May I make a suggestion?

[SalNichols94804]

I've been enjoying most of your stories for some time now, and I've noticed a common trait/habit that is really annoying.

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Honestly, this isn't erotic, you're describing suspects in a home break in; and YOU ALL DO IT.

When I read one of your stories my imagination can fill in the details. Please give me room to do that as a reader, or fill them in "Jane felt eclipsed by Tom's linebacker sized shadow" with some kind of literary trick (not that one btw, it sucks).

Seriously, the obsession with personal statistics sounds way too much like a Craigslist personals ad...not that I read them.

Cheers.

 

[LadyVer]

Newer writers tend to do this more, and it probably depends on the category.

 

[lowphat]

That's the beauty of Literotica, writers get to write what they want, and readers have the same luxury.

I personally don't care one way or another, but I'm not much of a critic, I'm mainly just a reader and writer. But the point is, we all have different tastes, and no writer can please everyone.

 

[DeYaKen]

I've been enjoying most of your stories for some time now, and I've noticed a common trait/habit that is really annoying.

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Honestly, this isn't erotic, you're describing suspects in a home break in; and YOU ALL DO IT.

When I read one of your stories my imagination can fill in the details. Please give me room to do that as a reader, or fill them in "Jane felt eclipsed by Tom's linebacker sized shadow" with some kind of literary trick (not that one btw, it sucks).

Seriously, the obsession with personal statistics sounds way too much like a Craigslist personals ad...not that I read them.

Cheers.

I agree with what you say, up to the point where you shouted "you all do it". That is sweeping generalisation, which is quite simply untrue.

No one goes to bed with a tape measure so a woman would not describe a man's cock as 9". Men might boast about it but no one but the man himself would find the actual size relevant. As for breasts I have yet to hear a man say "Wow! Look at her 36 DD breasts." You are far more likely to hear "Wow! She couldn't fall flat on her face."

I am a great believer in leaving something for the reader to do. I don't describe in great detail and I would bet that most of my readers would have a different image of the person in the story.

There is an excellent description in one of George Orwell's books. He describes a character in one paragraph, and most of that is taken up telling the reader about the large strawberry mark that covers half of the character's face. He tells you this because it is important. The character is selfconscious about it which means that he rarely looks people directly in the eye. To my mind that is a classic. He tells you nothing more than you need to enjoy the story.

 

[lovecraft68]

I agree with the peeve "statistics" make me roll my eyes.

But it seems to be used a lot more in stroke stories than stories that are making an effort to have more substance and I think the one handed read audience may like the stats, but that's my opinion.

So in general I'm with the OP opinion wise, but not all writers do it and no one here can tell any writer what they can't write. Many here write for fun and if that's what they want to do, they have the right to do it.

 

[sr71plt]

YOU ALL DO IT.

No we don't ALL do it, and this is where my "just shut up and write your own stories" response clicked in.

 

[robertreams]

I've been enjoying most of your stories for some time now, and I've noticed a common trait/habit that is really annoying.

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Honestly, this isn't erotic, you're describing suspects in a home break in; and YOU ALL DO IT.

When I read one of your stories my imagination can fill in the details. Please give me room to do that as a reader, or fill them in "Jane felt eclipsed by Tom's linebacker sized shadow" with some kind of literary trick (not that one btw, it sucks).

Seriously, the obsession with personal statistics sounds way too much like a Craigslist personals ad...not that I read them.

Cheers.

I could not agree with you more. Although I have to say, I never do it! One of the responses says that the beauty of this site is that writers can write what they want. To that I can only say: anyone can do poorly at anything. They have that right. I may not be the best writer who ever took to the keyboard, but I try to be. I care about what comes out and work hard. And I am learning all the time. When I first came on Lit. I had the attitude too. "Oh well,it is just a porn site so well enough will do." I was very surprised when I discovered that Lit. held its writers to a higher standard. The writers and readers such as yourself do. Keep reading critically and responding. It helps all of us.

 

[JKendallDane]

Newer writers tend to do this more, and it probably depends on the category.

Very true. With some categories it is not only acceptable, but also pretty much expected by most readers.

Gay male is a perfect example. I'm not talking a "police report/personal ad" style litany, but the readers seem to demand a clear visual is created for them that includes at least a minimal amount of stats. You just creatively write them in. Consider these three examples:

Kyle's six-foot-two, athletic body towered over Josh's noticeably shorter five-foot-eight, skinny frame.

Josh couldn't hold back his gasp when he freed Kyle's cock from his 501's. It was at least an couple inches longer and much thicker than his own very average six inches.

