Sex or the Plot?

[loquere]

When writing a story which is MOST important to you, the sex or the plot?

 

[TxRad]

When writing a story which is MOST important to you, the sex or the plot?

Yes.

Oh ok, maybe a little more. It's according to what I'm writing and for what audience.

 

[loquere]

Yes.

Oh ok, maybe a little more. It's according to what I'm writing and for what audience.

Yes to what? Which one?

 

[sr71plt]

It depends. I usually give plot the edge, but if the sex isn't prominent, there's usually little reason for me to be writing it for Literotica (although I have some nonerotic stories here). What I don't give priority to is characterization. That isn't as necessary for me as the plot and erotica are.

 

[lovecraft68]

Depends on the piece. Some are more sex driven so the sex. Others have a story behind them so story. Can't say one or the other as a steady rule because things change from one story to the next.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

This year I'm investing more energy in the sex once I have a tale I like. That is, one underway features a detailed blow job, a detailed cunt eating, and lengthy copulation. The story is about a lesbian waitress/hooker who gets turned on and cucks her lesbian wife with the john with the magic cock. Its called LESBIAN CUCKTALE.

 

[oggbashan]

I have to think hard when considering a plot for a Literotica story.

Is the sex essential to the story? Does it contribute to the development of the plot?

OR - would the story work just as well WITHOUT the sex? If it does, the sex is irrelevant and that plot isn't really suitable for Literotica.

Some of my earlier stories do have optional sex. Some of my stories have implied and not overt sex. That doesn't matter as long as there IS sex.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

The way to a girls heart is thru her mouth or her pussy.

 

[Carnevil9]

Depends on the piece. Some are more sex driven so the sex. Others have a story behind them so story. Can't say one or the other as a steady rule because things change from one story to the next.

I agree with this.

 

[NotWise]

When writing a story which is MOST important to you, the sex or the plot?

I'm not sure that either sex or plot is the MOST important in my stories. My emphasis is often on setting, and events unfold within the setting.

The balance between sex and plot has been elusive for me. My few stories contain a range of different combinations. The one I'm writing now will probably have yet another emphasis. I should be able to learn to use different balances to be successful under different conditions, but not yet.

 

[TxRad]

Yes to what? Which one?

Did you read the second line?

 

[sr71plt]

In all the threads I've seen on Lit. on what aspect of a story is most important, I've yet to see theme/message/point mentioned. That's an important element for me. One element that is supposed to be in a short story is change (or a purposeful failure to change). An element I always think about is what is the theme or message I want to convey through the story. At least for me, it doesn't have to be a happy resolution--it can be a hard dose of reality.

 

[Asbel]

It switches back and forth for me. In a majority of it, the plot drives the sex, but often, the sex is what's driving the plot.

Personally, I only started writing on Literotica because a friend suggested it to me. I write and come up with stories all the time, but I can't seem to write one that doesn't end in sex. I even pitched a comic book idea for a friend of mine, but wouldn't you know, they start banging halfway through. Can't do it. I still don't know why.

Anyway, as a reader, I prefer plot to just straight-up sex sex sex. Characterization is also insanely important to me - why should I care about these people? What drives them? But that just comes down to more of the plot.

 

[NotWise]

In all the threads I've seen on Lit. on what aspect of a story is most important, I've yet to see theme/message/point mentioned. That's an important element for me. One element that is supposed to be in a short story is change (or a purposeful failure to change). An element I always think about is what is the theme or message I want to convey through the story. At least for me, it doesn't have to be a happy resolution--it can be a hard dose of reality.

What theme's do you use? What have you seen in other stories? The themes I commonly see are simple things like "love conquers all" or "sex is the solution," though I suppose others might state them more eloquently.

 

[FelicityJohns]

They are firmly and inseparably entangled for me. Never been happy with a story that didn't have equal measures of both.

The most important factor for me is that the characters always act in a way that rings true. If they don't, it falls apart and comes out feeling fabricated. Horror!

 

[sr71plt]

What theme's do you use? What have you seen in other stories? The themes I commonly see are simple things like "love conquers all" or "sex is the solution," though I suppose others might state them more eloquently.

Most common in mine relate and include "overcoming inhibitions," "finding you were looking for something 'out there' that was right before you at home," "giving in to your desires," "becoming comfortable with your preferences," "moving on," "breaking in/down." The story I wrote over the last two days was one of moving a guy who had to have control to a willing/accepting submissive. Another theme is the counter one to the short story requirement that there be change, which is no matter what is tried, the character(s) won't change.

I don't read many stories, so I won't search my brain for themes I've seen in other stories.

On the emphasis on characters that keeps cropping up: I only need enough characterization to serve the plot/theme, and I don't care if it doesn't go further than to establish type in many cases. I like my characters to be complex, neither all goody-goody nor all evil. When I write in the first person, they usually are struggling against baser tendencies and desires and they don't always overcome them. Most of my characters are human, with human failings, and I don't require that they be liked. I'd prefer that they be understood as conflicted. I don't require that they be either named for described right off the bat. The good guys don't always have to win. In my current story, the "goodness" doesn't win, but the basic desire the protagonist has been fighting is confirmed and he's resigned to it as being satiating and what he can't escape is what he wants.

A lot of my characters are male prostitutes who wind up saying, yeah, I'm a prostitute. That's what I do and I enjoy it. So, what's it to you?

 

[CeasarBoobage]

It switches back and forth for me. In a majority of it, the plot drives the sex, but often, the sex is what's driving the plot.

