Do Literotica writers conform to readers' expctations?

[polynices]

This is a tentative question: Do you, as a writer posting here, find that you conform to what you think of as readers' expectations when you write a story for Literotica?

I ought to clarify that a bit. First, I understand that we can't actually know what readers' expectations are to any degree of accuracy. However, I'd guess that most people who've posted a couple or so stories on Literotica have some sense of those expectations, even though they can't be sure they're correct about them.

Secondly - and here's the nub of my question - do you find yourself directing a story a certain way more because of your sense of what readers expect than as a result of your own instincts and preferences as a writer? To give a specific example, would you be (or have you ever been) put off from giving your story an unhappy ending because you think readers prefer 'up' endings to 'down' ones?

It seems to me that the typical Literotica story (whatever that is) conforms to a particular story arc: boy/girl/man/woman meets boy/girl/man/woman (or multiple combinations of same) and, after some initial (optional) tension, wonderful sex ensues. Then everyone lives happily ever after. I'm certainly not criticising that - after all, the main purpose of the stories is to be vehicles for erotic fantasy - but I wonder if, sometimes at least, writers here would like to explore different narrative paths but feel inhibited from doing so. One of the great strengths of modern fiction, after all, is its capacity to be unpredictable. However, most Literotica stories (including my own, I hasten to add) are highly predictable in everything but the details of who exactly did what to whom.

I realise what I've said here is full of unsupported generalizations, and that quite a lot of writers will say: 'But I do write unhappy endings (etc). Just look at my ..." However, that said, do you ever feel a pressure to conform to a certain 'Literotica fantasy universe', when you might otherwise produce different stories?

(By the way, I hope it's been clear from what I've said so far that I'm not thinking of the obviously necessary conformity to the requirements of story categories. I'm thinking more in terms of plot, and maybe character, than 'erotic substance'.)

- polynices

And, of course, having carefully proof-read the post, I've left an uncorrectable spelling mistake in the bloody title! Apologies. - p

 

[oggbashan]

I write a significant amount of fetish, because my first feedback came from Yahoo Groups dealing with particular fetishes. I looked at the stories already in the Files of the Yahoo Adult Group and thought that I could write a better story. At least I could spell, write in complete sentences, and sometimes tell a story.

I see a fetish as a challenge. Can I make a story about the fetish interesting and readable even if you don't share the fetish? Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I fail spectacularly.

I have said several times that my ultimate challenge is South Indian Women's hairy and sweaty armpits. That story is stalled. However, doing a search for the keyword "armpit" I see that several Lit authors have already covered the fetish.

I had most help from a now-deleted Yahoo Group for Unbirth. The moderator and some of the active members looked at my draft story and suggested ways that it could be improved to make the Unbirth fetish more appealing to them. After they had reviewed several drafts, I posted The Virgin Unbirth.

Tripletit and sequel also has Unbirth, but I have cheated on some of my other Unbirth stories. They are hypnotic unbirth and unbirth with inflatables.

I have tried to meet what my readers have asked for. Some of the requests from Anonymous are physically impossible, or would produce a story that I would never consider writing.

What I don't do is write to achieve popularity or high ratings. They would be appreciated, but that's not my style. I write mainly to challenge myself.

Og

 

[bronzeage]

I have received many letters asking if I am the man in the story, and I am not, where can he be found.

Whatever their expectations might be, I am sure I fall far short.

 

[TxRad]

I write where the story leads. The only expectations i think about while writing are my own.

Most writers if the are smart, write for themselves and let the readers sort it out for themselves.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

For the most part, NO.

I try to keep my readers guessing, either by creating unlikely characters or through unexpected plot twists. On the other hand, I do try to meet or exceed their expectations of one or more hot sex scenes.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

nope. not when it comes to Loving Wives. i go out of my way to fuck with them.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I tend to aim for the 'odd'. I get positive feedback for stories that deal with the slightly creepy and outre' so that encourages my twisted imagination to continue in that vein. Expectations don't mean much. Response means a lot.

 

[_Lynn_]

More of my stories fall into the romance and non-erotic categories now because that's where my strength is. But I've never written a story -- the ending or otherwise -- to conform to the readers' expectations. Each piece is what it is.

I'm thinkin' Lit readers prefer other categories anyway.

