Variety of Categories or stick with one or two?

[Kethandra]

I’m curious what other authors do here, and have experienced, concerning writing in multiple categories on Literotica.
I usually write what interests me, often aimed at the topic of one of the theme contests. Then I decide what LitE category it would best fit in. I haven’t tried to ‘write to the category’ specifically, or entered any of the contests that reward multiple, diverse submissions (survivor). The exception to that is my one LW attempt where I purposefully tried to appeal to two entirety different and conflicting LW tropes just for fun.
Still, when I was reviewing what stories have turned out to be rated/voted the highest for me here, in my top 8 stories, I have 6 categories represented (LW is not one of the 6!). It surprised me. Partly because I have read here on AH that some categories are known for ratings that are more generous than others.
What are your experiences?
Stick with one or two categories that fit your interest?
Try out as many as you can?
Thanks.

-Kethandra

 

[SimonDoom]

Good question.

Ideally, I think one should write one's story first, without regard for category, and then figure out the category once it's time to publish.

I've published 24 stories, in six different categories, with incest/taboo and exhibitionism being the two categories in which I've written the most. So far I've gravitated toward those two categories because I think those stories are fun to write and I seem to keep coming up with ideas for them.

I like the idea, however, of stretching my creative boundaries and writing stories in more categories, or even trying to write at least one story in every category. I see it as an artistic challenge. I've got several stories in new categories in the works, but they're coming along slowly. I like the idea of writing stories that are well outside my own kinky interests, like a gay male story, for example. I'm not into non-consent, generally speaking, but I'd like to try writing a story of that type as well.

 

[NotWise]

What are your experiences?
Stick with one or two categories that fit your interest?
Try out as many as you can?

I've published to six categories. "Spreading it around" that way might make it more difficult to build a following, but that's the only downside I can think of.

 

[KeithD]

In my previous account (sr71plt), I wrote clear across the board, in over twenty categories, but I was heavily writing GM (because I can't do that in my mainstream list) and I was attacked on the board for commenting on anything but GM, even though I had more stories in straight categories (over 150) than my detractors had stories posted here themselves--combined. So, I eventually just added new, undisclosed accounts for stories that weren't GM and I let them run without the category connection to revealed accounts. They rate better than my revealed accounts do.

 

[HeyAll]

I generally try to alternate between a handful of categories, and i take into account the popularity of each category and how my stories are recieved there.

For instance, I do great in incest, and it's fun to write, so i write a lot there.

next is lesbian and so forth.

but what i try to do is alternate, and i generally try to spread them out. for instance, in Anal, a story can be on a Hub for about a month. so i wouldn't submit 2 Anal stories within the space of 2 weeks. it wouldn't make sense since i've already got a story there.

same for lesbian, where a story stays on the Hub for 1-2 weeks. if i'm planning another story, i'd wait about 2-3 weeks to keep it spread.

with incest, i'd wait maybe 2 weeks.


What I like about alternating categories is that you get new readers. I've written bdsm stories where people have commented that they don't normally read that, except for that i wrote it. people like to stay in their lanes in terms of what they read. so you get new readers by branching out a bit.

 

[Hypoxia]

Too bad I can't easily sort my catalog by category. [/me squints at CP] Of my now-117 published, the most are in Incest, then Group, then SciFi, with some in Erotic Couplings and Horror, LW, Fetish, Mature, Romance, NonCon, NonHuman, Essay, Humor, Novellas, Non-Erotic, and maybe more.

I don't write by any schedule or blueprint. I don't think, "Group today, SciFi next week." I feel a need to write *something*; maybe I consider category, maybe not, or maybe the theme slots it; it emerges, and goes where Laurel wants.

As I've mentioned, I don't read Incest but I write it as a puzzle; I try to make believable the taboo violation. I'm interested in O.Henry twist endings; pulp thriller styles; fractured history; vivid settings; world musics, arts, and techs; what-if speculations; and usually much sex. Those don't dictate categories.

