Who is the average Lit reader?

[KillerMuffin]

I like to think that my average reader is a shapely lass wearing only bikini bottoms and holding a pink water pistol behind her back.

It's a Tanfoglio.

*sighs dreamily*

 

[KillerMuffin]

Her ya go muff: http://www.quantcast.com/literotica.com

Lol, "addicts".

Well. That turns the sociologist in me on. But stats don't help come plot weaving time. There's a point to this exercise, actually, that goes beyond the statistics. Knowing my audience is primarily white, or from the US, or return visitors doesn't necessarily tell me if they prefer 1,000 words or 10,000 words. Knowing that the average reader is primarily motivated to come to Literotica to find a story, get off, and then go do something else tells me a lot more.

So, are they casual browsers, looking for a story to enjoy for casual reading, or is mostly just about getting off?

 

[KillerMuffin]

I think "good" and "bad" are expressed subjectively - "good" = works for me, reinforces what I consider to be desirable sexual practices either in reality or as fantasy, and "bad" = doesn't stimulate me at all or disgusts me. For example in the Loving Wives category there are at least two types of reader who comment - those who want slut wives who do it with their husband's consent and participation, and those who want cheating wives. What is "good" for one group will be "bad" for the other. My Loving Wives stories are bad for both because my loving wives are just that - loving and monogamous.

If I'm reading this right, I'm completely agreeing with you. "Good," for the reader isn't necessarily about excellence in writing. "Good" is about hitting the reader's kink in all the right spots.

 

[Guest]

If I'm reading this right, I'm completely agreeing with you. "Good," for the reader isn't necessarily about excellence in writing. "Good" is about hitting the reader's kink in all the right spots.

I agree.

I think it is fairly easy to aim a story towards a particular reader kink.

 

[KillerMuffin]

My audience is 40ish very educated women with fantasies of teens. The violence tends to hypnotize them. One woman, a publisher, told me: Its so repulsive I couldnt stop reading it.

I think everyone has their idealized reader and they write to that idealized reader. However, the vast majority of folks popping in to peek at the new stories list, the ones that are clicking on your stories, aren't your idealized reader, or mine for that matter. The vast majority, the non 40ish very educated women with fantasies of teens that violence tends to hypnotize, are still reading your stuff and maybe mine when the find it buried in the lists. I'm curious about them.

 

[TE999]

Truth be told, I write for the pleasure of it...in categories that interest or challenge me. The feedback that I receive cuts across gender, age and sexual orientation lines. I don't think there is an 'average' Lit reader. Besides, in some circles, just visiting a site that features erotica isn't 'average'.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I like to think my average reader is a sexy, naked young woman who reads a story with the mouse in one hand and a vibe in the other.

I don't know if I have more men or women, but I seem to get more feedback from women.

 

[DevilOrAngel]

Average and Literotica member are like oil and water the two words glide over each other but don't really belong together.

I'd consider myself just an example of the membership here.

I'm 29 white bisexual in long distance relationship who clicks onto literotica to ahem release some sexual tension and ;-) boxlicker you aren't too far off when you said i'm working the mouse wit one hand while my other hand is busy. Grins devilishly while whistling innocently.

 

[DevilOrAngel]

I like to think my average reader is a sexy, naked young woman who reads a story with the mouse in one hand and a vibe in the other.

I don't know if I have more men or women, but I seem to get more feedback from women.

PFFTT I am NOT Naked Tilts my head back defiantly looking at Boxlicker Chuckles well not yet anyways

 

[xssve]

Well. That turns the sociologist in me on. But stats don't help come plot weaving time. There's a point to this exercise, actually, that goes beyond the statistics. Knowing my audience is primarily white, or from the US, or return visitors doesn't necessarily tell me if they prefer 1,000 words or 10,000 words. Knowing that the average reader is primarily motivated to come to Literotica to find a story, get off, and then go do something else tells me a lot more.

So, are they casual browsers, looking for a story to enjoy for casual reading, or is mostly just about getting off?

It's a start, so mostly men, I'd suggest reading the top lists, to get an idea for what kind of stories they prefer - I'd say mostly getting off, with a few connoisseurs here and there. I'm guessing a lot of the women are here for the forums and/or the interactive storytelling forums, though the lesbian and BDSM categories may attract a few women, and they may browse the other categories.

