Advice on BDSM Stories

[SweetErika]

I'm playing around with some BDSM story ideas, and have some questions for those who read or write in this category. (I know this thread could go somewhere like Feedback or Ideas, but I'm really interested picking the brains of the very smart people who frequent this forum. )

Regarding the poll question (In general, do you prefer to read stories written from the Dom's/PYL's perspective or the sub's/pyl's viewpoint?): Does your preference match the role you identify with (e.g., you're a sub and like to read the sub's perspective), or not? Do you think you'd enjoy a story that gave both perspectives?


What do you like to see in BDSM stories specifically? Are there certain elements or activities that really get you going or help you identify with the characters? Any ideas you'd really love to see come to life? Have you noticed that realism trumps out-there fantasy, or vice versa? IOW, what makes a BDSM story really good for you?


Alternately, what makes you cringe or hit the 'Back' button when reading these stories? What ideas strike you as especially tired/overused?


Is there anything else you'd advise authors of this category?

 

[ecstaticsub]

In general I like reading from either perspective. However, lately I have been enjoying more reading from the dominants POV. It seems to me that there are more staories written from the submissive/slave's POV though. I know already how I, as a submissive see a certain situation but I want to learn more about how a Dominant feels and why they do what they do and the feelings they feel in certain situations.

I enjoy both true to life type of stories and fairytale types. I don't like the types mixed. Meaning if it is going to be a realistic story make it realistic all the way through. Don't have the Dom turn into some supernatural alien at the end..lol (I really did read a story like that one, yuck)

I also need a bit of tenderness, love or compassion thrown in especially in the most violent, almost abuse type of stories. Just enough so I know the Dominant is not a total monster.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

ERIKA

My style of writing makes victims of both doms and subs. The fantasies become nightmares.

 

[buxxxom]

I'm playing around with some BDSM story ideas, and have some questions for those who read or write in this category. (I know this thread could go somewhere like Feedback or Ideas, but I'm really interested picking the brains of the very smart people who frequent this forum. )

Regarding the poll question (In general, do you prefer to read stories written from the Dom's/PYL's perspective or the sub's/pyl's viewpoint?): Does your preference match the role you identify with (e.g., you're a sub and like to read the sub's perspective), or not? Do you think you'd enjoy a story that gave both perspectives?


What do you like to see in BDSM stories specifically? Are there certain elements or activities that really get you going or help you identify with the characters? Any ideas you'd really love to see come to life? Have you noticed that realism trumps out-there fantasy, or vice versa? IOW, what makes a BDSM story really good for you?


Alternately, what makes you cringe or hit the 'Back' button when reading these stories? What ideas strike you as especially tired/overused?


Is there anything else you'd advise authors of this category?

Let me first say that by replying to this post, I in no way consider myself one of the very smart people who frequent this forum. I'm mostly a lurker, and an occasional poster.

For me, the perspective doesn't matter when reading a story. I enjoy both reading about the sub's responses and the Dom's reasons. Either one, as long as the story is well written, is a sure fire way to cause arousal.

Does my preference for reading match the role I identify with? No, not at all. I like to step into someone else's shoes for a little while. I think viewing both sides of a scene is a great idea, but has the opportunity to become tedious and tiresome if done incorrectly. If this is what you're considering, both POVs in one story, I think perhaps changing fonts, or some other convention to separate the players in the reader's mind is a good idea. Alternately, the same story, submitted twice (from both POVs) might be interesting, as long as you include a link to the other one.

What turns me off, sends me back-clicking faster than any reason, is bad grammar and spelling. Some can wade through all the errors to find the plot; I just cannot. I don't think this will be a problem for you, however. Along those same lines, what I consider "Batman" descriptors--wham, bang, pow, etc. have me heading back to the story index searching for another read.

Hope this helps.

 

[Daddyslilpet]

In the past when I wrote stories, I wrote them from mostly the submissive's/pyl's point of view simply because that was the knowledge base I have to draw on successfully. (Don't have any posted now.)

