Advice on sensitive content

[Writer61]

I am at an early stage of plotting a story in which the main character learns that her father has committed child abuse (on unnamed, undescribed others; not her). There is one sentence stating the fact, but no other detail. Her response is to cut him out of her life entirely but it motivates her into a significant decision.

Is this against the content guidance?

 

[StillStunned]

I'm no expert, but I've read enough of these threads to know the answer will probably be "as long as it happens off-screen and it's not sexualised".

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah. mentioning this just in the sense of it happened in the past, and without detail, to explain the decision another character makes is fine.

 

[RejectReality]

You're not even technically specifying sexual abuse. Even taking that as a given, it should still be within bounds.

 

[KeithD]

Doesn't really sound like a good story for Literotica to me.

 

[intim8]

as long as it happens off-screen and it's not sexualised

That, and the rule of thumb I kind of keep in mind is that you can say that it happened but not describe how it happened.

I have two scenes from WIPs that come close to the same kind of line as the OP. Neither is remotely meant to be a turn-on or has any details described, and both do things that advance the plot and the characters, but I'm a little unclear where exactly the line goes. It's hard to say that something happened without at least implying some of the how.

 

[intim8]

Doesn't really sound like a good story for Literotica to me.

You mean that Lit should not have stories with well-rounded characters? Especially not ones that have scars from their past that affect what kind of people they are now and the decisions they make?

 

[Writer61]

Doesn't really sound like a good story for Literotica to me.

It is not the subject of the story.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't see a problem, with the way you've described it. Lit allows a lot of unpleasant activity in its stories as long as certain things are not sexualized.

 

[orangecurious]

You mean that Lit should not have stories with well-rounded characters? Especially not ones that have scars from their past that affect what kind of people they are now and the decisions they make?

One of my stories has such a character (sort of) - i did put a warning at the start of the story. I kept it 'cold' in that she told another character parts of what had happened, but it was not glorified or made titillating in any way.

 

[KeithD]

You mean that Lit should not have stories with well-rounded characters? Especially not ones that have scars from their past that affect what kind of people they are now and the decisions they make?

Personally? Yeah, I don't see this getting to the erotic, which is important to me on LirEROTICA. In general, no, I defend any stories getting through that the site let's through. I gave a personal response, though, from having a low personal response to these sorts of stories here today. I don't see this as getting to erotica.

 

[SimonDoom]

It is not the subject of the story.

I am guessing that Keith is saying it doesn't sound like subject matter that would go over well at Literotica, rather than saying Literotica won't permit it.

 

[KeithD]

It is not the subject of the story.

If it's not important to the story, a good storywriter wouldn't include it at all. Again, do as you please. I'm not receptive today to needing to post "running along the edge to see what you can get away with" material to an erotica story site. But do as you please. If a post asks for advice, I'll give mine, and today I'm tired of sob stories on an erotica site. In general, I support any stories the site will publish--I just might not read them or personally feel they should be taking up space here.

 

[KeithD]

I am guessing that Keith is saying it doesn't sound like subject matter that would go over well at Literotica, rather than saying Literotica won't permit it.

Yes, by what was stated, I didn't see a primary interest in making it erotica.

 

[intim8]

I don't see this getting to the erotic,

That depends on the specific story and where the author decides to take it.

Any story here that is not a simple stroker is at least trying to have good characters and a decent plot that is about more than just humping. Yeah, it probably needs people humping somewhere in it, but those people will have pasts, and not everything in everybody's past is all sunshine and rainbows. That past will inform their decisions about who to hump, when to hump, where to hump, how to hump, and why to hump. It will either color the process of coming to those decisions, if it is that kind of story, or color how they deal with the decisions they've already made if it is that kind of story.

 

[intim8]

I'm not receptive today to needing to post "running along the edge to see what you can get away with"

Where in the OP do you get the implication that he is trying to push some boundary of tittlation? Or that it is a sob story?

 

[KeithD]

That depends on the specific story and where the author decides to take it.

As already noted, there was no connection to erotica being connected. Just drop it. I gave my opinion, which is influenced by what I've seen being offered today. I prefer seeing erotica on an erotica site. You can believe something else, as you like.

 

[KeithD]

Where in the OP do you get the implication that he is trying to push some boundary of tittlation? Or that it is a sob story?

By what is asked and what isn't. Just drop it. You can believe as you like.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Damaged people finding healing is a major thing in my erotica. Not sure what’s wrong with that?

And no the OP would not fall foul of Lit guidelines. Describing what he did would.

Emily

 

[intim8]

I prefer seeing erotica on an erotica site. You can believe something else,

I will drop it, but not with that passive aggressive mischaracterization of what basically everybody but you on this thread is thinking hanging out there unanswered.

Nobody here is saying that including what the OP described prevents the story from being erotica, nor that the incident is itself part of the eroticism of the story.

OK, now it's dropped as far as I'm concerned.

 

[intim8]

Damaged people finding healing is a major thing in my erotica. Not sure what’s wrong with that?

Nothing, and there is a lot right with it. What the OP descirbed is the kind of thing that damages more people than just those directly involved.

 

[Writer61]

Thanks to all for your comments.

That particular plot point is by far the most compelling explanation I have found yet to explain why a previously conservative character makes a significant decision. I will think further on alternative reasons.

 

[Writer61]

If it's not important to the story, a good storywriter wouldn't include it at all. Again, do as you please. I'm not receptive today to needing to post "running along the edge to see what you can get away with" material to an erotica story site. But do as you please. If a post asks for advice, I'll give mine, and today I'm tired of sob stories on an erotica site. In general, I support any stories the site will publish--I just might not read them or personally feel they should be taking up space here.

The decision the character makes is fundamental to her story. I am looking for a credible rationale for it. The revelation about her father is the best, by far, that I have thought of.

I am certainly not looking to "run along the edge", more like "I don't even want to be in the same postal district, but ...".

 

[intim8]

I will think further on alternative reasons.

I don't think you need to.

 

[lustychimera]

I have a story on a different account where past abuse is the whole catalyst for the character's interactions. I left it fairly ambiguous, and it certainly wasn't a happy story, but I think it got the point across.

I know readers want every single detail, but is the exact nature of the abuse relevant or do you just need to show the trauma it caused? There's many heinous reasons to cut someone out of your life. If the exact nature isn't relevant, then personally, I don't see any reason to get into it. I think it's more engaging not to. All I need to know is that so-and-so is a bad dude, and did something awful to somebody.