Breasts. Again.

[TarnishedPenny]

I know some writers specify breast size like a winning lottery number, but I've always felt that they're all wonderful and why have tried not to get sidetracked with that and the guy's size in inches. Today I received a comment on a tale I'd done some while back, Number 23. The individual was polite enough, but seems to place a lot of importance on that missing detail:

It's really well-written, but there seems to be an odd confusion regarding breasts in this writing. You draw a lot of lovely and sexy attention to the movement of the protagonist's breasts, but not once does the narrative ever assign them a single descriptor that would indicate size. I was very distracted reading this, since every mention of her boobs jiggling had me trying to scour any and all context clues to figure out how small or big her breasts are and I couldn't come up with anything definitive. At times, they seemed to fluctuate in size with each scene as needed due to a lack of any narrative commitment to their size. It's the weirdest case of uneven detail and lopsided description I've seen.

Should I be reconsidering?

 

[Bramblethorn]

I know some writers specify breast size like a winning lottery number, but I've always felt that they're all wonderful and why have tried not to get sidetracked with that and the guy's size in inches. Today I received a comment on a tale I'd done some while back, Number 23. The individual was polite enough, but seems to place a lot of importance on that missing detail:

Should I be reconsidering?

No.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Should I be reconsidering?

No. The guy's looking for an excuse to read the story twice.

Maaaybe you could slide in a few more hints, not a handful mind, nor a jugful, but enough to subtly suggest size. But no cup size, good god no!

 

[SimonDoom]

I know some writers specify breast size like a winning lottery number, but I've always felt that they're all wonderful and why have tried not to get sidetracked with that and the guy's size in inches. Today I received a comment on a tale I'd done some while back, Number 23. The individual was polite enough, but seems to place a lot of importance on that missing detail:

Should I be reconsidering?

No.

But if you're determined to go in that direction, you might try something like "larger than a tea cup and smaller than a bread basket." That's sure to satisfy the most ardent mammophiles.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Should I be reconsidering?

Yes, to the extent that you should consider whether your non-size descriptors feel contradictory or hint at sizes that aren't supported by the rest of the text. Size is an easy thing to convey and helps the reader form a mental image of the character. Size is also an easy thing for you as the writer to have in your mind when you're picking adjectives and descriptive phrases. I'm not saying you have to provide a cup size, obviously, and I'm not saying you have to be super obviously clear about the sizes of various organs in your work, but it's kinda low-hanging descriptive fruit, especially if you're already writing in detail about about boobs.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I know some writers specify breast size like a winning lottery number, but I've always felt that they're all wonderful and why have tried not to get sidetracked with that and the guy's size in inches. Today I received a comment on a tale I'd done some while back, Number 23. The individual was polite enough, but seems to place a lot of importance on that missing detail:

Should I be reconsidering?

Well, did you actually mention anything about the size? I mean not a number but some sort of descriptor, overflowing the palms? Grapefruits? Tahitian coconuts? Beach balls?

This also puts some bullets in the theory that physical descriptions should be left to the readers' imagination. It's erotica or even porn. It's visual. It's important to provide the images.

 

[Bamagan]

Should I be reconsidering?

Yes. Describe them as a piece of fruit, blithely ignoring the reality that fruit sizes are hardly standardized.

 

[Bazzle]

Yes. Describe them as a piece of fruit, blithely ignoring the reality that fruit sizes are hardly standardized.

exactly, melon like is a good one...without saying what type of melon.

 

[Bamagan]

exactly, melon like is a good one...without saying what type of melon.

They jutted proudly yet menacingly, like kiwano melons.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Cucumis_metuliferus_fruit_-_whole_and_cross_section.jpg/1200px-Cucumis_metuliferus_fruit_-_whole_and_cross_section.jpg

 

[Cagivagurl]

I know some writers specify breast size like a winning lottery number, but I've always felt that they're all wonderful and why have tried not to get sidetracked with that and the guy's size in inches. Today I received a comment on a tale I'd done some while back, Number 23. The individual was polite enough, but seems to place a lot of importance on that missing detail:

Should I be reconsidering?

No....
Do not reconsider...
Who cares about centimetres...
If they moved and swelled, jiggled, and bounced.
That is perfect...
You will never be able to please every reader.
For most of us, your description was lovely.

Cagivagurl

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

No...
FWIW, several of my MC's keep theirs in a box and have several pair for different looks and occasions.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I know some writers specify breast size like a winning lottery number, but I've always felt that they're all wonderful and why have tried not to get sidetracked with that and the guy's size in inches. Today I received a comment on a tale I'd done some while back, Number 23. The individual was polite enough, but seems to place a lot of importance on that missing detail:

Should I be reconsidering?

You phrase the question in a weird way. Of course you shouldn't change the way you write just because some commenter said something. That's just complying with one reader's taste. However, if you feel he had a point, then sure, why not? But it should be done for the right reason.

Now, to answer the question. Personally, I do like to have an idea about the height, age, and body of a female character involved in a sex scene. Hell, I might be the odd one who would like to know how the guy looks too.
I really dislike exact measures in feet, or inches though, and don't even get me started about cup sizes. But some general info like, say, medium-height middle-aged woman, or a tall woman in her thirties or such.
When it comes to boobs and asses, for me, some general idea is enough. Say, voluptuous ass, small/medium/large boobs, maybe even use fruit to describe size, although I personally don't like that much.

In general, such data matters to most male readers, so giving a general idea of proportions and age is a good idea, in my opinion. Giving exact measures in feet, inches, and pounds, and explaining body proportions in detail makes it look like you are writing a roster for the Ultimate Fight tournament.

 

[Zippy100]

You phrase the question in a weird way. Of course you shouldn't change the way you write just because some commenter said something. That's just complying with one reader's taste. However, if you feel he had a point, then sure, why not? But it should be done for the right reason.

