BDSM category

[Jay142]

I have a story I'm about to post but can't decide which category to post it to. It has some mild bondage and some spanking but I'm worried it won't be intense enough for the BDSM category. If it doesn't fit into that category I'm not sure where to post it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Emirus]

Go for it.

If you think BDSM is the nearest then submit it and see what happens. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

[DrHappy]

I'm in a similar situation with a story of mine ("The Game") that I haven't submitted. It's a blend of Erotic Coupling and BDSM. The BDSM isn't heavy, so I suspect that some readers expecting hard BDSM would be disappointed. The obvious question is whether the BDSM is the main point of the story. With mine, it's a significant part of the story, but I still think that that it sits half way between BDSM and Erotic Coupling. There is definitely spanking, clothes pins, pain, etc... involved, though, but there's a bigger picture that is very important.

Maybe an "Author's note" at the beginning of the story would diffuse some potential criticism. If it's in the BDSM category, then maybe indicate that it's light BDSM. If it's not in BDSM, maybe give a hint of what's to come in the note. There are still tags which many people use find stories, so maybe we can put them in Erotic Couplings and give them BDSM tags.

Having said that, I used an author's note in my most recent story "Dreams, Drawings, and Panties" and one commenter was unhappy because he thought that it was more erotic horror even though it was in the Erotic Couplings category. Maybe he didn't see the note, or maybe my note needed to be more explicit. Click on the link above to see my note. Another commenter loved it.

 

[8letters]

I have a story I'm about to post but can't decide which category to post it to. It has some mild bondage and some spanking but I'm worried it won't be intense enough for the BDSM category. If it doesn't fit into that category I'm not sure where to post it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

My story "My Crocheting Little Sister" has mild bondage and some spanking. I posted it in I/T and it's been very well received. I was surprised on how many comments it got before anyone mentioned the BDSM elements.

 

[Jay142]

I don't think many readers have problems with mild BDSM actions, so, if BDSM isn't the main theme, I would put the story in another category. You don't give enough information for us to give you advice on which category that would be. What kind of story is it; romantic, friends with benefits, ...?

The story is mostly about a young woman discovering her sexuality in several ways and leans towards mild BDSM at the very end with some bondage, spanking, submitting to her husband as he has her fuck someone else.

I don't want to post in Loving Wives as no one is satisfied with any story in that category. I was thinking possibly Group Sex but it doesn't quite fit there either.

 

[LAHomedog]

The story is mostly about a young woman discovering her sexuality in several ways and leans towards mild BDSM at the very end with some bondage, spanking, submitting to her husband as he has her fuck someone else.

I don't want to post in Loving Wives as no one is satisfied with any story in that category. I was thinking possibly Group Sex but it doesn't quite fit there either.

Why not Erotic Couplings? It sounds as if they are married and exploring her (which with a married couple also means their) sexuality.

Unlike some other responses, I had a negative experience posting mild bondage in BDSM. Like your story, a loving couple where she is exploring her sexuality with light BDSM and it got hammered in that category. The lowest vote score and rating of any story I have had published.

I wish I had entered it in a different category.

 

[SimonDoom]

BDSM does not require anything hard core. I published a story to that category with mild dominant-submission activity and NO sadomasochism at all, and it did very well.

The key to success in that category is not the degree of the activity but the dominant-submissive relationship. Play up that aspect of the story and you'll do just fine.

 

[BarracudaSwordfish]

Always been reluctant to publish in BDSM, despite a fair few stories of mine having a strong BDSM content. From other comments I have seen, I always assumed that unless it was full-on and technically correct, it would be marked down.

I suppose my most blatant foray into that genre was my story 'I... Own... You.. ", which told of a less than attentive baby-sitter receiving punishment for her misdemeanours. I put it in Non-Con and it is my most viewed story at over 150k views, more than 3x my next highest.

I'm now intrigued as to how it may have been received in BDSM, but having got it out of my system, I'm not sure I want to do too many more in that style.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I hate to bring up this dead horse, but there is a site that has both spanking and BSDM categories. A worthy distinction I think, although the boundary is a bit unclear. But we don't have that option! It's a judgment call, but Erotic Couplings might be a good place for it too.

If I have a story with a significant amount of spanking, I usually put it in BDSM. I've never had complaints that the action wasn't extreme enough.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

I have a story I'm about to post but can't decide which category to post it to. It has some mild bondage and some spanking but I'm worried it won't be intense enough for the BDSM category. If it doesn't fit into that category I'm not sure where to post it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I'm in a similar situation with a story of mine ("The Game") that I haven't submitted. It's a blend of Erotic Coupling and BDSM. The BDSM isn't heavy, so I suspect that some readers expecting hard BDSM would be disappointed. The obvious question is whether the BDSM is the main point of the story. With mine, it's a significant part of the story, but I still think that that it sits half way between BDSM and Erotic Coupling. There is definitely spanking, clothes pins, pain, etc... involved, though, but there's a bigger picture that is very important.

Maybe an "Author's note" at the beginning of the story would diffuse some potential criticism. If it's in the BDSM category, then maybe indicate that it's light BDSM. If it's not in BDSM, maybe give a hint of what's to come in the note. There are still tags which many people use find stories, so maybe we can put them in Erotic Couplings and give them BDSM tags.

Having said that, I used an author's note in my most recent story "Dreams, Drawings, and Panties" and one commenter was unhappy because he thought that it was more erotic horror even though it was in the Erotic Couplings category. Maybe he didn't see the note, or maybe my note needed to be more explicit. Click on the link above to see my note. Another commenter loved it.

