Question about homosexuality elements and story categories

[MrIllusion]

Hello,

I'm working on a story that will have mostly hetero and some lesbian scenes, but there's also one that will contain male homosexual elements (oral sex for now).

I know that some of the strict heterosexual male readers will really not enjoy such a "surprise" in an otherwise hetero story, so I'm wondering how I should "announce" it in terms of story category.

The two options I'm considering are:
1) putting it in the "correct" category (probably exhibitionist) and adding a warning at the beginning of the story text, although this will steal some of the surprise of the gay bj.
2) putting it in gay male even though it's not a predominantly gay male story, and confusing people that might wonder why there's so many hetero sex in a "gay male" story.

Any inputs, suggestions?

Thanks

 

[RejectReality]

A single M-M scene does not the Gay Male category make. Put it in E&V.

You're right that even a brief surprise scene like that can cause some serious blow-back. You have to weigh how much you want it to be a surprise against the potential for nasty comments and 1-bombs, and choose accordingly whether to warn or not.

 

[patientlee]

Hello,

I'm working on a story that will have mostly hetero and some lesbian scenes, but there's also one that will contain male homosexual elements (oral sex for now).

I know that some of the strict heterosexual male readers will really not enjoy such a "surprise" in an otherwise hetero story, so I'm wondering how I should "announce" it in terms of story category.

The two options I'm considering are:
1) putting it in the "correct" category (probably exhibitionist) and adding a warning at the beginning of the story text, although this will steal some of the surprise of the gay bj.
2) putting it in gay male even though it's not a predominantly gay male story, and confusing people that might wonder why there's so many hetero sex in a "gay male" story.

Any inputs, suggestions?

Thanks

Surprise gay will enrage some readers. I'm not exaggerating.

 

[SecondCircle]

Small elements of same sex content may not be a huge issue, though it could be. The category matters a lot. Some categories are more welcoming to same sex type material, such as Group. E/V may be a category that's not as offended by it, I can't say for sure. Go with the theme that is no doubt the heaviest. If that is exhibition, throughout most of the story, put er there.

Note that if the story has heavy emphasis on same sex, especially Gay Male, it will usually be dropped into GM.

I would take the shot and put it in the category you had in mind. E/V for example. And if it posts there successfully, touch back with us here and let us know.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yep, found that in a chapter of my current Erotic Horror tale, featured gay incest (if you're going to go there, go boots and all, I say) and was accused of "taking a nasty turn for the worst" - gotta be kidding, surely, this is literotica, right? Anyway, because - of double standard I then wrote the next chapter where the male narrator gets done my a she-male. Both chapters scored down. Most recent chapter was standard man on woman (and a bit milf according to the eds tag). Scores right back up there. So EH not a fan of man on man, I guess!

 

[Hypoxia]

I have 4.0+ and red-H stories with MM and MMFF sex posted in Group and Incest. I include a warning: If you don't like male bisexuality, stop reading. (A warning usually isn't needed in Group stories.) The MM sex is not dominant in those tales; the participants are usually busy screwing anything (adult human, of course) that moves.

Similarly, I have incestuous stories in Group and Humor. My standard Author's Note mentions the tags, such as Incest, Mother-Daughter, non-sexual violence, Group, Mature, multiracial, etc. I must assume that readers will absorb the note and act appropriately, ha ha. But even though the warnings and tags act as spoilers, I mostly don't get nasty comments about that aspect of their content. (They're criticized for other reasons; cf. my BIG BANANA.)

 

[3113]

Put it in Gay Male

putting it in gay male even though it's not a predominantly gay male story, and confusing people that might wonder why there's so many hetero sex in a "gay male" story.

This. I'm going to strongly disagree with what others have told you so far. The vast majority of Lit's readership are heterosexual males with an instant squick reflex when faced with guy-on-guy sex. No amount of hot heterosexual sex beforehand will make up for even a brief homosexual scene. It will ruin the story for them and they'll take it out on you in one-bombs and nasty comments.

On the other hand, a lot of bisexuals read the GM and Lesbian categories (because Lit doesn't have a bi-sexual category and those stories go into GM & Lesbian by default). Which is to say, you're wrong in thinking that the heterosexual sex scenes will confuse the GM readers. All you need to is label it bisexual (and indicate in the tag that there's bisexuality) and they'll be fine with it. And far more open to the twist than readers of almost any other category outside of transexual.