Josh was in awe of Kyle's sculptured chest, bulging guns, and firm thighs. But Kyle made him feel special as he danced his hand over Josh's hairless stomach and whispered, "I wish I could develop a rippled six pack you have. It's so sexy."

It's not so much what you describe in bringing a character to life, as it is how you do it.

Just MNSHO. YMMV.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I've been enjoying most of your stories for some time now, and I've noticed a common trait/habit that is really annoying.

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Honestly, this isn't erotic, you're describing suspects in a home break in; and YOU ALL DO IT.

No, we really really don't. Last story I posted here didn't even mention the protagonist's sex, let alone their measurements.

 

[SalNichols94804]

You're right, you're right....

Indeed, it was a bit of hyperbole, and I apologize. Like I said, it was merely a suggestion. I have a piece that needs a bit of editing. When I'm finished, you can all have your way with me.

 

[PennLady]

I've been enjoying most of your stories for some time now, and I've noticed a common trait/habit that is really annoying.

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Honestly, this isn't erotic, you're describing suspects in a home break in; and YOU ALL DO IT.

Like many here, I agree that this litany of stats isn't terribly erotic. However, I'll also join the group and say it's not something I do in my work unless I feel it's called for, which it usually isn't. I have a tough time remembering to put any physical description in sometimes, let alone specific stats like that.

OTOH, some readers like that.

You'll find there are no hard-and-fast rules in writing. What one person hates, one person loves. So write your story the way you want, and skip reading the ones you don't like.

 

[CyranoJ]

Yeah, I've been trying to break myself of the reciting-statistics habit, since pretty much anything the stats can convey one should be able to convey more vividly and immediately by other means. It's not something I've ever stopped reading a story over but it's a bit lazy.

 

[Katiecat]

Indeed, it was a bit of hyperbole, and I apologize. Like I said, it was merely a suggestion. I have a piece that needs a bit of editing. When I'm finished, you can all have your way with me.

As you can see, "YOU ALL DO IT" is bound to raise the hackles of those of us who never do it. =) It's a valid observation that it does pop up frequently in stories here. Personally, when I read a description like that, I get the impression I'm reading a Penthouse Forum letter, or the stats on a Playboy centerfold, rather than a story. For some writers, that is exactly the feeling they are trying to convey. For some others, they might lack confidence -- maybe they think if they don't specifically lay out the description and stats like that, then the reader will have the wrong picture in their head and won't see the characters the same way the writer imagined them.

 

[LadyVer]

Very true. With some categories it is not only acceptable, but also pretty much expected by most readers.

Gay male is a perfect example. I'm not talking a "police report/personal ad" style litany, but the readers seem to demand a clear visual is created for them that includes at least a minimal amount of stats. You just creatively write them in. Consider these three examples:

Kyle's six-foot-two, athletic body towered over Josh's noticeably shorter five-foot-eight, skinny frame.

Josh couldn't hold back his gasp when he freed Kyle's cock from his 501's. It was at least an couple inches longer and much thicker than his own very average six inches.

Josh was in awe of Kyle's sculptured chest, bulging guns, and firm thighs. But Kyle made him feel special as he danced his hand over Josh's hairless stomach and whispered, "I wish I could develop a rippled six pack you have. It's so sexy."

It's not so much what you describe in bringing a character to life, as it is how you do it.

Just MNSHO. YMMV.

I was thinking about LW, but GM sounds like it's another one. This wouldn't work in Romance. Anyone who does this in Romance signals that they don't understand the category and/or have never read a romance.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I do it every chance I get, and anyone who doesn't like it can fuck themselves some more. Its my story and yours sux for its own reasons.

 

[AZMotherLover]

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Tom's a big motherfucker. Football player?

Seriously, a little character description is necessary, although too much is too much.

 

[Katiecat]

Tom's a big motherfucker. Football player?

Of course he is. Jane is a cheerleader, and her tits are as perky as her pom poms.

 

[Learin]

Of course he is. Jane is a cheerleader, and her tits are as perky as her pom poms.

Pom-poms?

I've always thought perky watermelons were the norm.

 

[Pamtimaedias2001]

I've been enjoying most of your stories for some time now, and I've noticed a common trait/habit that is really annoying.

"Tom is 6'8", 260 lbs with a 9" dick, and Jane is a 5'4" blonde with 38 D tits and a great ass."

Honestly, this isn't erotic, you're describing suspects in a home break in; and YOU ALL DO IT.

When I read one of your stories my imagination can fill in the details. Please give me room to do that as a reader, or fill them in "Jane felt eclipsed by Tom's linebacker sized shadow" with some kind of literary trick (not that one btw, it sucks).

