Pressure to perform vs non-sex chapters in stories

[oneagainst]

Quick question to both authors and readers... what do people think about posting chapters that are needed to progress the story, but don't contain much (if any) actual getting down to action?

Case in point, I'm 3 chapters into http://literotica.com/s/the-monogamists-ch-01 and feel I need to do some story setup to explain the characters' (potentially quite messy) actions in the rest of the story - readers need to be able to relate to the protagonists - but I feel there's a "pressure to perform" every chapter from some of the readership. Do I stay the course or rejig the storyline?

 

[NotWise]

If the non-sex chapter you're contemplating is little more than an info-dump, then I'd find a different way to write it. If it's a sex-free interlude in a continuous storyline, then maybe I'd keep it. By the time you reach your third chapter you probably have a group of committed readers, and they aren't likely to bail out on you because of it. Just the same, I'd want chapter 4 to follow quickly.

 

[KeithD]

That can be done here at Literotica (depending on the content itself, as already noted). It's contrary to the directions given authors by early publishers of erotica, which was to have sex in every chapter. But authors get away with that here, so no reason not to do it that way if it fits your story arc.

 

[yukonnights]

I read — actually more of a slow scan — your first two chapters to get an idea of what you're doing. You've already provided a wheelbarrow load of steamy sex in these two.

Without knowing the details of what it is you need to set up the upcoming 'potentially messy actions'; I think building reader understanding & connection with the characters is important. It seems to me that this would be a good place. Even if it would pause the sexual content — which might be a good thing, to do what you need to do in order to build reader's non-sexual/emotional attachment to the couple is likely to payoff overall.

I'm just one reader, but too much sex in a story mostly puts me to sleep (lack of believability, etc.). An unexpected conflict or other device which brings in a surprise is almost always fun.

Bottom line; all you can do is write your story and hope for the best.

 

[Publius68]

I am struggling with this question myself right now. I have a short, punchy, interesting (I hope) interlude with no squelchy that feels like it needs to be its own stand-alone chapter. I got away with it in my first series (https://literotica.com/s/ideal-suburbia-ch-07b https://literotica.com/s/ideal-suburbia-ch-12b-1), but those entries were at least a lot of teasing. I definitely saw a drop off in views, but views rebounded immediately with the next chapter.
This entry I’m currently struggling with is an honest but funny discussion between my hero and his father. Not sure about whether I can make it the stand-alone entry it ought to be from a narrative standpoint.

 

[Lifestyle66]

Quick question to both authors and readers... what do people think about posting chapters that are needed to progress the story, but don't contain much (if any) actual getting down to action?

Case in point, I'm 3 chapters into http://literotica.com/s/the-monogamists-ch-01 and feel I need to do some story setup to explain the characters' (potentially quite messy) actions in the rest of the story - readers need to be able to relate to the protagonists - but I feel there's a "pressure to perform" every chapter from some of the readership. Do I stay the course or rejig the storyline?

Another author on here pointed out the optimum length for stories is about 17,000 words. I quickly scanned your three chapters and they're at just over 2, 6, and 7,000 words each. So, you might combine your next two chapters, giving a long background build, then the sex.

Edit: I'm doing this combo for my next two chapters in my series, because I'm breaking from the first-person narrator-who-has-sex to introduce a long third-person scene building an insecure character needed for the follow-on.

 

[SimonDoom]

I guess my question in response to this question is this: Why not just keep writing and extending the chapter until you have a sex scene? That's what I would do. Why have a separately published chapter with no sex in an erotic story series? Just write a longer chapter.

 

[Lifestyle66]

I guess my question in response to this question is this: Why not just keep writing and extending the chapter until you have a sex scene? That's what I would do. Why have a separately published chapter with no sex in an erotic story series? Just write a longer chapter.

When I started my series, I thought to write chapters in approximately similar sizes (+ or - 2K words) with logical break points, based on that chapter's title/theme. The chapter about their first swinger experience was "Newbies", then came "Issues" with several experiences causing problems, then "Threesomes", etc.