Something I would caution against (in addition to the above advice about grammar and spelling) is keeping the story in the same "person". For example if you start in first person stay in first person through out the story, don't mix it up with throwing in third person somewhere in the middle.

It always helped me to visualize the story in my head while I was writing. I would see it playing out as I was writing it. Seemed to give my stories a bit more realism than just staring at the screen typing out words. I've had some flops doing just that.

Best of luck to you. I'm sure your story will be just wonderful. Relax and have fun with it!

 

[FurryFury]

I prefer the submissive perspective but that's how I always read a story anyway. It's my own version of rose colored glasses. I put myself in the submissive position in the story and "feel" it that way. As long as it's well written and plausible it's all good for me.

 

[SweetErika]

In general I like reading from either perspective. However, lately I have been enjoying more reading from the dominants POV. It seems to me that there are more staories written from the submissive/slave's POV though. I know already how I, as a submissive see a certain situation but I want to learn more about how a Dominant feels and why they do what they do and the feelings they feel in certain situations.

That's good to know.

I think what I fear in writing from a Dom's perspective is that I haven't yet learned or experienced enough to express ideas that are interesting and will hold up in the reader's eye. Maybe a Dom who is nearer the beginning of his/her journey and fallible, rather than the typical, experienced, perfect character we so often see IS interesting though, if nothing else, by virtue of coming across as real and identifiable?

Let me first say that by replying to this post, I in no way consider myself one of the very smart people who frequent this forum. I'm mostly a lurker, and an occasional poster.

LOL Hopefully people won't avoid posting in this thread out of modesty.

Regular poster or not, I consider you to be a very smart person who contributes to this forum.

I think viewing both sides of a scene is a great idea, but has the opportunity to become tedious and tiresome if done incorrectly. If this is what you're considering, both POVs in one story, I think perhaps changing fonts, or some other convention to separate the players in the reader's mind is a good idea. Alternately, the same story, submitted twice (from both POVs) might be interesting, as long as you include a link to the other one.

Yes, tedium and confusion would be my fear, too. I'd definitely separate the perspectives in a clear way; even so, it's very difficult to do it well. I really like your idea about writing the same story from different perspectives - that's something I hadn't thought of, and will definitely give some serious thought to.

I absolutely share your dislike of errors and crappy descriptions. I don't claim perfection in either area, but I border on obsessive when it comes to editing my own work and using beta readers.

It always helped me to visualize the story in my head while I was writing. I would see it playing out as I was writing it. Seemed to give my stories a bit more realism than just staring at the screen typing out words. I've had some flops doing just that.

Yes! To be honest, I can't write without that "movie" playing, and the movie only starts after I've had a very vivid, emotional experience. I don't know whether I've been missing the experience or I'm just blind to it, but there's been a definite disconnect that's prevented me from writing beyond my first story for the past year.

I prefer the submissive perspective but that's how I always read a story anyway. It's my own version of rose colored glasses. I put myself in the submissive position in the story and "feel" it that way. As long as it's well written and plausible it's all good for me.

I identify with this very much. It's very odd for me to basically only want to be a PYL in RL while I've always read and felt the pyl's experiences in my fantasy world. When it comes to topping and writing, I can see how some very good things could come out of that dichotomy, so maybe the confusion has been worth it.

 

[subwannabe]

This poll question was a lot harder to answer than when I first read it. Since I am mainly submissive I thought I would answer that way but I also like to be dominant on occasion. Then I began to think back on stories I read and enjoyed and some were from either perspective. There are obviously things that turn me flat off in a story but those are really just personal preferences and since everyone is different I won't mention them. The one thing that is a must for me is some form of reality. I read stories because I like to be turned on by them so if there isn't something close to realism in the story it doesn't accomplish the goal for me. One example would be science fiction type stories. Even though I believe there probably is life out there in the universe besides us I don't think it's realistic to think I could actually have a shot of having sex with an alien. I also don't think it's realistic to think every single gorgeous babe is going to be craving to give my 15 inch cock a blowjob. I have to believe I can become one with a person in the story and that this could really happen. If that can't happen then the story isn't worth reading.

