How to categorize stories?

[Vioan]

Hello everybody.

I'm a novice author on Literotica; I've submitted my first story almost a year ago, but I've only written two in total. There is one thing that bothers me about my stories though.

I tend to write about one main character, who is not human. She is a cat-girl -- very silly in many people's eyes, I know -- and although most of her body is exactly like that of a human, she has several feline assets, like furred ears, a tail, clawed fingers & toes, etc. Certainly enough for my stories to belong to the NonHuman category.

Now, to my question... While the main character of my stories is NonHuman, I feel that there are some categories that fit way better. I'm planning to write a story about force/reluctance, several stories about lesbian sex and incest, and possibly about Exhibitionism and BDSM. All of them revolving around the main, NonHuman character. I imagine NonHuman-readers could feel offended when bumping into a story that involves non-consensual sex, incest, or graphical descriptions of sadism and masochism.

So... How should I categorize these stories? Do they all belong in the NonHuman section because the other categories are solely about humans? Or can I post them in other sections too?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Viona

 

[Darkniciad]

In most of the categories, branching out into fantasy characters is going to get you back-clicks, low votes, and probably nasty comments.

You made the correct choice going with Non Human. One nice thing about Non Human and Sci-Fi & Fantasy is that the readers expect a wide range of themes within the theme. If you warn them up front in an author's note, they actually heed the warning, unlike so many other categories where the readership uses it as a signpost to leave nasty comments without ever reading the story.

Even without the warning, the readership is far more likely to back-click without voting or skip over parts that make them squeamish, rather than low vote you and leave nasty commentary.

 

[Vioan]

I see, thanks a lot. The thought that I'll be posting a story about rape in the NonHuman section still bothers me, but I suppose this is the best choice after all.

 

[Darkniciad]

Just warn that there are non-con elements at the beginning of the story in an author's note.

You'll also want to be aware that the rules regarding non-con are hard to pin down. Again, you have an advantage posting in non-human, because the characters are inherently divorced from reality. The more real-to-life the scene is, the more likely it is to be rejected with the physical/mental cruelty grounds.

Another common adage is that Lit will post Rape Fantasy, but not Rapist Fantasy. If the act is seen from the attacker's POV, you're walking a thin line. When it's from the victim's POV, you're in a little safer waters, but it's always dicey. The more agony ( either physical or mental ) the victim is subjected to, the more likely it is to be rejected.

The more important the rape is to the development of the character and the story -- rather than just a scene where the rape is pretty much the whole story -- the more likely it is to pass muster. I've had characters horribly degraded and physically abused, but it was as a catalyst for character development, and they went through without a hitch.

 

[Vioan]

To give you an idea of what it'll be: The "rape" is not actual rape, but rather a man taking advantage of the female protagonist's situation. She's modelling nude for him, but has financial issues and is considering prostitution as the last way out. He finds out about this idea during a modelling session, and coerces her into letting him have sex with her for money. No physical force is involved although the act will end up having emotional consequences to the protagonist. The story is written in first person, from the victim's point of view.

 

[PennLady]

I agree with Darkniciad that you should continue in the Nonhuman category. I've read a number of NH stories that have BDSM, non-con, and same-sex elements and no on seems to care. I'd agree that a note at the beginning of the chapter/story indicating what kind of elements are contained therein would be helpful to the reader.

 

[lovecraft68]

To give you an idea of what it'll be: The "rape" is not actual rape, but rather a man taking advantage of the female protagonist's situation. She's modelling nude for him, but has financial issues and is considering prostitution as the last way out. He finds out about this idea during a modelling session, and coerces her into letting him have sex with her for money. No physical force is involved although the act will end up having emotional consequences to the protagonist. The story is written in first person, from the victim's point of view.

So it's really not non/con but reluctance, she's not happy but it is her choice. These will always fly with no issues.

 

[Darkniciad]

To give you an idea of what it'll be: The "rape" is not actual rape, but rather a man taking advantage of the female protagonist's situation. She's modelling nude for him, but has financial issues and is considering prostitution as the last way out. He finds out about this idea during a modelling session, and coerces her into letting him have sex with her for money. No physical force is involved although the act will end up having emotional consequences to the protagonist. The story is written in first person, from the victim's point of view.

