Sex vs. Story

[clistenovena]

More specifically, how much non-sex can a story contain and still be entertaining?

If the character and plot development generate keen interest, quite a bit of non-sex can be rather entertaining, actually. For me, anyway. I'm only one reader, though, so there's that.

So, the question stands: Do readers just want gratuitous sex, or are they more interested in finding out why a certain something or someone is the way it is?

As the stars in the sky all twinkle in their own way, the readers at Lit bring their own desires to the reading table. Personally, I prefer the full bloom of the story with a hint of sex versus the other way around. Book-wise.

And since we all have incredibly varied preferences, you really should take the advice below...

People who are skimming stories looking for something hot to get them off don't care much how it gets hot. People who are looking for an adult story to entertain them may not even care if it gets hot. Readers are everywhere in between.

Decide for yourself what you want to serve up, and write that.

Happy writing!

 

[Hypoxia]

I'll throw in my old triage, plus one:

Non-erotic: Sex is not in the story.
Sub-erotic: Sex is not central to the story.
Erotic: Sex is central to the story.
Pr0n: Sex IS the story.

Sub-erotica can include sex, maybe as texture or character-building or just fun, but that's not what the story is about. All four types can and do perform well on LIT. No uniform LIT audience exists so some may love or hate whatever you write. Again, you're writing for self-gratification, not pay, so write what you want, whatever gratifies you.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

Non-erotic: Sex is not in the story.
Sub-erotic: Sex is not central to the story.
Erotic: Sex is central to the story.
Pr0n: Sex IS the story.

Well, that confirms it. I write Pr0n. I mean, I never had any delusions of being a serious writer, but it's nice to have my niche classified so definitely. Mother would be so proud.

 

[RetroFan]

My stories contain quite a bit of story that does not involve sex and generally they have been quite a success. I often use comedy in my stories, a lot of nostalgia as with the exception of one story series all have been set in the past and plenty of character development.

My last two stories - a lesbian love story called 'April Leads Julie Astray' and a romance called 'Take Cover From Tracy' - have been more serious in tone due to the subject matter. The difficult childhood experiences of April and Julie feature strongly in their story, while the 'Take Cover From Tracy' story is about the complete destruction of the Australian city of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy at Christmas in 1974. I was worried readers might not like these stories because of the serious subject matter, but both have been a great success proving that readers do like drama in the Literotica stories.

However, there are exceptions. In one story I published, a light-hearted, fluffy piece of Erotica there was a complaint that it was too long - even though it ran just 4 pages and had plenty of sexual references long before the actual sex took place.

 

[kurrginatorX]

I would add this to the discussion of what readers "want":

I think it's true that better-written stories, with good plots and characters, often get higher scores.

I definitely want people to like what I write, and a high score is indicative of that, but I do have a few trolls who have all but said that they will give anything I write one star just to keep me from getting those high marks. I guess in the end, though, number of readers (and followers) trumps point rating every time, yes?

 

[SimonDoom]

I definitely want people to like what I write, and a high score is indicative of that, but I do have a few trolls who have all but said that they will give anything I write one star just to keep me from getting those high marks. I guess in the end, though, number of readers (and followers) trumps point rating every time, yes?

I look at it this way. Suppose as a writer who is about to publish a story you can choose one of two scenarios:

1. In this scenario you get 20,000 views, 14,000 people like your story, and you get a 4.5 rating. You also get some trolls.

2. In the second scenario, you get 10,000 views, and 8,000 people like your story, and you get a 4.8 rating. You avoid the trolls.

Why would anyone choose scenario 2? Judging from the attitudes reflected in some people's comments here, I think they might, but I think that's because they haven't thought through the implications of what they say they want. This makes no sense to me. In scenario 1 you double your readers and you nearly double the number of happy, appreciative readers. Like a lot of people I've had some trolls and been shocked by some comments, but isn't it worth it if you have a lot more appreciative readers? Isn't that the reason we publish stories?