 

[FurryFury]

Gawd, I hate the huge perfect boobs and ginormous cock BS in stories. That really puts me off.

 

[ecstaticsub]

That's good to know.

I think what I fear in writing from a Dom's perspective is that I haven't yet learned or experienced enough to express ideas that are interesting and will hold up in the reader's eye. Maybe a Dom who is nearer the beginning of his/her journey and fallible, rather than the typical, experienced, perfect character we so often see IS interesting though, if nothing else, by virtue of coming across as real and identifiable?

I think a story from the POV of a new, not perfect Dom would be very interesting. It's always better to write about something you have experienced. For me personally I can not write fiction. The stories I have written are at least 90% true. It's the only way I can do it.

 

[FurryFury]

I can write fiction but when I do I'm always imagining, how the body would really move, if that position could truly be achieved, what the emotions would be, would that damage the toy or break it, and so on, so that it hopefully, seems real. I rarely can write from the Dom perspective because, quite frankly, I can't understand it too well.

 

[marieR19]

I like to read either perspective.... really, it depends on the writer and how the story is written.

What turns me off, sends me back-clicking faster than any reason, is bad grammar and spelling. Some can wade through all the errors to find the plot; I just cannot. I don't think this will be a problem for you, however. Along those same lines, what I consider "Batman" descriptors--wham, bang, pow, etc. have me heading back to the story index searching for another read.

Same here! I have seen so many potentially good stories on Lit that I was totally turned off to because of bad grammar/spelling... I'm not talking occasional mistakes, because I make spelling mistakes too, but the kind where it is barely readable.

I prefer the submissive perspective but that's how I always read a story anyway. It's my own version of rose colored glasses. I put myself in the submissive position in the story and "feel" it that way.

I do that, too, a lot of the time. I try not to when the story is in the Dom's POV, because I want to try to experience the story the way it's written, but it's kind of automatic for me.

I tend to write almost exclusively in the sub's POV, but for reading it really depends on other factors more.

As for what I look for in a bdsm story.... I have to admit I hate those stories that start out with something along the lines of "There is this really hot slut I've been wanting to bang, so I went over to her house..." ... It's just so unoriginal and overused. And I do want some sort of plot, some sort of understanding of why things are happening, instead of clicking on a story and within the first few sentences they are fucking.


Heather

 

[Thane1234]

I prefer the sub's perspective because I like to know what she is thinking, feeling and how she is reacting to her mix of pleasure and pain.

 

[midwestyankee]

Erika, based on what I saw in your first story posted here, you'd do a fine job of creating the inner life of a not-yet-perfect (and therefore humanly interesting) dominant. Yes, many of the stories that get posted here at Lit (and elsewhere) seem to be populated by perfect examplars as the dominant but I don't see why that's at all necessary for good fiction. It works to stroke the ego of those who read the stories as mostly stroker material, but that's not what you want to do with your fiction anyway. I really don't see why you couldn't write a very good story around a character who is still in the experience-building part of the learning curve in bdsm.

Of course, I'll have to admit that one of the first images that came to mind was to insert Inspector Clouseau into a bdsm play space circumstance and see what happens. Somehow I don't see that being your natural bent.

 

[FurryFury]

I should totally read some of your stories! I just um, get scared if I don't know when I might get some sex or something to read such things. Yanno?

*blushes*

Things is sloooooow right now, damn it all to hell.

 

[oneguy4fun]

Erika,

A great question on the readers POV. I've always wondered the same thing about readers. So far the reponses to your post have been great. For me, I like a mix of both. It's great to read what the sub is thinking because as a sub I can realate to that. I also love to hear how the Dom is enjoying her power control. IT is very exciting for me to know that the dom is getting aroused and hot. I love to hear how she is enjoying her control.

Some of my favorite stories to read are seduction/first time domination stories. I love to read how a female uses her sexuality and charm to seduce a guy into her helpless slave. It's great when stories show the emotional struggle of the sub as he/she falls under to dom's spell and on the surface resists but deep down wants to give in.

Stories turn me off when there is no compassion. Complete degradation and humiliation with no concern for the sub is not appealing to me.