 

[sr71plt]

I have more than twice as many GM stories posted to Lit. as the next most prolific author here in GM stories, And all I can say is that I sometimes try to push bi stories into categories other than GM (mainly because there is no bi category at Lit.), but other than that, if there's male-male sex, I put it in GM. The stories there get some bomb ratings, but not usually heckling comments on the sex preference issue.

 

[SecondCircle]

Yep, found that in a chapter of my current Erotic Horror tale, featured gay incest (if you're going to go there, go boots and all, I say) and was accused of "taking a nasty turn for the worst" - gotta be kidding, surely, this is literotica, right? Anyway, because - of double standard I then wrote the next chapter where the male narrator gets done my a she-male. Both chapters scored down. Most recent chapter was standard man on woman (and a bit milf according to the eds tag). Scores right back up there. So EH not a fan of man on man, I guess!

Huh. That's sad to hear. I wouldn't mind seeing both hetero and homosexuality in EH. Can't please em all I suppose.

Did the same sex elements over ride the horror too strongly? Still shouldn't have mattered.

 

[MrIllusion]

Hello,

Thanks for all the input. Right now I'm leaning towards putting it in it's correct category (group) and adding a warning. I'm not planning to publish the story before midwinter (wink), but I'll sure give it a lot more thought until then.

[Edit: the more I think about it, the more the correct category is group sex. It won't be an orgy from the beginning of the series, but it's definitely more group than exhib at this point...]

 

[StrangeLife]

Surprise gay will enrage some readers. I'm not exaggerating.

"Surprise Gay"


This might just be the ultimate troll bait. Especially if it was posted in Loving Wives and initially laid out as a btb revenge story. I'm tempted to test it out....

 

[TamLin01]

Orientation seems to trump almost all other tags when it comes to picking a category.

That said, who are you trying to please? If some reactionary jerk sees read and foams at the mouth because all of a sudden he's reading a "gay" story without knowing that sounds like his problem.

 

[StrangeLife]

Orientation seems to trump almost all other tags when it comes to picking a category.

That said, who are you trying to please? If some reactionary jerk sees read and foams at the mouth because all of a sudden he's reading a "gay" story without knowing that sounds like his problem.

Good point. We aren't getting paid with anything but the joy of writing, so technically we have no obligation to please the readers. What do you care if you kill a few hundred erections all over the world? If you want to garnish your tale with a dash of frottage, it's your business...

 

[JKendallDane]

If some reactionary jerk sees read and foams at the mouth because all of a sudden he's reading a "gay" story without knowing that sounds like his problem.

I think part of that problem comes from guys who have never made peace in their own mind with that *ONE TIME* they got a blow job at scout camp or the *ONE TIME* they and a buddy helped each other out while jerking off to porn.

As a writer exclusively in GM, it would be my suggestion to put a story that is obviously primarily straight in any category but gay male. Not so much to avoid the potential comments and/or down voting, but more so to reach your bigger and actual target audience.

As far as any disclaimer at the beginning...well if you want the surprise to truly BE a surprise, then take the risk and don't insert a spoiler right from the git-go.

 

[TamLin01]

I notice people seem to use tags punitively. "I had better put this story in Gay Male so that I don't attract readers who don't want to read that." Rather than, "I had better put this story in Gay Male so that people who like stories about gay men will come read it there," which you would assume would be the ideal way to approach such things.

 

[RejectReality]

I notice people seem to use tags punitively. "I had better put this story in Gay Male so that I don't attract readers who don't want to read that." Rather than, "I had better put this story in Gay Male so that people who like stories about gay men will come read it there," which you would assume would be the ideal way to approach such things.

Unfortunately, there's such hostility in most of the categories to M-M contact of any kind that it's understandable. Some of these folks will blast the ratings and comment sections of everything you've written and stalk you for months to do the same for the crime of "surprise gay".

 

[sr71plt]

I notice people seem to use tags punitively. "I had better put this story in Gay Male so that I don't attract readers who don't want to read that." Rather than, "I had better put this story in Gay Male so that people who like stories about gay men will come read it there," which you would assume would be the ideal way to approach such things.

