New Author Question, What Category Should I Request?

[Aerolineas]

Hi Everyone,

I just completed my first story and am sitting on it (like I did with papers in college) before "turning it in." I realize that I don't have the final say, but want the piece to be read by the greatest number of people who will appreciate it. It is a longitudinal multi-chapter story, the submissive female MC has ongoing sexual relations with the same, multiple, male, and a few female partners, sometimes one on one sometimes in a group setting. A single male, her husband, ostensibly controls her but psychologically it is her needs that drive the whole group dynamic.

I think these two paragraphs evoke the mood of the piece.

Paragraphs 6 & 7

While I am pretty much freely used by all of the guys in the ‘club,’ I married Harv because he completely understood that I needed boundaries. He isn’t afraid to do what is good for me, regardless of what I tell him that I want. He pays attention to me, acts in my best interest, and is invariably right. Most of all he understands my need to have someone else control my orgasms. I live by the notations on the kitchen calendar. I go from two weeks of constant stimulation and constant orgasms to two weeks of receiving the same stimulation -- just on a different schedule -- without reaching a single orgasm.

It is heaven, and it’s hell, all wrapped together tightly, and I love it. I'm being true to my basic biology, a ‘human animal’ forsaking neither half of myself. I’m locked -- with a tiny suitcase lock -- in my leather chastity belt while I’m at work, kept completely naked in our apartment, and used on demand by the ‘guys.’ I wear a conservative one-piece swimsuit to the complex’s swimming pool, although they may finger me there if nobody else is present; and a sundress, without panties if I have a chaperone, or over that locking chastity belt if I am not with one of the ‘guys.’

 

[ElectricBlue]

From those short excerpts and your overall description I'd have thought BDSM - if the primary theme is about control. Either that, or Group. I've found both categories to be fairly unresponsive in terms of the usual feedback indicators, so it might not make much difference.

 

[Voboy]

From those short excerpts and your overall description I'd have thought BDSM - if the primary theme is about control. Either that, or Group. I've found both categories to be fairly unresponsive in terms of the usual feedback indicators, so it might not make much difference.

Agreed in every way.

As a reader, I'd expect to see a piece like that in BDSM.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sounds like a mixture of BDSM and Group Sex. BDSM seems like a closer match but Group Sex has a larger readership, I believe. Or, if it's multi-chapter, it may switch back and forth between the two. This may be an unusual series where switching categories from one chapter to the next is a good idea. I don't think BDSM and Group Sex are incompatible categories.

 

[AlinaX]

Or fetish, given the chastity belt... but leather? What is this, amateur hour?

 

[yukonnights]

I'd go with Group Sex, based on the small sample. ( " The BDSM term is a portmanteau of initialisms intended to encompass all of the following activities: • Bondage and discipline • Dominance and submission • Sadism and masochism." Wikipedia).

While there may be some domination by the husband Harv, I see no indication of actual BDSM scene play. The BDSM readers can be quite picky, and I'm not sure if there's enough BDSM "kink" in the story to satisfy them. The OP, Aerolineas, should consider this.

 

[Aerolineas]

Leather? What is this, amateur hour?

-- not explained in the two paragraphs given -- (1) A leather chastity belt can be worn under double-knit uniform trousers in place of panties without causing undue suspicion, and it is invisible to a ferrous metal detector. (2) Ritual is important to them. When she goes out she (Carol) has a key for the tiny lock, it is implied but not stated that the belt is symbolic more than it is functional.

No, I will not explain how I know all of this.


Besides, no belt is foolproof: There is a cute story here about firemen removing a stuck chastity belt and the former wearer's gratitude.

I'd go with Group Sex, based on the small sample...

I would say 'kink' wise it's:

5% Bondage (a little rope play)
10% Discipline (control by ritual etc)
0% Dominance
80% Submission (the main kink)
0% Sadism
5 % Masochism (she enjoys it)

While there may be some domination by the husband Harv ...

Not shown in the sample but there is a lot of control, but not so much domination, which I at least see as different.

I see no indication of actual BDSM scene play...

