Stories and Breast sizes.

[lazyhobo]

I've read several stories and I'm constantly hitting a problem. When describing a woman's breasts, mainly regarding their size, people and authors seem to think that a simple "and she had 34D breasts" is enough information. To be honest, to a man like me with no knowledge of Bra's and their sizes, giving me a bra measurement and a breast size are two completely different things.

I had one story, where even though the breasts were described and included throughout all 7 lit pages, I only actually found out their size around the end of the 5th page, where he described them as "good in size, not really too large, not tiny but enough to fill a general palm" now its not the best description, but I did get the point about how large they really were. The cup size I was given at the start, did not tell me at all how large they really were.

Now, What are your opinions regarding bra sizes as a way of effectively describing the size of a woman's breasts? and if you think, like myself, that this is a bad way of describing them, should we as Editors mention this to any Authors that simply put a cup size?

 

[lovecraft68]

I've read several stories and I'm constantly hitting a problem. When describing a woman's breasts, mainly regarding their size, people and authors seem to think that a simple "and she had 34D breasts" is enough information. To be honest, to a man like me with no knowledge of Bra's and their sizes, giving me a bra measurement and a breast size are two completely different things.

I had one story, where even though the breasts were described and included throughout all 7 lit pages, I only actually found out their size around the end of the 5th page, where he described them as "good in size, not really too large, not tiny but enough to fill a general palm" now its not the best description, but I did get the point about how large they really were. The cup size I was given at the start, did not tell me at all how large they really were.

Now, What are your opinions regarding bra sizes as a way of effectively describing the size of a woman's breasts? and if you think, like myself, that this is a bad way of describing them, should we as Editors mention this to any Authors that simply put a cup size?

My opinion is to never use a bra size. First off I think it pisses women off to a certain degree especially when the porn standard is always a friggin D-cup.

Too many variables in breast sizes to be accurate.

I use words like large, or "more than ample" this way the reader in their mind can decide what they think large is and run with it. To me personally a "C" is pretty ample, so I don;t always imagine characters with huge tits.

I do the same with cock size. I don;t say inches I say "sizable" let the woman decide what that means to her.

To some women that might be a 7-8" cock, for a size queen they may want to thing 9+.

leave it to the imagination in any case

 

[lazyhobo]

My opinion is to never use a bra size. First off I think it pisses women off to a certain degree especially when the porn standard is always a friggin D-cup.

Too many variables in breast sizes to be accurate.

I use words like large, or "more than ample" this way the reader in their mind can decide what they think large is and run with it. To me personally a "C" is pretty ample, so I don;t always imagine characters with huge tits.

I do the same with cock size. I don;t say inches I say "sizable" let the woman decide what that means to her.

To some women that might be a 7-8" cock, for a size queen they may want to thing 9+.

leave it to the imagination in any case

With a cock im more understanding, because its a straight line, easily measured. But with breasts, its harder to get a measurement, and even if you do, how many guys can accurately picture a measurement and what it would look like? I mean, even if we use the bra size numbers, from what I've heard, you take under breast measurement, then another one over the breasts, and then add additional numbers to them dependent on the store, thus reaching a suitable size. If its true that each store measures differently, then that would mean that there is no real way to get an accurate assessment of a breasts size merely by the size of a bra.

 

[sr71plt]

This is one of those "done to ad naseum" discussions. My view, though, is to gauge your character and your targetted audience and to write accordingly. Measurements indeed would be important to some character personalities and some targetted readers. A "never use them" would be a personal choice interjection that denies the extistence of character and reader types and that limits what you can write and who you can write for.

 

[lazyhobo]

This is one of those "done to ad naseum" discussions. My view, though, is to gauge your character and your targetted audience and to write accordingly. Measurements indeed would be important to some character personalities and some targetted readers. A "never use them" would be a personal choice interjection that denies the extistence of character and reader types and that limits what you can write and who you can write for.

