How long do you like it?

[ChromeCollar]

What is your usual rule of thumb for story length? Do you have an amount of words that you prefer to stay close to?

If you aren't a writer but an avid reader how long is too long for you?

I am working on revamping a rejected story but it is getting quite long and I am afraid that will end up being a turn off for most. It is approaching 6k words, and all my other stories are between 2k and 4k.

Would love to hear what your thoughts are.

 

[SisterJezabel]

What is your usual rule of thumb for story length? Do you have an amount of words that you prefer to stay close to?

If you aren't a writer but an avid reader how long is too long for you?

I am working on revamping a rejected story but it is getting quite long and I am afraid that will end up being a turn off for most. It is approaching 6k words, and all my other stories are between 2k and 4k.

Would love to hear what your thoughts are.

It's a tough one. You will always get readers who will devour War and Peace and others who prefer a Reader's Digest version of a story. 15K words is my sweet spot, but sometimes inspiration will strike and I'll end up with more or less. I find it hard to get in enough substance without hitting 9k, but that's just me and my wordiness ;-)

 

[Sextified]

For me, at least, a good quality story can be of any length.

It seems to me that here on Lit, shorter stories are preferred by most. But there are a good number of us that like a longer build up, if we are being teased along, and there is a good pay off at the end.

My rule of thumb, for shorter stories that I have written but not posted here, is to always tell a good tale first. A lot of times if I feel it is running long, but it has some real promise, I stop and do a quick storyboard. Once I have an idea of the final length, and some idea of the best erotic conclusion, I make a decision.

Usually I'll adjust some background material, and add much larger sex scenes at the appropriate spots, and leave a good open ended finale. That seems to be what works best for most readers of all types here.

What category is your current work going to be in? Could it fit in one or more places? Is it running long only because you are trying to 'fix' problems? Or has your rewrite caught your own interest, and your new words are truly adding to the plot?

As long as YOU are writing well, keep going and see if a natural break point develops. If it does, finish the parts, and post them together at the same time for approval.

 

[Rustyoznail]

As a reader, I want to stay engaged. I want to look up surprised after I've finished wondering where the time went.

Like a lot of things, size isn't relevant. It's what you do with it.

You'll get a lot of differing opinions from other writers but in general, just write your story. It'll find an audience, as long as it reads well. I've got a 2k word story that's gathering dust, and a 44k story that's bubbling along at 4.9. They're my extremes at the moment.

 

[ChromeCollar]

For me, at least, a good quality story can be of any length.

It seems to me that here on Lit, shorter stories are preferred by most. But there are a good number of us that like a longer build up, if we are being teased along, and there is a good pay off at the end.

My rule of thumb, for shorter stories that I have written but not posted here, is to always tell a good tale first. A lot of times if I feel it is running long, but it has some real promise, I stop and do a quick storyboard. Once I have an idea of the final length, and some idea of the best erotic conclusion, I make a decision.

Usually I'll adjust some background material, and add much larger sex scenes at the appropriate spots, and leave a good open ended finale. That seems to be what works best for most readers of all types here.

What category is your current work going to be in? Could it fit in one or more places? Is it running long only because you are trying to 'fix' problems? Or has your rewrite caught your own interest, and your new words are truly adding to the plot?

As long as YOU are writing well, keep going and see if a natural break point develops. If it does, finish the parts, and post them together at the same time for approval.

It can fit in two categories but I am aiming for the non-consent category as a final destination. It keeps getting rejected with the note that the victim is getting little to no pleasure, etc. I am trying to write in additional scenes that counter the complaint. Been a bit of a frustrating process.

 

[SimonDoom]

My readings tastes are varied "out there", but when it comes to erotic stories at Literotica I tend to like stories that are between 2 and 6 Literotica pages, meaning up to a bit over 20,000 words. I don't have much appetite for reading Literotica novels, unless they are multichapter stories where each chapter entertains me.

If I open a story and see that it's longer than 6 pages, I probably will be a bit less likely to read it unless for some reason it seems especially interesting to me.

The reason is I like to read Literotica stories in one sitting. I don't want to read partway through and come back later. I prefer to be able to finish a story within about half an hour.

My writing tastes tend to mirror my reading tastes. My stories tend to be from 3 to 6 Literotica pages and I have never written a story longer than 7 pages, if one doesn't count my multichapter stories.

 

[LaRascasse]

There's no one right answer to this question. It depends on the story you're trying to tell.

• Well written flash fiction / micro fiction in a few hundred words can pack a punch.
  
• Short stories can range from a day in someone's life to a glimpse of a whole world.
  
