Can anyone elucidate the expectations of readers in Erotic Horror?

[Paul_Chance]

From 'How to break the Literotica Toplist':

Erotic Horror

A misunderstood category if there ever was one... Perhaps it's a pet peeve of mine, but there should be a sign on the door: No Vampires and Werewolves Allowed. Those should go into the non-human category. But unfortunately, you'll find lots of Anne Rice wannabe's here along with your "I'm not a dog, I'm a werewolf!" stories. True Erotic Horror should encompass both eroticism and horror, in a way that's not always titillating, but should at the very least be shocking and—here's the important part—integral to the story. If you can take the sex out, and still have the horror, it's not really erotic horror. Okay, down off my soapbox. How do you write a toplist story in this category? Make it scary and horrific, make sure the sex and horror are somehow related, and make it a good story. Erotic horror readers are truly looking for a story, not just titillation. A great example of this is Scold's Bridle by BlackShanglan

Having just finished the Scold's Bridle - excellent tale, well formed, well written, good example of Erotic Horror.

 

[MrPixel]

I'm still trying to get over the use of "elucidate" within a thread title. Oh, the humanity.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm still trying to get over the use of "elucidate" within a thread title. Oh, the humanity.

What did I do now ?

 

[MrPixel]

What did I do now ?

Oh, just givin' you grief over the $20 $50 word. (Inflation, you know.)

 

[Comshaw]

From 'How to break the Literotica Toplist':

Erotic Horror

A misunderstood category if there ever was one... Perhaps it's a pet peeve of mine, but there should be a sign on the door: No Vampires and Werewolves Allowed. Those should go into the non-human category. But unfortunately, you'll find lots of Anne Rice wannabe's here along with your "I'm not a dog, I'm a werewolf!" stories. True Erotic Horror should encompass both eroticism and horror, in a way that's not always titillating, but should at the very least be shocking and—here's the important part—integral to the story. If you can take the sex out, and still have the horror, it's not really erotic horror. Okay, down off my soapbox. How do you write a toplist story in this category? Make it scary and horrific, make sure the sex and horror are somehow related, and make it a good story. Erotic horror readers are truly looking for a story, not just titillation. A great example of this is Scold's Bridle by BlackShanglan.

I'll chip in my two pence worth in a bit. My first foray into EH "Of Ghosts and Flesh" is pending publication. It has sex (an integral part of the story) and I hope enough psychological horror to satisfy the readers. At a wee bit over 19,000 words, I hope it isn't too long for the readers there. If there is one imutable fact that I know, it's this: that I ain't got a clue when it comes to knowing what the readers want. I write, I toss it out there, close my eyes and hope for the best. A hell of a way to do it huh?


Comshaw

 

[Bamagan]

I think there are maybe three 'camps' of readers in EH. I am speaking only as a reader of the category, and not pretending to be an authority.

What I call 'classical horror' fans are looking for suspense, a dark atmosphere, and unsettling characters. I believe they enjoy longer tales with lots of table-setting and a slow pace overall. The sex scenes should probably reflect that tone and be sensual yet disturbing in some way, at least in retrospect (one of the participants later realizes their new lover died years ago, or something strange happens because of the sex, etc.). I call it classical because you can find many examples in Gothic and Victorian literature.

Fans of 'psychological horror' seem to enjoy stories about 'crazy' people, whether from the perspective of the mad person or those who have to cope with the mad character(s). Although some such crazies may be raving lunatics, I think there's more appetite for urbane villains... Hannibal Lecter might be a good example, or maybe Nurse Ratched. There's a strong possibility of non-consent sex, but as long as at least one of the parties has regrets or misgivings I think it would fit thematically. The thing that seems to be hardest is making a character seem crazy without also seeming too silly and breaking the mood.

The third camp I'm less sure of, and I call them fans of cruelty. They're the only ones that I think actively seek out gory stuff (although some amount is tolerated by most of the EH readers, I think). There's some overlap with the psychological horror crowd, insofar as the 'cruel' characters might be playing mind games with their victims, but sometimes they're just mean for the sake of being mean. Most of the sex would be NC/R (or MC, if the setting permits supernatural elements). Mostly they seem to be looking for power trip fantasies, but are more likely to appreciate the 'horrified' perspective of the victims rather than the POV of the perpetrator of the acts.