Oh no, I'm not saying don't say the bra size, But I am asking what the opinion is on when an author only uses a bra size as a reference to her breast size, which doesn't give some people, myself included, a lot to go on.

And then we get the times where in the story our protagonist glances at someones breasts, then comes out with a bra size in regards to his / her opinion on them, how often can people get out those measurements merely by looking at breasts?

 

[lovecraft68]

I go by don;t use them because the half a dozen women I know who know I wrote erotica all told me they don't like reading that. I'd say that was the crowd I polled, but the wife might see this and take it the wrong way

As a reader, my preference is description over statistical information. High firm perky breasts, "pretty little titties" sounds better than a 32a

My opinion of course and that's what is being asked here and all threads what do we think.

Also a damn fine author here once gave me a lot of advice and that's one of the first things he called out to me was the bra size no-no

 

[loquere]

Yeah, when I write a story I spend minutes mulling over theis very quandary!

 

[sr71plt]

Also a damn fine author here once gave me a lot of advice and that's one of the first things he called out to me was the bra size no-no

That's exactly what I'm calling out as a mistake. There are types of story characters who will think and speak in terms of measurements and there are readers who will do so as well (because there actually are people who think and speak in these terms).

To say--as, yes, folks do here--that it's a flat-out no-no to use them is not thinking like a writer. A writer will gauge his/her characters and her/his target audience for that specific story and they would not be limited by any such silly taboos in what they can write.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

This is a topic that does come up frequently. Previously, I have stated that I don't list the entire bra size, but I do use cup size. It is almost impossible to know the band size without reading the tag or performing a measurement, so unless the character has a good reason to do so, I don't mention it in the story. I will use cup size up to DD in a description, simply because that quickly and efficiently transmits information that is readily digestible by most readers. I stop at DD because beyond that I don't have a grasp of what is what. I understand and can picture the difference between an A cup and a C cup, but FF or JJ? I have no idea.

I realize that this is a minority opinion on this board. I'm alright with that. None of my readers has ever complained because I used a cup size to describe a woman's breasts. Moreover, I typically write about larger women with larger breasts, and my readers tend to like it when I supply those details.

 

[_Lynn_]

I prefer not using a bra size. A 36D isn't always a 36D, depending on the brand of the bra. Plus, not all countries use the same system for sizing, which can distract a reader.

Including the bra size would need to enhance the story somehow. Maybe a character who's a designer, a photographer, a voyeur obsessed with sizes . . .

 

[MatthewVett]

If I give cup sizes, it's usually the narrator thinking to himself, or it's clear that it's him/her thinking it, along the lines of, "She had a beautiful pair of suckable A-cups," or something similar. But I'll rarely include it in a girl's initial physical description. I prefer to give size and shape descriptions instead, since, as has been mentioned, cup size isn't wicked accurate anyway, and can cover a wide range of breasts.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Yeah, when I write a story I spend minutes mulling over theis very quandary!

I've bought many bras and filled them with various sizes of grapefruit so I can get it JUST right. And then I cut the grapefruit in half and ate it. So much better-tasting than boobs, IMHO.

Yep, boob size is critical. Forget the story surrounding it. It's all about the sex after all.

 

[PennLady]

Speaking as a woman who wears bras , even I don't like to use bra sizes unless it's relevant to the story (and it has yet to be relevant for me). As Mistress Lynn said, not every 36C or 34B or 42D looks the same. I prefer descriptions of the shape or feel. I'd rather know what the characters think or feel about being touched, touching, etc., than the size of anything.

 

[sr71plt]

Speaking as a woman who wears bras , even I don't like to use bra sizes unless it's relevant to the story (and it has yet to be relevant for me). As Mistress Lynn said, not every 36C or 34B or 42D looks the same. I prefer descriptions of the shape or feel. I'd rather know what the characters think or feel about being touched, touching, etc., than the size of anything.

