Just how much sexy stuff should there be?

[warmAmber]

I know this is LitEROTICA... but just how much of sex or erotica should there be in a story? Understanding it is category dependent, how much of the story should be describing the "juicy details"? Has anyone ever done a survey on the demographics of Literotica readers? Maybe too many questions, but I'd like to know to whom I am writing when I make any submissions. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks! - Amber

 

[starrkers]

However much you decide is necessary to the story.

 

[matriarch]

However much you decide is necessary to the story.

What she said.

 

[oggbashan]

It depends on the category.

Novels and Novellas can have limited sex but at least one sexual encounter in every posted section.

Avoid Loving Wives until you have grown a thick skin. Whatever you write will annoy someone.

Non-erotic has some good stories without sex.

Sex can be implied instead of overt.

Og

 

[TxRad]

If you're writing stroke then it can all be sex. There is nothing wrong with that but some of us like a little character and plot to thicken the story so to speak.

So the answer is still, it depends on the story and the category. Write it and someone will come. (Pun intended)

 

[Lalah]

Just keep in mind that this is a sex site and the majority of visitors come here for arousal.

The most forgiving categories when it come to low sex are Romance, Novels and Novellas. Non-Erotic of course too, but that's a given. I'd say as a general rule concerning the other categories, if there isn't enough sexual content for someone to get off to you will get pissed feedback.

If you're thinking about writing a mainly non-erotic long story and you want a readership, you should probably cross-post it on non-erotic fiction sites too.

 

[Darkniciad]

Sci-Fi/Fantasy readers are pretty forgivinging of both low-sex content and longer stories. I have entire 10k word chapters that don't have anything more than mild suggestion that picked up pretty much the same feedback in votes, comments, emails, etc., as the chapters with sex surrounding them.

I do warn up front in an author's note if there's no sex in a chapter or story, though. If it's in there but doesn't happen until a couple of Lit pages in, I note that as well. Give the stroke readers some signposts and you'll find they're pretty forgiving, for the most part.

It all depends on the story, just like everyone else has said. As a general rule, every story/chapter should have some sex in it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Every other paragraph should have at least ten minutes of graphic sex, preferably a gang bang, some over powering woman with a stap-on or a door-to-door dildo salesman giving demonstrations.

Or if you write like I do - NONE.

I think it pretty much runs the somewhere between those two extremes.

 

[jomar]

Hi Amber. My take is to just write your story and if it has sex it has sex. In other words, the story will tell you how much sex there has to be. Then you can choose a category based on the content and length.

 

[sr71plt]

lol. A theme running through all of the "they criticize it" postings across the board seems to be grounded in a search for the universally accepted/lauded story posted to Lit. It ain't gonna happen, I'm glad to say--because if it did, the interests of those reading/writing here would be far too focused to be very creative.

 

[The_Fractal_King]

In general you should write what you want to write. If you want minimal amounts of sex put in minimal amounts of sex, if you want to write a stroke story put in nonstop sex.

As has been pointed out the majority of people come to Lit for sex stories so if you don't feel like putting in much sexual content it may be good to mention it.

 

[fifty5]

Can I ask why you are asking? Is it to get guidelines you can use to plan a not-yet-written story, or to try to measure how acceptable a story you've already planned or written will be?

Others have already answered both versions, but unless you know the question isn't entirely plain, then some of those answers may be confusing.

A couple of bits of background info that might help:

'Stroke' stories are ones that cut straight to the action and aim purely to stimulate with descriptions of sex.

The opposite approach is to use plot, background and characterisation to suck the reader into suspending disbelief before the sex starts (or you can open with some explicit sex, then flash back to how it came about). This means a lower, maybe much lower, proportion of description(s) of sex, but many readers find this is a more effective way to turn them on.

- There's a spectrum between those extremes.
- They'll all get bombed by the trolls.
- Do it your way - and if you do it well, there will also be positive votes and feedback.

 

[TE999]

The Lit readership ranges across a broad spectrum of ages--and sexes.

In general, the average reader is male in his early to mid twenties.

Considering that, I would still counsel that you write what you enjoy writing--choose a submittal category and let the chips fall where they may.

In time you'll find genre's you'll be comfortable with and receive positive feedback.

But don't be afraid to write to other categories as well. Stretch your creativity.

 

[warmAmber]

Can I ask why you are asking? Is it to get guidelines you can use to plan a not-yet-written story, or to try to measure how acceptable a story you've already planned or written will be?

Others have already answered both versions, but unless you know the question isn't entirely plain, then some of those answers may be confusing.

A couple of bits of background info that might help:

'Stroke' stories are ones that cut straight to the action and aim purely to stimulate with descriptions of sex.

The opposite approach is to use plot, background and characterisation to suck the reader into suspending disbelief before the sex starts (or you can open with some explicit sex, then flash back to how it came about). This means a lower, maybe much lower, proportion of description(s) of sex, but many readers find this is a more effective way to turn them on.

- There's a spectrum between those extremes.
- They'll all get bombed by the trolls.
- Do it your way - and if you do it well, there will also be positive votes and feedback.

It is to gauge a story I am currently writing. It's a try to know one's audience type of questions. I prefer doing stores with an actual plot - even if it is fantasy!

And you are right, of course, enjoyment in one's writing shows through as opposed to trying to fit into a box!

 

[Weird Harold]

It is to gauge a story I am currently writing. It's a try to know one's audience type of questions. I prefer doing stores with an actual plot - even if it is fantasy!

And you are right, of course, enjoyment in one's writing shows through as opposed to trying to fit into a box!

Write the story so that the sex is part of the story and not just a gratutitous add-on.

One of the reasons I chose to stick around and write for Literotica is because they promote "literary value" as well as erotic content -- IOW it's a STORY site and not just a "porn" site. Lit's readers are just a fraction more interested in "good writing" than readers at other sites although there are still a lot of readers just looking for "porn."

Write your story and let it dictate how much and how explicit the sex is going to be. There will be plenty of readers if it is well-written with no more than a few "bad words" for "adult content" and there will be plenty of readers if it is nothing but poorly-written sex; I just happen to prefer the former type of readers than the latter.