An honest question for literotica readers

[Hairy Arms]

Anyone over the age of twenty probably knows that few, if indeed any of us, have a "perfect" body. I would never know it, however, by reading the stories on literotica; even the good and great stories tend toward perfection.

I, for one, am among the un-perfect male population. In short, I am tall and extremely skinny - as the attached year-old, VERY GRAPHIC photo will attest.

I have a book being published in December (non-erotic), and I want to try my hand (pun intended) at writing an erotic tale. My question, then, is this: Quality of the story aside, are readers turned on by people who are imperfect looking?

Bonus question: Don't normal people make a story more realistic, people we can identify with?

 

[boomer31]

As skinny as you are I'm surprised you don't tip over carrying around that oversized warped tool.

To answer your question, In looking at pictures I prefer "some" inperfections of 'real' people. Something about that I can relate to.

When reading erotica I tend not to focus in on the physical attributes of the characters so much as the storyline..... that's assuming there are no pictures

 

[Hairy Arms]

To answer your question, In looking at pictures I prefer "some" inperfections of 'real' people. Something about that I can relate to.

When reading erotica I tend not to focus in on the physical attributes of the characters so much as the storyline..... that's assuming there are no pictures

Thanks, Boomer

 

[Jennifer Kaye]

I am not a writer and certainly not a good writer, but I would say ...

when in doubt, leave it to the imagination of the reader. One can write things in such a way so as to only infer a preson's looks, leaving the actual visualization for the reader. That way, everybody is satisfied.

I do think that we tend to imagine our ideals, though, and when it comes to erotica, pretty much the whole thing boils down to arousal. That being said, I don't see any reason why one can't write an erotic tale using realistic, average people as the subject matter. You may have to rely more on actual story quality than mere arousal factor then, though.

 

[Guest]

I second this

I am not a writer and certainly not a good writer, but I would say ...

when in doubt, leave it to the imagination of the reader. One can write things in such a way so as to only infer a preson's looks, leaving the actual visualization for the reader. That way, everybody is satisfied.

I do think that we tend to imagine our ideals, though, and when it comes to erotica, pretty much the whole thing boils down to arousal. That being said, I don't see any reason why one can't write an erotic tale using realistic, average people as the subject matter. You may have to rely more on actual story quality than mere arousal factor then, though.

I think it's much better to leave as much personal description up to the reader as possible. We all have different ideas of perfection, or what we like and if the author doesn't fill that in the reader will fill in with their imagination. The big truth in writing fiction is that you can't possibly write the EXACT story EVERY reader wants to read but it is possible to at least let the reader imagine the characters as they would want them to be.

 

[Lv2hvefn]

Well, Hairy...

For a very slim man you must have shocked your share of ladies! I am impressed.

To your main point.... yes, almost everyone in Lit is a perfect 36c with no droop in spite of having two kids. The men are tall and well-built, and 9 inches is average... right, on what planet?

I admit, in real life and in fiction, I am turned off by someone who is slovenly, in poor shape, has bad hygiene or acts like a boor. But I find real people are infinitely more interesting than Ken/Barbies. In fact, the best stories are the ones that really could be about us... or the people next door.

If you go to a swing club you will see that most of the people look just like the people you see at your mall or down on main street... that is, all kinds of bodies and looks, and very few of them are size six perfection. Its the way they carry themselves, the sexuality that radiates from them and their personal charm that can make them intensely erotic and desireable.

Just my $0.02...