So, the chaptering with themes helps me stay focused, and not just rambling until I think to stop.

 

[Djmac1031]

Quick question to both authors and readers... what do people think about posting chapters that are needed to progress the story, but don't contain much (if any) actual getting down to action?

Case in point, I'm 3 chapters into http://literotica.com/s/the-monogamists-ch-01 and feel I need to do some story setup to explain the characters' (potentially quite messy) actions in the rest of the story - readers need to be able to relate to the protagonists - but I feel there's a "pressure to perform" every chapter from some of the readership. Do I stay the course or rejig the storyline?

I've run into this in my continuing series The Jenna Arrangement. First time I needed to do it, I gave readers warning in the Forward so they'd know there wasn't going to be much sex up front before delving in.

At this point now that I've built a solid readership with it, I haven't bothered, because I know my readers are there for the story I give them, not JUST the sex.

And usually they can tell I'm building to something hot for the next chapter

 

[oneagainst]

When I started my series, I thought to write chapters in approximately similar sizes (+ or - 2K words) with logical break points, based on that chapter's title/theme. The chapter about their first swinger experience was "Newbies", then came "Issues" with several experiences causing problems, then "Threesomes", etc.

So, the chaptering with themes helps me stay focused, and not just rambling until I think to stop.

Yeah, I agree. I think each chapter needs to deal with one subject - but I like the idea of pre-warning readers so they know not to expect any action. Though, I guess: does teasing count as action...?

 

[SimonDoom]

When I started my series, I thought to write chapters in approximately similar sizes (+ or - 2K words) with logical break points, based on that chapter's title/theme. The chapter about their first swinger experience was "Newbies", then came "Issues" with several experiences causing problems, then "Threesomes", etc.

So, the chaptering with themes helps me stay focused, and not just rambling until I think to stop.

I agree it makes sense to maintain a sense of order if it helps the story, but chaptering and publishing don't have to be the same thing.

Let's say I'm writing a story along the lines of what the OP has suggested, with chapters of about the same length, with an incest theme. The erotic content of the chapters could be described this way:

1. Incest 2. Incest 3. Non erotic 4. Incest.

I would publish chapters 3 and 4 at the same time as one story. They could still be labeled, within that published story, as two chapters, thereby preserving the rhythm and structure of the overall series. But readers will not be disappointed. I would label the combined-chapter story as an incest story and categorize it that way. The problem with publishing 4 chapters separately is that there will, without question, be a very significant dropoff in readers for chapter 3 and probably for subsequent chapters as disappointed incest readers drop out of the story. Why do that? There's no artistic purpose served.

 

[ruddygore]

It depends how the story is written. Is it actually a story that happens to have sex in it? Or is it sex scenes with just enough plot to get from one point to another?

My own preference is to have a good story with interesting characters and a decent plot, then let the sex happen as the plot calls for it.

 

[beth_]

My assumption is that everyone is probably looking for different things, but personally I wouldn't be deterred by a chapter without sex, if it deepened our relationship with the characters and/or moved the story along. In fact if every chapter has an obligatory sex scene it starts to feel strained, and unbelievable. (Or maybe it's just that sex in every scene shatters my cherished illusion that I'm reading stories, not porn!)

 

[yowser]

My assumption is that everyone is probably looking for different things, but personally I wouldn't be deterred by a chapter without sex, if it deepened our relationship with the characters and/or moved the story along. In fact if every chapter has an obligatory sex scene it starts to feel strained, and unbelievable. (Or maybe it's just that sex in every scene shatters my cherished illusion that I'm reading stories, not porn!)

Well put.

And of course this is a 'literary' site, so you are safe in not being a 'porn-addict.'

The only thing I would add is that while a sex scene every chapter is not necessarily required, there should at least be some character or plot development that produces or increases sexual tension. Literary foreplay.