I'm reminded that I should re-categorize a few episodes. And further LW pieces will be under an alt so I can't be blamed or shamed, heh heh.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I write the story I want to write and then decide what category to post in. Often I end up having trouble categorising them because I have a story that fits in several categories, but I think it's a lot better for the story than trying to target one category.

However, I've noticed that readers who encounter my stories in one category are much more likely to look up my other stuff in the same category than to explore what I've posted elsewhere. For instance, I have two stories in Lesbian Sex which are both about same-sex relationships with a lot of talking, and I have another in SF/F which is also about F-F relationships with a lot of talking, as well as magical elements. Readers who see one of the Lesbian Sex stories often go on to the other one, but they rarely make the jump to the SF/F one - even though they'd probably enjoy it.

 

[ElectricBlue]

77 stories (including chapters) across thirteen categories. I write the story, then find the category.

Although I have written a snippet in every category:

https://www.literotica.com/s/something-for-everyone-1

 

[Voboy]

I write what I want to read. So the categories I post in are the ones I tend to be the most familiar with, as a reader. I like ratings (of course), but they’ve never been my primary motivation. So I’m not sure which of the categories my stories do well in.

But. I do write long stories. And I notice that across categories, the closer I write to romance-y content, the higher the votes tend to be. With that said, I don’t think I’ve ever really written in the “Romance” category. But I’m not sure whether my style just shows itself better in more emotional storylines, or whether those kinds of readers just tend to reward what they’ve spent more time reading.

 

[gunhilltrain]

You're probably on the right track if you are writing stories that interest you and then decide on the category. Of course you can try an experiment in a new category just to see how things go.

There are a times when the category can only be a partial fit. We've had a discussion here about a category that should be called "Relationships." That would be for themes that are too "emotional" to be just Erotic Couplings but a little too "difficult/problematic" to be Romance.

To me Romance should cover failed romances, unrequited love, old affairs that are ending and other such situations but not every reader may be content with that. If I have such a story I just post it and let the chips fall.

 

[SamScribble]

I write the story, then find the category.

This tends to be my approach too.

 

[Voboy]

To me Romance should cover failed romances, unrequited love, old affairs that are ending and other such situations but not every reader may be content with that. If I have such a story I just post it and let the chips fall.

Well, as long as we’re “should”-ing, there’s this little category called Loving Wives...

 

[gunhilltrain]

Well, as long as we’re “should”-ing, there’s this little category called Loving Wives...

Yes, I've been in Loving Wives once! I may even have a sequel there this year.

Loving Wives has become a narrow category. (I've also thought if would be fair to have a category called Loving Husbands. Let the ladies who have been wronged vent on that one, I'd like to see their comments.)

So LW is only about married women who cheat (with varying results). There are many plots of romantic missteps and disappointments that don't fit there.

 

[Hypoxia]

So LW is only about married women who cheat (with varying results).

Not quite. I've seen high-ranked LW tales of long-lived faithful marriages, told with joy and pain. But that was long ago, when I read LW.

 

[rutger5]

Yes, I've been in Loving Wives once! I may even have a sequel there this year.

Loving Wives has become a narrow category. (I've also thought if would be fair to have a category called Loving Husbands. Let the ladies who have been wronged vent on that one, I'd like to see their comments.)

So LW is only about married women who cheat (with varying results). There are many plots of romantic missteps and disappointments that don't fit there.

I've written what could be called Loving Husbands stories, i.e. where the husband strays. They don't receive the vitriol that LW generates but they do get comments like "if the wife knew and approved I would have given it a higher score" so there are still readers judging fiction by how one might feel in real life.
In regards to the original question you are doing it right. Write the story you want then worry about the category.

 

[Hypoxia]

In regards to the original question you are doing it right. Write the story you want then worry about the category.

I mentioned in a parallel thread that the LW tropes of "swinging, sharing, and more" can work other categories too. EC for one-on-one cheats, Group for multiples; Incest of course; InterRacial, Fetish, whatever. Post on LW for the views and responses. Post elsewhere for appreciation.