I wouldn't worry about that being rejected at all. That's the shade of non-con called "reluctance", and I've yet to hear of one of those getting rejected in any category.

You might consider skipping the warning ( or at least heavily tilting it toward reluctance rather than non-con ) to avoid scaring away readers who would otherwise be fine with this scenario as opposed to hard-core rape.

 

[Vioan]

I wouldn't worry about that being rejected at all. That's the shade of non-con called "reluctance", and I've yet to hear of one of those getting rejected in any category.

You might consider skipping the warning ( or at least heavily tilting it toward reluctance rather than non-con ) to avoid scaring away readers who would otherwise be fine with this scenario as opposed to hard-core rape.

That's what I was going to do. I'm not sure whether emotionally heavy stories can be popular on this website, but I'm going to give it a try. After all, people don't just come here to read about juicy sex scenes.

 

[Darkniciad]

Again, you're in the right category *laugh*

The readership in Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Non Human are - in my experience - there for the story as much as the sex. There are simply fewer stroke readers in those categories than others. The sex should certainly be there, but comments about skipping the sex to get back to the story and even complaints about too much sex are fairly common in those categories.

 

[Vioan]

That's nice to know. I think that's a kind of audience I'll enjoy writing for!

 

[PennLady]

That's what I was going to do. I'm not sure whether emotionally heavy stories can be popular on this website, but I'm going to give it a try. After all, people don't just come here to read about juicy sex scenes.

Yes, such stories absolutely can be popular. There are a lot of people, myself included, who like more than just a stroke story. You'll be fine.

 

[scouries]

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg5mbjL3hA1qbzd9eo1_500.jpg
Why don’t you make her a human being instead?

ScouriesWorld

Now part of the worldwide campaign to rid LITEROTICA of NON HUMANS!!!!
​

 

[Darkniciad]

Say hello to our parasitic troll

You'll find your Literotica experience far more enjoyable if you ignore scouries and his alts. He has no connection to Literotica other than posting stories and trolling the boards. Any claims of "contests" he runs or "rules" are completely fraudulent.

 

[Boxlicker101]

One thing to remember is that Lit. will put stories in the categories where they think they belong. Authors make suggestions, and these are usually accepted, but not always. The story of the nude model you describe fits perfectly into the second part of Non-consent/Reluctance and would have no problem at all. The catwoman stories would almost certainly go into Non-human, so I would include a warning if violence or even lesbianism is included in the story.

 

[scouries]

Boxy!!!

the Gabster just whispered in my ear that she's still waiting for the update on your 2000+ vote story. She needs it by tomorrow a.m. latest.​

 

[Darkniciad]

Box, the entire point of this thread is that the protagonist is non-human, and all other story elements get trumped by that.

I have never seen a story get recategorized out of Sci-Fi & Fantasy or Non Human, because those categories are catch-alls for stories containing those specific elements.

Warning for F/F sex isn't at all necessary. The only thing I would bother warning about in these categories is M/M or rape, watersports, etc. The readers simply don't go ballistic over much of the content that causes other categories' readers to go up in flames.

Otherwise, it is true that the Lit moderators have the final say in what category your story gets placed in. In this situation, there's about as much chance of being struck by lightning while holding a winning lottery ticket as the category being changed from Non-Human.

 

[Vioan]

Eesh, scouries, your post was really uncalled for.

Anyway, thanks y'all for the very quick help.

 

[scouries]

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg5mbjL3hA1qbzd9eo1_500.jpg

QUOTE vioan Eesh, scouries, anyway, thanks y'all for the very quick help.

OMG - y'all are from the South aren't you? A flemish texan?

And let me welcome you to the site my dear. May I suggest that you might enjoy adding me to your "favorite authors" list? Certain valuable advantages will accrue to you the second you do.

I am worried about the eesh though. Hopefully a sweet young lady like yourself is not one of those N-Hers who also invent languages for their non humans...

Have a wonderful day,

jim​