Ratings do matter because they convey some information -- some -- about how your story is being received. But you always have to look at numbers in context; they mean nothing without it. The ultimate goal should be to reach as many potentially positive readers as you can, or, in the alternative, to get as much feedback as you can so you can improve. A high score is information, but it's not a goal.

 

[sr71plt]

My goal is to post 1,001 stories, most of which have been published to the marketplace already, just to expand the readers for those stories. I don't have any expectation about how many more readers to expose to the stories, just more. And Lit. provides more readers (although it's not the only site I post the stories to).

 

[uksnowy]

I prefer stories with details, but write the occasional sex episode. I love writing about mature woman, their looks, dress, undres, habits and the imperfections that come with ageing.

 

[NoJo]

In real life, has to be sex over story for me:

On lit, I'm happy with anything where the female protagonist's name doesn't end with "i".

 

[RetroFan]

In real life, has to be sex over story for me:

On lit, I'm happy with anything where the female protagonist's name doesn't end with "i".

If I don't ask, I'll never know, but why the aversion to female names ending with the letter 'i'?


What's wrong with names like Lori, Vicki or Sammi?

 

[NoJo]

If I don't ask, I'll never know, but why the aversion to female names ending with the letter 'i'?


What's wrong with names like Lori, Vicki or Sammi?

They're not too bad, tbh. I was thinking more of Cindi, Kandi, Brandi et al. Also, canine monosyllables for men: Brad, Chuck, Rex, Hank, Hunk, Thunk, Doug, etc. Yannow, all those the guys who come to fix your refrigerator in 1980's porn.

 

[rutger5]

As has been said many times there is no standard Lit reader and there isn't a perfect niche. A story can (obviously) have no sex and still be a good, entertaining story though in general I don't see why one posts it to Lit where most readers are expecting stories with sex. I guess if this is the only place one posts their stories it makes some sense but it seems a bit of an odd fit.

Since one isn't getting paid for stories here it is up to the writer on what they wish to strive for. If all you want is a place to post your stories then write what you want and submit it. Some people will almost certainly like it whether it features nonstop sex or much less sexual content.

If you want validation from readers (and almost writers do want this to some degree) then you can try to tailor your stories to what seems popular while remaining true to your vision. Just because incest stories are popular here doesn't mean you should write one unless you want to.

Some readers want slow buildup and to get to know the characters while others want to plunge right into the action. Both are right - for themselves.

The only thing I can add is that the sex should make sense content wise with the story. A story that is a written word version of a porn movie should have a strong sexual content and while one can still try to make the characters somewhat realistic, character development will be secondary to the sex.
If a story is complete without the sex and the writer just tacks on a sex scene then that probably shows and what's the point? Just write a nonsexual story then.

For an example of what I'm saying I'll use some crime-mystery stories as an example. I couldn't see in general how in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories one could fit in sex scenes. Maybe a bit of voyeurism while on a stakeout but not really organic for the characters and stories. Chandler's Phillip Marlowe stories on the other hand are rife with sexual situations and characters and could easily work in sex scenes.

 

[SimonDoom]

They're not too bad, tbh. I was thinking more of Cindi, Kandi, Brandi et al. Also, canine monosyllables for men: Brad, Chuck, Rex, Hank, Hunk, Thunk, Doug, etc. Yannow, all those the guys who come to fix your refrigerator in 1980's porn.

So we're not going to be getting Brad and Brandi: Refrigerator Repairman Sex Chronicles, from you anytime soon?

Seems like a promising premise.

 

[AlinaX]

Kelly Sanders was my inspiration: set the scene and define the characters with efficiency, then delve into the hard-core sex.

Often when I write, it starts to feel like I'm rambling. Either I discard the story, or I make it a non-linear chronology, alternating past & present, blending sex and story.

Oh, and speaking of girls' names ending in 'i', how about 'Ali'?

 

[ElectricBlue]

For an example of what I'm saying I'll use some crime-mystery stories as an example. I couldn't see in general how in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories one could fit in sex scenes. Maybe a bit of voyeurism while on a stakeout but not really organic for the characters and stories. Chandler's Phillip Marlowe stories on the other hand are rife with sexual situations and characters and could easily work in sex scenes.