 

[Colton_White]

I'm playing around with some BDSM story ideas,..........


What do you like to see in BDSM stories specifically? Are there certain elements or activities that really .................. this category?

I'd like to read a BDSM story, that's full of humor.

 

[SpencerAlanMacLeod]

Hey SweetErica,

You asked, “Does your preference match the role you identify with…”

No, I’m a switch who prefers to top.
My stories are all over the place.
Some are from the top’s P.O.V., some are from the bottom’s P.O.V. and some switch.
I have even written one from the female submissives P.O.V., although I’m a guy (when I was done I had my wife proof it for hotness ;-).


You asked, “What do you like to see in BDSM stories specifically?”

First and foremost, I want a valid reason why these individuals are doing this.

As in, they’re married and done it before and it was good.
Maybe they have a professional relationship that is going to the next level.
They meet as boyfriend and girlfriend and each has a ‘secret’ they want to explore.

Second, I want to know that limits will be explored and respected.

I like reading about strong individuals.
I also like to read about people who are sensitive to the needs and wants of their lover.
I like to read about people who have self respect and when they give into their baser urges; they have a good reason.

Third, I want to know that all participants will have a great time!

Whether its bondage and a handjob (my fav) or something more; I want to know everyone got off.
If someone is being forced, I want to know they had a good time, even if it’s in spite of their ‘token protest’.


You asked, “Any ideas you'd really love to see come to life?”

My stories are all written in the way I’d like to see acted out or that I have acted out (at least in part).



You asked, “Alternately, what makes you cringe or hit the 'Back' button when reading these stories?”

Amoral characters who lack guts or personal integrity.
People who engage in behavior they couldn’t tell their best friend about because they’d lose respect.



You asked, “What ideas strike you as especially tired/overused?”

Nonconsensual blackmail being exerted and then the one being blackmailed becomes aroused!!!
Cases of out and out brutality which would result in physical and/or emotional trauma.
Long meandering stories that are overly descriptive but have no direction.
Conversely, stories with too much plot and not enough arousal.


Now I have answered your questions from my perspective as fully as I could.
I would like you to answer one for me.
I only saw one story that you wrote; when can we expect more???

Cheers Spencer

 

[SpencerAlanMacLeod]

Uh... sorry...I neglected to mention that I read BDSM stories and that I am aroused by a sexual episode that contains a balance of sexuality and power.

Both aspect must be there for me to be sexually aroused.

 

[SweetErika]

Yank, thanks for the vote of confidence.

I think your Inspector Clouseau idea would make for a very enjoyable piece. With your sense of humor, you should totally run with it!

Oneguy, I'm glad you're getting something out of this thread as well. What would you think if the Dom used her skills to seduce a female sub? Or even if the female sub was the Dom's primary focus, but there were males helping/acting as alpha subs? Does the gender of the sub affect your enjoyment at all?

Spencer, thank you for sharing your specific thoughts and examples! Your post has certainly given me things to think about and sparked some ideas.

I honestly don't know when you can expect more stories. I'm not one of those people who can just sit down and write (anything worth reading, at least). I have to let everything roll around in my mind until just the right inspiration and mood strike. When they do, the words flow out quickly and smoothly; it's almost like the piece writes itself. The past year has come with enough distraction and grief to allow me to find concepts I'm passionate about and disrupt the entire process. I'm just now feeling like those barriers are starting to lift and the ideas are beginning to trickle in, so hopefully it won't be too much longer before I find my groove.

I do know there's no sense in risking detracting from the fun by putting a timeline on it or pushing myself at all, though.

 

[lumi]

Hi, I'm new... I have very definite rules for which stories interest me and which are immediately thrown back:

1) No second person. I realize many writers use this to pull the reader in to the story but I just find it annoying.

2) Use proper spelling and grammar, please!

3) No long descriptions of the "she was a perfect size 6, 38D breasts" variety.

You obviously have the grammar and spelling down; I also think your desire to insert humor into the stories is commendable (so many of these stories are so serious, while real sex is supposed to be fun). I'm not saying you have to adhere to my rules, just that they are things that I personally would reject.

