Quick question about Mature

[ShelbyDawn57]

The short description on the category says May/December. In my mind that suggest one of the MCs is at least in their fifties and the other probably twenties, thirty year difference.
I'm curious on your take on this. Obvious reason is I'm working on a story that might fit this category, and I'm OCD about some things.

Please chime in. I'm curious what your take is, and about how badly this is going to get derailed on page 2 of the responses. LOL

 

[iwatchus]

My take is the same as you. I am about to start my first story in the category, so I am curious as to the answer.

 

[StillStunned]

I always thought it was reserved for stories with no jokes about willies and bazongas?

 

[SimonDoom]

No, I don't think that's right. There's no particular age expectation. The point is the gap, and how you handle it in the story. A story about a 19 year old student and 39 year old teacher could be a mature story, because the gist is the same. Don't get hung up on the age number. It's the dynamic in the story that matters.

 

[MrPixel]

I interpret "Mature" two ways - age spread of ≥20 years and one MC >40, and all MCs >40 or so. But, yeah, what Simon said about "dynamic" takes precedence, especially because there are differences in how older, experienced persons approach intimacy versus the impulsive whippersnappers.

 

[TheRedChamber]

No, I don't think that's right. There's no particular age expectation. The point is the gap, and how you handle it in the story. A story about a 19 year old student and 39 year old teacher could be a mature story, because the gist is the same. Don't get hung up on the age number. It's the dynamic in the story that matters.

I'll allow it as long as the 39-year old teacher plucks a single grey hair from their head in the first couple of paragraphs of the story.

 

[Statius]

I interpret "Mature" two ways - age spread of ≥20 years and one MC >40, and all MCs >40 or so. But, yeah, what Simon said about "dynamic" takes precedence, especially because there are differences in how older, experienced persons approach intimacy versus the impulsive whippersnappers.

Whippersnappers!. Love that word!

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I'll allow it as long as the 39-year old teacher plucks a single grey hair from their head in the first couple of paragraphs of the story.

The story I'm publishing next has a relationship between a 40-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man. Would having Rose talking about her adult son/daughter make her count as "mature"?

(It won't be in the "Mature" category in any case, but I'm curious.)

--Annie

 

[TheRedChamber]

The story I'm publishing next has a relationship between a 40-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man. Would having Rose talking about her adult son/daughter make her count as "mature"?

(It won't be in the "Mature" category in any case, but I'm curious.)

--Annie

My view would be that whole point of the category is to play up the age difference appropriately. If you have someone who is say 37 single, childless and in great shape dating someone who has graduated and has at least started a career (say 23) then it's not going to feel like much of a 'mature' story. If the older character has children the same age as the younger one, it's probably going to hit the right notes.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I generally went 20-40, 25-50 or so. Rarely went over 55 because ... well, you know ...

... wrinkles and stuff.

 

[SimonDoom]

A good general "rule" of thumb when you think of things like categories, or the qualifications for entering contests:

The parameters aren't rules or boundaries. This isn't set theory. In the words of Captain Barbarossa from Pirates of the Caribbean, think of them as guidelines. If your story is in the "spirit" of the category, especially a category like mature, it's probably fine.

Of course, you always have to be prepared for those pedantic readers who don't agree and will quarrel with you about what belongs in the category. You can't do anything about them and your best strategy is not to worry about them.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

A good general "rule" of thumb when you think of things like categories, or the qualifications for entering contests:

The parameters aren't rules or boundaries. This isn't set theory. In the words of Captain Barbarossa from Pirates of the Caribbean, think of them as guidelines. If your story is in the "spirit" of the category, especially a category like mature, it's probably fine.

Of course, you always have to be prepared for those pedantic readers who don't agree and will quarrel with you about what belongs in the category. You can't do anything about them and your best strategy is not to worry about them.

Thanks. I get this. This particular story has 'features' that could put it in a few categories. Mature is just one of the options. For once, neither Transgender or Crossdressing are an option. Big stretch for me.

 

[StillStunned]

Big stretch for me.

I usually recommend adding some bum stuff and putting it in Anal, but I've heard that's also a big stretch.

 

[EdwardsOtherSide]

The short description on the category says May/December. In my mind that suggest one of the MCs is at least in their fifties and the other probably twenties, thirty year difference.
I'm curious on your take on this. Obvious reason is I'm working on a story that might fit this category, and I'm OCD about some things.

