how to write a good stroker

[big_cane_sugar]

I've seen some discussion of "stroker" stories and it made me want to write some but I have realized I don't know what I'm doing. What are the keys to a good stroker?

I realize that this topic will probably invite some sarcasm and such, which is fine with me, but genuine advice will be appreciated!

BTW I did search for this topic without finding it, but maybe I did the search badly. Please feel free to direct me to relevant threads if this has been discussed in the past.

 

[FrancesScott]

Write what turns you on without consideration of characters or plot. You’ll end up with a stroker, and you’ll find at least a handful of readers who are also turned on by what you have written. Good luck!

 

[Bamagan]

I've seen some discussion of "stroker" stories and it made me want to write some but I have realized I don't know what I'm doing. What are the keys to a good stroker?

I realize that this topic will probably invite some sarcasm and such, which is fine with me, but genuine advice will be appreciated!

BTW I did search for this topic without finding it, but maybe I did the search badly. Please feel free to direct me to relevant threads if this has been discussed in the past.

They're usually one or only a few scenes with a high sex-to-word count ratio. There's typically little build-up, as the characters are already 'primed' for the action. That's not to say that there's never build-up in terms of foreplay or flirting, more that there's no lengthy origin story of how the couple (or whatever) got to the point of fucking. There's usually a fairly brief wrap-up after the climax(es) (and aftercare, if applicable). Plot and conflict usually take a back-seat to characters, which means the latter are usually the key to 'good' strokers, by whatever criteria you're using to define goodness. If you write compelling characters having interesting sex you'll probably please the stroking crowd (and some of them seem happy even with cardboard characters having the kind of sex the reader really enjoys).

 

[HordHolm]

Help the reader to understand what the characters are sensing. What senses are engaged, and what are those senses givng the characters? It can be any combination of the senses, but the better strokers generally move beyond the merely visual.

The step beyond that is to articulate the characters' interpretation and responses to those stimuli.

 

[SimonDoom]

Nobody, to my knowledge, has ever quite defined what a "stroker" is. Presumably it's a story that is concerned almost exclusively with helping the reader achieve orgasm quickly, so it involves little buildup and no plot or character elements extraneous to the sexual climax.

But I think even a short stroker can have some of the elements of a longer more complex story, even if in compressed form, and I sense that Literotica readers appreciate. The stories that get the best scores are usually stories that are over 4000 words. 6000 word stories do even better. But even 3000 words gives you plenty of space to introduce a little about your characters, give them some motivation, introduce and play up the sexual tension, conflict, and buildup, and then get to the sex scene.

A key of course is not to skimp on the sex scene, because that's what the readers are looking for. But the other things enhance the eroticism too and will give the reader a more satisfying erotic experience.

 

[alohadave]

The stories that get the best scores are usually stories that are over 4000 words. 6000 word stories do even better.

6000 words is on the long end for a stroker, IMO.

Strokers are best queued up for serial consumption. There is one goal and to keep up the momentum go from one to the next.

So, while they are individually short, they are links in a longer chain.

 

[AG31]

Help the reader to understand what the characters are sensing.

That's the critical part for me, anyway.
And this:

and you’ll find at least a handful of readers who are also turned on by what you have written.

Don't dilute your story trying to figure out how to please people. Please yourself and discover how many like minded readers there are out there. There may not be many, but they'll love your story.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

Different strokes for different folks. For me f(good stroker) = great characters + strong dialogue/banter + appeals to all the senses + kinky.
Plot isn't so important, and I enjoy ridiculous premises, but the characters should be convincingly real and interesting!

 

[VerbalAbuse]

fast & furious

 

[Husky_Embrace]

https://forum.literotica.com/threads/what-makes-a-story-a-“stroker”.1634843/

You can check the above link as well. Don't sweat you didn't find it, though it was likely in the suggestions when you made the post title.

As for the stroker, I always recommend something of a plot, even if it's barely anything. If I write how someone is going about the first penetration you'll have a small part of the audience pleased. However, context matters. We want to know what is means. Is it their first time? A deep love? Make-up sex? A dare or consequences of a bet? Is he an incel she tries to cure? Each of these give the same action a different feeling. That way you can engage a much greater audience.

To build on the plot, you can augment the mechanics of the fuck with the emotions that go with it. If she's curing the incel, what is she feeling at that first insertion? Disgust? Pride of her altruism? Maybe it is much better than anticipated? All things you can mention between the lines, and it makes the story better for it.

Also I often try to live into the character, imagining one or a few things they could be doing and then act on it. Does she want control and get on top? Give him (fake) control and let him do whatever to feed his ego? That gives some consistency in the development of the story.

I think a true stroker then has a short plot with lots of sex with some emotions and development dropped in.