• Longer stories / novellas can reach 50K words and detail a story arc spanning years with multiple characters, all growing and building.
  
• Novels can have multiple story arcs reaching hundreds of thousands of words and can take the reader on a journey through the lives of characters and events across many years.

There is an audience for all of the above and all variations in between. You need to decide what is the right length for the story you want to tell and write it. If it's good, the reader who likes that length will find it.

 

[SamScribble]

I'm a fan of the traditional short story. One or two (Lit) pages is fine with me - as long as it's well-written.

 

[Sextified]

It can fit in two categories but I am aiming for the non-consent category as a final destination. It keeps getting rejected with the note that the victim is getting little to no pleasure, etc. I am trying to write in additional scenes that counter the complaint. Been a bit of a frustrating process.

My previous website had a much dimmer view of non-consent AND incest stories. But I had an absolutely pivotal point to get to before the readers, so they would understand a main character better. So I sort of flipped the time line, and eventually accomplished my goal, just barely within their stricter rules.

You are obviously much too far along for this trick at this point, but it might serve you in the future.

My female character was horribly abused at a very, very young age, in the worst ways possible. But as she grew older, she began gravitating towards dominant men and women, yet just as avidly sought out people that she could herself place under her total control.

So instead of telling the story chronologically, I placed her in a rather controversial (at the time) solo scene looking back on her life. She was playing with herself, trying to trace back the roots of her own fetishes and obsessions.

In the end, she admitted to herself that she was continually trying to relive that initial cruel moment, and learn to come to grips with it. With some partners, she kept placing herself in true danger, even as she came violently from the pleasure THEY were experiencing. With her own little playthings, she learned to come just as intensely, from their need to submit to HER.

I had nothing graphic or tricksy about underage incest whatsoever. No false dream sequences. She merely honestly looked at the experience from her attacker's side, and finally gave herself permission to accept her role in it, and how it had shaped her life.

The point is, as an adult she could now freely CHOOSE which side of the coin to pursue, as her mood and whims struck her.

So I guess the Moderators point is that this is their website, and they have established the rules. As authors, it should be looked on as an additional challenge to tell the underlying story in a manner that shows a complete picture.

If what you are trying to tell is just a pure forbidden kink stroke story, then you probably should post that kind of effort somewhere else. If you have a real story to tell, show your character at a point where they ENJOY that kind of sex now, but where they can honestly (and carefully) admit the true source of their desires.

 

[ChromeCollar]

My previous website had a much dimmer view of non-consent AND incest stories. But I had an absolutely pivotal point to get to before the readers, so they would understand a main character better. So I sort of flipped the time line, and eventually accomplished my goal, just barely within their stricter rules.

You are obviously much too far along for this trick at this point, but it might serve you in the future.

My female character was horribly abused at a very, very young age, in the worst ways possible. But as she grew older, she began gravitating towards dominant men and women, yet just as avidly sought out people that she could herself place under her total control.

So instead of telling the story chronologically, I placed her in a rather controversial (at the time) solo scene looking back on her life. She was playing with herself, trying to trace back the roots of her own fetishes and obsessions.

In the end, she admitted to herself that she was continually trying to relive that initial cruel moment, and learn to come to grips with it. With some partners, she kept placing herself in true danger, even as she came violently from the pleasure THEY were experiencing. With her own little playthings, she learned to come just as intensely, from their need to submit to HER.

I had nothing graphic or tricksy about underage incest whatsoever. No false dream sequences. She merely honestly looked at the experience from her attacker's side, and finally gave herself permission to accept her role in it, and how it had shaped her life.

The point is, as an adult she could now freely CHOOSE which side of the coin to pursue, as her mood and whims struck her.

So I guess the Moderators point is that this is their website, and they have established the rules. As authors, it should be looked on as an additional challenge to tell the underlying story in a manner that shows a complete picture.

If what you are trying to tell is just a pure forbidden kink stroke story, then you probably should post that kind of effort somewhere else. If you have a real story to tell, show your character at a point where they ENJOY that kind of sex now, but where they can honestly (and carefully) admit the true source of their desires.

This is wonderful advice, I thank you so much for helping me see it in a different light. Would love to read the story you mentioned btw.

 

[HeyAll]

6,000 words is my sweet spot.

Generally, I like to keep a story below 7,000 words (which is 2 full Lit pages, roughly).

I like to pack in as much story and character detail as possible. I try cutting out all the unecessary stuff and getting to the point.

 

[Emirus]

It can fit in two categories but I am aiming for the non-consent category as a final destination. It keeps getting rejected with the note that the victim is getting little to no pleasure, etc. I am trying to write in additional scenes that counter the complaint. Been a bit of a frustrating process.

