Do you like to write what you like to read?

[SimonDoom]

I'm curious what authors think about that.

I like to read a broad variety of erotica; at one point or another I think I've sampled stories from every category on this site. But my writing interests and goals, at least at the moment, are narrower. For instance, I have no particular interest in writing erotic horror or historical period stories, although they can be a lot of fun to read, and I admire writers who pull them off artfully. I sometimes enjoy short, simple "wham-bam" style erotic stories, too, but that's not what I want to write.

 

[sr71plt]

I like to write erotica, but I don't read much erotica. Like also like to write mainstream mysteries, and I read a lot of those.

 

[SecondCircle]

I write what I like to read in the way I would want to read it. That means all sorts of things, but I do write what I like.

That is NOT to say, that I read something someone else writes and if I like it I write it like that. Nay. More often I won't find what it is I'm looking for. So I write it myself in my own way, the way I would like it to be.

 

[SusanJillParker]

I'm curious what authors think about that.

I like to read a broad variety of erotica; at one point or another I think I've sampled stories from every category on this site. But my writing interests and goals, at least at the moment, are narrower. For instance, I have no particular interest in writing erotic horror or historical period stories, although they can be a lot of fun to read, and I admire writers who pull them off artfully. I sometimes enjoy short, simple "wham-bam" style erotic stories, too, but that's not what I want to write.

When I read, I can't write and when I'm writing, I don't read.

When I was earning my degree in English, I had to read as many as 2 books in a day to keep up with the coursework. Having had to read so much, other than term papers, I didn't write a damn thing in college.

Then, once I graduated, it was as if the floodgates opened again and I couldn't stop writing. All that I read gave me an endless supply of material that I vomited out in my writing.

Curious enough, I don't read erotica. I never have, other than my own writing. Weird.

Before I started writing, I read everything. I was reading college material English literature when I was in junior high. I always wanted to write a novel but hadn't lived enough life to write anything. Now, I can't stop writing.

 

[Hypoxia]

I write what I like to read in the way I would want to read it. That means all sorts of things, but I do write what I like.

For me, not quite, category-wise. I like to both read and write well-crafted or -imagined stories (even with bad orthography). I started posting on LIT after reading imaginative but barely literate stuff; I thought, "*I* can write better than *that*!"

I've read much LW (for the drama!) but rarely write it. I've written much incest but rarely read it, at least not as a category. I usually read by author, not by category. If an author I like writes in categories I normally skip, I'll read those pieces (probably).

And there's always the mood thang, of course. Am I in the mood for a fleshy novel, or a one-page stroker, or something in-between? At any moment, do I want comedy, tragedy, intensity, fuck-o-rama, or what? It depends...

 

[ElectricBlue]

I like to write erotica, but I don't read much erotica.

I'm like Pilot on this, especially when it comes to Lit.

Since finding myself a bit of a niche and a style of my own, I've found that I read very little here on Lit - I'm usually time poor, so I use what might have been "reading" time for writing. Since my writing is my way of indulging my own fantasies and desires, I find that "I know what works for me" so much better than another writer ever can.

Probably also, I don't want anyone else's style percolating into mine without me knowing. So when it comes to the old question, am I influenced by anybody here? I hope not. I rely on the courage of my convictions; the downside of that, of course, is hubris... but so far, so good!

Having said that, in real life I'm a voracious reader with a wide range of eclectic interests (when I get time...). Stupidly wide, sometimes, but somehow it all seems to join up. I'm a student of the human condition, I guess.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

For the most part Yes.

But I have a few outliers in Sci Fi, Erotic Horror that I would never read myself, ha

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Of course...I write what I like to read. Although I have written a few out of the box things that I don't like to read, but that's few and far between.

 

[SecondCircle]

For me, not quite, category-wise. I like to both read and write well-crafted or -imagined stories (even with bad orthography). I started posting on LIT after reading imaginative but barely literate stuff; I thought, "*I* can write better than *that*!"

That sort of factors in as well. I just... hm, think of it in a different way. I don't consider that I could have written it better, just in a way I would have preferred better. The way "they" wrote it may have been to their liking and perfectly fine. And I don't think I hone in on specific story concepts, such as rewriting someone else's concept.

But if I'm reading a "blowjob" story, I might think "hm, this doesn't do it for me. I could probably pen one that I enjoy more." Something like that. Akin to what you're saying no doubt, but not entirely the same. Just from my perspective.

 

[SamScribble]

As I get older, my reading tends towards stories with style, craft, and humour. If it doesn't make me smile or nod with admiration, I'm usually feeling short-changed. Based on my expectation, there are not a lot of stories that I read on Lit. I have a few writers whom I follow; and, as a rule, they do not disappoint. Do I write like the boys and girls that I follow? I don't think so. I think that I just do my own thing.