Please chime in. I'm curious what your take is, and about how badly this is going to get derailed on page 2 of the responses. LOL

When I got separated from my now ex, my son, then 20-ish came to me and said "Dad, half your age plus seven."
"Huh?"
"When you date, she needs to be at least half your age plus seven, or else it's not right."
"But what if she-"
"DAD. Half your age plus seven!"

In retrospect, I think he didn't want to reenact that scene in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" where Sean Connery says "I have the same needs as the next man." "DAD, I WAS THE NEXT MAN!"

So, younger than half the older person's age plus seven?

 

[AlexBailey]

Hmm.

I guess I’d never thought about the “May/December” thing. I just thought the “Mature” category was for relationships between older people instead of hardbody youngsters.

Is there no specific category for us “oldsters”? Is that something that needs a squick warning?

(Mid fifties and still in great shape in spite of a few grey hairs, thank you very much.)

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I usually recommend adding some bum stuff and putting it in Anal, but I've heard that's also a big stretch.

Only the first time.

 

[AG31]

I'm surprised to hear that "Mature" is interpreted as age gap. I thought it was for stories about older people. Like me!!!

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I'm surprised to hear that "Mature" is interpreted as age gap. I thought it was for stories about older people. Like me!!!

From the Categories card...

 

[AG31]

From the Categories card...

View attachment 2569550

Oh darn.

 

[AlexBailey]

Okay, going ADHD here:

Considering an ~ 80 year average lifespan,
Doesn’t May imply ~ 30s and December ~ 70’s?

I know this is probably stupid but what is actually being implied by “May/December”? Is it actually intended as May ~ December?

Is it a specific literary reference?

 

[SomaSlave]

I generally went 20-40, 25-50 or so. Rarely went over 55 because ... well, you know ...

... wrinkles and stuff.

Wrinkles and stuff, IMHO, are exactly what make Mature stories interesting. A story in which the younger is attracted to the older sexually because of, not in spite of the wrinkles and stuff, would grab my attention, especially if the attraction happens organically, not because of mommy/daddy issues or an age fetish (though other fetishes would be interesting).

Perhaps that's because I'm working on a series involving mostly older men, with balding heads, wrinkles and glasses.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

I’ve had a few stories posted in the Mature category. Generally, the characters who meet/relate/smash have been on this planet for at least forty orbits of the sun. So there doesn’t have to be a substantial age gap for the story to be placed in the category. (Note: there have been a few times when a story I submitted for one category got moved by the site folks to a different category, so my Mature stories didn’t stay there because of apathy.)

Now, whether it’s a good idea to ask readers to observe fogey-on-fogey sex is another matter. My frequent impulse, to explore what I call ‘sex for the rest of us,’ may fail to turn on many people. But these are stories that I’ve wanted to share, so I’ve gone ahead and led with my glass jaw, expecting it to be shattered.

 

[dirk2024]

I have enjoyed stories in this category, looking for the young man/older woman combo. I appreciate a 20-25 year age difference when reading in this category.

 

[sirhugs]

The short description on the category says May/December. In my mind that suggest one of the MCs is at least in their fifties and the other probably twenties, thirty year difference.
I'm curious on your take on this. Obvious reason is I'm working on a story that might fit this category, and I'm OCD about some things.

Please chime in. I'm curious what your take is, and about how badly this is going to get derailed on page 2 of the responses. LOL

Despite that description, I have written stories where both characters are "mature". I have written stories for the category where one person is 80+.
They all seem to receive a warm reception, though the category seems to have a limited draw.

 

[SimonDoom]

I know this is probably stupid but what is actually being implied by “May/December”? Is it actually intended as May ~ December?

Is it a specific literary reference?

No. This is overthinking.

The category is intended to cater to fantasies that involve the age gap. It doesn't really matter what the ages are. Maybe it does to some people. Some people may not be satisfied unless one partner is "old," whatever that means, but that sort of particularity is true of every kinky category: you can't please everybody and you shouldn't try. Emphasize the age gap, and you'll find readers who enjoy the kink, regardless of specific ages.

And Sirhugs is right, too; the category accommodates stories where both characters are mature.