Picking your Category

[Ezrollin]

As some stories can fit into one of two categories. I'm writing one that could fit into the Reluctance / Non-con. or Erotic Couplings. Just curious as to how you decide which category in such cases.

 

[Kantarii]

I take a look at the overall theme of my stories. I wrote a Science fiction story that had a Transvestite main character that crossed into the realms of BDSM, erotic couplings, non consent, etc. I put the whole storyline in science fiction & fantasy based on the storyline theme.

I had a ghost story that involved a transvestite. I put it in erotic horror based on theme.

I'm sure a dumbass is going to tell me I should have put both storylines in Transexuals & Cross Dressers, but they didn't write the stories, I did. I chose the best place for me to put my stories.

 

[CoffeeWithMonkeys]

I usually just default to EC. I think my one I'm working on now should be Romance, but since the male main character is married and cheating I didn't want to upset people looking for pure sweet romance.

 

[NotWise]

I usually just default to EC. I think my one I'm working on now should be Romance, but since the male main character is married and cheating I didn't want to upset people looking for pure sweet romance.

I think EC tends to be kind of a reader's market; it gets lots of posts and doesn't have that many readers, so the readers can be, um... discerning. You might get a better reception in a more specific category--but probably not Romance.

 

[lovecraft68]

You have to figure out which is the trump kink and does that trump have high squick factor.

Non consent along with incest and GM are squick kinks and should be in their own category. EC is a catchall and if the NC is very moderate it could work, but if its full blown put it in non con you'll get a better response there

 

[sr71plt]

If it's strongly noncon, you'll get less flak by posting it there.

 

[lovecraft68]

If it's strongly noncon, you'll get less flak by posting it there.

If its strongly non con they should get no flak there, I would think. Then again every category has its own trolls.

 

[Kantarii]

If its strongly non con they should get no flak there, I would think. Then again every category has its own trolls.

As do the discussion boards.... Let's not forget that partKant

 

[GoldenCojones]

I'm sure a dumbass is going to tell me I should have put both storylines in Transexuals & Cross Dressers, but they didn't write the stories, I did. I chose the best place for me to put my stories.

I'm your huckleberry, Kantarii. You should have put both storylines in Transexuals & Cross Dressers

Sometimes it is, as LC said, mainly about which kink is likely to ick out the most readers. Sometimes it is about targeting your audience. I think putting a good SF story in SF is about targeting the right readers. Putting a SF story in Incest because the daddy alien is doing the daughter alien is about avoiding icking out a bunch of SF readers. Sometimes it's about "Fuck I'm tired of hearing that I'm cuck shit just because my main female character is married" so I put an LW story in Group instead.

It's all good. Lit is a big enough place to not worry too much about category. As long as YOU have a reason for putting in into a category that is good enough.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, yes. But I don't put most of my stories in GM because I'm afraid of how they will rate in another category. I do it because that's where my target audience for these stories is. In the same vein, I frequently complain that there is no bi category here, because, since there isn't, there's no good place for a bi target audience to gather. The category isn't being ignored here because there is no bi target audience out there, because there is one.

 

[TxRad]

In the end, Laurel gets the last word on category if she so chooses.

 

[SecondCircle]

I write it first and then decide what the overall theme of the story is. Sometimes that is more obvious at the beginning of a story (such as a story mostly about anal sex is probably going to wind up there). But whatever the strongest theme, is where I try to put it. Last year I had a story where the main sexual drift was lesbian sex, but most of the story was centered around horror. So it fit better in EH.

There's exceptions of course. Depending on Laurel's final decision, certain topics can wind up in trump categories. She does have the final say. I imagine I'd have an easier time posting lesbian sex in erotic horror than I would incest into the mature category.

 

[Kantarii]

I write it first and then decide what the overall theme of the story is. Sometimes that is more obvious at the beginning of a story (such as a story mostly about anal sex is probably going to wind up there). But whatever the strongest theme, is where I try to put it. Last year I had a story where the main sexual drift was lesbian sex, but most of the story was centered around horror. So it fit better in EH.

There's exceptions of course. Depending on Laurel's final decision, certain topics can wind up in trump categories. She does have the final say. I imagine I'd have an easier time posting lesbian sex in erotic horror than I would incest into the mature category.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that posts a story based on the overall theme

I don't actually believe, Laurel reads "each and every story" submitted to the site like some believe she does. That's preposterous given the amount of stories submitted to the site. If so, she could have and probably would have moved my story "The Diablo Masquerade" from Science Fiction to the Transexuals category based on the main character being a transvestite if she had actually read it, but she didn't. I'm led to believe she allows the Authors the freedom to place their stories where they want within some reason. Now, if I had stuck the story in the lesbian category, there might be an objection.

In the end, I'm sure it has something to do with the story tags attached with the story by the author.

 

[GoldenCojones]

Well, yes. But I don't put most of my stories in GM because I'm afraid of how they will rate in another category. I do it because that's where my target audience for these stories is. In the same vein, I frequently complain that there is no bi category here, because, since there isn't, there's no good place for a bi target audience to gather. The category isn't being ignored here because there is no bi target audience out there, because there is one.

