Creating erotic stories but staying down to earth

[DigitalAge]

I recently published my first attempt at an erotic story titled I, Blackmail. When I did, I felt nervous that it might meet with disapproval from the readers of Literotica because it was different than what I usually see published here. I know a lot of people come to this site to kind of escape reality and have a good time, but the stories that come into my mind don't entirely fit that style. To my surprise and delight I've receive rather good reviews on my story though not a whole lot of people have commented so I'm not really sure exactly what people are thinking when they read it.

What I wanted to ask other authors and readers here is whether anyone knows if there is a good reader base for stories that have erotic content but also treat the world the the story operates in quite seriously. Like if a character is hurt, does treating that pain in a serious manner (ie they need therapy or are mentally scarred by it) turn readers off for the most part or is that an accepted way of writing?

I of course want to write stories that people enjoy while sticking with my own style, but I could make some concessions in my writing to add more erotic content if it would get better reviews. But if other authors have noticed that a story based on solid character and world building which also treat things in a realistic way while having a lesser focus on erotic content can be just as enjoyable to readers, then I'd probably continue with my current writing style.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[lovecraft68]

On lit there is a readership for everything.

I'd say in general people come here for fantasy so usually stories that have stark or grim elements of reality tend to get a "I come here to get away from that' response....kind of like the backlash one gets if using condoms because in real life you would....but this is porn dammit.

But you will find some who like a down to earth story that has some struggle and isn't all sex and fun.

So write them your way and they'll find you. Just don't get discouraged if it takes a few stories to build up that base.

 

[psiberzerker]

There's more than enough readers here that the inverse of Rule#34 applies: "Someone out there is probably into it." In more niche sites, you have more niche readership, but I write some really weird stories. Not like Hentai weird, but sex stories involving asexual people having sex. (I'm an asexual sex worker.)

I guess what I'm saying is Write, then see how it's received. You got some positive reviews, now it's up to you to decide what you want. Write for you, yeah think about the readers and their desires too, but ultimately, you can't really write for them. You can try, but some people can't be pleased, while others will surprise you with their tolerance for mother/daughter toddler snuff stories. (True story! I tried for months, finally burned out before I admitting I couldn't satisfy her.)

We're not getting payed for this, and we like to write. As an artist, the last person you want to disappoint is yourself.

 

[SimonDoom]

The first thing one has to face about the Literotica readership is that it's huge. There are readers of almost every type you can imagine. There is no way accurately to pigeonhole what a Lit reader is looking for.

The largest group of Lit readers seems to be seeking out relatively short,"stroke"-type stories.

But there are a lot of readers on this site who are looking for long, serious, character-driven stories with sex in them. You don't have to look very hard to see that long, serious stories do very well here in terms of scores, and even views.

 

[NotWise]

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

That sounds a bit like some of my writing. There's an audience for realistic stories and characters and, as with most every other variation, there's an audience that doesn't get it.

Ignore the negative and write on. The audience will build around you, just as if you were playing saxophone on a street corner.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I try to write realistic stories, and keep the sex scenes as natural as possible. My readership is not huge, but it is loyal and I get very high ratings. It's a trade off I am willing to make.

 

[psiberzerker]

I try to write realistic stories, and keep the sex scenes as natural as possible.

And, just based on that, I'm going to check it out! (Well, that, and a female writer. When male writers say "realistic," and "natural." Iiiiii'm just going to say that I have been disappointed before. or, sometimes it just means "I have never touched a willing woman.")

 

[NotWise]

And, just based on that, I'm going to check it out! (Well, that, and a female writer. When male writers say "realistic," and "natural." Iiiiii'm just going to say that I have been disappointed before. or, sometimes it just means "I have never touched a willing woman.")

Hey! Incest stories are totally down-to-earth, right?

 

[KindofHere]

................

 

[TarnishedPenny]

As an artist, the last person you want to disappoint is yourself.

For the win!

 

[Oblimo]

On lit there is a readership for everything.

This is absolutely true.

Nevertheless, I am of the personal opinion that pornography does not benefit from realism. But I chose the terms “pornography” and “realism” with care. Verisimilitude should be a goal of all fiction, even Gobot/Wuxia Findom wingfic. However, all pornography is fantasy, and I am of the opinion that, if I’m going to partake in the absurd...stand the fuck back.

 

[ElectricBlue]

And, just based on that, I'm going to check it out! (Well, that, and a female writer. When male writers say "realistic," and "natural." Iiiiii'm just going to say that I have been disappointed before. or, sometimes it just means "I have never touched a willing woman.")

Be careful you don't inadvertently prejudice yourself against men who can write women well, just saying.

To answer the OP, yes, there is a place for challenging, realistic erotica, and as everyone here has noted, write it, and readers will come. Write it really well, they'll come twice and ask for more.