It’s ridiculous to have a non consent category and then insist the victim has to be shown to gain some pleasure from being abused.

However, I do agree there has to be a line which can’t be crossed and the problem is Laurel has put the line in the wrong place, arguably to make her job easier, because it’s impossible for her to fully read every story submitted and she, as we know, simply scans the stories presumably using the assistance of a programme (is that the correct word?) which picks out certain words without taking the context into account.

I can think of one website which caters for stories and readers where there is no safety line so there is an outlet for anyone who considers Laurel is too strict.

Let’s say a burglar breaks into a house and rapes a woman. She obviously won’t enjoy it and to say she does you may as well not write the story. However, you submit it and it’s rejected because she didn’t enjoy being raped.

Another burglar breaks into the house, asssults the woman injuring her severely. She doesn’t enjoy that either but the story isn’t rejected. Where’s the sense in that?

I had a story in which a transsexual prostitute raped a client and it was rejected because he didn’t enjoy it. I reluctantly added one sentence to show he had enjoyed it and it was accepted. It made the story ridiculous but I thought “f*** it” I’ve written it, it’s the first story I’ve submitted, and I want it published. But I’ve never been happy about it.

Going back over the years its obvious stories Laurel found acceptable once she doesn’t find acceptable now and if someone now was annoyed enough, and had the time, they could report hundreds, if not thousands, of stories as being unacceptable by her present day standards. It happened not long ago when some a******e reported a story which had been published for years, which many readers had enjoyed, and no one else had considered to be offensive. Naturally, the person is hidden behind anonymity.

Instead of a story being automatically rejected because the abused hadn’t enjoyed it, and there can’t be many stories submitted where that’s the case, couldn’t Laurel ask someone whose opinion she respects to give her their opinion? Sounds reasonable to me but I doubt it will happen.

 

[Emirus]

My readings tastes are varied "out there", but when it comes to erotic stories at Literotica I tend to like stories that are between 2 and 6 Literotica pages, meaning up to a bit over 20,000 words. I don't have much appetite for reading Literotica novels, unless they are multichapter stories where each chapter entertains me.

If I open a story and see that it's longer than 6 pages, I probably will be a bit less likely to read it unless for some reason it seems especially interesting to me.

The reason is I like to read Literotica stories in one sitting. I don't want to read partway through and come back later. I prefer to be able to finish a story within about half an hour.

My writing tastes tend to mirror my reading tastes. My stories tend to be from 3 to 6 Literotica pages and I have never written a story longer than 7 pages, if one doesn't count my multichapter stories.

I read SimonDoom’s comment and thought, “that comment could have been written by me. He thinks the same as I do.”

I want to read a story in one sitting and my preferred length is 2 to 6 pages. Although the first 2/3 pages have to be good for me to maintain my interest. The longest story I’ve read in one go was 11 pages and I’ve since read it again, more than once, because I enjoyed it so much and I sometimes use it as a yardstick for a story of mine.

As regards a series I like chapters of 2/3 pages because the story should leave you wanting more which is rarely the case with stand alone stories, even if some reader(s) might want more.

A story is as long as it takes to finish writing, and reading, it whilst still remaining interesting.

 

[jaF0]

It’s ridiculous to have a non consent category and then insist the victim has to be shown to gain some pleasure from being abused.

It's ridiculous to do stories of violence and abuse. Unless maybe you're doing a true crime type tale where the assailant is prosecuted.



This 'how long' thread has been done a thousand times. My usual reply is the Penthouse Letters/Variations theme. If I see that a story will be longer than two or three Lit pages, I don't even start reading it.

 

[Omenainen]

Well, I'm of the opinion that size does matter and bigger is better If something is good I want to dwell in it for ever and ever and not be done as quickly as possible. That being said, if a story is over 10 lit pages long I stop and consider before starting to read.

Anything less than 10K words is short in my opinion. Less than 5K doesn't usually have enough depth for me. 10-20K is what I most like to read, and I guess what I've most written as well.

 

[SexyShel]

I like stories to be between 1 and 3 pages long. But if the story is good enough then 4 to 5 pages maybe. THE big problem I find is that I am reading Lit. on a laptop. If it were on my Kindle I'm sure I could read stories of massive length. (Is there a way of reading Lit. on a Kindle?)

So in reality, it's not the length that counts is where it's being read that counts !

 

[Handley_Page]

Three or Four Lit pages is just fine for me.

 

[PennameWombat]

Sticking to the length discussion (and ignoring my 750 word entries) I have one story at 1700 words, a love it or hate it story, low rating (for me) but based on comments, people who like it love it.

