story categories

[cherrylips_au]

How do you choose which is the best catergory for your story when it can fit into a few different ones?

 

[vgrey]

One of the big questions

That is a big one. Who do you think your readers will be?

VG

 

[Ray Dario]

I just went through this. I submitted a story about a man of God being seduced by a succubus. It had elements of group sex, anal, and non-human in it.

I finally chose Sci-Fiction/Fantasy because I felt the fantasy aspect of the story was it's underlying theme.

So I guess that is the advice I would give. Think hard about the story and decide what its basest theme is, and then put it in that category.

I don't know if that helps, but its all the advice I can give.

Ray

 

[Axeltheswede]

category question

Try to determine your primary audience. Go with that category. In your description line, try to include references to other categories that may apply.

Seems like the strongest negative reactions from readers are triggered by unexpected elements in a story. Examples; group story includes incest element, loving wives story suddenly turns interracial, etc.

If you don't find the solution above helpful, you can always ask Laurel to classify it for you. I believe you can do that. If that is not correct, someone jump in here and set things straight.

 

[cherrylips_au]

I guess I just don't want to end up in the wrong catergory, the ones it could fit into are anal, fetish and loving wives.

My question is how particular are the readers? Are they truely only expecting to have one type of scene in every story?
With the anal catergory is it mainly for women having anal or is it acceptable for a story to have a male partner receiving anal sex?
Is it really fair to leave it up to Laurel to decide?

 

[vgrey]

Is it a question of whether or not the categories are to be regarded as primarily a system of "labels" to prevent a potential reader from encountering something that offends them? Or, does it exist as a system of guides purely to connect authors with prospective readers?
If that is the question then I don't really have the answer.
There are probably some strongly held, and conflicting, opinions on categorizing your story, but in the end its up to you, and Laurel. Do you think that your larger readership might be in one of those categories?

VG

 

[Axeltheswede]

Category advice

I think you have answered your question, cherrylips. Loving wives is the category you want. Mention the anal and fetish aspects of your story in the tag line if you can. If not, anal probably won't upset too many fans in that category. As long as the fetish isn't too far out there, like snuff, scat, beastiality, etc, it should fly too.

I think the classification system here serves to get readers what they want to read. You can look at the negative. Readers avoiding what they don't like. You can look at the positive. Readers finding exactly what they are looking for as easily as possible.

I think it works pretty well.

 

[vgrey]

Agreed.

Axeltheswede said:

I think the classification system here serves to get readers what they want to read. You can look at the negative. Readers avoiding what they don't like. You can look at the positive. Readers finding exactly what they are looking for as easily as possible.

Yep. Ditto that!

VG

 

[SexyChele]

This is a toughie as most of my stories incorporate several different categories. I usually go with either the most obvious theme or where I think readers might look for it.

Makes it tougher lately, because when I first started coming here there were a LOT fewer categories. But I do admit that it is easier for readers to find what interests them.