Should Literotica Authors All Be Writing Strokers?

[Jorunn]

If you are writing a longer story or it is not stroker, it helps to announce that at the top of your story. Otherwise you might see a comment like, “That was boring as hell.”

 

[Djmac1031]

As an author who has written both "strokers" and more complicated erotica / fantasy, I've discovered there is an audience for all kinds of stories.

Yes, we all know the reality that the more sex focused stories tend to grab the larger audiences; most readers here pretty much have one goal: find a story that suits their particular kink to get off to.

But there are also plenty of readers looking for something deeper than that, a story that stimulates their imagination as well as their genitals.

I dont set out to write one kind of story over another, or with the goal of reaching this audience as opposed to that audience.

I just write the story and let readers decide.

 

[StillStunned]

I dont set out to write one kind of story over another, or with the goal of reaching this audience as opposed to that audience.

I just write the story and let readers decide.

Quite right. Pigeonholing stifles creativity. Write whatever story you want to write, and let it evoke the emotions you want to evoke.

If you can combine different emotions in new ways, then all the better. Arousal? Sympathy? Anger? Those are good. Jealousy and arousal? Arousal and disgust? Hunger and sympathy? Homesickness and horror? Those are better.

 

[Djmac1031]

Quite right. Pigeonholing stifles creativity. Write whatever story you want to write, and let it evoke the emotions you want to evoke.

If you can combine different emotions in new ways, then all the better. Arousal? Sympathy? Anger? Those are good. Jealousy and arousal? Arousal and disgust? Hunger and sympathy? Homesickness and horror? Those are better.

Obviously, when we're writing a story, there comes a point, usually early on, where we begin to understand what it is.

"Ah, this is just gonna be a pretty straightforward sex story."

"Hmm, this one feels more complicated, more plot / character driven."

Etc etc.

And then of course there's the ones you THINK are gonna be simple strokers that somehow morph into something much different.

Thats the fun of it though really.

 

[StillStunned]

And then of course there's the ones you THINK are gonna be simple strokers that somehow morph into something much different.

One of my recent stories began with the idea "massage therapist has a former crush as a client". It took about three sentences to become "massage therapist has a former crush as a client, who bullied her mercilessly for years after their one lesbian experiment at school". I still think it's a stroker, though, but perhaps not a "simple stroker".

 

[Djmac1031]

I still think it's a stroker, though, but perhaps not a "simple stroker".

We could argue the definition of "stroker" forever and never come to a mutual consensus among any amount of writers here.

To me any story a reader gets off to is a stroker.

Now what gets a reader off in a story? The sex or a well developed plot with complex characters?

There's yet another endless debate

 

[StillStunned]

Now what gets a reader off in a story? The sex or a well developed plot with complex characters?

I wouldn't say the plot has to be well developed, but the scenario should be. A strong scenario will get the reader's emotions engaged: sympathy, amusement, anger, curiosity, whatever. Once they have that, they'll appreciate the sex all the more.

 

[TheLobster]

Now what gets a reader off in a story? The sex or a well developed plot with complex characters?

You won’t believe how much of a turn-on correct spelling and grammar could be.

 

[UnexpectedLuggage]

I think writers should write whatever they want to write (within the confines of the site's rules).

I tend to have some plot and character set up and all before the fun stuff happens, but I eon't deny that when it gets to the sex in the story I kind of hope people stroke to it. Shit, when writing outlines I've sat there and thought up ideas while giving myself a little stroke to see if the idea actually excites me or not.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I wrote Halftime Entertainment on purpose just to try my hand at a stroker. Readers seem to like it, but there's just not enough meat on the bone for me to really get into it as a writer.

 

[Bramblethorn]

If you are writing a longer story or it is not stroker, it helps to announce that at the top of your story. Otherwise you might see a comment like, “That was boring as hell.”

If you mention it at the top of your story you may still get comments like that, because some people are idiots.

 

[TheLobster]

If you mention it at the top of your story you may still get comments like that, because some people are idiots.

I generally found that starting the story with CHAPTER 1 staves off most if not all such comments

 

[Gamblnluck]

But there are also plenty of readers looking for something deeper than that, a story that stimulates their imagination as well as their genitals.

I dont set out to write one kind of story over another, or with the goal of reaching this audience as opposed to that audience.

I just write the story and let readers decide.

