Help! Unsure where to take my non-con story

[Tanuki]

I need help! I've posted 5 chapters of a story in non-con, but it's a slow-developing novel-length story where my heroine hasn't yet really been subjected to non-con scenes. I seem to be getting two kinds of feedback - one group likes it but wants things like a gang-bang of my heroine, the other group loves the sci-fi/fantasy aspect and my strong heroine, and doesn't want the non-con, or scenes where she's helpless and sexually tormented. Since I only get a few feedbacks I don't really know how many are in each camp.

I intended the story to gradually get more non-con, that's why I started in this category. In fact I didn't think I had the ability to write a pure fantasy story and pull it off. On the other hand, I'm also grown very attached to my heroine and don't want to ruin her somehow.

So I don't know what to do as I finish the story, I feel like there's two lynch mobs out there and no matter what i do, one of them is going to get me!

 

[ChloeTzang]

I need help! I've posted 5 chapters of a story in non-con, but it's a slow-developing novel-length story where my heroine hasn't yet really been subjected to non-con scenes. I seem to be getting two kinds of feedback - one group likes it but wants things like a gang-bang of my heroine, the other group loves the sci-fi/fantasy aspect and my strong heroine, and doesn't want the non-con, or scenes where she's helpless and sexually tormented. Since I only get a few feedbacks I don't really know how many are in each camp.

I intended the story to gradually get more non-con, that's why I started in this category. In fact I didn't think I had the ability to write a pure fantasy story and pull it off. On the other hand, I'm also grown very attached to my heroine and don't want to ruin her somehow.

So I don't know what to do as I finish the story, I feel like there's two lynch mobs out there and no matter what i do, one of them is going to get me!

Write what you want to happen to her. It's your story.

 

[Tanuki]

Write what you want to happen to her. It's your story.

It is, but I feel an indebtedness to readers especially ones who take the effort to give me feedback.

 

[SimonDoom]

I haven't had the chance to read the story yet, but I opened up a couple of chapters to get a quick sense of what it's about and scan the comments.

A few thoughts, that may or may not be worth anything:

1. Stick with your original artistic vision and don't compromise to satisfy a few commenters. If your goal all along was to write a non con story, then do that. You categorized it that way, so presumably readers know to expect that.

2. The trick with a story like this, where you are attached to your heroine but want to get into non-con, is to find a way of getting there while somehow affirming her character and who she is. That's what makes the story interesting. That's what will create drama and erotic interest. When I'm in this situation, I come up with the ending long before I get there, and I write with the purpose of getting to the ending in a satisfying way. You might want to work through various endings to figure out where you want your heroine Lana to end up. Then, when you've done that, the writing falls into place, because you've decided what you want the ending to be.

Good luck!

 

[SimonDoom]

It is, but I feel an indebtedness to readers especially ones who take the effort to give me feedback.

The ones who write comments aren't necessarily your most appreciative readers. Stick with your own personal vision about how you want the story to end up.

 

[Tanuki]

thank you, Simon, that helps a lot.

2. The trick with a story like this, where you are attached to your heroine but want to get into non-con, is to find a way of getting there while somehow affirming her character and who she is.

I'm not sure how to do that, but I will try!

 

[oggbashan]

What you could do is ask Laurel to move the existing parts into Novels/novellas and then you can do what you like with the character (or what SHE wants to do).

 

[SimonDoom]

thank you, Simon, that helps a lot.



I'm not sure how to do that, but I will try!

Think about it this way: are you going to have a happy ending, or a sad ending?

Is Lana going to be in a situation that is "non-con" but is something that, deep down, she wants? In that case, the story has led her to some kind of growth or self-awareness. It's a happy ending, although probably with a big twist.

Or is she going to be defeated and/or degraded in the end? In that case, the story is a tragedy. Her flaws of character or kinks have brought her down.

How you answer that makes all the difference about where you go next with the story.

It's all up to you. But I would say this: if you like your character, then stay true to your character and not your readers. In the end that's what will make it a better story.

 

[ElectricBlue]

The ones who write comments aren't necessarily your most appreciative readers. Stick with your own personal vision about how you want the story to end up.

Agree this. If you try to accommodate all commentators, you will please none, and least of all yourself. It's your story, so write it. If readers want something else, they can write their own.

As Simon has observed elsewhere, you have fallen into the classic trap of posting a story before it's finished, so you reap what you have sown. You also run the danger of not finishing your story at all, because you might lose your way completely. That will annoy readers.

If you're going to write on the run, you have to stick to your original intent, otherwise you'll end up all over the place, and you won't know where to go.

Write your story first, then publish, is often best. Otherwise you're writing by committee (a small committee made up of the few that comment), and that's not always good.

 

[Nathan_Brazil]

Interesting...

While I have not started reading your story yet, it is on my to-do list... and yes, I am in one of those two camps.