There's a small niche in EH for 'body horror' and 'monster fucking' fans, but a lot of that kind of stuff winds up in Non-human and fits just fine there.

 

[DeMont]

I have no clue myself

@EmilyMiller,
Good evening my dear colleague, if you'll pardon the observation that's like standing outside an ice cream parlour trying to guess which flavour each person going in will pick.

People perceive horror differently, as much as they perceive politics and religion differently. For myself, Poe and Lovecraft. I might, if push comes to shove and I fancy a bit of "Slash and tear", go to a Koontz book but that's my ideal. Others swear by Steven King, so on and so forth.

I wrote a very "Poe-ish" short for the Halloween competition and it got published in Erotic Horror, exactly where I chose it to be. Trying to guess what the reader wants in a category that can have many colours and flavours will drive you, ultimately in my opinion, stark raving mad.
Deepest respects, always,
D.

 

[StillStunned]

From 'How to break the Literotica Toplist':

Erotic Horror

A misunderstood category if there ever was one... Perhaps it's a pet peeve of mine, but there should be a sign on the door: No Vampires and Werewolves Allowed. Those should go into the non-human category. But unfortunately, you'll find lots of Anne Rice wannabe's here along with your "I'm not a dog, I'm a werewolf!" stories. True Erotic Horror should encompass both eroticism and horror, in a way that's not always titillating, but should at the very least be shocking and—here's the important part—integral to the story. If you can take the sex out, and still have the horror, it's not really erotic horror. Okay, down off my soapbox. How do you write a toplist story in this category? Make it scary and horrific, make sure the sex and horror are somehow related, and make it a good story. Erotic horror readers are truly looking for a story, not just titillation. A great example of this is Scold's Bridle by BlackShanglan.

Two years ago, when I was a fresh-faced Stunned, I decided to write a story for the Halloween contest. Thinking it should be horror, I decided to go with the cliché of a vampire in a remote part of Central Europe.

Readers don't seem to mind that it's a vampire story. Or terribly horrific. But then again, not many people have read it. After two years, it only has 46 votes from fewer than 4k views.

 

[Actingup]

Two years ago, when I was a fresh-faced Stunned, I decided to write a story for the Halloween contest. Thinking it should be horror, I decided to go with the cliché of a vampire in a remote part of Central Europe.

Readers don't seem to mind that it's a vampire story. Or terribly horrific. But then again, not many people have read it. After two years, it only has 46 votes from fewer than 4k views.

Not wishing to send the Stukas your way, but it's also rated at a 4.8. Quality prose for the discerning readership.

 

[StillStunned]

Not wishing to send the Stukas your way, but it's also rated at a 4.8. Quality prose for the discerning readership.

Like I said, the readers don't seem to think that vampires don't belong in EH. Maybe it helps that she's a hot redhead.

 

[PennameWombat]

I have no clue myself

I have three stories there, ranging from 4.49 to 4.64. None have more than a few thousand views and few comments. Overall, the Category seems very slow. Or, I've not entirely cracked what they want either.

The least popular one in a Nude Day contest entry and is in 'horror' because it's an alien who takes over a human woman's body, then searches for her mate (he's in a human male's body, searching for her, but the story follows her). In addition, she has some power of hypnotism and 'convinces' masses of people to stage public orgies (including a church congregation) to cause news coverage in the hopes her mate will see the reports and assume it's her causing it. She 'feeds' by sucking energy from her victims after she has sex with them (had to tread the 'no snuff' rule a bit.) But I'm not sure if the lower score is that, or the fact that it's told in non-linear order. Also, the woman, Janet, is aware the alien, well, something, is in her head 'controlling' her. The alien wins.

The middle one is a Halloween entry, the 'horror' is a catastrophic explosion and fire during a massive Halloween party in an old, abandoned church that a biker gang uses for its hideout/clubhouse.

The most popular one is a Valentine's Day contest entry of a young woman who's murdered, but at the moment of her death a lowly she-demon crosses paths and takes up residence in the woman's body. To outsiders, she's the 'Miracle Girl,' who survived a serial killer's attack. She's trying to make sense of where she is, while her former masters on an infernal plane try to figure out where she escaped to. It's a Valentine's Day entry because she needs to find a heart to give to a boy at their small university's Valentine's Day social. She knows which one she wants, just needs to find its owner and acquire it, whether he's willing to part with it or not. At the same time, the police are looking for the serial killer, and wondering how this almost victim survived.