 

[Nezhul]

I only write what I would like to read and can't find enough of it available by other authors.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I write a subset of what I'd like to read. Mostly the sort of thing that I like, but can't easily find.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I read noir. Noir correlates closely with real life, and I'm curious about how real life happens. The real masters of noir are James Agee and Truman Capote. Both dead a long time. But they got it right. Life is happy horse shit and bad luck. I'm a prospector for the noir life. And I;ve learned a lot.

 

[lovecraft68]

I rarely read straight up erotica, so I guess the answer is no. Most of my smut ideas come from within my own always dirty mind(some of the dreams I was having at the age of 10 had m social worker concerned) or are based on role plays my wife and I have done-my dirty mind combined with hers.

As for the erotic horror material I've been writing under another pen name I find its more based on some movies more than my preferred taste in reading horror.

I like reading Lovecraft inspired Cthulhu mythos based material of which there is an endless supply out there and I write nothing like that.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Yes and no. I like reading some erotica and I'm always looking for good books, but I'm very picky and there's not a lot of what I regard as good erotica writers (other than your highly esteemed selves of course ). I have to confess to reading and enjoying my own stories coz I write what I'd like to read if someone else was writing it

On the other hand, most of my reading is not erotica. I read a lot of romance novels, I love regency romances and I read and re-read Georgette Heyer novels all the time coz she's just the best ever. I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy novels. I read a lot of popular history type books just coz I find history a fascinating subject. I tend to fixate on a subject for a while and read everything I can find on it.

Right now I'm reading thru a pile of novels by chinese authors as well as half a dozen books on Shanghai. Before that it was about 20 novels by Nicholas Sparks. Before that I raided my partner's books and I was reading thru old these books on human genetics and early human history and population migrations. And couple of books on languages and Nostratic which was just fascinating. Before then it was a series of old mountaineering books about climbing in the Himalaya's in the 1920's and 30's. Strangely fascinating stuff and I've never been climbing. Never want to either

I'm kind of lucky - my personal library is a couple of thousand books, mostly bought used. My partner on the other hand had about 7,000 books when I move in with him and he's as much a book addict as I am and we buy them all the time. Neither of us is any good at saying no to books and his collection is totally eclectic. Heaven is thousands of books just waiting to be read.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I read all the time but believe sex is about the same as eating, 99% of the time its the same ol thing, and once in a blue moon its interesting, usually if your partner is someone you weren't expecting to come along.

A Great Truth I discovered early is, every female likes it different, and the secret to good sex is be yourself so you attract the women who want your wares. Because regadless of how you are, some women will crave you and some will throw rocks at you. The trick to fuck books is scratch the right itch. And one itch doesn't fit all.

 

[tomlitilia]

I started writing because I couldn't find the stories I wanted to read. Now I don't read that much; what time I have for erotic stories I primarily like to dedicate to my own.

 

[RetroFan]

One of the reasons I started writing for Literotica was that there are not many stories set in the past and not too many funny stories. My stories are all set in the past, and all have a comedic element to them.

 

[Casiyessie]

I love a lot of different type of erotica but I feel like most of what I read I wouldn't be able to write. I enjoy others views and a lot of what I write I have never experienced so I lack that lol I always imagine most erotica writers must have the best sex lives.

 

[Zodia195]

When it comes to Erotica, no not really, but there are a few exceptions. I tend to read mostly Non-Human stuff, even though I don't write that kind of fantasy stuff. Honestly I could never write Erotica.

When it comes to published stuff though, I would say yes because 98% of my library is romance and I always write romance, mostly Fantasy Romance. I want my stuff to be closer those kinds of stories because the lingo is more 'tongue in cheek'.

 

[PervOtaku]

I write stories that I would want to read, yes.

Sadly I have less time for actually reading the same sorts of stories written by others.

But, I mean yeah, nobody's going to read or write within a genre they don't like.

 

[Kantarii]

I write stories that I would want to read, yes.

Sadly I have less time for actually reading the same sorts of stories written by others.

But, I mean yeah, nobody's going to read or write within a genre they don't like.

This is most definitely true. At least from my stand point.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Mostly, yes. But I also read stuff I know I could never write.

 

[chocolategirl74]

I started writing erotica because the stories I wanted to read weren't here. I write for a living, so I try to read what I like.

If it makes me horny, then hopefully it should make someone else horny.

 

[SimonDoom]

Interesting responses.

It's interesting to me that some say they don't read much erotica even though they like to write it. That's not true for me; I find that writing has re-energized my interest in reading erotica. I get ideas from what I read. It's interesting to me to see how other authors handle certain plot points or characters differently, or how they handle things like sex scenes, dialog, build-up, anatomical descriptions, etc. differently.

I like to keep up the practice of reading and writing because, IMO, reading makes one a better writer and writing makes one a better reader.

Many of the books/stories listed on this thread are unfamiliar to me. It's good to learn something new.