Seriously, the obsession with personal statistics sounds way too much like a Craigslist personals ad...not that I read them.

Cheers.

I completely agree and understand where you're coming from, Sal! At least in my case I try to avoid any such detailed descriptions and I mention the characters' traits only if necessary, but I don't know if this is good enough either for the reader to get an accurate idea about the characters. I guess the challenge is to find an elegant, witty, literary way to describe characters, and such detailed, mathematical descriptions should be avoided at any cost.
Cheers and all the best in your endeavours

 

[Katiecat]

I completely agree and understand where you're coming from, Sal! At least in my case I try to avoid any such detailed descriptions and I mention the characters' traits only if necessary, but I don't know if this is good enough either for the reader to get an accurate idea about the characters. I guess the challenge is to find an elegant, witty, literary way to describe characters, and such detailed, mathematical descriptions should be avoided at any cost.
Cheers and all the best in your endeavours

There are a lot of ways to describe a character without rattling off height, weight, and bra size/penis length. Here's an excerpt of a male character in a meeting at work, his mind wandering as he checks out his supervisor's secretary, the girl he's been secretly lusting after:

Rod shot a furtive glance across the table at her -- Ms. Diana Archer, administrative assistant to the general manager -- his dream girl, the goddess he worshiped from afar. She looked almost as bored as he felt, but she hid it well from everyone, everyone but him. Rodney had watched her for months, studying all of her quirky little mannerisms; he felt like he knew her better than anyone else did, even though she'd barely ever spoken to him. He knew she liked her coffee with extra cream and two sugars, and he recognized her perfume, even when she was no longer in the room. Her lovely hazel eyes gazed intently at the notepad in front of her, but he could tell her mind was a million miles away. Her light brown hair was twisted in the back and held with a clip; messy little wavy tendrils caressed the back of her neck, and he desperately wanted to brush them aside with his fingertips and kiss her there...and there...and that other spot over there. Hell, he just wanted to kiss her all over. Reverently and respectfully, of course – because she was, after all, a goddess.

She wore a white blouse, unbuttoned just one button lower than office-appropriate -- and every time she fidgeted, every time she breathed, the fabric strained over her full breasts. The material was slightly sheer, and he thought her bra must be made out of some sort of lace, very thin, because her nipples just barely...

It suddenly occurred to him that he was staring at her tits, and he hastily looked down at his notes, scribbling furiously and hoping no one had noticed. Rod tried to appear deep in thought while they discussed the proposed firmware upgrade next week -- but all he could think about was rubbing those sweet little nubbins with his thumbs, and he could feel a firmware upgrade beginning in his crotch. Son of a bitch. Sporting a visible boner for his boss's secretary would be a severely career-limiting move.

I didn't mention her height, her weight, or her bra size, but can you picture her anyway?

 

[rjordan]

I don't like statistics unless they are important to the story. Trying to make the reader see exactly what you see in your head is an impossible and pointless goal.

I also don't like comparisons to celebrities. "She looked just like Ruth Gordon, but with bigger tits and longer hair." What if the reader has no idea who Ruth Gordon is/was? (Look her up. She was fabulous).

That said, I sometimes imagine JBJ as Wilford Brimley desperately searching the double wide for ExLax.

rj

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I don't like statistics unless they are important to the story. Trying to make the reader see exactly what you see in your head is an impossible and pointless goal.

I also don't like comparisons to celebrities. "She looked just like Ruth Gordon, but with bigger tits and longer hair." What if the reader has no idea who Ruth Gordon is/was? (Look her up. She was fabulous).

That said, I sometimes imagine JBJ as Wilford Brimley desperately searching the double wide for ExLax.

rj

We were separated at birth, and EX-LAX means more to me than pussy.

Exlax, toilet paper, and LADY VER are all a man really needs in life.

 

[rjordan]

We were separated at birth, and EX-LAX means more to me than pussy.

Exlax, toilet paper, and LADY VER are all a man really needs in life.

Simple pleasures. The best kind.

rj

 

[sethp]

Yeah.

 

[lowphat]

I could not agree with you more. Although I have to say, I never do it! One of the responses says that the beauty of this site is that writers can write what they want. To that I can only say: anyone can do poorly at anything. They have that right. I may not be the best writer who ever took to the keyboard, but I try to be. I care about what comes out and work hard. And I am learning all the time. When I first came on Lit. I had the attitude too. "Oh well,it is just a porn site so well enough will do." I was very surprised when I discovered that Lit. held its writers to a higher standard. The writers and readers such as yourself do. Keep reading critically and responding. It helps all of us.

As usual, it's your way or the highway, right Robert?

Always telling people how to write, trying to make us all like you.