*sigh* It doesn't matter what they actually look like to everyone. You are latching into an image in the reader's mind--either of the character using the terms or of the character being described.

Why is this so hard to get? Some people in real life dwell on measurements. So, there are some story characters who would dwell on measurements. And there are some readers who will attach to the imagery of measurements.

If you don't want to ever write these characters yourself or for these readers, fine, don't do it. But don't declare it as a taboo for writers--because it isn't one.

 

[PennLady]

*sigh* It doesn't matter what they actually look like to everyone. You are latching into an image in the reader's mind--either of the character using the terms or of the character being described.

Why is this so hard to get? Some people in real life dwell on measurements. So, there are some story characters who would dwell on measurements. And there are some readers who will attach to the imagery of measurements.

If you don't want to ever write these characters yourself or for these readers, fine, don't do it. But don't declare it as a taboo for writers--because it isn't one.

It's not hard to get, and I never declared it a taboo. I said "I don't like..." and "I prefer..." Nowhere did I say "no one should ever..."

I agree with you. I don't use measurements because honestly, I'm not good at them and they don't mean anything to me. If I felt it was necessary to a story, I'd research it and put it in. Please don't put words in my mouth; or my fingers, as the case may be.

 

[sr71plt]

It's not hard to get, and I never declared it a taboo. I said "I don't like..." and "I prefer..." Nowhere did I say "no one should ever..."

I agree with you. I don't use measurements because honestly, I'm not good at them and they don't mean anything to me. If I felt it was necessary to a story, I'd research it and put it in. Please don't put words in my mouth; or my fingers, as the case may be.

You seemed to me to be a member of the group that just won't let it be. Like others you are stuck (in what you directly wrote) in personal reading preference and not in the art of writing.

 

[PennLady]

You seemed to me to be a member of the group that just won't let it be. Like others you are stuck (in what you directly wrote) in personal reading preference and not in the art of writing.

No, I am not a member of that group. I expressed a personal opinion -- as many others in the thread did -- but never said that it was the right way to go or anything like that. I said if I needed it for a story, I'd do it. So far, I haven't needed to.

We're just talking about one thing we come across in stories; what's wrong with that? If I was editing for someone and they used a bra size, any comments I make about that would depend on the rest of the story. It's obviously not a black-and-white issue.

 

[Thefamiliar]

Honest thoughts from a woman...reader...and writer...

As a woman it doesnt offend me in the least, I have known men who could accurately tell a womans bra size on sight. Then others who have no clue, really its not a big deal.

As a reader, the less defined detail the better. I have read whole novels where the brunett was described throughout yet my mind still pictured a blond anyway. Especially with strictly erotica, I enjoy the stories that allow me to conjure up my own playthings...too much description makes it a story and not erotic.

The cup size does make me think, young kid and not experienced as well.

As a writer I think woah look out tolkien this one has imagination...yes that is sarcasm. Writing is painting with words, there are far more colors than red, blue and yellow.

If I were editing I would encourage descriptive variance. Its what makes or breaks a story from good to great. Ofcourse too much wordiness can have the same affect. Its ultimately up to the author to change it. So the suggestion isnt out of bounds. I would ask though if they want strictly spelling and grammar or if they are looking for critiques to improve as well.

Just my 2cents, take it or leave it.

 

[sr71plt]

So, you always think it's amateurish for a writer to use measurement in their stories? When it's used, you think "young kid and inexperienced as well" referring to the story's author and do that sarcastic thing about the author? No chance you wouldn't be saying "this author has his character and/or narrator voice down pat"?

And if the story you were editing had a young wise-ass punk character in it who treats woman like disposable commodities, and he was sitting on a wall with other young punks ogling the "walking merchandise" and a woman was passing by and he referred to her by a cup size, you'd try to edit that out, right?

Again, is this about what a writer would do to show his/her characters or about the pablum you personally want to read? (he asks sarcastically.)

Thanks, but as a writer, I'll leave your 2 cents on the table.

