How Do You Like Yours?...Story Preference

[ShazzyB]

DO you like your literotica short and to the point? I think someone called it 'flash literotica. Not much intro and straight to the 'action' as it were.

or do you like a more fleshed out version. slow build up, finding out about your characters, some background and so on before you even get to anything erotic?

does reading in the first person (I did, I said etc) put you off, should erotica always be written in the 3rd person?

After constructive criticsms from forumites, of a short story I wrote, and asked for feedback on, and also on other submissions via the comments section, im trying differing styles of writing, so just thought I'd see what others preferences were, to see if that helped me any.

Thanks
S xx

 

[PennLady]

Everyone likes something different, and some like a little of a lot of things.

I generally prefer reading (and writing) third-person stories, but I've read some good first-person stories. Also just wrote my first story in first-person.

I generally prefer longer stories, or at least stories with a little plot and character development, but I've read some shorter, "flash" type pieces that are quite enjoyable.

There are too many people out there, too many readers, for there to be any one real preference for anything.

 

[Bramblethorn]

DO you like your literotica short and to the point? I think someone called it 'flash literotica. Not much intro and straight to the 'action' as it were.

or do you like a more fleshed out version. slow build up, finding out about your characters, some background and so on before you even get to anything erotic?

does reading in the first person (I did, I said etc) put you off, should erotica always be written in the 3rd person?

Re. length: I'm interested in sex as a major part of human nature. Pulling it out and focussing on it in isolation feels incomplete and unsatisfying; I want to know what's in people's heads. That usually means buildup, although I've occasionally seen flash that managed it.

My current story here is about a relationship between two people. Sex is part of that, which is why I'm posting it here, but they also spend plenty of time doing other couple stuff: playing cards, watching movies, rock-climbing and so on. Judging by the feedback, there are quite a few readers who like a slow-paced story that's not all about sex.

Re. person: first and third each have their strengths, either can work well depending on what you're doing. But try to stay away from second unless you have a very good reason.

 

[2981notrohrm]

My stories are typically straight to the point - I want the reader to have an understanding within the first part of the story what the narrator wants and then make it clear he's going to get what he bargained for and more. Any pre-fucking build-up is geared toward the narrator (my stories are almost always first-person) getting fucked intensely.

I might try doing something bigger with a little more build-up that isn't necessarily as fuck-intensive early on, but there clearly needs to be some erotic undertones at pretty much all times in the story.

 

[AdjectiveNounVerb]

For me it depends on my mood and available time. Some of my favorite stories are well over 10 pages long, but sometimes I just don't feel like reading anything more than 2 or 3 pages. The writing style can also affect it: I'll quit reading if I don't like the narrator's voice, feel the dialogue's stilted, don't like the action, etc.

 

[MaxSebastian]

im trying differing styles of writing, so just thought I'd see what others preferences were, to see if that helped me any.

Thanks
S xx

It's good to try different styles of writing - it often takes a while for a writer to find their 'voice' - but it really will come down to how you prefer to write, not what others' preferences are.

Whatever makes you feel most comfortable and feels most appropriate for the story you want to tell is usually the best way.

Lots of people like short erotic stories, but plenty like them long, too. Similarly, lots of people like first person point of view stories, just as plenty like third person POV. You could try writing in the present tense as an alternative to the conventional past tense method.

You'll find plenty of appreciative readers any way you do it as long as there is an interesting story, engaging characters and a lively pace. Just find your preferred style.

I would advise against writing in the second person, though. Quite a few people seem to dislike that in erotica, me included. It usually makes the reader feel you're writing the story for someone else, not them.

 

[sr71plt]

I'll go with the "variety" response.

 

[YDB95]

I usually like some build-up and context, rather than only the sex. I've been meaning to try writing a story consisting only of sex, but honestly, I don't think I'd find it all that arousing if I have no context to start from. And if I don't find my own work arousing, then I don't consider it worth the time I could spend on other stories that do appeal to me. Applies to reading other people's work as well: the more I like one of your stories, the likelier I am to favorite it so that I'll be able to find your subsequent work more easily.