 

[Stella_Omega]

When my stories were on lit, I got a lot of comments from men saying my lesbian characters weren't sexy

...after some initial (optional) tension, wonderful sex ensues. Then everyone lives happily ever after.

Believe it or not, back in my day, that happily ever after part went against expectations. Sex was wrong, and women who loved sex had to have a comeuppance (c.f. 'The Well Of Loneliness' and 'The Story of O')

So when first I wrote about women who loved sex, survived and thrived, I was going against expectations.

 

[sr71plt]

No. I write to what I think the needs of the story are.

 

[CharleyH]

This is a tentative question: Do you, as a writer posting here, find that you conform to what you think of as readers' expectations when you write a story for Literotica?

I ought to clarify that a bit. First, I understand that we can't actually know what readers' expectations are to any degree of accuracy. However, I'd guess that most people who've posted a couple or so stories on Literotica have some sense of those expectations, even though they can't be sure they're correct about them.

Secondly - and here's the nub of my question - do you find yourself directing a story a certain way more because of your sense of what readers expect than as a result of your own instincts and preferences as a writer? To give a specific example, would you be (or have you ever been) put off from giving your story an unhappy ending because you think readers prefer 'up' endings to 'down' ones?

It seems to me that the typical Literotica story (whatever that is) conforms to a particular story arc: boy/girl/man/woman meets boy/girl/man/woman (or multiple combinations of same) and, after some initial (optional) tension, wonderful sex ensues. Then everyone lives happily ever after. I'm certainly not criticising that - after all, the main purpose of the stories is to be vehicles for erotic fantasy - but I wonder if, sometimes at least, writers here would like to explore different narrative paths but feel inhibited from doing so. One of the great strengths of modern fiction, after all, is its capacity to be unpredictable. However, most Literotica stories (including my own, I hasten to add) are highly predictable in everything but the details of who exactly did what to whom.

I realise what I've said here is full of unsupported generalizations, and that quite a lot of writers will say: 'But I do write unhappy endings (etc). Just look at my ..." However, that said, do you ever feel a pressure to conform to a certain 'Literotica fantasy universe', when you might otherwise produce different stories?

(By the way, I hope it's been clear from what I've said so far that I'm not thinking of the obviously necessary conformity to the requirements of story categories. I'm thinking more in terms of plot, and maybe character, than 'erotic substance'.)

- polynices

And, of course, having carefully proof-read the post, I've left an uncorrectable spelling mistake in the bloody title! Apologies. - p

Readership at Lit is so huge, that no matter what you write, it will be adored by someone and hated by someone else. KEEP WRITING!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Nope...although sometimes I do write a story as an experiment just for the trolls. My latest is just that. But mainly I write what I want for me. If the readers don't like what I wrote, tough.

And I would also like to thank the troll who just went through every one of my story and posted a one bomb. Just shows what scum has been dredged up from the bottom of the pond.

 

[DeeZire]

I write from a rather skewed perspective, so I don't expect my stories to connect with the lowest common denominator. In my mind, writing for the masses could be compared to what Britney Spears does. The problem with LIT is that there's no money to be made being Britney Spears, so what would be the motivation for writing with that goal in mind? (unless you're Scouries.) On the other hand, I think we need more Lady Ga Ga - who has done a marvelous job of turning tasteless and tacky into an art form.

 

[JMaxwell69]

I try not to write what I'd call "Dear Penthouse" stories because they bore me. (Having said that, I have- particularly writing to request.)

I get the feel that the largest portion of readers would be happy with what I would call "scenes" rather than "stories". That is, many are not greatly conserned with character development or plot lines. However, some are, and they're my target audience

 

[TE999]

When I began contributing to Lit I focused on submitting one story in each of the categories...most scored well...some didn't. It was a learning experience.

I write for my own enjoyment...it's fun stringing words together, creating characters and situations, writing dialogue...it's all good.

If the readers enjoy it, I'm pleased.

 

[Lisa Summers]

I write to create a world that's never existed before. If people don't want to be in that world for the few minutes it takes to read about it, I consider that to be unfortunate, and perhaps they'll avoid me in the future. Then, we'll both be happy.

I think I write more to meet my characters' expectations. I'm trying to give them life, so it's pretty important to them.