Or, just write whatever turns you on, fuck 'em if they don't like it. If you want to try and make money at it, publishing, etc., then aim for the connoisseurs - though I suspect that women buy way more erotic books than men, just a hunch.

 

[DevilOrAngel]

It's a start, so mostly men, I'd suggest reading the top lists, to get an idea for what kind of stories they prefer - I'd say mostly getting off, with a few connoisseurs here and there. I'm guessing a lot of the women are here for the forums and/or the interactive storytelling forums, though the lesbian and BDSM categories may attract a few women, and they may browse the other categories.

Or, just write whatever turns you on, fuck 'em if they don't like it. If you want to try and make money at it, publishing, etc., then aim for the connoisseurs - though I suspect that women buy way more erotic books than men, just a hunch.

Good hunch Winks at Scott and yeah I write for the fun of it. If I was writing to pay rent or bills, I'd probably have to turn to the world's oldest profession chuckles to pay the bills.

I write what I know shrugs I know there are folks out there that enjoy the wife swapping good times or incest stories Not my style but its whatever turns ya crank and gets your motor running.

 

[sr71plt]

It's a Tanfoglio.

*sighs dreamily*

In my fantasy, it's a water gun. I don't think I'd want you better "armed" than that.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Average and Literotica member are like oil and water the two words glide over each other but don't really belong together.

I'd consider myself just an example of the membership here.

I'm 29 white bisexual in long distance relationship who clicks onto literotica to ahem release some sexual tension and ;-) boxlicker you aren't too far off when you said i'm working the mouse wit one hand while my other hand is busy. Grins devilishly while whistling innocently.

You are the kind of reader who inspires me to write more and smuttier stories.

 

[Guest]

In my fantasy, it's a water gun. I don't think I'd want you better "armed" than that.

You're so smitten.

 

[xssve]

A quick look at the top lists tells me that anal is by far the most popular category. Oddly, non-human looks like it might be the distant second, younger readers, college kids with time to read into manga/anime and fantasy type stuff .

 

[xssve]

Erotic couplings looks more like number two, just going by numbers of people who voted, assuming more votes=more readers.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't write to a demographic--or think of one when I write and post. That said, the readers who respond to my stories seem to be split about 50/50 between women and men (which is sort of interesting, as most of the stories I've posted here are GM or bi--nearly all respondents to my straight stories appear to be women, however). I can't gauge the general ages of the women respondants, because they don't usually indicate an age bracket. The men respondants often do, though, and, by their claims, they seem to break about evenly between being in their 20s and being in their 50s/60s.

 

[sr71plt]

You're so smitten.

I was going for splashed.

 

[Guest]

I was going for splashed.

(That's my favorite KM AV.)

 

[xssve]

Exhibitionist/Voyeur has some good numbers.

 

[xssve]

I don't write to a demographic--or think of one when I write and post. That said, the readers who respond to my stories seem to be split about 50/50 between women and men (which is sort of interesting, as most of the stories I've posted here are GM or bi--nearly all respondents to my straight stories appear to be women, however). I can't gauge the general ages of the women respondants, because they don't usually indicate an age bracket. The men respondants often do, though, and, by their claims, they seem to break about evenly between being in their 20s and being in their 50s/60s.

A lot of women seem to be into gay/bi stuff, the same fascination we have with lesbians I suppose.

 

[sr71plt]

A lot of women seem to be into gay/bi stuff, the same fascination we have with lesbians I suppose.

Yes, and I enjoy the women readers, because they actually react to the stories as stories. The guys, you know, just want to let me know it got them off (and did I want to see their photos?).

 

[xssve]

Damn, I guess I'd have to go and add it all up and compare average votes - anal still looks like number one, but hard to say in the other categories, First time has a lot of numbers, and Incest has some big numbers I missed, as does Loving Wives.

Romance is way down there, but probably a more female/couples audience, as is Toys/Masturbation, one of my favorite categories.

 

[xssve]

Yes, and I enjoy the women readers, because they actually react to the stories as stories. The guys, you know, just want to let me know it got them off (and did I want to see their photos?).

There are probably way more gay guys on this site than anybody realizes, they're probably the number one consumers of pornography, a lot of them can actually read for one thing.

 

[xssve]

Straight guys don't read much, it's gay - they look at pictures.

That, and/or professionals to busy to have a sex life.

One thing I can say with some certainty, is that they're all here for a fantasy, so take it from there.