Now, to answer the question. Personally, I do like to have an idea about the height, age, and body of a female character involved in a sex scene. Hell, I might be the odd one who would like to know how the guy looks too.
I really dislike exact measures in feet, or inches though, and don't even get me started about cup sizes. But some general info like, say, medium-height middle-aged woman, or a tall woman in her thirties or such.
When it comes to boobs and asses, for me, some general idea is enough. Say, voluptuous ass, small/medium/large boobs, maybe even use fruit to describe size, although I personally don't like that much.

In general, such data matters to most male readers, so giving a general idea of proportions and age is a good idea, in my opinion. Giving exact measures in feet, inches, and pounds, and explaining body proportions in detail makes it look like you are writing a roster for the Ultimate Fight tournament.

Great reply. A positive description can make an unattractive woman sound like a goddess. My current conquest is a 75 year old woman. She 5'5" pretty chubby, huge saggy titties with massive brown nipples. Her tits sag down almost to her waist. She has pretty short black/grey hair. She has a massive thatch of grey/black pubes

 

[KittyOfSteele]

What I learned from this thread is that erotica writers, like doctors, love to give their descriptions in fruit.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

I would just tell him "imagine they're exactly the size you like best."

 

[Zippy100]

I would just tell him "imagine they're exactly the size you like best."

Good answer. We love breasts all shapes and sizes

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I would just tell him "imagine they're exactly the size you like best."

Who's the writer here?

 

[SamBomb]

People should use their imagination. Stating exact bra size is weird.

 

[YmaOHyd]

There's quite a lot of daylight between providing no description and giving an exact bra size.

 

[PennyThompson]

Cup size is silly, and also most guys and a lot of women don't actually know what they mean, they just think DD means "big bazongas" and A means "tiny titties"

I like to describe breasts relative to how the POV character interacts with them!

Are they a tiny, petite half-handful? Are they big and soft and squishy, can your fingers sink into the flesh as you squeeze them? Are the nipples small and pink? Big and dark and suckable?

 

[Zippy100]

Cup size is silly, and also most guys and a lot of women don't actually know what they mean, they just think DD means "big bazongas" and A means "tiny titties"

I like to describe breasts relative to how the POV character interacts with them!

Are they a tiny, petite half-handful? Are they big and soft and squishy, can your fingers sink into the flesh as you squeeze them? Are the nipples small and pink? Big and dark and suckable?

I love mature saggy titties with big brown nipples. The pair I am playing with recently are like that

 

[YmaOHyd]

Cup size is silly, and also most guys and a lot of women don't actually know what they mean, they just think DD means "big bazongas" and A means "tiny titties"

I agree with you that cup size is basically to be avoided, and exact sizing (she's a 38C!) is usually a bad idea. I do think there's something to a point made in one of the recent threads on this -- maybe it was @TheLobster -- that using a cup size (I think especially if the size you're using is D or DD or larger) is a signpost to your audience, saying "this is porn. You are going to be reading about fucking in this story." And in a certain kind of story there's nothing wrong with that, I think.

I also think there's nothing wrong with putting a cup size, even an exact one, in the mouth of a bra-wearing MC. A character ought to know what size underwear they wear. How you'd work that information in naturally, who knows. But it could be done. Lingerie store encounter, for one -- lady is at Victoria's Secret, gives her size to the sales lady, they have a hot encounter in a changing room.

 

[Zippy100]

I agree with you that cup size is basically to be avoided, and exact sizing (she's a 38C!) is usually a bad idea. I do think there's something to a point made in one of the recent threads on this -- maybe it was @TheLobster -- that using a cup size (I think especially if the size you're using is D or DD or larger) is a signpost to your audience, saying "this is porn. You are going to be reading about fucking in this story." And in a certain kind of story there's nothing wrong with that, I think.

I also think there's nothing wrong with putting a cup size, even an exact one, in the mouth of a bra-wearing MC. A character ought to know what size underwear they wear. How you'd work that information in naturally, who knows. But it could be done. Lingerie store encounter, for one -- lady is at Victoria's Secret, gives her size to the sales lady, they have a hot encounter in a changing room.

I love mature saggy breasts to play with

 

[PennyThompson]

using a cup size (I think especially if the size you're using is D or DD or larger) is a signpost to your audience, saying "this is porn. You are going to be reading about fucking in this story." And in a certain kind of story there's nothing wrong with that, I think.

Hmm, that's an interesting point... I guess I'm just not the target audience who reads "Her boobs were real big, trust me bro" and gets excited by that Give me feeling, sensation, texture, activity, taste

I also think there's nothing wrong with putting a cup size, even an exact one, in the mouth of a bra-wearing MC. A character ought to know what size underwear they wear. How you'd work that information in naturally, who knows. But it could be done. Lingerie store encounter, for one -- lady is at Victoria's Secret, gives her size to the sales lady, they have a hot encounter in a changing room.

Ok, I would be into an erotic story inspired by /r/ABraThatFits/

 

[YmaOHyd]

Hmm, that's an interesting point... I guess I'm just not the target audience who reads "Her boobs were real big, trust me bro" and gets excited by that Give me feeling, sensation, texture, activity, taste

I think in that kind of story you'd want both, right? You'd go HER BOOBS ARE REAL BIG, BRO, TRUST ME, then you'd get into feel, sensations, taste and so on once the shirts are off. It's the written version of the distinction between gonzo porn and Captain Edward Reynolds hunting down the dread Stagnetti when he's not having orgies.

Ok, I would be into an erotic story inspired by /r/ABraThatFits/

Someone has to have done this with Emily Miller's 750-word photo contest and the lingerie saleswoman, right? What a fantastic way to simultaneously describe the boobs and save a ton of words!