 

[Actingup]

Like I said, the readers don't seem to think that vampires don't belong in EH. Maybe it helps that she's a hot redhead.

I can't think of many situations that are not helped by having a hot redhead. Unless a packet of matches on an extreme fire danger day.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I published one story in EH. It was unusual for being from the POV of an immortal hellbeing, who I rather like as a character, but most EH stories are from the POV of the human experiencing the growing creepiness and eventually horror.

Not many people read it, but those who did liked it. It was definitely EH rather than Non-Human, which is more about fun fucking with werewolves and vampires.

 

[EmilyMiller]

The more I read about the category, the more stupid I feel about publishing in it. It’s really not me from many perspectives.

 

[Actingup]

“Hey!” he said excitedly. “I just had an (unnotified) anonymous comment come through on my story.”

by Anonymous user on 8 hours ago
Wrong category, this is for erotic horror content. It's not even good.

 

[Bamagan]

Like I said, the readers don't seem to think that vampires don't belong in EH. Maybe it helps that she's a hot redhead.

Vampires, like a lot of other 'classical' monsters, have origins in horror stories but have bled out (if you'll excuse the pun) into other genres over the years. The original Dracula is a prime example of Victorian horror, but the 'twilight sparkle' vampires of more recent provenance really don't fit in EH... despite the fact that many of us are horrified by their popularity!

 

[StillStunned]

Vampires, like a lot of other 'classical' monsters, have origins in horror stories but have bled out (if you'll excuse the pun) into other genres over the years. The original Dracula is a prime example of Victorian horror, but the 'twilight sparkle' vampires of more recent provenance really don't fit in EH... despite the fact that many of us are horrified by their popularity!

Perhaps they weren't ever so much horrific as erotic? Or at least, their horror was just a vehicle for conveying the eroticism? And that makes sparkly vampires just the latest interpretation of that eroticism.

 

[Bamagan]

Perhaps they weren't ever so much horrific as erotic? Or at least, their horror was just a vehicle for conveying the eroticism? And that makes sparkly vampires just the latest interpretation of that eroticism.

There may be some truth to that, insofar as Victorians liked to act horrified by eroticism.

 

[StillStunned]

We'd better be careful. We don't want this thread to devolve into a literary discussion.

 

[Bamagan]

We'd better be careful. We don't want this thread to devolve into a literary discussion.

Quelle horreur!

 

[EmilyMiller]

“Hey!” he said excitedly. “I just had an (unnotified) anonymous comment come through on my story.”

by Anonymous user on 8 hours ago
Wrong category, this is for erotic horror content. It's not even good.

Wrong category is always such an entitled thing to say…

 

[Actingup]

Wrong category is always such an entitled thing to say…

My reply:

Thanks Anonymous for your comment! I’ll heroically suck up your comment on the quality of my writing, but all the same I’d be curious to know why you think it’s in the wrong category? I’m finding that angle a bit hard to digest.

Obviously, I'm not going to get a reply. But I did wonder if the reader picked up that the central figure in the story was sucking the soul out of the male MC during their sex sessions, grinding his bones to fertilizer and serving his flesh to guests. Surely that's at least a little bit erotic horror....

 

[EmilyMiller]

My reply:

Thanks Anonymous for your comment! I’ll heroically suck up your comment on the quality of my writing, but all the same I’d be curious to know why you think it’s in the wrong category? I’m finding that angle a bit hard to digest.

Obviously, I'm not going to get a reply. But I did wonder if the reader picked up that the central figure in the story was sucking the soul out of the male MC during their sex sessions, grinding his bones to fertilizer and serving his flesh to guests. Surely that's at least a little bit erotic horror....

Wrong category = your story didn’t check my ten boxes for exactly what I want, how dare you make me read it?

 

[ChloeTzang]

I'm still trying to get over the use of "elucidate" within a thread title. Oh, the humanity.

I say old chap, I was just coming here to laugh about that myself haw-haw

But yu know what's even funnier. No-one even questioned it. We are all over-literate! Which I guess goes with writing.

Sorry, Emily.

 

[Statius]

Wrong category = your story didn’t check my ten boxes for exactly what I want, how dare you make me read it?

I'm giving my recommendation. 'Dollhouse' HannahBaird. A remarkable writer. Horror is her specialty. Good luck. She makes it hard to sleep.