a place and time where you don't need to be anywhere, and you want to just have fun. Sorta like choosing a game, wanting to be entertained.

When you aren't horny, you either just aren't in the mood, can't be in the mood, or require some.... mental foreplay before you can be coaxed to the 'want' category, where it quickly becomes horny with the scene developing right. If they can't be coaxed then a sex scene merely is.... static. it's in the way of the plot, the story, the higher more interesting thing going on rather than the cookie-reward for getting there. And there's plenty of cases where you'll skip the scene, or just put it on hold until you're already horny and want to resume the story but enjoy the cookie.

Heh, to quote Monty python.

Why not start her off with a nice kiss?

You don't have to go leaping straight for the clitoris like a bull at a gate.