This one of mine illustrates what kind of a reader response you can get, when you write outside the norm:

https://www.literotica.com/s/rope-and-veil

 

[BiscuitHammer]

I think being known early for a variety of genres or types of stories and themes helps, because then people already know you bounce around a bit. My violent historical story, The Great Khan, bears no resemblance to my I/T fluff or my Humour stories, but it's also technically my best-scoring multiple chapter story.

Hopefully your readers are amenable to a change in tone and treatment of real-world issues. Sure, one or two screechbugs will feel betrayed, because you did something different, but you might also very well have a chance to acquire new readers and followers, especially if it falls into a different category of story than you normally publish in.

If I'm doing something different, I just mention it in the Author's Notes. That seems to help.

And hopefully this did in some small way.

 

[Oblimo]

When male writers say "realistic," and "natural." Iiiiii'm just going to say that I have been disappointed before.

Well penetrate my cervix!

 

[psiberzerker]

Be careful you don't inadvertently prejudice yourself against men who can write women well, just saying.

Well, you know, actually I can think for myself, and I know the word All. So, when I say All men, I mean All men. When I don't say All male writers, I don't mean All male writers, and I will be ever so extra special careful in the future not to give into my misandristic urges. Thank you.

Again. I've found amateur men. (Literature going back throughout history is full of men who write women well) not because men can't write wome well, but because there's so MANY (Not All) who assume they can write Women well. Without actually talking to women, and running it past them, to check for any glaring anatomical impossibilities. (Like easy orgasmic cervical penetration with gushing.)

Men have always written well. They have also always written badly. With the advent of intenet publishing, the bad ones have vastly outnumbered the good ones. I watched it happen. Ideally, I can read a story from an author named, IDFK FetishFan385, and I can't tell whether they're male or female. (Also, the anonymity of not having their names attached to it) However, sometimes? You really can.

 

[Jada59]

I try to stick with what I know and I try to keep it real. I like stories that resonate with me. Characters I can relate to. Not everything is pretty in my stories but not everything in real life is pretty.

OTOH, I do occasionally like reading things that are pure fantasy. Not sure why some appeal to me and most do not. One that does appeal is the book series called "Gor". I can't say for sure why those were a turn on for me. They just were.

 

[SamScribble]

My experience is pretty much as Lovecraft says above. There seems to be a reader for every type of story here at Lit. Some of the audiences are bigger than others but, in my experience, that's the same with non-erotic storytelling. Just write what you want to write.

 

[psiberzerker]

One that does appeal is the book series called "Gor"

I grew up with those! No really, my parents had them in the library, along with Thieve's World, and a bunch of others on a very high shelf. The thing is, they were smart. they didn't tell us "Don't read these books." They knew that was pretty much guaranteed to make us wonder why we're not supposed to read those books. Instead, they had things like "Our Bodies, Ourselves" on a lower shelf.

Hell, Anthanology (Piers Anthony) had "On the uses of Torture." Heinlein's "Friday" had a gang-rape scene, right at the beginning.

 

[BiscuitHammer]

I grew up with those! No really, my parents had them in the library, along with Thieve's World, and a bunch of others on a very high shelf. The thing is, they were smart. they didn't tell us "Don't read these books." They knew that was pretty much guaranteed to make us wonder why we're not supposed to read those books. Instead, they had things like "Our Bodies, Ourselves" on a lower shelf.

Hell, Anthanology (Piers Anthony) had "On the uses of Torture." Heinlein's "Friday" had a gang-rape scene, right at the beginning.

I enjoyed the Xanth series of novels by Piers Anthony when I was younger. Oddly enough, most of the people I know who love the Gor novels are women. How's that for backward-sounding?

 

[Oblimo]

One that does appeal is the book series called "Gor.”

HOUSEPLANTS OF GOR by “Elle”

The spider plant cringed as its owner brought forth the watering can. "I am a spider plant!" it cried indignantly. "How dare you water me before my time! Guards!" it called. "Guards!"

Borin, its owner, placed the watering can on the table and looked at it. "You will be watered," he said.

"You do not dare to water me!" laughed the plant.

"You will be watered," said Borin.

"Do not water me!" wept the plant.

"You will be watered," said Borin.

I watched this exchange. Truly, I believed the plant would be watered. It was plant, and on Gor it had no rights. Perhaps on Earth, in its permissive society, which distorts the true roles of all beings, which forces both plant and waterer to go unh appy and constrained, which forbids the fulfillment of owner and houseplant, such might not happen. Perhaps there, it would not be watered. But it was on Gor now, and would undoubtedly feel its true place, that of houseplant. It was plant. It would be watered at will. Such is the way with plants.

Borin picked up the watering can, and muchly watered the plant. The plant cried out. "No, Master! Do not water me!" The master continued to water the plant. "Please, Master," begged the plant, "do not water me!" The master continued to water the plant. It was plant. It could be watered at will.