I suppose I am no different than many who will read non-con, I have a specific kind that I will rate highly (If it is actually good), and a type that I will drop a low score on (even if it is well written).

The rating system says, 'hated it', not 'gee it was well written'. I'm sorry, that's just how it is in some categories... non-con is a LOT like loving wives in that there are two distinct camps. Please one, disappoint the other.

Good luck...

 

[Tanuki]

Agree this. If you try to accommodate all commentators, you will please none, and least of all yourself. It's your story, so write it. If readers want something else, they can write their own.

As Simon has observed elsewhere, you have fallen into the classic trap of posting a story before it's finished, so you reap what you have sown. You also run the danger of not finishing your story at all, because you might lose your way completely. That will annoy readers.

If you're going to write on the run, you have to stick to your original intent, otherwise you'll end up all over the place, and you won't know where to go.

Write your story first, then publish, is often best. Otherwise you're writing by committee (a small committee made up of the few that comment), and that's not always good.

You are so right, live and learn! It is actually finished in my head, meaning I have the entire storyline in my head, I just felt like I had to start posting chapters to force myself to finish - I spend a lot of the time in editing.

i will try to be true to the category and my original vision. Bring on the haters!

 

[Tanuki]

While I have not started reading your story yet, it is on my to-do list... and yes, I am in one of those two camps.

I suppose I am no different than many who will read non-con, I have a specific kind that I will rate highly (If it is actually good), and a type that I will drop a low score on (even if it is well written).

The rating system says, 'hated it', not 'gee it was well written'. I'm sorry, that's just how it is in some categories... non-con is a LOT like loving wives in that there are two distinct camps. Please one, disappoint the other.

Good luck...

Could you elaborate on that? It's a little confusing cause the category is non-con/reluctance - will readers bomb me if there's no non-con? I would assume so.

Anyway, I picked the category cause i planned to have non-con content, I've just been having a crisis of confidence. You guys/gals helped a lot!

 

[Nathan_Brazil]

Splits...

The category generally divides itself into 2 main factions; those who enjoy imbalance of power and subjugation or those who seek rehabilitation through romance.

Much like burn the bitch vs. Reconciliation stories in loving wives. So... rapists vs. the rest.

The romance crowd probably won't be put off by a story that only contains threats of non con, while the rape fantasists will be unhappy.

 

[Tanuki]

The category generally divides itself into 2 main factions; those who enjoy imbalance of power and subjugation or those who seek rehabilitation through romance.

Much like burn the bitch vs. Reconciliation stories in loving wives. So... rapists vs. the rest.

The romance crowd probably won't be put off by a story that only contains threats of non con, while the rape fantasists will be unhappy.

I see, thanks. I guess I'm screwed since my heroine is not a bitch, or deserving of retribution, nor is she looking for rehabilitation.

But I try to focus on realism (not the ugliness of realism but the logic of believable storytelling), and since she's a nubile female on a world of slavers and domineering men, well . . . things are bound to happen.

 

[Tanuki]

Think about it this way: are you going to have a happy ending, or a sad ending?

Is Lana going to be in a situation that is "non-con" but is something that, deep down, she wants? In that case, the story has led her to some kind of growth or self-awareness. It's a happy ending, although probably with a big twist.

Or is she going to be defeated and/or degraded in the end? In that case, the story is a tragedy. Her flaws of character or kinks have brought her down.

How you answer that makes all the difference about where you go next with the story.

It's all up to you. But I would say this: if you like your character, then stay true to your character and not your readers. In the end that's what will make it a better story.

This helps me a lot - I know my ending, so I can use that as a guide I think.

 

[ElectricBlue]

You are so right, live and learn! It is actually finished in my head, meaning I have the entire storyline in my head, I just felt like I had to start posting chapters to force myself to finish - I spend a lot of the time in editing.

i will try to be true to the category and my original vision. Bring on the haters!

Bring on the admirers too, and remember, you can always delete comments. That is completely up to you, nobody else, you.

 

[LadyMireille]

What you could do is ask Laurel to move the existing parts into Novels/novellas and then you can do what you like with the character (or what SHE wants to do).

Yes. This. ^^^

Categorizing is hard with multi-chapter stories. They always cross several categories. I have a similar problem with a story of mine that starts with a violent sex scene and has no sci-fi in the first chapter. The rest will be romance with some sci-fi elements. I went with the sci-fi category despite this. I think my voting could have been better, but it didn't tank. I may request to have it moved to novels later.

One thing I also I found helpful is writing a "note from the author." I think it helps avoid a lot of those comments that say "where's the noncon/reluctance" and maybe even ward off some low voting scores if they know that your story's overarching theme will be noncon. Also, you could put in your note that the current chapter does not have any noncon/reluctance scenes, so if they are strictly looking for that and not a well-developed story, then maybe that isn't the right story for them.

Good luck!