 

[ShazzyB]

Thank you all for your wonderful responses, ive submitted a few pieces to Literotica and gotten a couple accepted, but they are generally, what Ive termed 'flash erotica)

http://www.literotica.com/s/a-bit-of-rough

http://www.literotica.com/s/hard-habit-to-break

i have 2 that have been knocked back (although I'm not really sure why), but I'm trying my hand at a longer story with some character build up and see how that goes. Its harder than it looks LOL, so maybe, I'm more suited to shorter stuff, but we shall see if it gets accepted, once ive finished it!

Thanks again, you lot rock!!

 

[Lien_Geller]

Not trying to rip into you here, but since this is kind of relevant then I thought I'd share my perspective.

Firstly, I'm not sure if I'm in the majority here but I truly loathe all stories set in the second person. It kind of implies a level of intimacy between the author and reader that makes me uncomfortable. Plus, when you openly address the reader then you begin to make assumptions for them. I could quite happily read a story in which a man gropes a woman and says "You love this, don't you? You horny slut."

Except I'd never actually say that. So when you tell me that I would instead of putting the distance of a first person narrative in which I'm seeing what someone else would do, or a third person narrative in which I get an overview of everything then it just comes off as awkward to me. I can deal with this kind of thing if the story was written in a kind of open letter format but don't make me part of the tale.

Next up, when it comes to story length I always and without exception prefer longer tales to shorter ones. To me, a good story is one that has good characters and a good plot and has those two essential elements woven together seamlessly to take me wherever it wants to go. In order to do this I think any author needs at least ten to twenty pages. That's normal Word pages with 12 size font btw, not Lit pages. Also, managing to pull that off with that limit is a fucking spectacular achievement.

I'm also a pretty fast reader too. If I sit down with a story then I usually like it to take up an hour and that means I need it to be quite a few Lit pages long. I seem to be in the minority in that regard though since most users seem to prefer shorter instalments of their stories.

That being said, the idea of flash erotica is interesting but I would say that the shorter the story then the more interesting I would need the situation to be. Two characters having sex on a bed is fine when we've had a nice build up, a little teasing and we are invested in the characters having sex but just describing that single scene without that context makes it somewhat boring. Plus, there's also the problem of seeing something that's been done to death. Meeting people in clubs and having random sex can be somewhat boring to read now just because I've read it ten thousand times before.

Finally, the other problem with the idea of flash erotica is something of a more practical one. If you're making a straight up "stroke story" that's meant to be intense to get the reader off then you have to take into consideration the fact that unless your reader is sensitive to the point of being set off by a stiff breeze, then they're probably going to need a little time to, ahem, cross the finish line. I don't know about you but I'm just not capable of that within the space of 16 paragraphs. Not without risking serious injury anyways.

Anyways, these are my thoughts. Sorry to be a negative ninny and I wish you the best in your further writing endeavours. )

 

[sr71plt]

Not trying to rip into you here, but since this is kind of relevant then I thought I'd share my perspective.

Firstly, I'm not sure if I'm in the majority here but I truly loathe all stories set in the second person.

Who are you addressing this to? Because neither one of the stories cited in the post before yours is in the second person. (Do you know what second person is? It's told from the perspective of the you. Using "you" but everything written perceived from inside the perspective of that "you." You throw in a I/me or he/she perspective and you aren't in the second person.) The first citation given here at least starts out in first person and the second at least starts out in the third person.

 

[Lien_Geller]

Whoops! My bad. I thought the second person was pretty much anything in which the writer includes the reader in the tale which the first story there does constantly. Apologies! My criticism still stands though, whenever I'm included in a story I instantly get turned off by it. Largely because the writer doesn't know me and it feels like they're basing the writing off of a connection that isn't there. If my girlfriend was going to write like that then fair enough cuz she'd have some context but just writing like that to the masses often comes across as very disillusioning to me. It's a personal thing though but I thought I'd mention it since feedback was wanted.

 

[Nickkazama]

I like a story that goes straight to the action.

 

[sr71plt]

I do agree that putting all of the "you" stuff in is usually awkward too belabored and offputting to the reader. (And trying to write it in real second person would probably be a disaster.)

