plot and development or sex, sex, sex?

[Bacomicfan]

Hi,all. Just curious about something. I've noticed a few posts here where people asked questions like, "how much
sex" is enough or not enough in a story. So it got me to
thinking about my own stories.
I'm a fan of teasing and slow seduction, so my stories
tend to be longer (not to mention I like to toss in alot of
detail). Also, I think a story, even a sex fantasy, is more
believable if the setting, the scene and the characters are
fleshed out a little. I think it helps the reader to
visualize better (strictly my opinion, of course).
So, here's my question to you all. Do you prefer a story
where some time is taken (but not TOO much..lol) to set the
scene or do you prefer the "Hi, I'm Matt...let's have sex"
approach? I'm all for the heavy breathing stuff, but I
think a bit of set-up is needed to make a story really
interesting and fun. What do you folks think? Am I bonkers
or not? Um....no, don't answer that...just the other question...lol. Keep reading and keep smiling.
Mike

 

[chatbug]

The topic has been covered in other posts, but I think that the more stories you read, especially within the same subject, the more you appreciate character development.

 

[bluntforcemama]

Both!!!! Especially when it's almost that time of the month....

 

[sylviarockon]

I agree with Myst. I think there's alot of people who just come looking for some good sex story to turn them on before they go to bed for the night. I know I've read other posts that suggest people sometimes scroll through the character development and plot to get to the "good bits." I also get the sense that there's a readership out there that has grown bored with the "just rampant sex" stories because they've read it all before and are looking for more.
I think there's something for everyone on Literotica - rampant sex and artful stories with interesting characters. A bit of both in the one story ain't bad too

I haven't read about this topic in other posts because I'm new, but I'd love to hear more from people or maybe a reference to other discussion threads on this topic.

Sylvia

 

[bluntforcemama]

Okay, now that I've gotten the friskiness out of my system , I think both REALLY are important, but if you can write an exceptional story with incredible plot, I think you can almost eliminate the more intimate aspects of bumping and grinding, but it may make some readers upset, because after you fall in love with the characters of the story, you want to go with them all the way. I suppose it just depends on the person and how much they value
sex v. intimacy.

 

[vgrey]

Working the noodle...

This question gets posted in various forms quite often, however, I think that it still deserves asking.
My personal experience as a reader of anything, erotic or no, is that I have to feel a compelling need to read the next sentence. A well written piece to me is one that has me asking questions in the first paragraph and looking to see them answered later.
The expectation is the thing that keeps me reading and a good payoff of that expectation is what I hope to see.
Frankly, if I don't feel interested in the first few sentences I won't continue reading the story. The writer needs to weave a spell that keeps me unresolved and gives me a reason to read further. And that, as they say, is the real trick!
A "story" that is really nothing more than a graphic description of nameless, faceless bodies intertwining in some exotic sexual position is not going to interest me any more than an avalanche of exposition at the start of the story. I need a reason to care.
Someone once explained it to me with this guideline:

"A good writer promises the audience astonishment, and having made a promise then they MUST KEEP IT!"

Easy to say, but so much harder to do.

Now, I realize that I am avoiding the issue of "How much sex?" but that is only because I think that it is really more of a question of what maintains interest in the reader and I have no doubt that this question will come up again in the future.
VG

 

[Bacomicfan]

Wow...thans, people. All of that was pretty much what I
was thinking, and was hoping most people thunk...lol. I've
written like 24 or 25 stories so far, most of which I just
send to friends or post on sites like this. But the people
posting on this site seem to be not only friendly, but kind
of a close knit group, too. I just wish I could get my
stories posted quicker.......hint hint.
OUCH!! HEY, GUYS.....DON'T!!!
<ducking from the various items of flying debris being
tossed my way by Laurel and Manu>.
LOL....thanks, again for your input, folks. Much appreciated. Take care all...and play nice....heehee

Mike

 

[PAUL C]

Both are needed I feel.

I do not like to be left with the feeling that the couple I have just read about copulating were invented for that act and as soon as I have finished reading about them they fade into oblivion. Characters, I feel, should have lived before the act and leave the impression they are going to continue to live afterwards. A bit like real life.

I have written close on 500k words about the central couple in my stories and I'm still finding fresh things for them to do and feelings for them to discover. (Don't worry. There is more than one story).

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

My thoughts

Wow, many excellent comments here guy/gals. Wanna hear mine?
My first story, "Fantasy" was definitely fast paced, lots of sex, but little character development. I was also not to heavy into plots, mostly just fun loving sex. As for the scene setting phase in this one, I could only go so far as she was laying on her bed, lost within a fantasy. But, as I have written more...and read more on literotica, I have come to understand how important character delvelopment, plots and setting the scene are. There is alot more to just sex in a story, at least there should be. Mind you, some people like a fast paced story. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Scene setting is very important, as well as getting to know the characters. As I wrote each of my stories, these areas grew stronger and stronger. My final story, Summer's, is alot more indepth then my previous three, and that came with learning. My newest, "New Beginnings, still in the works, is loaded with dialogue, unlike my others which are more in thoughts. So, you see, writing is a learning process, it takes time to learn and succeed in your goals of drawing the reader in.

I agree, with vgrey, that your opening paragraph is so very important. You have to draw your readers immediately or you lose them. I myself, prefer a story with a great buildup...scene setting and so on. I like to get to know the characters, and I like the voicing of emotion. I think it is important to share what is within their minds as well. I am not generally interested in a story that is just sex and only sex. Mind you, I wrote one like that! *LOL* Fantasy, is pretty much very fast paced.

There are many who like this type story and appreaciate the intensity from the start, especially if it sweeps you away right to the very end. Then, there are those that like a slower paced story with more development. Some like porn, some like erotica...and there is a definite difference. Each one who reads an erotic story has their own needs and there are an amazing amount of stories here to meet them. But personally, I will read a good story with lots of character development and scene setting, with sex of course, over a wham bam thank you ma'am story...my thoughts anyways.

Hugs Katerina

[Edited by Katerina Val-Kyrie on 03-02-2001 at 08:08 AM]