Tissue Time

[bradley_stoke]

Much of the discussion on this board treats erotic stories as literature, with an admirable concern for such literary concerns as plot, style and characterisation. There has even been debate on whether erotic stories should be in the first or third person. However, it is fairly obvious that for most readers of stories on Literotica, the concern is much more to do with masturbation than literary merit.

This is encouraged by the way in which the stories are categorised, which is much like all the picture porn sites. With few exceptions, the stories are divided by the predominant sexual activity. Lesbian sex. Erotic Coupling. Non-Consent. And so on. Furthermore, the pursuit of masturbatory material is very much related to how much a story matches a reader’s own fantasies. There must be many poorly written stories that have gained good scores merely for sharing the erotic fantasies of the readers. Conversely, there must be many well-written stories that score low because the readers are disappointed by the erotic content.

As a writer, I agree with the view that erotic stories should have some modicum of literary merit. But I also wonder whether such concerns really make any difference to the majority of Literotica’s readership.

Related link: http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=18840

 

[Couture]

I don't know, I think that readers just want to feel something when they read the story. I agree that most want to feel a rise or a certain wettening, but what is wrong with that.

Describing a sex scene, which is all that 85% of the stories around here do, is not enough to make me feel at all. To me, this is no different than looking at an erotic picture. I need to feel for the characters to get my juices cooking. So I like a story with plot and actual characters, served with a heavy portion of sex.

 

[susurrus]

Yes, a major reason for stories like this, and the sites that carry them, are for stroke material.

However, there is a *LOT* of EXTREMELY poorly written stuff out there. I'm talking about stories that might have been relatively hot if they were at least *readable*! I'm talking about the kind of stuff that a third grader would get a failing grade on. Spelling errors, glaring grammatic mistakes, punctuation that makes no sense... the list goes on and on.

I think most of us writing this erotica/porn stuff know that we'll never be ranked among the Steinbecks, Shakespeares and the like, but that isn't the point. True, some people who read this kind of story, true, don't care so much about tense, person, that kind of thing. However, if you're at all sensitive to the technical aspects of language - whether you're doing anything else while reading or not - it is very distracting to try to get through a story that is technically faulty.

Now, I don't claim to be perfect. I don't think any of us truly do. But there is a certain "literary" quality you need to strive for to make even this kind of literature palatable. It simply comes down to the basics: Proper spelling, learn how to punctuate, know that a story can't be a single block of text from beginning to end.

No, this isn't Literature in the snooty sense. But if I'm going to continue writing, and put my name or pseudonym on a story, I want readers to know that when that name is attached to it, whether they're going to beat off or not, that it's going to be well written.

So regardless of if it means anything to the readers, I personally feel I owe it to myself to write to the best of my ability.

 

[Weird Harold]

I don't know, I think that readers just want to feel something when they read the story. I agree that most want to feel a rise or a certain wettening, but what is wrong with that.

Like you, I prefer some plot and characters I can relate to.

However, even the "stroke stories" benefit from good grammar and spelling and basic story-telling skills. If the reader spends more time translating poor spelling and laughing at impossible positions, it's very hard to get interested in the sex.

 

[christo]

I'm sure that, for a lot of Lit readers, all the talk about the techniques of fiction seems like pretentious literary bullshit. Most readers come here to find a story that hits a certain nerve, so they can pull down their pants and makes a mess on their keyboard. And that's fine.

But that's the readers. Why do writers post stories here at Lit? I would argue that many of the people who post here are frustrated writers, people who would like to write "real" stories and novels, but either haven't gotten around to it or haven't gotten published. Literotica provides a tremendous forum for writers to get their stories in front of a huge audience. That story might be about a gang bang instead of a subtle exploration of suburban alienation in the 21st century, but people get to read it. And the fact that thousands of people are reading their stories, and voting on it, and sending them feedback, is a tremendous boost to the ego. It feels good to know that thousands of people are reading your stuff.

The techniques and tips and encouragment posted on these boards isn't just for folks writing erotica. I'd wager that a lot of the writers who post here either have novels in a drawer somewhere or a novel in their head that they haven't gotten down on paper yet. Literotica provides an outlet and a community for writers of all types. And, of course, a place to spend a few idle minutes reading about the pizza boy who brought a pie with some extra sausage, if you get my drift, heh heh heh.

 

[Whispersecret]

Well said, Christo.

 

[Laurel]

Erotic fiction is a genre. Like all genre fiction, it has a purpose. Horror novels and stories are written to frighten the readers. You can write a horror story with paragraphs of Steinbeckian descriptive detail. You can use the language in new, exciting, and inventive ways. But if your audience doesn't feel fear, then they will be disappointed - and rightly so.