The plant sobbed muchly as Borin laid down the watering can. It was not pleased. Too, it was wet. But this did not matter. It was plant.

"You have been well watered," said Borin.

"Yes," said the plant, "I have been well watered." Of course, it could be watered by its master at will.

"I have watered you well," said Borin.

"Yes, master," said the plant. "You have watered your plant well. I am plant, and as such I should be watered by my master."

The cactus plant next to the spider plant shuddered. It attempted to cover its small form with its small arms and small needles. "I am plant," it said wonderingly. "I am of Earth, but for the first time, I feel myself truly plantlike. On Earth, I w as able to control my watering. I often scorned those who would water me. But they were weak, and did not see my scorn for what it was, the weak attempt of a small plant to protect itself. Not one of the weak Earth waterers would dare to water a plant if it did not wish it. But on Gor," it shuddered, "on Gor it is different. Here, those who wish to water will water their plants as they wish. But strangely, I feel myself most plantlike when I am at the mercy of a strong Gorean master, who may water m e as he pleases."

"I will now water you," said Borin, the cactus's Gorean master.

The cactus did not resist being watered. Perhaps it was realizing that such watering was its master's to control. Too, perhaps it knew that this master was far superior to those of Earth, who would not water it if it did not wish to be watered.

The cactus's watering had been finished. The spider plant looked at it.

"I have been well watered," it said.

"I, too, have been well watered," said the cactus.

"My master has watered me well," said the spider plant.

"My master, too, has watered me well," said the cactus.

"I am to be placed in a hanging basket on the porch," said the spider plant.

"I, too, am to be placed in a hnaging basket on the porch," said the cactus.

"I wish you well," said the spider plant.

"I, too, wish you well," said the cactus.

"Tal," said the spider plant.

"Tal, too," said the cactus.

I did not think that the spider plant would object to being watered by its master again. For it realized that it was plant, and that here, unlike on Earth, it was likely to be owned and watered by many masters.

 

[psiberzerker]

Oddly enough, most of the people I know who love the Gor novels are women. How's that for backward-sounding?

I grew up with the Gor books. most of the Gor fans I know are women too. So, not at all? If you can get your hands on it, you'll probably love Thieve's World, as well. My favorite is Lythande.

 

[TxRad]

Creating erotic stories but staying down to earth

So I guess scifi is totally out of the question.

 

[Kojak01]

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

A lot depends on the category you're publishing in. I.e. in romance, solid character and world building is almost a must, actual sex can be kept light or even just hinted at but it's not as if the readers there downvote you for a detailed description.
It's similar in N&N but they generally seem to prefer more sexual content. You can't expect an incoherent story with flat characters and no sex do well if it goes on for 20 pages.

I recommend to be careful before introducing politics.

 

[Bramblethorn]

What I wanted to ask other authors and readers here is whether anyone knows if there is a good reader base for stories that have erotic content but also treat the world the the story operates in quite seriously. Like if a character is hurt, does treating that pain in a serious manner (ie they need therapy or are mentally scarred by it) turn readers off for the most part or is that an accepted way of writing?

There's definitely a readership for that kind of story. I don't know if it's larger than the readership for more streamlined stroke, but it's large enough.

HOUSEPLANTS OF GOR by “Elle”

Ah, a true classic. Been a while since I saw that one.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well, you know, actually I can think for myself, and I know the word All. So, when I say All men, I mean All men. When I don't say All male writers, I don't mean All male writers, and I will be ever so extra special careful in the future not to give into my misandristic urges. Thank you.

Again. I've found amateur men. (Literature going back throughout history is full of men who write women well) not because men can't write wome well, but because there's so MANY (Not All) who assume they can write Women well. Without actually talking to women, and running it past them, to check for any glaring anatomical impossibilities. (Like easy orgasmic cervical penetration with gushing.)

Men have always written well. They have also always written badly. With the advent of intenet publishing, the bad ones have vastly outnumbered the good ones. I watched it happen. Ideally, I can read a story from an author named, IDFK FetishFan385, and I can't tell whether they're male or female. (Also, the anonymity of not having their names attached to it) However, sometimes? You really can.

I like this post. Good reply to what amounted to a comment screaming cold male insecurity.

The one thing I'll say is I don't think men have to write women or as a woman well on a site like this, or even the pay market to a certain point

Why?

Let's get back to male insecurity in readers, insecurity and homophobia. Men want to believe every story written from a woman's POV is written by a woman because otherwise that meant a guy got them excited and that's just....gay!

I've written a bunch of things from the female POV and I do what I can, but I'd be surprised if anyone really bought it was a woman writing it.

Doesn't stop me though. If I feel the story should be female POV that's how I write it.

But other men will have to excuse me for not being offended by the all men comment.

Especially because most who are most likely say 'all women' more often than they'd admit.