How fast to get to the action?

[xxistential]

OK I'm taking my first plunge into actually writing a story here instead of just browsing. The problem is, I wonder if I'm getting too long winded.

Some of my favorite authors here spend a lot of time developing their characters and their situations, but how much build up is too much? How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? Can you keep the reader into the story for a while with erotic content, without getting your characters into overtly sexual situations?

I appreciate any opinions.

 

[shereads]

How long can you sustain the tension?

 

[Guest]

The problem is, I wonder if I'm getting too long winded.
Well, it depends on how well you write long winded without losing the reader's attention. Although I can never seem to read his stuff (short attention span) TheSandsman is a master class at this. He usually get H-mark. Try reading his stuff. He usually goes on and on about some guy losing his girlfriend in car accident or something, and the guy sent to Vietnam and coming back to meet lave of his life or something. He writes like I'm doing right now in block after block of words.

I prefer the style of eric_51 which is far easier to read and cut to the chase. Riven_Caulfield gets my vote too. Try Dixon Carter Lee or KillerMuffin, or Albatros.

Some of my favorite authors here spend a lot of time developing their characters and their situations, but how much build up is too much? How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? Can you keep the reader into the story for a while with erotic content, without getting your characters into overtly sexual situations?
Some do some don't.


I appreciate any opinions. [/B]

 

[Guest]

OK I'm taking my first plunge into actually writing a story here instead of just browsing. The problem is, I wonder if I'm getting too long winded.

Some of my favorite authors here spend a lot of time developing their characters and their situations, but how much build up is too much? How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? Can you keep the reader into the story for a while with erotic content, without getting your characters into overtly sexual situations?

I appreciate any opinions.

Hi xxistential,

Chilled has already said a lot of what I was going to say, but I just want to add...

You should write whatever you feel is right for the story. It's your story, and you are the best judge of what you think will work. No matter what you write and post here at Lit, there will be some who love it, some who hate it and a multitude of people inbetween.

From a personal point of view, I like a good build up. I like to get to know the characters and their motivations, before they get down to the sex. I also love to see a bit of conflict, and maybe doubt and inner turmoil. To me, interesting characters (and a bit of background to them) always make for a better story, and, more often than not, a more gratifying sex scene.

All the best with it!

Lou

 

[FlyontheWall99]

It is generally personal choice. I like stories that take their time to get to the sex, generally I can't stand those stories which start with a bio of each person, cheesy hit on line, and then into the action.

It's all up to the author's own style and the audience you want to appeal too. There are a lot of readers out there who like the quick mindless romp without too much buildup. There are also plenty of readers who enjoy a well crafted lead up and then some good action in the end.

Usually I write between 12-14 MS Word pages per story. I'd say at least the first 7-8 pages are build up, then maybe a page or two of not too subtle 'flirting' then foreplay and eventual sex. Pure sex probably only makes up 25% of most of my stories.

Mind you I've also noticed a tendency to rate better, gain more votes, and gain more views when the story is closer to 66% or more sex. But I'm trying to 'keep it real' and not give into that tendency.

Hope you have fun writing,

Fly .....

 

[yui]

OK I'm taking my first plunge into actually writing a story here instead of just browsing. The problem is, I wonder if I'm getting too long winded.

Some of my favorite authors here spend a lot of time developing their characters and their situations, but how much build up is too much? How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? Can you keep the reader into the story for a while with erotic content, without getting your characters into overtly sexual situations?

I appreciate any opinions.

Hi xxistential,

If it is simply opinions you want, then here is mine.

I do not personally like an enormously long character biography at the beginning (makes me sleepy) or a Playboy/Unsolved Mysteries-type physical description either. You know, "she's a five-feet-four-inch, tan skinned virgin with EEE breasts, blah, blah, blah, blah…"

If the story does not catch me in the first couple of paragraphs with something: sex, humor, lyrical writing, something…then I click the back button and, well, move onto the next story.

My own stories are mostly about the, um, "good stuff" but they also lack any sort of identifiable plot. I personally enjoy trying to capture a tiny moment in time. That motivates me to write, so that is how I write.

Dixon Carter Lee, might just be a god…or I might just be a groupie…what was the question?

Oh, yeah...sorry, sidetracked with jazz singer aspirations...

As a reader, grab my attention! As a writer, write what you like to read.

Good luck!

Yui ^_^

Porn Without Plot

 

[snooper]

... How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? ...

Two distinct classes of reader seem to frequent the boards.

Broadly speaking one lot want "Stroke" stories and operate the mouse with the left hand while leaving the right hand for other activities*. They want the "hot" bits and care nothing for character development, so will dump your story after three paragraphs if there isn't already an explicit description of sexual activity.

The other lot want to be able to believe in the characters and will discard your story if you get to an explicit description of sexual activity before the characters are leaping out of the page.

*I know that the 10% of natural left handers do the opposite.

 

[Boxlicker101]

In some of my stories I get quickly to the action and by the third paragraph the narator is licking somebody's nipples. In others, it takes a written page or more to get to the action and I try let the reader know the hot parts will be along soon. Usually this is by having a very explicit description, either dialogue or narrative, of previous activity with the strong implication that more of that sort of thing will be happening soon.