Erotic readers are no less or more literate than readers of other genres. There are big-time writers who read here, as well as people who wouldn't know an verb from a horse. But I can appreciate a car without having any knowledge of how it's built. I can read a story and know if it's well-told without knowing the mechanics of writing. Your readership - no matter what you choose to write - is a mixed bag. Any author who wishes to be commercially successful must realize that readers are less interested in the cuteness with which you join phrases together or whether you do or don't write in omniscient point of view, and more interested in how effectively you tell a story.

Readers ARE bothered by poor spelling and grammar. They may not all be sensitive enough to appreciate a writer's use of adverbs or flashbacks, but they do know instinctively when the elements within a story work - just as I know when I hit the gas and my car lurches forward that it's got power. They DO need compelling characters. In fiction, there must be tension. In real life, great sex does not happen in a vaccuum. There is a build-up of desire, followed by a satisfaction of that desire. Stories which are nothing but page-long porno scripts are generally not highly rated. Why? Because without any sort of buildup or any reason to empathize with the characters, the sex is unsatisfying. Check the stories that stay longest on the top lists. While you may not believe them to be the "best" stories, they are stories with characters and tension, desire and fulfillment. And they are relatively free of obvious grammatical/spelling errors.

So yes, people come here to read about sex. Yes, erotica is all about sex. Horror is all about scary things. But all reading - and all writing - is storytelling. I have a friend who is an amazing storyteller. He can keep a dozen people entranced while he relates a childhood meeting with a bear while he was a Boy Scout, or his encounter with an ornery store clerk. Yet whenever I try to tell his stories to Manu or my friends, they always sound stupid, uninteresting. Writing isn't necessarily about the story. It's about how you tell it.

 

[Natalie Nessus]

I write because I have to, it is that simple, I think I have stories in my head and I put them down, give to my editor who tweaks them, I publish and I forget them

That is all, it is no mystery to me

 

[Hitchhiker]

Head and nail, bang!

Superb possibly the best forum I've read and all true.
Why do we write? For me that is simple I'm writting a book of my travels around this planet. In the mean time I found this site, and wow what a site it is. I'm no great writer and should most probaly have an editor before I post (volenteer welcome) But I work hard to get my stories spelt correctly, with out missing words and bad tenses etc. Sinse I've been writting I've learnt alot about what the people want, and that folks is what you.ve got give them.
There are writters that are extremly clever and write amazing stories even novels Bradley Stokes for one. Read his work the literary pictures he creates for the reader are mind blowing. Some of the ideas are well.... Read his work then comment.

My last two stories Ann's surprise Pt1 and 2 were written for Ann.
She wrote me a very nice e about my first story "Magic Medicine" it appealed to her fantasy and so Her own story was created.

Feed back to writers is very important and I wish more readers would take a few minutes to tell the writer what they thought and felt of the story. I myself read and comment as being a writer I know how good for the ego a reply is even a bad one helps us learn. But as you writers know we get very few votes. for example
14000 reads on a story and only 60 votes come on, they only have to, click a mouse.

 

[Mickie]

Writers read stories to understand how the story was told. Readers read stories to escape into the story, whether it's erotica, horror, or high fantasy or any other genre. The best writing I've ever found is when I, as a writer, can cross back into a reader and NOT pick apart the grammar and technique, but merely read and keep reading.

Stroke stories can do that, if they're well written. Erotica can do that even better, if they're well written. Same for any other genre.

What we, as writers, are trying to do on the author boards is learn better ways to tell stories, so the readers can escape with less effort into our tales. If the writer merely wants grammatical corrections, then I'd suggest going back to high school text books. If he wants to learn more about the 'craft' of writing, and how to use some of the learning of other writers concerning plot, characters, pacing, setting, etc., then this is a good place to exchange ideas and knowledge.

A reader may not be able to vocalize that the characters were more vibrant and realistic because the dialogue technique used body language as well as verbal accurateness. However, that reader will still be able to escape into the world the author has created more easily because of that fact. If they escape far enough to make a mess on the keyboard because of it, then, guess what, the thought that the author has put into the story has paid off.

Mickie

 

[Hitchhiker]

Mickie seems to have got it (even though he's not really here!).
But then where are we anyway. There in an answer to this question and its very very simple. Bradley can answer it I'm sure.

Another small point on the writting side and getting over feeling to get those vibrators running (I write for women or I hope I do)
Is confindence and this can only come from feedback positive more so, but neg helps us to learn . No feed back keeps us guessing and only votes and score can then help.
A good title and brief decription help. Trust me.

Have a look at my stories. I maybe simple and use only small words but then who wants to see words like "Antidisablitarinism"(Black Adder three ep.1) anyway

Hitchhiker