Quick bathroom break.

[Zenith77]

I seem to read a lot of stories where characters never go to the bathroom, even over several days of continuous activity, as narrated.

Do your characters see to their needs, or do you skip any and all reference? Why/why not?

 

[Rob_Royale]

I have mentioned it in a few stories. No particular reason why other than it fit the story at the time.

 

[ScrappyPaperDoodler]

Oh my word, I thought about this so much when I first started writing Part of me was certain some eagle-eyed reader would pick it up and yell at me about it. But that never happened and I eventually just outgrew the anxiety.

I write long stories and have 33 up as of today. I am pretty sure no one uses the bathroom in a single one of them. There was never a reason to do it from a story perspective (except perhaps to get a character out of a scene?).

 

[Voboy]

A few reasons.

Some folks follow the Chekhov’s Gun school of thought, where storytellers don’t bother mentioning things unless there’s a narrative reason for it.

Others create characters who are living, breathing people, and rely on the reader to assume they pee. No description needed.

Still others, myself included, DO write characters who go to the bathroom. But you’ve apparently not read them yet.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

I enjoy the realism... so my characters use the restroom, bathe, eat, and sleep as it pertains to the story.

 

[Dunes_et_Soleil]

I had noticed the same myself and have included bathroom activities in my stories. As long as it doesn't interfere with what I want the characters to do, I believe it can be helpful to create a more complete picture.

 

[NotWise]

If it's part of the story, then I'll write it. It often does happen in the normal course of things, but I'm not going to stop the story so someone can pee.

 

[KeithD]

I mention it when it fits the context--and it often does. I do not go into a lot of clinical detail in what goes into having sex, though. My works are about sexual arousal, not clinical details.

 

[HordHolm]

I seem to read a lot of stories where characters never go to the bathroom, even over several days of continuous activity, as narrated.

Do your characters see to their needs, or do you skip any and all reference? Why/why not?

And why not have them trim their toenails? Stand bored in supermarket queues? Change the water bottle in the office water cooler? Ok, so I'm being facetious, but in the final analysis we each and every one of us spend most of our lives drifting through a multitude of mundane actions, and were we to write down every detail of our characters' lives we'd never get to the point.

 

[Lifestyle66]

In my latest story "Unleashing", I have two of the male characters take bathroom breaks, one to remove him from the scene, and the other MC first person POV to remove him from the action to be surprised later when he sees his wife going down on another woman.

 

[Zenith77]

And why not have them trim their toenails? Stand bored in supermarket queues? Change the water bottle in the office water cooler?

I can see literary reasons for including each of the above in a story. Depends on the story, dunnit?

Ok, so I'm being facetious, but in the final analysis we each and every one of us spend most of our lives drifting through a multitude of mundane actions, and were we to write down every detail of our characters' lives we'd never get to the point.

I'll take this as a 'no'.

 

[KeithD]

I can see literary reasons for including each of the above in a story. Depends on the story, dunnit?

Which is the point. When/if it contributes to the plotline or character development, do; if not, don't.

 

[MelissaBaby]

There is a middle ground between having characters never use the bathroom, and boring the reader with mundane details. Incorporate the bathroom into the narrative. Give your character a little time out in the build up to a sexual encounter, for example.

She uses the bathroom, then touches up her makeup, thinking about what might happen when she steps out and joins him on the bed....or she dawdles in there, unsure if she's ready to go through with it...maybe she gently thumbs her nipple while imaging what might happen.

Or your male character takes a moment to reflect on how long he's waited for this moment...he stops to gargle some mouthwash, and the door slowly opens...

Build the anticipation.

 

[Zenith77]

Which is the point. When/if it contributes to the plotline or character development, do; if not, don't.

Well, quite. The purpose of the original question was to see if anyone actively avoided the subject for any reason, or conversely if they felt including mention of (not details of) such things was something they tried to do for 'completeness' or 'accuracy' or something.

Sometimes people just ask questions they're curious about, not because they are seeking instruction.

 

[MrPixel]

Since I seem to have a shower-sex fetish, I write a fair number of bathroom scenes. But not the "bodily functions" stuff. The closest I get to that is the lady rushing from the bed or sofa to the toilet to deal with post-coital outflow. Your "accuracy" motivation, I guess.

 

[KeithD]

Well, quite. The purpose of the original question was to see if anyone actively avoided the subject for any reason, or conversely if they felt including mention of (not details of) such things was something they tried to do for 'completeness' or 'accuracy' or something.