 

[Small_Island]

I was just discussing this topic with another writer. For me, at its most basic, a Stroker story is intentionally aimed at giving a reader a good masturbation session. However, I also believe a longer, 'fuller' story can certainly have stroke scenes. I think that even if your intent was not to write a stroker story, but you find yourself with a very hot scene that fits the story, why not go ahead and make it work for the reader? By that I mean, perhaps extend it a bit longer than you'd originally planned, with added detail such as imagery and character sensations/reactions, so that the reader can crank one out right then.
My question was: Are we cock/cunt teases if we start a scene that gets a reader feeling like getting off, but don't make it long enough for them to finish? :-D

 

[crookedletter]

Nobody, to my knowledge, has ever quite defined what a "stroker" is. Presumably it's a story that is concerned almost exclusively with helping the reader achieve orgasm quickly, so it involves little buildup and no plot or character elements extraneous to the sexual climax.

But I think even a short stroker can have some of the elements of a longer more complex story, even if in compressed form, and I sense that Literotica readers appreciate. The stories that get the best scores are usually stories that are over 4000 words. 6000 word stories do even better. But even 3000 words gives you plenty of space to introduce a little about your characters, give them some motivation, introduce and play up the sexual tension, conflict, and buildup, and then get to the sex scene.

A key of course is not to skimp on the sex scene, because that's what the readers are looking for. But the other things enhance the eroticism too and will give the reader a more satisfying erotic experience.

I'd second this.

"Stroker" seems to imply get right to the sex, don't mess with anything else. But there's a reason people are reading stories instead of just watching porn. For me at least that has a lot to do with erotica's potential for characterization, for setting a scene with some kind of narrative that (hopefully) doesn't feel hackneyed and forced like it usually does in porn.

However short the story, the payoff is better if there's at least some tension to relieve, if we know what the payoff means for the characters involved.

 

[AG31]

ut there's a reason people are reading stories instead of just watching porn. For me at least that has a lot to do with erotica's potential for characterization, for setting a scene with some kind of narrative that (hopefully) doesn't feel hackneyed and forced like it usually does in porn.

How would you distinguish a very sexy mainstream story from erotica, then? Would you agree that erotica has to be about sex? Not just contain sexy scenes?

 

[crookedletter]

How would you distinguish a very sexy mainstream story from erotica, then? Would you agree that erotica has to be about sex? Not just contain sexy scenes?

That would describe my conception of erotica, yeah, but I get the sense is doesn't necessarily describe everything here. I would hesitate to say erotica has to be about sex, because that's a very absolute position on a subject that has room for some gray area.

But for me personally, if I wrote a story where sex played a secondary (if prominent) role in a complex story, where the ultimate payoff maybe isn't sexual in nature, then I probably wouldn't consider that erotica (whether or not is is erotic), and would therefore probably consider trying to get it picked up by a more mainstream outlet rather than posting it here.

I gather that plenty of people approach it differently and post that sort of story here with some success. I don't feel the need to argue for or against whether or not it "counts."

 

[AG31]

I don't feel the need to argue for or against whether or not it "counts."

Me either. I'm happy for a gathering place for all kinds of authors and their stories.

 

[Britva415]

I've seen some discussion of "stroker" stories and it made me want to write some but I have realized I don't know what I'm doing. What are the keys to a good stroker?

I realize that this topic will probably invite some sarcasm and such, which is fine with me, but genuine advice will be appreciated!

BTW I did search for this topic without finding it, but maybe I did the search badly. Please feel free to direct me to relevant threads if this has been discussed in the past.

I'm a little confused. Do you not think that you have been writing strokers?

Or are you just asking about making better ones?

 

[Britva415]

Nobody, to my knowledge, has ever quite defined what a "stroker" is

Yet, as Judge Stewart said, we know it when we see it.

 

[XerXesXu]

Yet, as Judge Stewart said, we know it when we see it.

For which SCOTUS spanked him and required a definition.

 

[big_cane_sugar]

I'm a little confused. Do you not think that you have been writing strokers?

Or are you just asking about making better ones?

LOL I'd better not make any claims about my stories. However, better would be better....

 

[big_cane_sugar]

Thank you to everyone for your help!

 

[big_cane_sugar]

...there's a reason people are reading stories instead of just watching porn...

This is a really interesting point to think about.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I've seen some discussion of "stroker" stories and it made me want to write some but I have realized I don't know what I'm doing. What are the keys to a good stroker?

I realize that this topic will probably invite some sarcasm and such, which is fine with me, but genuine advice will be appreciated!

BTW I did search for this topic without finding it, but maybe I did the search badly. Please feel free to direct me to relevant threads if this has been discussed in the past.

I'd suggest using both hands to get the best effect.