 

[_Lynn_]

So, you always think it's amateurish for a writer to use measurement in their stories? When it's used, you think "young kid and inexperienced as well" referring to the story's author and do that sarcastic thing about the author? No chance you wouldn't be saying "this author has his character and/or narrator voice down pat"?

And if the story you were editing had a young wise-ass punk character in it who treats woman like disposable commodities, and he was sitting on a wall with other young punks ogling the "walking merchandise" and a woman was passing by and he referred to her by a cup size, you'd try to edit that out, right?

Again, is this about what a writer would do to show his/her characters or about the pablum you personally want to read? (he asks sarcastically.)

Thanks, but as a writer, I'll leave your 2 cents on the table.

That is an excellent example of a character who would use the bra size. Much better than the few I thought of.

 

[Thefamiliar]

So, you always think it's amateurish for a writer to use measurement in their stories? When it's used, you think "young kid and inexperienced as well" referring to the story's author and do that sarcastic thing about the author? No chance you wouldn't be saying "this author has his character and/or narrator voice down pat"?

And if the story you were editing had a young wise-ass punk character in it who treats woman like disposable commodities, and he was sitting on a wall with other young punks ogling the "walking merchandise" and a woman was passing by and he referred to her by a cup size, you'd try to edit that out, right?

Again, is this about what a writer would do to show his/her characters or about the pablum you personally want to read? (he asks sarcastically.)

Thanks, but as a writer, I'll leave your 2 cents on the table.

Lol you just hate the world don't you?

No, I didnt say if it was used to portray a characters personality you shouldnt use it.

I think it would be quite obvious from my post, its when a narritive uses the cup size to directly relate to the reader a character's looks. As per the original posters intent as well.

Think most people dont use cup size to describe a woman. I grew up with guys, have had all those buddy moments, and more often than not "a pair of great knockers" wins out over cup size. Yet, less experienced guys will revert to cup size. My opinion is based on direct experience from life...and I was relaying my honest first thoughts when I come across such things.

If you reread my post, I did say ultimately its up to the author if they want to change it. I never said it should be strictly one way or not.

My writing has vastly changed over the years, yet there are instances when I will revert to the less polished narrative as well, as the voice of the story is meant to portray a less experienced person. Which is why i also said, if I were editing I would ask if the author wanted strictly spelling and grammar or critiques as well.

The original post asked about the opinions on cup size. I answered honestly about my thoughts. I really dont expect everyone to agree with me, its just another perspective.

You do seem to like to try to engage in arguments, or perhaps you just enjoy heated debates. Dont read too much into my posts, really, they are all simply opinion. The beauty of the world is that there are many differences, we are not all cookies cut to be exactly the same.

 

[sr71plt]

If I hadn't read your post as I did, I wouldn't have answered what I did.

I'm happy that's not what you meant, though.

 

[lazyhobo]

As a reader, the less defined detail the better. I have read whole novels where the brunett was described throughout yet my mind still pictured a blond anyway. Especially with strictly erotica, I enjoy the stories that allow me to conjure up my own playthings...too much description makes it a story and not erotic.

Sorry, but are you saying that a story with more detail can be called a Novel, but has too much detail to be erotic?

 

[Noor]

44DD=linebacker with implants?

the number is the chest wall measurement. Like when guys where suits, so it gives you an idea of how well your arms will go around under a woman's bra band. The letter is how many additional inches it would be if you measured around the fullest part of the bust.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassiere_measurement

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

Yes - detailed information (eg 5 feet 1 inch tall, 91 lbs, 44DD-18-36, blonde hair down to waist level, green eyes, clean shaven from the neck down, blue painted toe nails, etc.) is absolutely essential in the right place.

However, the right place is a forensic pathologist's report on a corpse, not an erotic author's description of a heroine.

It is an interesting fact that in the 12 "Delights" novels (600K words) the principal character is never described physically, and I have never once had any feedback criticising that fact, or even asking about it.