I didn't mention GM because to me it isn't an Ick factor. It's not my kink but it isn't icky. There are things that I hate being surprised with in a story. If I'm rocking along liking a story and then it takes a sharp turn into a rape fantasy, I close out immediately and REALLY wish the asshole author would have put it into Non-Con so I wouldn't have to read his shit.

 

[Kantarii]

I didn't mention GM because to me it isn't an Ick factor. It's not my kink but it isn't icky. There are things that I hate being surprised with in a story. If I'm rocking along liking a story and then it takes a sharp turn into a rape fantasy, I close out immediately and REALLY wish the asshole author would have put it into Non-Con so I wouldn't have to read his shit.

Incest stories do me the same way. I only read a select few incest stories wrote by fellow authors here in the AH, absolutely none by just volunteering to read on my own. I read a fellow author's work out of respect because what I write might turn their stomach. So I have limitations on what I will read when it relates to certain types of stories.

As far as "rape", I wrote one scene in My Brother's Ghost" that if you read just that chapter it is "rape", but if you read the next chapter( the very last chapter) you can't hold on to the thought the character was actually "raped" given the turn of events in the storyline.

I don't care for pure "rape" stories. I only use that element to create hatred for the villain, sentiment for the one attacked, and if the element of "rape" moves my story to further the main character in the story. Mostly, I hover around borderline non consent, and not actually "rape" in its purest form.

 

[lovecraft68]

I didn't mention GM because to me it isn't an Ick factor. It's not my kink but it isn't icky. There are things that I hate being surprised with in a story. If I'm rocking along liking a story and then it takes a sharp turn into a rape fantasy, I close out immediately and REALLY wish the asshole author would have put it into Non-Con so I wouldn't have to read his shit.

Non con and incest are the two biggest, you should not put them outside their category without a warning. A lot of people lump GM in, but like you, it doesn't bother me even though its not my thing, its just a sex act I would not engage in myself.

But incest and non con outside the fantasy level are crimes in real life and nothing pleasant about them. There are people here who have been raped and the victims of incest(which in itself is rape as well) and as an author I would not want to make them relive something they don't want to by being 'clever' and mixing a trump kink in another category.

On the occasions that has happened to me I'm tempted to drop a bomb. Not because I'm not a big boy and can't handle seeing something I'd prefer not to, but for the disrespect the author shows to the readers.

In the end I don't bother, they're not worth the extra second to do it, and there's plenty of others who will feel the same way and drop that one vote.

 

[GoldenCojones]

Incest stories do me the same way. I only read a select few incest stories wrote by fellow authors here in the AH, absolutely none by just volunteering to read on my own. I read a fellow author's work out of respect because what I write might turn their stomach. So I have limitations on what I will read when it relates to certain types of stories.

As far as "rape", I wrote one scene in My Brother's Ghost" that if you read just that chapter it is "rape", but if you read the next chapter( the very last chapter) you can't hold on to the thought the character was actually "raped" given the turn of events in the storyline.

I don't care for pure "rape" stories. I only use that element to create hatred for the villain, sentiment for the one attacked, and if the element of "rape" moves my story to further the main character in the story. Mostly, I hover around borderline non consent, and not actually "rape" in its purest form.

Rape used to create hatred for the villain is a prop and while it would make me uncomfortable, would not cause me to stop reading. When I said "Rape Fantasy" I'm talking about those dudes who write and seem to think "She said no, but she really wanted it." Sorry if I piss someone off, but nope, if she says no, she means no and if you don't respect that then a bullet through your left eye is just a little too damned good for you. As for non-con, I personally feel the same way about it. If one of the parties does not give explicit consent, then it's rape. Period. If some dumbshit gets a girl drunk and fucks her, it's rape.

Sorry, but this is one of my buttons. It has a big red X on it and says "Caution, do not push"

Of course I could be talking out of my ass again, because I've never intentionally read a non-con story and at the exact moment I begin to think a story is heading in that direction I stop reading. So it is very possible I don't know what "Non-Con" really is. If it is where both people really want it but one is playing coy then I guess that wouldn't really be rape. Although I've walked away from women who later told me they were disappointed because they were just playing hard to get. I told them all the same thing. "That don't work with me. If you tell me no, I'm going to assume you mean it."

 

[Kantarii]

Rape used to create hatred for the villain is a prop and while it would make me uncomfortable, would not cause me to stop reading. When I said "Rape Fantasy" I'm talking about those dudes who write and seem to think "She said no, but she really wanted it." Sorry if I piss someone off, but nope, if she says no, she means no and if you don't respect that then a bullet through your left eye is just a little too damned good for you. As for non-con, I personally feel the same way about it. If one of the parties does not give explicit consent, then it's rape. Period. If some dumbshit gets a girl drunk and fucks her, it's rape.

Sorry, but this is one of my buttons. It has a big red X on it and says "Caution, do not push"

Of course I could be talking out of my ass again, because I've never intentionally read a non-con story and at the exact moment I begin to think a story is heading in that direction I stop reading. So it is very possible I don't know what "Non-Con" really is. If it is where both people really want it but one is playing coy then I guess that wouldn't really be rape. Although I've walked away from women who later told me they were disappointed because they were just playing hard to get. I told them all the same thing. "That don't work with me. If you tell me no, I'm going to assume you mean it."

