Does anyone read "Romance"?

[Virgin_Whore_Baby]

So, I want to write my first Lit submission, but I don't know what catagory to put it in. There will be no sex in it, but LOTS of sexual tension. LOTS! I don't want to post it under "Romance" because I don't think that many people read it. I would put it under "Erotic Couplings" (because its so general) but I think that calling it "erotic" implies that it contains sex.

Since it will be the first thing of mine that is posted on here, I want everyone to read it, not to mention enjoy it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

1. Regardless of how WONDERFUL your story is, "everyone" is NOT going to read it.

2. Regardless of what catagory you place the story in, "everyone" who hangs in that catagory is is NOT going to read it.

3. You are doing this back-assward. You don't choose the catagory and write the story. You write the story and post it in whatever catagory is appropriate.

I can give you a few hints. As a new writer, you will not get anywhere near as many reads as you seem to want. It takes time to gain a following of loyal readers and to become known on Lit. There are 75 or so new stories posted on Lit every day. Nobody can read all of them. People tend to read the stuff from writers they know. Readers tend to read stories in the catagories they like. There is no way around that.

Some catagories are more popular than others. Loving Wives is very popular, but the readers tend to be somewhat viscious, especially with newbie writers. Inter-racial is... well... just don't. BDSM has their own writing group who tend to be jealous of their turf. First Time, Romance etc are always good and fair. Science Fiction, Horror and Humor are tough catagories.

You would do a lot better hanging out in the AH and getting to know the writers and making yourself known. It's a long trip up the ladder from first story to a publishable book. But we'll help you.

 

[Virgin_Whore_Baby]

I don't actually think "everyone" is going to read what I write, but I would like as many readers as I can get.

The story in particular that I am referring to is already written. Well, not really. I have the whole story planned out in my head, I just haven't typed it up yet. Although, I probably am worrying too soon about catagorizing it.

I really appreciate your helpful advice.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

VBW,
Most of what I write is Humor and Sci-Fi. I'm lucky to get 2 or 3000 reads in either catagory. I wrote a Horror that got 10,000. I wrote a Forced Reluctance that got 40,000 and more than 100 hate-emails (including a few death threats).

If you post the story in the wrong catagory, the editors will change it anyway, so don't worry. If you need help, just pm me.

 

[Virgin_Whore_Baby]

Okay, Thanx.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

So, I want to write my first Lit submission, but I don't know what catagory to put it in. There will be no sex in it, but LOTS of sexual tension. LOTS! I don't want to post it under "Romance" because I don't think that many people read it. I would put it under "Erotic Couplings" (because its so general) but I think that calling it "erotic" implies that it contains sex.

Since it will be the first thing of mine that is posted on here, I want everyone to read it, not to mention enjoy it.

Jenny is quite right - newbie authors have to get themselves known, whatever the category.

You clearly haven't done your research properly. Romance is a very popular cat, just go check out the top list, but like everything else, there are local rules. The writers who do best there write standard formula (that's meant to be a compliment) mainstream romantic fiction. There's a start, a series of difficulties and hazards and the girl gets her guy in the end - with a level of sex thrown in.

If you think you can take on the talented and experienced guys first time out, you will be disappointed. Start small and build. Post here and we'll all go and look.

Erotic fiction doesn't always mean sweaty sex. I read a story recently on a writers' site where no-one took their clothes off, the couple were never alone and I was smitten.

If you get attractive characters with personality and a good story, you will do OK.

Good luck.

 

[LonelyMom]

Hi VWB. I'm little more than a newbie myself, but one thing that I've found is that the story that you have in your head can sometimes take on a life of its own and become something different altogether. Let the story tell itself and you can figure out a catagory later.

I know it's easy to tell someone not to worry about the numbers. I know that I sure did with my first few stories. Now, I just write for the sheer fun of it. I love starting out with no idea where the plot will go. There's such freedom!

Every reader has a different style of story that they prefer and we all find different things erotic. Write what brings you joy, otherwise it can become a chore and we may never get to hear what wonderful stories you may have to share with us. Good luck

 

[Virgin_Whore_Baby]

Hi VWB. I'm little more than a newbie myself, but one thing that I've found is that the story that you have in your head can sometimes take on a life of its own and become something different altogether. Let the story tell itself and you can figure out a catagory later.

I know it's easy to tell someone not to worry about the numbers. I know that I sure did with my first few stories. Now, I just write for the sheer fun of it. I love starting out with no idea where the plot will go. There's such freedom!

Every reader has a different style of story that they prefer and we all find different things erotic. Write what brings you joy, otherwise it can become a chore and we may never get to hear what wonderful stories you may have to share with us. Good luck

Thank You!

 

[drksideofthemoon]

So, I want to write my first Lit submission, but I don't know what catagory to put it in. There will be no sex in it, but LOTS of sexual tension. LOTS! I don't want to post it under "Romance" because I don't think that many people read it. I would put it under "Erotic Couplings" (because its so general) but I think that calling it "erotic" implies that it contains sex.

Since it will be the first thing of mine that is posted on here, I want everyone to read it, not to mention enjoy it.

I have a few stories in the Romance category and here is my take on it. No, you won't get the most reads. But, I have found the readers in the Romance catergory tend to vote more, and to offer more useful feedback than anyothe category.

 

[cloudy]

I have a few stories in the Romance category and here is my take on it. No, you won't get the most reads. But, I have found the readers in the Romance catergory tend to vote more, and to offer more useful feedback than anyothe category.

They also vote higher than in other categories - more forgiving, perhaps.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

They also vote higher than in other categories - more forgiving, perhaps.

I agree, they do vote higher. I think their motivations for reading may be different, I think a lot of them are looking to be swept away, not just turned on.

 

[cloudy]

I agree, they do vote higher. I think their motivations for reading may be different, I think a lot of them are looking to be swept away, not just turned on.

Probably so. I only have one story in Romance (that'll soon be gone - it's in Coming Together), and the only reason I put it there was that it really wouldn't fit comfortably anywhere else - very little sex in it, and that was more implied than anything. I noticed then that the votes were unusually high compared to those stories I had in other categories, and although I thought the Romance one was good, it wasn't that much better than the others.