In my experience, light Bdsm is pretty well received. There's a fairly significant readership of the category who prefer emphasis on submission, rather than masochism. And who will actually object to themes they think are too harsh.

And the readership *definitely* appreciates a well rounded story, with a true relationship developed between characters.

 

[SimonDoom]

Always been reluctant to publish in BDSM, despite a fair few stories of mine having a strong BDSM content. From other comments I have seen, I always assumed that unless it was full-on and technically correct, it would be marked down.

I suppose my most blatant foray into that genre was my story 'I... Own... You.. ", which told of a less than attentive baby-sitter receiving punishment for her misdemeanours. I put it in Non-Con and it is my most viewed story at over 150k views, more than 3x my next highest.

I'm now intrigued as to how it may have been received in BDSM, but having got it out of my system, I'm not sure I want to do too many more in that style.

It wouldn't have had as many views in BDSM, which gets on average far fewer readers than non-con.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about BDSM. Publishing a story in that category does NOT require strict compliance with real-world BDSM "rules" and it doesn't require any particular degree of extreme sadomasochistic activity.

I wrote a story with only modest experience with BDSM and no experience with any official organizations or rules. My story did very well in that category. The reason, I think, is that the story was all about the developing dom/sub relationship rather than whips or chains or rope.

The one critical component to do well in that category, from what I can tell, is respect for the concept of consensual dominant-submissive relationships. If it shades over into non-consent, then it may not be received well. Sounds like your story probably crossed the line, and that's why you made the right call and why it did well in non-con. The BDSM aficionados see it as completely different from non-con.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Always been reluctant to publish in BDSM, despite a fair few stories of mine having a strong BDSM content. From other comments I have seen, I always assumed that unless it was full-on and technically correct, it would be marked down.

Rules are for the subs we authors write about. Technicalities are for navel-gazers.

Two of my 10 top-ranked stories are in BDSM; neither involves serious whippings or such. Both are more ‘bondage, tease and denial’ tales.

Write what you want, put it where you think it should go.

 

[sirhugs]

a clear description line will help sort out readers who are fussy.

My sense is that BDSM (where I have not submitted in a while) is not overrun with trolls who will rash stories not appealing to their niche. I think most readers there appreciate that it is a wide collection of kinks.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

BDSM readers seem to use tags to find what they want (and don't). I find with BDSM stories I want to use more than 10 tags, whereas with other stories I often struggle to think of many relevant ones (man, woman, they fuck somewhere?), but for BDSM you've got combinations of B and D and S and M and the person, any implements and fetishes, and what they get up to.

Mild BSDM should be fine - it's dodgy consent that files the BDSM readers - but you may want to put a strapline up front saying "This is a sweet spanking story" or whatever. My gut says clothespegs starts moving it out of other categories it might fit in.

I suspect more gentle BDSM may get more readers, too.

My only story ever to briefly hit the Hall of Fame is simply two people talking about BDSM for two pages. More detailed stories are appreciated but by increasingly few people (understandably).

 

[Athalia]

I hate to bring up this dead horse, but there is a site that has both spanking and BSDM categories. A worthy distinction I think, although the boundary is a bit unclear.

I'll say. Is it spanking only if you use an open hand? How about if you use a paddle? Or a belt? Of course, once you get into riding crops and whips, I suppose you're looking at that boundary in the rear view mirror.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'll say. Is it spanking only if you use an open hand? How about if you use a paddle? Or a belt? Of course, once you get into riding crops and whips, I suppose you're looking at that boundary in the rear view mirror.

Okay, so it's very unclear. When I use the categories on the other site, I admit it gets pretty arbitrary. Like if someone is restrained, it would probably be in BDSM. It may have something to do with how hard the person is struck, which is also very much a judgment call.

I still like having the two categories, even if I can't define exactly what they mean. And rear-view mirrors have their uses too. I once had to drive a car that was missing the main mirror attached to the windshield, and man was that difficult to do.

 

[davion2308]

RElationships

I'll agree with other posters.

It's not the intensity or action in the BDSM group, it's the relationship and power-balance between the Dom and Sub that does well.

If you portray a dom and a sub in a restaurant, and the dom is controlling a device that stimulates the sub, there's literally not actually bondage, or spanking, or slapping, or physical contact or tying up or all the fun stuff ... but because the dom is in control of the situation, it'll do well.

It's the relationship between the two that matters, not what they do.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'll agree with other posters.

It's not the intensity or action in the BDSM group, it's the relationship and power-balance between the Dom and Sub that does well.

If you portray a dom and a sub in a restaurant, and the dom is controlling a device that stimulates the sub, there's literally not actually bondage, or spanking, or slapping, or physical contact or tying up or all the fun stuff ... but because the dom is in control of the situation, it'll do well.

It's the relationship between the two that matters, not what they do.

Yes, that is true. Although at some point some kind of physical action usually has to take place.

You could also have a BDSM story that consists mostly of goofy hi-jinks, or is just a role play without any serious implications.

 

[slutindianwife]

Such a big fuss about a dumb BDSM story!

 

[Payne_Hall]

I don’t know why, but I heard Steve Irwin in my head after reading this, saying, “Crikey! If you look over here, you’ll see an online sociological phenomenon.” And I’ve been laughing at a Cthulhu stuffed animal ever since.

Also, riding crops are a weird place to draw the line. They’re not nearly as bad as belts, but I guess you have to actively seek a riding crop out while most people just have a belt laying around, so that’s weird.

But the BDSM tag definitely has more to do with the mindset and connection, not really how heavy it is. I get more worried on the opposite side of things, of it being too heavy. I think it’s more about what you want the focus of that specific story to be