Stroker Pacing

[ScrappyPaperDoodler]

Today, I sat down to write the opening of a new story that I intend to be more (sexually) intense, kinkier, edgier, and substantially more pornographic than my other works. I'm 3,100 words into the first draft and still no sex.

90% of the time, this would not bother me (there are about 9,000 words before the first sex scene in my last published work). However, the aim of this story is very specific.

So, my question is fairly general: What's the latest stage at which sex can start, and the story still be considered a stoker?

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I doubt that there is a specific answer to that. I've seen tons of stories where the sex doesn't happen until near the end, but any semblance of plot is merely excuses to get to the sex, making it still a stroker.

If you are worried about hooking the stroke reader's attention early, you could just start mid action, like right in the middle of the sex, then back up to tell how it all started. The first action could be 100-200 words, maybe a single paragraph, or even less. Perhaps even only one sentence if it's hot enough. Then cut to something like. "He'd met her on the dance floor that night ..." and then retrace the events up to the intro sex and continue right through.

 

[RocketGrunt]

So, my question is fairly general: What's the latest stage at which sex can start, and the story still be considered a stoker?

It absolutely depends on the story. If it's an edge piece, it does not literally have to have sex in it at all, and if it's a catch and release piece it can practically limitless amounts of titillation text before it gets to the wet parts.

The structure of the story is going to be in deference to the sexy parts if it's a stroke piece, but whether those sexy parts are front loaded, back loaded, or strung throughout is up to you. Probably the biggest question you should ask is: "Do I think the reader intends to stop reading after they get through the big sex scene?" Because if the answer is "yes," then there probably doesn't need to be a lot of text after.

 

[ScrappyPaperDoodler]

I think the bridge I'm trying to cross at the start is: Man with no (obvious) hedonistic impulses, pursues hedonistic impulses when offered the chance. And I'm possibly spending too much time trying to unravel that and not enough time amping up the sexual tension.

 

[old_prof]

I think the bridge I'm trying to cross at the start is: Man with no (obvious) hedonistic impulses, pursues hedonistic impulses when offered the chance. And I'm possibly spending too much time trying to unravel that and not enough time amping up the sexual tension.

That's what revising is here to fix.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Ass always, the devil’s in the definition. To my mind, a stroker is a story, not necessarily without literary merit, but certainly one in which plot, characterization, etc are subordinated to stoking sexual arousal. A story intended to get the reader wet/hard as soon as possible, generally with the intent of facilitating a quick orgasm.

Consider porn movies. There are some which could definitely win Oscars with but one small rule change - solid plot, nice settings, good lighting and direction and good acting (as opposed to mere possession of oversized breasts or genetalia). They are those that open with brassieres already unfastened, willies out and if there’s wallpaper it’s a surprise. They have their place, but I think you can see the difference.

And keep in mind that long stories with good characters and a real plot can be ‘sexually intense, kinky, edgy and entirely pornographic’.

Edit. Think The Story of O - intensely erotic, but hardly a stroker. It is your story in any case. Do what you want and good luck.

 

[CalBishForNow]

Obligatory clarification: "sex scene" =! intercourse. Oral, handjobs/fingering, and even plain old dirty talk can all be very arousing. Make sure you're keeping that in mind when you're figuring out where your first sex scene is.

To answer the question, if I wanted to ensure that my story was a stroker, I'd aim to have some kind of sex scene on the first page. Each Lit page is about 3500 words. Reviewing my list of stories, 21/29 qualify. (I'm a simple man.)

As for how, if it doesn't fit the "main" plot... are your main characters a couple thinking about trying something kinky and it takes 9000 words to get the kink started? Then throw in a more vanilla scene early. This will also serve as contrast. Is it the start of a relationship and your MCs have some hangups or conflict to get through? Then give the protagonist an exhibitionist/voyeur/masturbation scene early. In the example you gave of a man with no hedonistic impulses, have him witness someone else pursuing theirs to get him and the readers started.

Also, I'm not sure how much of a problem there actually is. It looks to me like Airtight Aunt and Airtight Mommy both fit my definition. So just do that again.

 

[SimonDoom]

There's no clear answer to this question. But if your goal is to write a stroker, a story where your readers just can't help themselves but get the hand involved while reading, I think a clear, working principle is to keep them on the edge of their seat, excited to see what happens next. If you can keep that up (pun intended), you've got a good stroker.

One of my all-time favorite comments was from a reader of one of my mom-son incest stories, who told me he came as soon as, in my story, the son touched mom's panties. No sex. Just touching the panties was all that was needed to get this reader off. I felt like I'd done my job for this reader, and I felt good about that, because I wrote that story to be a stroker. I wanted it to tease and titillate and torture. I feel pretty good about how it turned out.

That story, by the way, was about 7,600 words, or just over 2 Literotica pages. If I were to do that story over, I'd probably make the sex itself longer. I think I did a great job with the buildup but could have spent a bit more time with the sex and climax.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I've seen a first start with the first sentence and never really do anything else.

Just avoid being overtly crude and vulgar. Never really necessary.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I think the bridge I'm trying to cross at the start is: Man with no (obvious) hedonistic impulses, pursues hedonistic impulses when offered the chance. And I'm possibly spending too much time trying to unravel that and not enough time amping up the sexual tension.