Especially is some categories. I see sex scenes like adding a little cumin, garlic and cayenne pepper to your beans. But you need to start with a something substantial to keep the interest in several of the categories. A stroker in BDSM is not going to be well received in LW where, I am willing to bet, the readership is comprised of older readers. A decent plot with the right amount of sex seems to show up on readers favorite lists.
I often go to see what my readers have stored on their favorites list. Surprisingly, most of the stories I see were well told tales and NOT strokers. It may very well be that people who read and follow me or have favorited one of my stories have similar tastes as me.

 

[lc69hunter]

I admit that most of the stories I enjoy on Literotica are strokers. These stories, often just a string of erotic scenes with minimal or no plot, offer the greatest amount of sexual pleasure for the reader. As an amateur author, I know I’m not obligated to please anyone, but if I ever want to become a good erotica writer, should I focus solely on crafting the best strokers I can possibly deliver?

On the flip side, I also enjoy writing stories that are rich in plot. I admit I don’t feel aroused during the non-sexual scenes, but I’m still happy to write them because they offer something else — romance, mystery, or simply the satisfaction of watching events unfold through a well-constructed plot. Still, since this is an erotica site, maybe writing anything other than strokers isn’t doing justice to what most readers actually want? Do people here want to read anything besides steamy sex scenes?

I’m reminded of an interview with the Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, in which he spoke about his own dilemma: choosing between making the kind of films people want — films he considers shallow, lacking in artistic value — and making the kind of films he wants to do, which often end up as flops. I suppose my question is: how do you navigate that same dilemma?

P.s- I know that what makes a story a stroker is already discussed multiple times, but I couldn't find discussions about what we all should be doing to become better erotica writers.

On the flip side, I also enjoy writing stories that are rich in plot. I admit I don’t feel aroused during the non-sexual scenes, but I’m still happy to write them because they offer something else — romance, mystery, or simply the satisfaction of watching events unfold through a well-constructed plot. Still, since this is an erotica site, maybe writing anything other than strokers isn’t doing justice to what most readers actually want? Do people here want to read anything besides steamy sex scenes?

The problem with many of these long involved plots are that they are quite often just poorly disguised morality tales, which appeal to certain segments of commenters, just not me. Go ahead and write what you feel like writing. You will find your audience

 

[MelissaBaby]

I have always said that my approach to writing erotica is that the story is the meal, the sex is the spice. I am aware that it limits the appeal of my writing to some readers, and I am fine with that.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

My stuff was limited at best. Scenes may have been 3 or 4 paragraphs sometimes. I did more set up and implied intimacy, like the guy helping the girl bathe, primp and get dressed.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

We could argue the definition of "stroker" forever and never come to a mutual consensus among any amount of writers here.

To me any story a reader gets off to is a stroker.

Now what gets a reader off in a story? The sex or a well developed plot with complex characters?

There's yet another endless debate

To me it's something with a vague, maybe contrived plot to let folks fuck for the sake of fucking. Woman: "I dropped my sewing needle, help me find it." Guy: "Doggystyle it is."

I read one about a delivery guy and a customer needed help that he delivered to. Conversation wasn't all that special nor narration. Until she saw she turned him on and when the sex started, the writer turned into a wordsmith until the sex stopped.

I think the last thing I wrote was a stroker. I had an idea that was simple and didn't need any real depth or character development.

 

[iwatchus]

To me it's something with a vague, maybe contrived plot to let folks fuck for the sake of fucking. Woman: "I dropped my sewing needle, help me find it." Guy: "Doggystyle it is."

I am too much of a pragmatist. I expect the next line to be "Ow! I think we found it."

Leave it to the reader to decide how they found it.

 

[Gamblnluck]

I have always said that my approach to writing erotica is that the story is the meal, the sex is the spice. I am aware that it limits the appeal of my writing to some readers, and I am fine with that.

And that is why you write very good stories that are well received across the board. You appeal to your audience.

 

[ICantLeafYou]

Should everyone be? No. It would be boring if everyone were writing the same type of stories.

But what I've always written, going on 18 years now, are pieces that have barely any plot and just seek to arouse. I'm writing out my own fantasies--with aphantasia, I can never view them in my mind's eye, so I get them out with words instead. I'm writing what would make me masturbate and I don't care for any of that drawn-out plot nonsense. When I'm reading erotica, I just want the porn and nothing else. I write for myself; if others enjoy it, that's nice, too.

 

[Soixenta]

If everyone else stops writing strokers, more readers will gravitate to mine.

 

[SkyBubble]

Strokers are fine. Nothing wrong with them. Some people prefer them.

Others prefer more of a story, a narrative. The beauty of it is that there's plenty of room for both.