Just out of curiosity, does anybody think of that smily as a frog or does everybody think of it as licking, probably a pussy, the way I do? Or do I just have an unusually dirty mind?

 

[Guest]

Just out of curiosity, does anybody think of that smily as a frog or does everybody think of it as licking, probably a pussy, the way I do? Or do I just have an unusually dirty mind?

Your filthy mind is absolutely normal, Box. Don't worry.

Lou

 

[mcfbridge]

OK I'm taking my first plunge into actually writing a story here instead of just browsing. The problem is, I wonder if I'm getting too long winded.

Some of my favorite authors here spend a lot of time developing their characters and their situations, but how much build up is too much? How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? Can you keep the reader into the story for a while with erotic content, without getting your characters into overtly sexual situations?

I appreciate any opinions.

As others seem to have indicated, there isn't one answer to this question. Personally I am of the school that if I don't feel like I know the characters, I don't like the story. But that's a matter of taste.

The best advice I can give you is this. After you write something, go back and read it. If you enjoy your own story, it's probably what you want. If you've written something that you would not want to read, you probably need to fix it.

 

[Belegon]

I tend to approach my writing with the idea that the sex will be much hotter if I have shown some motivation for the characters to want each other than a physical description. I think it is much more involving for reader and writer that way.

To put it another way, remember the words of the immortal Frank:

"I see you shiver with Antici......................................................(say it!)...........pation!"

How would you like a mystery movie in which they solve it in the first five minutes and then describe the courtroom for an hour and a half?

Oh, and on the whole physical description thing, I find it is better to use the Hitchcock Method. Get the imagination started and then let the viewer(reader) fill in their own details. I hate stat lists.

 

[MLyons]

mcfbridge wrote:

The best advice I can give you is this. After you write something, go back and read it. If you enjoy your own story, it's probably what you want. If you've written something that you would not want to read, you probably need to fix it.

I completely agree with this. The only way I REALLY know that a story of mine is ready to go is if when I take a step back to read it I get a chilly, shuddery feeling up my spine for lack of containing my arousal. If I read it, or passages of it, without getting that feeling (which believe me, happens alot in th editing stage--I can be far too long winded and get stuck on unneccessary non-sexual details), I've done something wrong--the mojo isn't there, and I'm not being true to what really, truly drives me batty about an erotic story.

I think writing any type of really successful erotic story is a delicate balancing act, no matter what category, or whether it's pure stroke or lengthy character development. This is the challenge of writing them, and the ultimate reward is in writing something that turns you on like no other story can. If I've turned myself on, I'm pretty sure I'll have gone a long way to reaching an audience that will be turned on as well.

I could be wrong, but that's my opinion anyway. As others have said, there's no simple answer to your question, and I certainly struggle with it as much as anyone.

 

[gauchecritic]

Either way of writing is good, is you're looking to write a specifically erotic story.

One thing I'd say is don't dive straight into a sex scene unless you are a master craftsman with words and emotions, even then I'd warn against it.

Before back-clicking, the stroke readers will actually scan down the first page after a couple of paragraphs to see if there is anything worth reading on for.

Having them not do this is where the author has to aim. The writing must hold, entertain and promise the reader. If you can do that then you don't actually even need to have a sex scene, merely the hint or promise of one. This method will also hold the non-stroke reader.

Anticipation is the key.

Gauche

 

[xxistential]

Thanks to all

Thanks for the feedback, it was varied just like I thought it would be, but that tells me a lot. I think the two most helful comments were...

The best advice I can give you is this. After you write something, go back and read it. If you enjoy your own story, it's probably what you want. If you've written something that you would not want to read, you probably need to fix it.

Very true and seemingly a simple answer, but I'd never really thought about it quite that way.

The only way I REALLY know that a story of mine is ready to go is if when I take a step back to read it I get a chilly, shuddery feeling up my spine for lack of containing my arousal. If I read it, or passages of it, without getting that feeling (which believe me, happens alot in th editing stage--I can be far too long winded and get stuck on unneccessary non-sexual details), I've done something wrong--the mojo isn't there

Great insight! I will definitely remember that.


Thanks again for all the feedback.

 

[CharleyH]

OK I'm taking my first plunge into actually writing a story here instead of just browsing. The problem is, I wonder if I'm getting too long winded.

Some of my favorite authors here spend a lot of time developing their characters and their situations, but how much build up is too much? How long can you hold a readers attention, if they are looking for erotic fiction, without getting to the good stuff? Can you keep the reader into the story for a while with erotic content, without getting your characters into overtly sexual situations?

I appreciate any opinions.

In a short story? 1 page or less as far as I'm concerned. a short story doesn't require the whole desciption or life and times of the character. If it's a flash smut piece, well shorter

All you need to do is set up the plot, ensure everything is there. Attention span depends on your reader. After posting your first story you will know who that is. I keep my characters best in tension, foreplay first, and then get down to business. If checking out - screening and window are best - although not my fave expressway people seem to like