<snip>

Anyway, as a reader, I prefer plot to just straight-up sex sex sex. Characterization is also insanely important to me - why should I care about these people? What drives them? But that just comes down to more of the plot.

Yes, this.

In a short stoker story, sex drives the plot. There isn't time available for silly things like why the people are screwing in scuba gear. It's about the scuba sex, and there only has to be enough character development and plot for the reader to know the general details about the place where the sex is happening, as well as who is involved.

In a novella, you can't realistically have non-stop sex for ten Lit pages, it simply doesn't work. The plot drives the sex. There must be a lot of words about the who and why, and if it isn't well developed, the story usually won't be engaging enough for the reader to get more than a few pages in. Where the scuba sex happens, why it is on the reef instead of at the hotel, and how they know each other is probably as important as the poke-and-tickle.

---

As both a reader and writer, my brain has varied needs. Some times I want a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am, and some times I want a story that includes sex. In this, I don't think I'm unique.

As I've heard uncountable times here, write for yourself. People will still read your stuff, so don't worry about those who don't like it, others will.

Even in the shortest stories, I want to know who Pat and Chris are, as well as why they are doing the nasty at fifty feet under water. The more time spent on building the scene and characters, the more vested interest I have in making sure their tryst is enjoyable and erotic, both physically and mentally.

With only having the barest details available, I kind of feel like the scenes unfold as if watching through a telescope. When I get into the story by "knowing" the people and becoming immersed in the details, then I am wearing my own scuba gear floating three feet away watching everything happen, or I become one of the characters.

Sorry, I guess I digressed slightly from the main question from the OP. As a driver of the story, the plot is important, but so is the sex. I'm not here to read stories that don't get dirty, there for other sites for that. Try writing stuff with either as the driver and find out for yourself which you like the best. While reading the story, can you tell which option decided what direction the story takes?

 

[FantasyXY]

Plot Plot Plot

Plot is everything. If the plot leads to some hot sex, then ding ding ding, we have a winner.

If the sex is the plot, then it tends to read like a report of what I did on my summer vacation.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

It's a false dichotomy. Why does it have to be one or the other?

Character trumps both of them, imo. I've realized lately it doesn't matter how good everything else is if I don't like/can't relate/don't care about the characters.

 

[loquere]

It's a false dichotomy. Why does it have to be one or the other?

Character trumps both of them, imo. I've realized lately it doesn't matter how good everything else is if I don't like/can't relate/don't care about the characters.

I wanted a specific question awnsered with this thread, I intentionally left out all additional options in the poll.

I agree but I think it works like this, the plot is essential to the story and character development is essential to the plot.

 

[TxRad]

I wanted a specific question awnsered with this thread, I intentionally left out all additional options in the poll.

I agree but I think it works like this, the plot is essential to the story and character development is essential to the plot.

What some people don't get is that there isn't a specific answer. Stories are different and have different objectives so the answer is different. There is no magic bullet or carved in stone answer. Just write the damned story the way you want to write the damned story. Overthinking everything just gets in the way.

 

[GoldenCojones]

In all the threads I've seen on Lit. on what aspect of a story is most important, I've yet to see theme/message/point mentioned. That's an important element for me. One element that is supposed to be in a short story is change (or a purposeful failure to change). An element I always think about is what is the theme or message I want to convey through the story. At least for me, it doesn't have to be a happy resolution--it can be a hard dose of reality.

Oh Shit! I have to agree with Pilot. Damn!

What some people don't get is that there isn't a specific answer. Stories are different and have different objectives so the answer is different. There is no magic bullet or carved in stone answer. Just write the damned story the way you want to write the damned story. Overthinking everything just gets in the way.

And TxRad (not nearly as painful )

All that said, I don't think most stories have a "most important" element. It is all the elements (theme, plot, message, setting, etc.) working together that make a story. If you just have a plot, you don't have a story. If you just have sex you don't have a story (you'll have fans, but no story )

So my answer would be: Both of them and a hell of a lot more.

 

[electric1]

The plot is most important, but in a porn story, the plot should be focused on sex (from anticipation to orgasm). I wrote about this at length here.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

I see that. Disregarding any third option, it is still a false dichotomy.

Even if you just write "He plunged into her and she screamed in ecstasy," that's a story. Can you write anything without a plot of some sort? Unless, I don't know, you present a drawing or a word poem.

Where does this idea come from that a stroker or "just sex" magically appears without a framework and a story? There's always one, even in porn. It may be bad, but there it is.

There's this misperception that if you don't want to write "just a stroker," then you have to pile on PLOT or story. That is the false choice and the false opposition imo. It's really just a question of what kind of plot and story you want to have, and what kind of sex you want to present, which opens the door to all other kinds of considerations.

I wanted a specific question awnsered with this thread, I intentionally left out all additional options in the poll.

I agree but I think it works like this, the plot is essential to the story and character development is essential to the plot.

 

[loquere]

I like pilots and airplanes.

I see that. Disregarding any third option, it is still a false dichotomy.

Even if you just write "He plunged into her and she screamed in ecstasy," that's a story. Can you write anything without a plot of some sort? Unless, I don't know, you present a drawing or a word poem.

Where does this idea come from that a stroker or "just sex" magically appears without a framework and a story? There's always one, even in porn. It may be bad, but there it is.

There's this misperception that if you don't want to write "just a stroker," then you have to pile on PLOT or story. That is the false choice and the false opposition imo. It's really just a question of what kind of plot and story you want to have, and what kind of sex you want to present, which opens the door to all other kinds of considerations.