I like third-person stories, mostly from the sub's perspective. I am a sub myself, which obviously influences my preference.

 

[myinnerslut]

almost all the stories ive written are from the sub's perspective. the one i started writing from the dom's perspective i went back and changed to writing from an outside ppoint of view. i also have a lot of trouble writing from a male point of view, particularly writing orgasms.

when im reading i enjoy a story from either point of view, particularly in cases where the male and female are in a relationship already.

 

[VelvetDarkness]

I haven't read the whole thread but here are my thoughts.

Regarding the poll question (In general, do you prefer to read stories written from the Dom's/PYL's perspective or the sub's/pyl's viewpoint?): Does your preference match the role you identify with (e.g., you're a sub and like to read the sub's perspective), or not? Do you think you'd enjoy a story that gave both perspectives?

I would enjoy that and have in the past because it gives depth to both characters when handled well. OTOH many posters here have tried this and ended up confusing me.

What do you like to see in BDSM stories specifically? Are there certain elements or activities that really get you going or help you identify with the characters? Any ideas you'd really love to see come to life? Have you noticed that realism trumps out-there fantasy, or vice versa? IOW, what makes a BDSM story really good for you?

I think it has to be a believable scenario. Stories that I can imagine myself in always turn me on the most. I also particularly like stories in a historical setting and read historic mainstream novels too. I think this format allows you to get away with being a little more stereotypical of class and of relationship roles. I've never been drawn to outlandish stories or sci fi, I find them a bit silly in the main.

There has to be some backgound on both/all main characters. I don't enjoy group sex stories where random people turn up and join in as much as the ones where every participant has a 3D persona. I also have to connect with the characters as people so a dominant person with no kindness or softness doesn't appeal to me.

Alternately, what makes you cringe or hit the 'Back' button when reading these stories? What ideas strike you as especially tired/overused?

Textspeak, limited vocabulary/expression and bad spelling/grammar. People who put exclamation marks at the end of every sentence and anything too teenage or clearly written (with 1 hand) by a HNG. Some american slang turns me off (particularly 'twat') and I find US colloquiallisms laborious to wade through sometimes. Also sex scenes with no emotion or description beyond 'and then I stuck my cock in her hot cunt and thrust again and again until I filled her with my load.'

Many formats are overused but I believe its possible for a good writer to take any scenario and give it a new twist. Teacher/student, revengeful ex, office worker/boss scenarios are old. I also sometimes find the musings of an 'oh so wonderful man wishing to fulfill his SOs fantasies' can get boring too. Smash and grab scenarios like hotels, nightclubs, bars and random attacks/abductions turn me off too. I personally get no kick from large age gaps or incest either.

Is there anything else you'd advise authors of this category?

People who write from experience are always better because they get the details right and their prose is more self assured. There's also a fine balance between skillfully setting a scene and getting caught up in insignificant details like what colour drapes were in the room. Descriptive prose should still be purposeful and emotive.

There should be emotional connection described during the sex scenes. Many stories set the scene and build emotion before breaking off into a clinical sex scene that ends with something like a kiss and cuddle. The emotions of the characters should be central to the physical build up of the sex acts they enjoy.

That's my tuppence (2 cents) anyway

 

[Pure]

here is my question

which is usually hotter, other things being equal (e.g. writing skill):

first person or third. the classic 'story of O' is third person.

 

[mjl2010]

Either perspective is fine with me.

What I don't like and what makes me backclick quick is the second person view point where he or she is describing what I'm feeling or doing. How the hell can someone else describe what I'm feeling?

I see the words, "You come into the room..." or "I tie you to the commode..." or whatever and I'm gone. Bye.

I suppose I like third person best. Too few people write first person well enough for me to get that suspension of reality required to take me right there and in be in the moment. I read a spy novel like that once. I was amazed how it made me feel right there, like I was the spy.

Other than that, the usual stuff like really bad grammar, 1000 word (read "too long") paragraphs and the like sets me off and back clicking. Of course, I wouldn't worry about those things reading your stories Erika.

MJL