Are you a "performative" writer?

[BobbyBrandt]

I was reading an article in USA Today, entitled,"Men are picking up 'attraction hobbies' to get dates. Does it work?"

I suppose the same could be said of some women.

One paragraph caught my attention:

"According to a recent survey of 2,000 millennials and Gen Z-ers, 16% admitted to picking up "attraction hobbies" − or, hobbies aimed to boost one's attractiveness. These hobbies can be anything: tennis, creative writing, pottery. Whatever you think will make you seem more appealing."

I can honestly state that I never considered whether or not my creative writing (professionally or for pleasure) made me more or less appealing.

What says you?

 

[ElectricBlue]

What says you?

I've attracted women and a couple of men through my writing, so maybe there's a bit of truth to it.

On the other hand, another small business hobby attracts a bunch of ragged-ass musos, so it's horses for courses.

 

[TheLobster]

Plot bunny: A story about a guy who picks up creative writing to woo a girl. Text shall include verbatim his clumsy attempts at rubbing two paragraphs together, that, in reality, are the worst, never published early scribbles of the author, laundered right through thanks to their attribution to the main character.

 

[SimonDoom]

Since I don't tell anyone about my erotic writing, I would have to say no.

 

[Bazzle]

Since I don't tell anyone about my erotic writing, I would have to say no.

Same here!

 

[StillStunned]

Writing erotica has got me laid so many times! By the redhead each time, of course, but still.

 

[Writer61]

Writing erotica has got me laid so many times! By the redhead each time, of course, but still.

In your dreams?

 

[CalBishForNow]

I assume writing this stuff makes me less attractive. Writing horror or science fiction or whatever > playing Warhammer or Magic: the Gathering or Dungeons and Dragons > writing erotica.

 

[HyunnaPark]

Guy at the bar I'm talking to: "I'm a philanthropist, and I recently donated 90% of my portfolio to fighting cancer in kids."

Me: "I write erotic fiction about magical foxes."

Bartender nearby: "Security!"

Nope. Don't see this one working out in my favor.

 

[MisterWolf26]

I've definitely shown off writing to try and be impeessive/attractive.



It's not why I wrote though.

 

[mousberry]

Reading and writing is good for you so although the intentions aren't the best at least they are doing something positive

 

[MisterWolf26]

Guy at the bar I'm talking to: "I'm a philanthropist, and I recently donated 90% of my portfolio to fighting cancer in kids."

Me: "I write erotic fiction about magical foxes."

Bartender nearby: "Security!"

Nope. Don't see this one working out in my favor.

Lol it sounds like you go to REALLY nice bars

 

[OddLove]

For me personally, it's my secret hobby and it serves as a safe space for me to play and live inside of my internal world, void of pressures and stresses to be attractive, appealing, popular, or successful.

If I wanted a hobby to improve my chances of getting a mating partner, I would probably be doing something more physical or lucrative.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I was reading an article in USA Today, entitled,"Men are picking up 'attraction hobbies' to get dates. Does it work?"

I suppose the same could be said of some women.

One paragraph caught my attention:

"According to a recent survey of 2,000 millennials and Gen Z-ers, 16% admitted to picking up "attraction hobbies" − or, hobbies aimed to boost one's attractiveness. These hobbies can be anything: tennis, creative writing, pottery. Whatever you think will make you seem more appealing."

I can honestly state that I never considered whether or not my creative writing (professionally or for pleasure) made me more or less appealing.

What says you?

We need some copy to fill page seven. Doesn’t the intern know how to use that AI stuff?

 

[Erozetta]

If my goal is to impress someone, I bake or cook for them. My writing is... Not of giftable quality.

 

[SimonDoom]

We should conduct an experiment on this. Everybody sign up for an online dating service, and in your profile mention that you write erotic stories online. See how you do.

I have a hunch about how "I write stories about mom-son incest at Literotica" will impact my dating success.

 

[sirhugs]

We should conduct an experiment on this. Everybody sign up for an online dating service, and in your profile mention that you write erotic stories online. See how you do.

I have a hunch about how "I write stories about mom-son incest at Literotica" will impact my dating success.

My trend towards Dad/daughter themes would gve your success a run for its money, methinks.

 

[SimonDoom]

On the other hand, having just wrote what I wrote, I'll say this, too. If I found out that a woman I was interested in wrote erotic fiction, I'd probably be more interested in her, because it would indicate that she's literary and creative, and that she's got a kinky streak. And we'd have something in common. So as a performative hobby it would probably work on me.

 

[Erozetta]

On the other hand, having just wrote what I wrote, I'll say this, too. If I found out that a woman I was interested in wrote erotic fiction, I'd probably be more interested in her, because it would indicate that she's literary and creative, and that she's got a kinky streak. And we'd have something in common. So as a performative hobby it would probably work on me.

Like a snob, I would have to read their work before it would work on me.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Like a snob, I would have to read their work before it would work on me.

Me: "What do you like to do in your free time?"

Him: "I write erotic fiction for Literotica."

Me: "What kind of scores do you get?"

Him: "Usually around three and a half, four stars."

Me: "Oh gee, look at the time. It's been nice meeting you."

 

[Writer61]

Me: "What do you like to do in your free time?"

Him: "I write erotic fiction for Literotica."

Me: "What kind of scores do you get?"

Him: "Usually around three and a half, four stars."

Me: "Oh gee, look at the time. It's been nice meeting you."

Shouldn't you check which category before bailing out?

 

[SimonDoom]

Plot bunny: A story about a guy who picks up creative writing to woo a girl. Text shall include verbatim his clumsy attempts at rubbing two paragraphs together, that, in reality, are the worst, never published early scribbles of the author, laundered right through thanks to their attribution to the main character.

Another variation: A an erotica twist on Cyrano de Bergerac, where one man writes smut stories for another to win over a kinky woman.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I have told people about my trad romance novel and have mentioned my high fantasy project that has been in the works for about five years. I only mention the stuff I write here to a very small, very select ive audience.

 

[Erozetta]

Me: "What do you like to do in your free time?"

Him: "I write erotic fiction for Literotica."

Me: "What kind of scores do you get?"

Him: "Usually around three and a half, four stars."

Me: "Oh gee, look at the time. It's been nice meeting you."

For me it would be highly dependent on their actual stories. If they can't get the anatomy right, I'm out. If they write straight up rape stories that read as though they are recollections rather than fiction, I'm not only out, I'm researching their dating history and checking case files for their area, and I'm so far out that I'm warning others on the site of what I find.

If they write like a second grader, I'm out. Or if they write empty headed fuckdolls, I'm... Well, that one might be okay depending on the context and whether or not the stories fall under "Fetish" and "Dollification " or not...

Scores don't really matter to me. (I can fix them!) But content does.

 

[BeechLeaf]

Intrigued victim: So, ah, what kind of things do you write?
Me: Well I've almost finished one that crosses Frankenstein and Little Red Riding Hood.
* whoosh! *
Victim's hat: * floats down onto bar *