This is one of those threads where someone comes to the AH with a question, but already knows the answer.

You might not be sure about it yet, but I reckon: there's your answer.

 

[ScrappyPaperDoodler]

Also, I'm not sure how much of a problem there actually is. It looks to me like Airtight Aunt and Airtight Mommy both fit my definition. So just do that again.

Fair point! With those two stories the title set the tone by telling the reader (and the writer) exactly what to expect. If we got paid, those would be my shameless cash grabs.

 

[Djmac1031]

The Jenna Arrangement Pt 2 was my ninth story in less than a month and I wrote a note at the beginning apologizing to readers that it would "take awhile" to get to anything sexual. Meanwhile the story was only 7K words, which worked out to just barely over two LE pages.

And yet the reader reaction was overwhelmingly positive and its highly rated.

All this to say: take whatever time you think the story needs to get there. If its a good set up readers won't mind the wait. And 9K words really isn't that long a wait.

 

[Voboy]

My own rule of thumb is that for most of my pieces, the main couple needs to encounter each other within 5k words and do something naughty within 10k.

It's not a specific requirement I follow; it's just something I've noticed as I write.

I don't really write strokers, as a rule, but I do have a few shorter pieces where everything is obviously compressed. But most of my pieces finish up between 20k and 35k words, so if I wanted to I could express it as a percentage.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'll answer this the same way I've answered other questions in analogous contexts. The best way to "answer" a question like this is to read stories and figure out what, in actual practice, works for you. Be a good, observant reader. It's far better to do this than to try to figure out the answers to questions like this in the abstract. Practice and experience beat theory every time. There's no short cut.

 

[Britva415]

Today, I sat down to write the opening of a new story that I intend to be more (sexually) intense, kinkier, edgier, and substantially more pornographic than my other works. I'm 3,100 words into the first draft and still no sex.

90% of the time, this would not bother me (there are about 9,000 words before the first sex scene in my last published work). However, the aim of this story is very specific.

So, my question is fairly general: What's the latest stage at which sex can start, and the story still be considered a stoker?

I don't think it's about pacing at all. I think it's entirely about the intent of the story and the stakes of the plot. What's the story about?

If the story is about anything other than the stroke payoff, then it's not a stroker. Or, it's more than a stroker. But if the slow-burn isn't about anything other than building anticipation, excitement, and interest in the payoff, or about anything other than enhancing the stroke content by making the reader root for it, then, it's totally a stroker. Even if it takes some doing to get there.

Real life works like this sometimes. Right now I'm in the middle of building toward a romp with a delightful lady, and expectations are minimal. This isn't about romance, it isn't about dating, it isn't about establishing a relationship.

It's possible that she'll nope out of what we're doing if she realizes she has expectations which don't match the ones I'm expressing. But meanwhile, we knowingly escalate the intensity and anticipation every time we meet or interact. The situation just hasn't been such yet that we have been ready or able to "close the deal" yet and go get a room. But that's how I want it to go, and I may or may not find that she's up for that too.

If it turns out that she isn't, then, it isn't a stroker story. She has different stakes or greater stakes or it's about more to her. That's a different story than what it would turn out to be if she is up for just some no-strings sex and the stakes aren't any greater than that. The latter would be a slow-burn stroker story with a long on-ramp and an explosive denouement. But it would still be a stroker, even if it takes 10,000 words to progressively and compellingly escalate the excitement and anticipation, and make the "Finally!" scene hotter than hot.

But that's the trick: If the story is a stroker, there is no point at all in larding the first three pages with shit that don't matter.

 

[Paul_Chance]

Sex on page 1.

 

[Britva415]

There will be some who say that a stroker shouldn't have any plot at all to be a stroker, but I believe that a plot that inherently and exclusively is about the stroke qualifies as a stroker story.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Shockingly, the answer is: It depends! But that doesn't help you a whit, so let's dive in.

Question is, how flimsy is the premise and how important are the characters to the goal of inducing an aroused state in your reader?

If the dynamic and plot are important, than you probably stand to push back the sex scene a little bit to establish it and set the scene/mood. If they aren't, you don't need much of a premise, flimsy's usually good enough for these purposes. So however long it takes to set up that premise and get them to where you need to be, that's fine.

Or you can toss them in first paragraph and call it a day if it's something like two anonymous people, strangers who aren't looking for anything other than a good time, etc.

But your premise is guy who isn't normally into hedonism, gets a chance, dives headfirst? Probably start sexy times on the first Lit page, ~2000 words in. Of course, that depends on if you tend to be a leaner writer or a fuller writer (in terms of setup, description, things of that nature, how deep you dive into those things and let them drive a story). If you're a leaner writer, then 2000 might actually be way too much potentially. If you tend to write more "full" (heavier on details, interactions, backstory, interpersonal relationships), then 2000 might actually be quick. Obviously, it's a continuum, so if you want one hard fast rule, ask yourself, "Am I getting antsy to get these two fucking?"

If yes, then start the fuckery.

And you can always go back and edit it for length and concision (or expansion) if you feel the pacing is off.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I don't read strokers.

I don't write strokers (at least not with that intention)

I have no regrets.