First Story - Category & Misc. Feedback

[AmethystRains]

Hello, first time writer here!

I am in the middle of writing a story based on how my husband and I met, which was in an Internet chat room. We had an online relationship for about a year before we met in person, and the rest they say is history. My story centers on the first time the guy comes to visit the girl (both in their early 20's), and it's written in third-person, from the female's point of view. It starts off briefly in the present, then flashes back to the past describing things they do online together, and finally returns to the present of his first visit.

However, I am having trouble deciding what category this story would best fit to for submission:

- Erotic Couplings
- First Time
- Non-Erotic
- Novels & Novellas
- Romance

There are many sexual scenes in the story (though I am only about half finished with it), but it's not straight up continuous sex, one instance after another. There's a lot of getting to know the characters and their inner feelings, and an undertone of romance/falling in love.

I would just appreciate some feedback on the categories above as far as maybe explaining them in a little more detail. Also, if anyone has any tips for a new author, as far as what distinguishes a "great" story from a "terrible" one, in your own opinion of course, since I know everyone's tastes are different. Basically, if there is anything cliche to you that you feel should be avoided, or on the flipside, things that would interest you more in this story, I would love to hear them.

Thank you so much!

 

[PennLady]

Depending on how long this is, you could put each chapter into a different category. I'd say it seems to fit best under romance, from your description, and I've written plenty of romance stories that don't have sex in various chapters. I gather the romance readers don't mind that.

Erotic Couplings (to me, at least) implies something like a one-night stand. I've read the Novellas category doesn't get a lot of readers. First time also seems like a one-shot deal, for obvious reasons.

So if this is a multi-part story about two people coming together (ahem), then I'd say Romance might be best.

 

[lovecraft68]

Depending on how long this is, you could put each chapter into a different category. I'd say it seems to fit best under romance, from your description, and I've written plenty of romance stories that don't have sex in various chapters. I gather the romance readers don't mind that.

Erotic Couplings (to me, at least) implies something like a one-night stand. I've read the Novellas category doesn't get a lot of readers. First time also seems like a one-shot deal, for various reasons.

So if this is a multi-part story about two people coming together (ahem), then I'd say Romance might be best.

Is that right on erotic couplings? They should only be one shot stories?

believe it or not amidst all my sordid incest work there are a few things I have that I am going to put up in a few weeks and I was leaning towards EC but they would each be 2-3 parters. Pretty much straight sex between two people no BDSM, Incest or group.

 

[bwallard]

I'd have to read it to say.

 

[PennLady]

Is that right on erotic couplings? They should only be one shot stories?

No, I said that to me, Erotic Couplings implies a one-night stand, or a short-term stay, or something like that. I've certainly seen a few stories where the author puts the same characters in different erotic situations together, but it's not part of a larger, chapter-type story. I also don't see why someone couldn't write a story about a couple that follows them as they engage in various erotic couplings.

Just that from what I've read, most EC stories seem to be stand-alone.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

I also find the EC vs romance distinction confusing. I did some searching a while back and came up with this thread:

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=411664