Lol. You missed the whole Holmes/Watson bromance, then.

And the Scottish housekeeper, whoar. And cocaine at the end of every story. Mate, 221B Baker Street is seething with sexual tension...

 

[SimonDoom]

Views without Scores tells you nothing. A story could get 99,000 views, but how do you know how many readers back-clicked after the first paragraph? From Views alone, there's no way of knowing. You need scores, faves, follows and comments to fill in the blanks.

Trying to figure out how many viewers actually read the story is always a mystery. You can make some inferences based on view to vote ratios and comparing views for chapters in a series, but they're still guesses. I have always assum ed, based on my own habits, that views greatly outnumber reads, but I don't really know.

 

[oggbashan]

Lol. You missed the whole Holmes/Watson bromance, then.

And the Scottish housekeeper, whoar. And cocaine at the end of every story. Mate, 221B Baker Street is seething with sexual tension...

And Irene Adler:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Adler

 

[Bramblethorn]

And Irene Adler:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Adler

One of the things I liked about the original "Scandal in Bohemia" was that Irene Adler wasn't set up as a love interest for Holmes - Watson/Doyle makes it clear from the beginning of the story that Holmes had no inclinations in that direction. He respects her simply as one of the very few people who's ever outwitted him, and as a woman of principle.

It's a little disappointing how few of the adaptations have managed to keep her on that level - instead she becomes a femme fatale (something the original Adler was trying to avoid!) who Holmes eventually defeats, or she gets fridged as motivation for the lads to avenge her. Even in recent years the writers seem reluctant to let a woman stand as Holmes' equal.

 

[rutger5]

Lol. You missed the whole Holmes/Watson bromance, then.

And the Scottish housekeeper, whoar. And cocaine at the end of every story. Mate, 221B Baker Street is seething with sexual tension...

Surely you jest eb, at least I hope you're kidding.

I wouldn't care if someone wrote a fanfic of Holmes and Watson having a gay old time at the end of a case if that floats their boat. Some people will want to put any fictional characters together having sex as the hard work was already done by whoever created the characters. Then one is just adding the sexual element to an already fully developed persona even if it doesn't follow logically.

I could see Watson in his bachelor days meeting up with a working girl after a harrowing case in order to unwind a bit. While I don't buy a sexual bromance between them that's just me because I see Holmes stimulated by the intellectual not the physical. (Which is why he respected Irene Adler as pointed out by Bramblethorn - it was her mind that impressed him though she was beautiful.) Also cocaine isn't generally beneficial in regards to a man's sexual functioning.

But these digressions aren't about what point I was trying to make. If one just tacks on a sex scene after the case is solved then it isn't organic and central to the story. Someone looking for the naughty part will just skip to the end to get stroke material so what is the point of the actual story? If Holmes, Watson, the copper, and the bank officer decided to have an all male orgy while staking out the bank basement in The League of Red Headed Gentlemen it would be unbelievable but in the body of the work. If they did so after the case then it's just add on. The point of the story was for Holmes to find out what was really going on and to solve the case. The terse style it is written in doesn't give space for tangential discussions on the meaning of the universe or for a sex orgy.

I see a lot of AH regulars say they try to write a story first and the sex fits in where it makes sense to which determines how high the sexual content will be. When writing p0rn that isn't necessary - just throw in a pizza delivery guy or a sexy nurse and you're off to the races. In that sense one can have sexual adventures of Holmes, Watson, or any other literary or movie characters but it's divorced from the source material. Adding sex into a story where it doesn't fit the characters or situation just to have sex scenes (because it's a Lit story) is what I'm getting at. For plenty of stories it makes sense for sex to be almost nonstop if that's the point/reason for being of the story.

 

[NoJo]

The bromance angle is to me completely unfunny, lazy, and makes me yawn every time someone thinks they've invented it. It has made for some unwatchable TV and movies.