I think we are on the same page. I am not one to go reading rape and rape fantasy stories either. The actual rape scene in "My Brother's Ghost" was necessary for the story. Initially it was put into Erotic Horror, but with it being my first storyline submitted to the site, I was a very inexperienced writer. Now that I have a little more experience, I'm actually reworking the storyline, grammar, punctuation, and switching it over to my current style of writing. As I resubmit the reworked stories to the site, I am changing the category to Non Human instead of Erotic Horror to distance myself from the possible rape fantasy connection.

 

[GoldenCojones]

I think we are on the same page. I am not one to go reading rape and rape fantasy stories either. The actual rape scene in "My Brother's Ghost" was necessary for the story. Initially it was put into Erotic Horror, but with it being my first storyline submitted to the site, I was a very inexperienced writer. Now that I have a little more experience, I'm actually reworking the storyline, grammar, punctuation, and switching it over to my current style of writing. As I resubmit the reworked stories to the site, I am changing the category to Non Human instead of Erotic Horror to distance myself from the possible rape fantasy connection.

Part of writing is taking risks and seeing what works and doesn't. I'll admit that I haven't read any of your stories. They seem to focus on TV which, while there is nothing wrong with it, it just isn't my kink. While TV is not an ick for me, I suspect there are a lot of readers out there that wouldn't agree and you might get a better response by putting your stories in the "Transsexuals & Crossdressers" category. Unless you just don't want to

 

[Kantarii]

Part of writing is taking risks and seeing what works and doesn't. I'll admit that I haven't read any of your stories. They seem to focus on TV which, while there is nothing wrong with it, it just isn't my kink. While TV is not an ick for me, I suspect there are a lot of readers out there that wouldn't agree and you might get a better response by putting your stories in the "Transsexuals & Crossdressers" category. Unless you just don't want to

I can respect that. There are TV main characters in my stories, but that isn't the main focus on the stories I write. I don't put them in Transexuals because I go against the grain. I don't use the TV as a kink or fetish. I relate to my characters as any human being in the real world. I have experienced many of the things women face in the real world as my life isn't a porn fantasy centered around sex. If you ever decide to read one of my stories.... Might I suggest "A Slut's Triangle"? It is focused on my experiences, thoughts, feelings, etc. It has cheating, deceit, betrayal... And soon jealousy. On one side it's about a TV trying to abandon men and on the other a woman that falls in love with the TV. But, I can only suggest it. Kant

 

[Hypoxia]

Is the transgression a major theme of a story? If not, it can fit elsewhere than the trump categories. I've put MM-sex, near-rape, incest, and the like in Group and Mature and EC. The only time Laurel has over-ridden me was to move a near-rape from LW to NonCon. (I say "near-rape" because she didn't actually say NO, she only wasn't expecting the public fuck.) Other forced fucks fit into Incest or Group stories with no problem, but these were incidental to the storyline. The main theme should determine the category.

 

[Kantarii]

The main theme should determine the category.

I totally agree with this statement. To judge my story based on the main character being a Transvesite is so short sighted. It can still be a Ghost Story or a Science Fiction Story as the main focus

 

[the_stoic]

I totally agree with this statement. To judge my story based on the main character being a Transvesite is so short sighted. It can still be a Ghost Story or a Science Fiction Story as the main focus

Category by main theme makes the most sense to me; however, I'm curious as to how this might be the case for those whom have labeled their stories Novel/Novella. Basically, I'm trying to parse what separates an author's story from the standard-label Interracial Love or Fetish, for example, apart from a story of his or hers that includes one of those elements, but instead appears in Novel/Novella? (Does Novel/Novella have any particular criteria?)

 

[TxRad]

Category by main theme makes the most sense to me; however, I'm curious as to how this might be the case for those whom have labeled their stories Novel/Novella. Basically, I'm trying to parse what separates an author's story from the standard-label Interracial Love or Fetish, for example, apart from a story of his or hers that includes one of those elements, but instead appears in Novel/Novella? (Does Novel/Novella have any particular criteria?)

They are or should be very long stories. Think novel as opposed to a short story. Most all of the big number of chapter stories should be in this category.

 

[Jay321]

You have to figure out which is the trump kink and does that trump have high squick factor.

this. Where I do agree that the overall theme in a perfect world would be the way to go, this is not a perfect world. Some people see GM as squick. I think pilot has the right idea lumping his stuff there. Incest, non-con and BDSM have their squick factor. If I had a story with any one of these 4 themes, even minimally, it would go in one of them.

But incest and non con outside the fantasy level are crimes in real life and nothing pleasant about them. There are people here who have been raped and the victims of incest(which in itself is rape as well)
.

Non-con is rape, period. Through the writers block I am dealing with, I started, finished, self edited, and deleted a non-con story. Its just no for me.

This reads as though there is no such thing as consensual incest. I am not an advocate for it IRL, but There are many happy incestuous relationships out there.