I, for one, am not trying to leave that impression. All of my GM stories are targeted to actual gay men--and ones of a certain lifestyle (although I certainly don't have a problem with anyone else reading and enjoying them). So, I have no problem whatsoever putting them in GM. The ones I have trouble locating are the bi ones, because there's no category here for them and most of my bi ones are MMF, which the immature squeamishness factor of many readers on Lit. (which is not all that gay friendly in the first place) don't want to see anywhere but in GM. If they aren't strongly MMF, I feel comfortable putting them in Group. I don't have all that much faith in the rating system here meaning anything much.

I don't use warning notes on genre at all at Literotica. I'm honest with the tagging. You're supposed to be an adult to play here. So, you can jolly well take responsibility for what you read yourself. If you wilt at running up against a different sexual lifestyle in a story here, you probably aren't adult enough to be reading on Literotica.

 

[StrangeLife]

Unfortunately, there's such hostility in most of the categories to M-M contact of any kind that it's understandable. Some of these folks will blast the ratings and comment sections of everything you've written and stalk you for months to do the same for the crime of "surprise gay".

Sticks and stones may break your bones...

 

[Chris7sw]

Sticks and stones may break your bones...

But evil feedback comments and low stars do tend to fuck up your confidence and your desire and perhaps even your willingness to keep writing as well.

 

[Chris7sw]

Searching for the correct category

I searched for a suitable thread and found this one which seems to be more or less a) recent and b) about the right subject, so I'll add my question here rather than start a new thread.

I too have a story, but it's already written and ready to post.
It's about a small group of workers who 'invent' something new.
The story starts with a gay blowjob and ends with a gay fuck but in between there's plenty of other hetero and even lesbian activity, not to mention loads of gay stuff too.

I'd considered putting it under "Group Sex" - then I considered "Humor & Satire", because the whole story is somewhat humorous and lighthearted but after reading the comments here, I think I'll opt for "Gay Male" as the safest avenue.

But does anyone think differently?
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[sr71plt]

If it were mine, I'd mark it for GM and cover the other elments with tags.

 

[Chris7sw]

Hmmmm - that idea went down like a lead balloon!

Moral of this story....don't mix sexual types; if you're going to write about gay sex then only include that in your story....same applies to hetero sex stories.
It appears that readers of porn have little or no humor and many have little or no brain either, for that matter.
Unless you're writing 100% humor or satire then don't even bother to include it - waste of effort.

For the best score, the most comments and the most readers, just write plain all-hetero or all-gay fuck-up stories.....don't get complicated. And least of all, don't try to be clever! Only a very small percentage of readers will appreciate it.

 

[sr71plt]

I think a better moral to the story is not to put so much emphasis on approval from strangers.

 

[Sonatatre]

I think I am one of those narrow minded people who have not been blessed with an attraction for men. Personally I think it is a natural thing and not my fault just as it is natural and not anyone's fault that they are attracted to the same sex or lucky enough to be attracted to both genders.

When I happen upon a scene with male on male sex it is a turn off for me. That is how I was made. The surprise gay element at some point often (but not always) seem to be a dick move to try and trick someone not interested in it to read about it. That is how I take it at least. Not sure why anyone would do that though. I understand that people get upset even if many of the most vocal overreact a lot.

I think a warning is proper. It should keep those who are not interested away from the story and you should not get any mean comments. If you still get them you know that you are not the one being a total dick to them but they are the one at fault.

Putting the story in gay male might be safest but I think with many stories that is not fully appropriate either. I am sure there are some readers in the gay male category who would like a warning if there is hetero sex or lesbian sex in a gay male labeled story too, even if they might not act out as strongly about it. If you imagine something you would not want to read about in an erotic novel you might want a warning at the start of such a story as well knowing that it could ruin your mood otherwise.

 

[sr71plt]

IWhen I happen upon a scene with male on male sex it is a turn off for me. That is how I was made. The surprise gay element at some point often (but not always) seem to be a dick move to try and trick someone not interested in it to read about it. That is how I take it at least. Not sure why anyone would do that though. I understand that people get upset even if many of the most vocal overreact a lot.

Sorry to say, I think you are overvaluing the writer's concern to sell you on anything there. I don't write or warn to anyone's paranoia like that. if I did, I'd have to write to everyone's possible paranoia and personal preferences, and the warning section would have to be longer than the story (and still have left someone upset out). I believe in the readers being adult sand taking care of themselves--and that if they get the vapors over merely beginning to see most sexual acts being written about that maybe they shouldn't be reading on a porn story board to begin with.