 

[PennLady]

Whoops! My bad. I thought the second person was pretty much anything in which the writer includes the reader in the tale which the first story there does constantly. Apologies! My criticism still stands though, whenever I'm included in a story I instantly get turned off by it. Largely because the writer doesn't know me and it feels like they're basing the writing off of a connection that isn't there. If my girlfriend was going to write like that then fair enough cuz she'd have some context but just writing like that to the masses often comes across as very disillusioning to me. It's a personal thing though but I thought I'd mention it since feedback was wanted.

I agree on all points, I think. I don't like second person, or the I/you construction. As you said, *I* am not that *you*. I may want to read about someone being in a certain situation, but I don't want to read about myself in that situation.

 

[SaucyEroticProductions]

Neither Daniel nor me, Jasmine, particularly like first or second person-perspective. We try to put all of our works and collaborations in third person.

As to the style, both of us like a bit of plot, a bit of humor and of course a bit of juicy verbal and somatic interplay. We're trying to vary our styles a bit though, since we're aware that there are those who'd rather go straight into action instead of reading 1-2 pages of buildup!

Cheers!

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Just coming back to the OP's original post.

I like the longer stories better than the flash, but I think that defines the readership.

As you develop as a writer, I think you develop your following by being consistent in your style. Switching suddenly between flash sex and slow romantic fiction, I believe, is a recipe for not building a following that always clicks on your submissions.

 

[nakdsub]

I like good writing...

That's the main thing. I'm also not crazy about a ton of background info; I really don't care that his ma, ma made him wear short pants when he was three.

Most of the time I think that three to five pages is a good length but only because I don't have the time to read more than that at one sitting. I also like, at least some, believability and some thought put behind the plot, if there is one.

 

[ShazzyB]

thanks all, your help and thoughts have been invaluable to me! I really do appreciate you taking the time to respond.

at the minute I'm maybe thinking I should hang up my pen and stick to baking cakes!

 

[Lien_Geller]

I vote you keep writing and you bake cakes! Then you have something yummy to keep you cheerful in the dark days of writer's block and the sugar high will keep you writing longer! ;o)

Seriously though, don't be put off. If you enjoy it then you work at it and you get better. It's that easy. There's always new tricks to pick up and I've learned that when you start out it's fun to define yourself with what tricks you like and what you don't. Enjoy forming yourself and getting better, I know I do!

 

[TinyBeth]

I tend to prefer mid-length stories with a fair amount of character development so I care about the sex; plot is less relevant than character in my mind. First and third person seem to both work and I haven't found a preference between the two for reading. As for writing my first story was in third person and my current story is in first. As for second-person, I haven't found anything on here in second worth reading, (other than some of the hypnotic inductions in the mind-control category) but I could see a VERY skilled writer possibly being able to make it work. (I emphasize the "possibly") I would never try it.

 

[RedMonkeyButt]

For me, character development and some kind of plot is necessary to holding my attention. I don't want a stroke story, I want something that is going to hold my attention and help me to procrastinate so that I don't have to do the dishes or the laundry or, god forbid, write.

I prefer to write in first person. I prefer to read anything that is well written and has a point, and no, that point doesn't always have to be the sex. I've read a bunch of books where describing it came close to being a fan girl moment where I'm blabbering about all the stuff that happened and youhavetoreadthisbookrightnow... and oh, yeah... there was sex in there somewhere. Those are perfectly fine, as are the opposite where there seems to be a whole bunch of sex and oh, yeah, the protagonist killed the sparkling wombat AND discovered they could fart rainbows.

And to make this a further confusing post... microwave.

 

[WittePiet]

Longer stories

I think that regular readers enjoy longer stories that come out in instalments. It's always fun to check if your favourite authors have posted anything new. My own experience as a writer started with a single story of student life covering one academic year. But that inevitably led to a sequel, and another and another...

I began using a technique that Literotica recommends of using the two major protagonists in the story as narrators in different chapters. That is a good device, providing that the author manages to remember which of the characters is telling the story at the time of the occurrence. I found it easy to get the names wrong! The first stories led to a novel, by collecting all four together. I continued the technique for the second series of stories, but in the third series, I adopted the single narrator style, which in places I found a bit limiting and so had to resort to an occasional third person chapter.

My first long story had no chapter titles. That is a mistake. Chapter titles help the reader a lot in a long story, and if you envisage ultimate publication as an E-book, it's essential.