Scenario ISO category, 2.0

[jaykaythree]

I'm not sure what category for this idea. Off the top of my head, it's Non-erotic, as there's no sex at all in it -- but that seems too simplistic.

What it is, is a "where are they now" story featuring a couple I've written about before, and how he cares for her on a sick day. They've previously appeared in Romance (twice), but could also be on the border of Mature (M47, F45, married 25 years).

That's the point I want to convey -- love isn't always sexy, and not always sex. There are the not-always-pleasant incidentals.

Also of note: the family's faith plays a key role in explaining a point to one member. Nothing seeks to proselytize, only to explain.

Thoughts welcome ... go. And lest I forget, I want to thank those of you who helped me put my last story into a category, way back in March when I started it

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

-fanfiction
-illustrated
-non erotic
-novella
-any of the LGBTQ categories

Are all trump categories. If it can fit into one of these categories it has to go into them. If it fits more than one of those categories it has to go in whichever one is higher on the list.

For example a romantic gay fanfiction would have to go under fanfiction for legal reasons.

Meanwhile if it wasn't a fanfiction it would go into the gay category rather than romance because you'll get one bombed into oblivion if you dare put it in a category straight readers don't expect it in. (Could be avoided by mentioning its a gay story in the title or description but you've only got so many letters to use for that.)

In your case that means if they don't fuck or engage in a kink it goes in the non-erotic category. (Or else be one bombed into oblivion)

It's not great but it's how things work here.

 

[jaykaythree]

Non-erotic doesn't bother me... two of my really favorites are there.

 

[AWhoopsieDaisy]

Non-erotic doesn't bother me... two of my really favorites are there.

Yeah and that's totally fine. No judgment here.

 

[jaykaythree]

Hey thanks for helping out.

 

[KeithD]

From the description I'd put it in Romance or, if one of them is over fifty, maybe in Mature. I have an account that only does nonerotic and has a bunch of Romance, Nonerotic, Mature category stories that have all rated well here.

 

[RejectReality]

Certainly sounds like Romance is a possibility to me. The readership there values the relationship over the relations to the point where no-sex stories aren't really penalized if the story is good enough.

I have no personal experience with no-sex in Mature, and I've never researched the angle, but I'll take Keith's word that the readership is fine with it, so it's certainly an option. The readership is generally friendly, so it tracks. Similarly aged couples as opposed to May/December seem to do better when they lean to the romantic side, so that's another indicator. The ages given seem appropriate enough to me, but all my personal experience is in age difference, so what little I know about performance for similarly aged couples is more or less incidental. It will certainly get more eyes on it in Mature.

Non-erotic would be the last choice for me if I absolutely didn't think it qualified as Romance or Mature.

 

[jaykaythree]

I've actually submitted two Romance and a First Time with no sex in them, and the lowest rated of them is a 4.48. But AWhoopsieDaisy does bring up a valid point, especially since (in this one, which I've begun already) sex is nowhere near in the offing*.

* I was going to say, "It's not on the table," as indeed it isn't ... or in the bedroom, or the attic, or the living room couch, or anywhere.

 

[Voboy]

Off the top of my head, it's Non-erotic, as there's no sex at all in it...

If I were a reader, this is where I would expect to find it.

 

[jaykaythree]

"They don't fuck or engage in a kink"... boy, you can say that again.

So far I'm at 3900 words, and I hold no illusions that's it's going to be any kind of epic; truth told, it's about as mundane as a sick day can be. But it's a slice of American life, between one of my couples and their families. One short paragraph deals with our male lead eating sandwiches with his father-in-law ... in short, a poster child for Non-Erotic.

 

[KeithD]

"They don't fuck or engage in a kink"... boy, you can say that again.

So far I'm at 3900 words, and I hold no illusions that's it's going to be any kind of epic; truth told, it's about as mundane as a sick day can be. But it's a slice of American life, between one of my couples and their families. One short paragraph deals with our male lead eating sandwiches with his father-in-law ... in short, a poster child for Non-Erotic.

Something to consider. If you've written about this couple before, you might consider using the category you did before (if only one) to attract readers who are interested in these characters.

 

[jaykaythree]

A thought with merit, that ... I put them in the same category where I introduced them, in a story where they did little more than watch two sunrises, twenty-five years apart.

This would be my third story involving them, and both the other two are Romance.

 

[jaykaythree]

Got it wrapped and submitted ... title is Soup's On.

(edit) It went live on Friday, 12/2.