How soon should the sexing begin?

[Chickenchowmein]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

Whichever feels right to you as author. Both ways work for some readers, no way works for all readers.

 

[TxRad]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

What does the story need? Which is first, the chicken or the egg? Anyone want an omelet?

 

[rjordan]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

It's the same as any other scene or scenes. It belongs where it belongs in advancing and telling the story.

rj

 

[sr71plt]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

Well, no, there are nonerotic stories here--and from there it goes downhill, as there's no one "best" of anything here (or anywhere). The secret to writing good stories here is to understand and exploit that.

 

[GoldenCojones]

Hook

You have to have a hook of some kind at the very beginning of the story. That hook doesn't have to be sex, but it does have to grab the reader. If your stories are like mine and about the only thing they have going for them is the sex, then start with the sex. If your story is about the character or an event or something else interesting, then start with a hook that works for your story.

But if you forget the hook, don't be surprised when readers click out without voting or commenting or doing anything else. Everyone is too busy to read a boring story and that is what a story without a hook feels like.

 

[Hypoxia]

You have to have a hook of some kind at the very beginning of the story. That hook doesn't have to be sex, but it does have to grab the reader. If your stories are like mine and about the only thing they have going for them is the sex, then start with the sex. If your story is about the character or an event or something else interesting, then start with a hook that works for your story.

^^^ This, pretty much. Some strokers can begin with a character study; some serious drama can begin with a slurp-o-rama. But it had better be something vivid or eyeballs will go elsewhere.

Be aware that you can't please everyone; no matter how you sequence events, someone will hate it. I get comments on the same tale, some praising the pacing, some bitching that there's too much or too little buildup or sex. Whatever.

 

[Bramblethorn]

^^^ This, pretty much. Some strokers can begin with a character study; some serious drama can begin with a slurp-o-rama. But it had better be something vivid or eyeballs will go elsewhere.

As a general rule, though, probably good if the intro gives an accurate feel for the flavour of the rest of the story; otherwise you'll drive off the readers who would've enjoyed it before they get to the bits they'd enjoy.

 

[sr71plt]

My stories start in the middle of something--almost always action and quite often a sex scene. I don't dump all of the background (or even the "what in the hell is happening now") right up front. I feed it to the reader in bits and pieces, drawing them along and deeper into the story and, I hope, giving them the feel that they are figuring it out themselves as they go along--and thereby getting invested in the story.

 

[Carnevil9]

I like to start in the middle of a very sexy scene, to hook the would-be readers. Then, once they are assured that sex is to be included, I will "flash back" to the beginning of the story to flesh out the lay of the land. The fancy-shmancy term for this is "in medias res." (you could google it)

If you are Steven King or James Patterson, you don't need to do this; your loyal readers trust you to eventually deliver the goods. But we unknowns have to assure the readers that yes, there WILL be sex, have no fear.

 

[Handley_Page]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

Which way do you like to read the story.

When you've worked that out, write accordingly.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Which way do you like to read the story.

When you've worked that out, write accordingly.

What good advice.


I'm going to do that with the awkward first chapters to my novel, which are not coming out right.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I like to start with action.

But I'm gonna go with something off the wall soon. An idea I stole from screenplays: brief characterizations of the story cast, to wit, ELIZABETH: Widowed, alcoholic, bisexual whore. CAMILLE: Elizabeth's daughter. College freshman. She'll take anything lying down, if the price is right. RUTH: Camille's grandmother. An old cougar with enough money to buy all the luv gramps didn't give her.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

I think HP is on the button.

I like an erotic story rather than a stroke piece. I find a bit of character development pulls me into the story to relate to the protags sexual proclivities.

IMHO, too many stories on lit are two dimensional. I want to want the characters to have sex. So, I need to know them.

 

[oggbashan]

Sex can be overt, in your face, and from the first sentence. Many of the multi-chaptered stories that are popular have sex at impossibly frequent timings.

Sex can be implied, subtle and build up gradually.

Both are read on Literotica.

A few of my stories have such subtle sex that some readers never find it.

Wherever you put the sex it is likely to suit some readers.

What I would not recommend is a story in which the sex is optional - the story works without the sex scenes. If I feel that the author has said "I'll put the sex in here" then I think it should have been omitted. For Literotica the sex should be an integral part of the plot and story.

 

[NaokoSmith]

What I would not recommend is a story in which the sex is optional - the story works without the sex scenes. If I feel that the author has said "I'll put the sex in here" then I think it should have been omitted. For Literotica the sex should be an integral part of the plot and story.