I would say there is none (if you don't count orgasm denial which since it's on a 'schedule' seems to me to be control, rather than discipline.)

I'm not sure if there's enough BDSM "kink" in the story to satisfy them. The OP, Aerolineas, should consider this.

Three is group sex, yes? Its 95% three or more.

Thank You

 

[Voboy]

Yeah.

If it's 80% submission, I'd put it in BDSM.

The poster above who said the readership there is very picky was right, but when I read group stories I don't really expect fetish stuff of any sort. But I'm not every reader.

You can always submit as Group for the friendlier reader dynamic (particularly since it's your first story), then if Laurel disagrees with you she'll stick it in BDSM anyway.

 

[SimonDoom]

Based on the way you broke it down, I'd definitely say BDSM.

The "essence" of BDSM is not its accoutrements -- whips, leather, bondage, rope, cuffs, strict D/s rules, etc. It's the broader concept of dominance and submission. I wrote a BDSM story that did very well in that category and it had none of the usual details. It was just about two people exploring the concept of dominance and submission. The way you've described the story, that's where it belongs.

 

[yukonnights]

Based on the way you broke it down, I'd definitely say BDSM.

The "essence" of BDSM is not its accoutrements -- whips, leather, bondage, rope, cuffs, strict D/s rules, etc. It's the broader concept of dominance and submission. I wrote a BDSM story that did very well in that category and it had none of the usual details. It was just about two people exploring the concept of dominance and submission. The way you've described the story, that's where it belongs.

I've not written to the BDSM category, so I'm not disputing your advice. However, I have spent a good bit of time on the BDSM Forum — and did read this How To by Tx Tall Tales:

Number four 'trump' category: BDSM

If your story has more than a hint of BDSM, it belongs in this category. We're talking bondage, domination, submission, punishment, in a mutually agreed to scenario. If you don't put it there, and it's not moved there, you'll definitely hear from the readers, and it won't be pretty. This doesn't necessarily include things like spanking, or light bondage sessions that are not the central theme of the story. The BDSM crowd are very big on the consensual aspect of this category. If your story action morphs into NonConsent, put it there.

Note; Bold font is mine.
*****

So, what is the central theme of the story? it's still not crystal clear to me, but I don't see BDSM as it. One statement made in the above How To is; "This doesn't necessarily include things like spanking, or light bondage sessions that are not the central theme of the story."

In general, I think there is an element of submission and dominance in many couple's lives, without any connection to the BDSM scene.

Aerolineas said;
I would say 'kink' wise it's:

5% Bondage (a little rope play)
10% Discipline (control by ritual etc)
0% Dominance
80% Submission (the main kink)
0% Sadism
5 % Masochism (she enjoys it)

I read that as; Amateur rope play, light discipline w/o domination, she's a submissive who gets pleasure in being submissive and coerced to do naughty things … in a group. I don't see BDSM as the main theme. The Group Sex category tag is; Orgies, swingers, and others.

Perhaps a good solution to the question is for Aerlineas to include a note to Laural when she submits the story asking for her to make sure the story should or shouldn't be published in the BDSM category? I just hate for it to go into the wrong category and get a poor reception.

One other thing Aerlineas can do is ask this question on the BDSM Forum.

 

[Aerolineas]

I read that as; Amateur rope play, light discipline w/o domination, she's a submissive who gets pleasure in being submissive and coerced to do what her upbringing says are naughty things … in a group. I don't see BDSM as the main theme. The Group Sex category tag is; Orgies, swingers, and others.

Even without the couple of words I added, this is a wonderful description. (She is conflicted, she doesn't see it as bad, or she wouldn't be doing it. But she was told it was bad by people she reveres. But those people also told her to honor her husband's wishes, and if this is what he wants -- even if it's because he sees that she needs it -- well she has to, right? Submission to one's husband is what a 'good wife' does.)

One other thing Aerolineas can do is ask this question on the BDSM Forum.

I did, I got one Pro-forma "Yes, well, it has submission in it" response. (But I do appreciate that one person who actually responded.)

Thank you