I have a few in the 6,000-10,000 word range but most of mine are 15,000-35,000 words, including chapters for some serials, which I’d say is where I tend to ‘aim’ for. My longest single work is a shade under 70,000 words in SF&F, which on any day might be ‘Hot’ or not, rating sticks a tick above or below 4.5 as votes come in. Mostly SF&F, NonHuman, Erotic Horror, E&V; but forays into First Time, Fetish and Group, some early stories in EC.

 

[davion2308]

My length

I think the length of story is "How ever many words it takes to tell the story," but I find my scores are better and people react more when I get up past the 5,000 word mark and develop relationships and believable scenarios. That's where the magic happens and I feel like my story really is something to be proud of.

One-off stories that are 1800 words just don't seem to do as well and don't satisfy me creatively anyway

 

[PoisonPen33]

Longer than most - I have a tendency to use three words when one will do. My first story went in Novels & Novellas solely because of length (5-9 Lit pages per chapter).

I just tell the story. If I were publishing professionally I'd have to tighten up my word count drastically, but for Literotica I just type, edit, and the chips fall where they do.

 

[Bramblethorn]

How long should a woman's legs be?

Long enough to reach the ground.

 

[SimonDoom]

Although the first 2/3 pages have to be good for me to maintain my interest. .

I guess Emirus and I think alike on this point, too. I cannot emphasize this point enough. This is why I think many authors, especially new authors, waste a lot of time at the beginning of the story with way too much description of the back story and this sort of thing, which makes me yawn:

>Let me tell you about my hot wife. She's 5 foot 6 with a 44-inch rack. We've been married for 20 years. We had kids when we were young but now they're grown up and blah blah blah blah.

Instead, jump write into the story with a scene or with dialogue, and incorporate the description as you go. The key is to grab my attention as a reader, give me a hint at least of the main character, and give me a clue about their motivation and what the story is going to be about. All of this can and should be done within the first 1000 words AT MOST. Once I'm in and hooked, I may stick around even past my usual reader page limit.

 

[PoisonPen33]

I guess Emirus and I think alike on this point, too. I cannot emphasize this point enough. This is why I think many authors, especially new authors, waste a lot of time at the beginning of the story with way too much description of the back story and this sort of thing, which makes me yawn:

>Let me tell you about my hot wife. She's 5 foot 6 with a 44-inch rack. We've been married for 20 years. We had kids when we were young but now they're grown up and blah blah blah blah.

Instead, jump write into the story with a scene or with dialogue, and incorporate the description as you go. The key is to grab my attention as a reader, give me a hint at least of the main character, and give me a clue about their motivation and what the story is going to be about. All of this can and should be done within the first 1000 words AT MOST. Once I'm in and hooked, I may stick around even past my usual reader page limit.

Seconding.

My Dungeons & Dragons DM hates the "so you're all sitting in a tavern" cliche. He always opens our stories/campaigns with a fight or the aftermath of a fight, or in our Star Wars game, in the middle of committing insurance fraud to get a new ship.

You don't have to open with a sex scene or an action sequence. Dialogue or as SimonDoom said, a tantalizing tease of characterization can be enough to hook a reader.

 

[PeytonMirabelle]

Depends?

I guess the cop-out answer is, "How long does it take to tell the story?" I've read some brilliant one-page stories on here. Some draw me in and keep me reading out to 10+ pages.

The top-rated SF&F story is listed at Lit 65 pages, which puts it somewhere in the range of 225-250K words, in one entry. If published, that would be 700+ pages, which is hefty, even by SF/F standards. But apparently, that story is engaging enough to keep folks interested and voting strongly. So length is probably less important than engagement and appealing to the interests of the target readers (of whatever category you put in).

I've read before that if one were submitting to professional agents for publication, you have a few lines to catch their interest and a few pages to really engage them or the submission will get tossed in the REJECT pile. So as others said, it's good to put something up front to hook the reader--certainly within the first thousand words. That might be more important than length.

As an aside, I'd be interested in seeing the average length of story submission by category. I suspect some of them, like EC, tend shorter while SF&F by nature will be longer. So OP, maybe that's the answer? Think about the readership of what category you're writing to and let that guide you?

 

[SyleusSnow]

Personally, I back out when I click on a story to see it's 6+ pages. I just don't want to risk investing that much time on a Lit story, especially on a new author.

It seems many Lit readers prefer longer stories (I've had comments about two-pagers being too short) but I try to target the traditional short story length of 6-10K words. If there's more to say I'll add it as chapters, each also 8-10K long and reasonably self-contained.