God you are so right! I have done this, and I really regret it now.

 

[rjordan]

What I would not recommend is a story in which the sex is optional - the story works without the sex scenes. If I feel that the author has said "I'll put the sex in here" then I think it should have been omitted. For Literotica the sex should be an integral part of the plot and story.

That's why I said above that a sex scene is like any other scene in the story. It really isn't anything special. It has to advance the story (e.g. for plot or character development) If it doesn't, it doesn't belong in the story at all.

rj

 

[DeYaKen]

Okay, so the one single unifying theme of all our stories here is that sooner or later people (and/or non-people) are going to do something erotic. So here's my question: is it best to hurry up and get to the nitty-gritty or concentrate on forming a solid back story, working on character development, and firmly fleshing out your world first?

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule for this. I have started stories with a sex scene and in other cases, you get a long way in. To my mind, the most important thing is that the opening section must give the reader a reason to continue.

 

[Hypoxia]

That's why I said above that a sex scene is like any other scene in the story. It really isn't anything special. It has to advance the story (e.g. for plot or character development) If it doesn't, it doesn't belong in the story at all.

I've mentioned my erotica triage:

* Non-erotic: sex is not essential to the story
* Erotic: sex is essential to the story
* Pr0n: sex IS the story

I have written each type. If non-erotic, some non-explicit sex at least flavors the story. If erotic, the sex may range from merely implied to over-the-top explicit, but is central to the plot. And pr0n? Many stroker storylines are minimal, a bare gossamer strand upon which to hang a sequence of fuckfests.

As mentioned above, are many possible ways to structure narrative sexplay. Start in the middle of action, then back up. Or give a slow-to-medium buildup to hot action. Or tell an engrossing pursuit tale with sex as a reward at the end. Or sprinkle-in assorted hot fucks as part of everyday life. Whatever. Just be sure the passion is there.

 

[IvyMarquis]

I feed it to the reader in bits and pieces, drawing them along and deeper into the story and, I hope, giving them the feel that they are figuring it out themselves as they go along--and thereby getting invested in the story.

This is how God intended stories to be written- at least in my opinion Nothing makes me click out of a story faster than an unneeded information dump. It kills whatever vibe I had going and there's no chance for recovery.

 

[karaline]

For me it really depends on the story. The first story i uploaded to Lit had no sex until the second chapter, the second story has sex almost in the first scene, the one i'm working on now has no sex until <gulp> chapter 4. I'd like to think all of my stories have character development but sometimes the sex comes before that.

 

[lovecraft68]

I very rarely(but not never) start with action.

Anyone can feel free to look up my stories and see the reception I get with them.

I say that not to say my way is the right way, but to refute that starting with it is the way it should be.

The way it should be is simple.

Put the sex as early on or as late in the game as the story dictates and how you feel it should be told.

No right, no wrong its all based on each story and idea and a little something called style which we all have and not any two exactly alike.

 

[sr71plt]

Erotica: sexual arousal is essential to the story, I think. If you classify arousal as sex, then I guess erotica could mean that sex is essential to the story.

 

[lovecraft68]

These are the numbers on a seven page story where there wasn't even a kiss until partway down page six

Home is Where The Heart Is A sweet gesture gets down and out Jamie much more in return.
4.86 5258 355965 Mature (English) 01/31/12 approved
Public Comments: 280

Might not be story telling the way 'god intended it' as someone here said, but I'll take them.

There are people here for strokers, but there is also a huge audience here for something with a build up because they feel that makes the sex hotter.

In fact if we're going to voice personal preferences or opinions, for me as a reader leading off with "oh, look sex" covers up for the fact that's all the author has to offer. And if its pure stroke, that's all they need to, but if they're claiming they're writing a story then instant sex is a crutch, or a sign of fear that sex has to be upfront or people will click away.

There's countless reasons people will click away from a story and no one can cover all of them and they're not worth worrying about and non one here has the 100% right answerm only the answer for them

Although I can provide a long list of stories with slow builds and great numbers to back my personal opinion and certainly not just mine.

 

[dayne]

Sex scenes are like any scene in a narrative, unless it drives the plot forward or develops a character meaningfully, then why are you writing it?

I worried briefly about how little sex I had in my first chapters, but it felt too forced to put in more (I kinda think I might work in a little more when I do a more in-depth revision). It worked out well because the first sex scene between the characters ended up being hotter for all the wait I put readers through.

Don't force yourself, and if it doesn't work out, don't be afraid to chuck it.