Sometimes people just ask questions they're curious about, not because they are seeking instruction.

I avoid any references to anything that doesn't serve the storyline or character development, yes. When I write erotica, I try to avoid anything that breaks the spell of eroticism too.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I don't particularly need to read how X character emptied his/her bladder or bowels. Same goes for passing gases, burping, emptying the sinuses and all the other lovely physiological needs we have. Sometimes it is significant to the plot, sometimes it is part of some fetish, but other than that I don't see the need to mention things that go without saying, especially on Lit where people generally publish work that is lighter by definition. Gritty realism has its rightful place in writing, but I don't see it making sense here where fantasy is so integral to the nature of our writing.

 

[Zenith77]

I avoid any references to anything that doesn't serve the storyline or character development, yes. When I write erotica, I try to avoid anything that breaks the spell of eroticism too.

What about world-building? I suppose you wouldn't need it if all your stories are set in modern-day 'Murica.

 

[Carnevil9]

Why do the apartments in TV shows only have three walls? Why do German soldiers speak English with a German accent among themselves? Why is there always a parking space even in a crowded city? After a car crash, why does the car only blow up if the occupants get out and run away?

Fiction is full of little conventions that make it work, and most people don't even think about the conventions even as they understand them.

 

[KeithD]

What about world-building? I suppose you wouldn't need it if all your stories are set in modern-day 'Murica.

They aren't. I likely visit far more locales and times than almost anyone else posting to Literotica. I have no idea what you are getting at.

 

[KeithD]

Why do the apartments in TV shows only have three walls? Why do German soldiers speak English with a German accent among themselves? Why is there always a parking space even in a crowded city? After a car crash, why does the car only blow up if the occupants get out and run away?

Fiction is full of little conventions that make it work, and most people don't even think about the conventions even as they understand them.

Why are cops chasing suspects always wearing suits?

 

[Zenith77]

They aren't. I likely visit far more locales and times than almost anyone else posting to Literotica. I have no idea what you are getting at.

World building isn't character development or storyline.

I avoid any references to anything that doesn't serve the storyline or character development, yes.

That's what I was getting at.

Anyway, whatever. Was just curious. Forget I asked.

 

[KeithD]

Forget I asked.

Gladly, as I still don't know what you were getting at me about. Yes, setting is important, if that's what you're asking--and, again, I think you'd find I write a much wider range of settings than most do here at Literotica. I don't send characters off for a short pee unless it serves the storyline no matter what the setting (or world built), though.

 

[PennameWombat]

None of my stories, even when they follow the characters closely, are minute-by-minute. There are always gaps and jumps, and in those I expect most readers can 'fill in blanks' that characters hit the toilet facilities or napped or went out and bought a quart of milk...

But I have used it when it suits the plot and characters. In one case, a FMC and MMC are early in their relationship, and when they wake in the morning the FMC reveals a minor fetish of hers, she likes to sit on the toilet and pee while watching the man shave...

Another, in a society that's at constant threat of attack (science fiction, but in Anal), all able adults are reserve or active military. My FMC wakes up in the morning after their first night together and leaves the MMC in bed as she goes to the toilet, then nudges the MMC getting back into bed and he wakes and she easily gets him erect. She thinks he needs to go piss, but he reveals he'd already gone and hadn't woken her. She says she'd squeezed him against the wall (the setup of her bedroom had been revealed the night before) to "prevent him from leaving." She's a light sleeper, used to being on patrol, can fall asleep anywhere, but can also react. But that reveals he's part of what are called 'Infiltration' units and can move stealthily. That's all setup for while they're fucking that morning, they get mobilization alerts via their mobile phones and she realizes that he'll likely be sent into very dangerous situations. Survival rates for Infiltrators can often be low... They'd just found each other, and now... If I ever get to the sequel, we'll see what happens.

In both cases, the toilet visits were to reveal attributes of the characters.

In various other stories, toilet trips get mentioned in passing, where it's a natural fit to show realism. But the story doesn't go into the bathrooms with them.

 

[Rustyoznail]

"TURN THAT BLOODY THING OFF!" Jac yelled. "You do not get to see me pee."

Blake chuckled and moved the light away. It seemed a bit silly that she was worried about that after watching cum drip out of her. "Yes Jacki. Let me know when you're finished and I'll shine the light back."

===

Sometimes a toilet break in a story is needed.