I did a Holmes spoof back in '02. Pretty funny, If I say so myself - but it owes more to The Firesign Theatre than to Conan Doyle:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-case-of-the-steaming-turk

 

[Hypoxia]

Holmes, master (and mistress) of disguise, often garbs him/her self as a woman to probe in areas where no man can venture. Holmes never relates these adventures to hopelessly straight Watson (with his own unrecorded fetishes).

Watson, of course, as a military surgeon for the Raj in India, has his own stories. He sits at a comfortable club in London, sipping old malt whiskey with old comrades and talking of their service days. He's conversing with ex-Col. Abernathy right now.

Abernathy: I say, chap, do you recall old Trentnor? Went native, he did! Ran off into the brush with a 'rang-tang, he did!
Watson: My word! Er, it was a FEMALE 'rang-tang, I hope?
Abernathy: Why, certainly! Nothing queer about old Trentnor!

So, Holmes' intrigues as a chambermaid. Watson's Indian threesomes with a Hindoo love worker and a gibbon. And we don't speak of what happens with the Baker Street Irregulars. Many dark chapters here...

Better stick to Holmes' later life as a beekeeper. Edmund Hillary of Mount Everest fame was a beekeeper, y'know. I'll bet some secrets hide there.

 

[rutger5]

The bromance angle is to me completely unfunny, lazy, and makes me yawn every time someone thinks they've invented it. It has made for some unwatchable TV and movies.

I did a Holmes spoof back in '02. Pretty funny, If I say so myself - but it owes more to The Firesign Theatre than to Conan Doyle:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-case-of-the-steaming-turk

Though far afield of my original reason for bringing up the Holmes canon it doesn't bother me if one wants to gay-ify them or whatever one's particular kink is though I agree I don't picture them in that way.

Holmes, master (and mistress) of disguise, often garbs him/her self as a woman to probe in areas where no man can venture. Holmes never relates these adventures to hopelessly straight Watson (with his own unrecorded fetishes).

Watson, of course, as a military surgeon for the Raj in India, has his own stories. He sits at a comfortable club in London, sipping old malt whiskey with old comrades and talking of their service days. He's conversing with ex-Col. Abernathy right now.

Abernathy: I say, chap, do you recall old Trentnor? Went native, he did! Ran off into the brush with a 'rang-tang, he did!
Watson: My word! Er, it was a FEMALE 'rang-tang, I hope?
Abernathy: Why, certainly! Nothing queer about old Trentnor!

So, Holmes' intrigues as a chambermaid. Watson's Indian threesomes with a Hindoo love worker and a gibbon. And we don't speak of what happens with the Baker Street Irregulars. Many dark chapters here...

Better stick to Holmes' later life as a beekeeper. Edmund Hillary of Mount Everest fame was a beekeeper, y'know. I'll bet some secrets hide there.

Yeah I mean if one were to write an Erotic Adventures of Sherlock Holmes detailing both of their sexual exploits one could work in whatever one wishes. Some might resemble something somewhat realistic and then some might take the Hypoxia route into bizarro world territory.

Though this stuff is closer to story idea forum material it's easy and understandable for people to sexualize existing characters. Think how many p0rn parodies of the Brady Bunch exist or Batman. Spoof the campy tv show and have Batman and Robin go gay or have the darker Batman explore BDSM with Catwoman. Cartoons too - plenty of images on the net of Scooby Doo and the gang up to stuff or George Jetson screwing his daughter Judy (hope she's 18 or whatever the age of consent in the future is) while Mr. Spacely and Jane Jetson go at it.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Though this stuff is closer to story idea forum material it's easy and understandable for people to sexualize existing characters. Think how many p0rn parodies of the Brady Bunch exist or Batman. Spoof the campy tv show and have Batman and Robin go gay or have the darker Batman explore BDSM with Catwoman. Cartoons too - plenty of images on the net of Scooby Doo and the gang up to stuff or George Jetson screwing his daughter Judy (hope she's 18 or whatever the age of consent in the future is) while Mr. Spacely and Jane Jetson go at it.

Rule 34: "If it exists, there's porn of it."

 

[Areala-chan]

Rule 34: "If it exists, there's porn of it."

Rule 35: "If there is not porn of it, porn will be made of it."