Violence in a story? (and a question about catagories)

[TheOtherTeacher]

Hi!

I'm working a bit on a new story, and it's given me a couple of questions.

Firstly - how much violence do you want in a story? It starts in the 1530s, with a very bloody scene, involving decapitation and other deaths by sword. (It is valid for the plot, and everyone dying would be over 18).
Would that level of violence be acceptable? Would it stop you reading it? How much violence and gore puts you off?

(I can't find anything in the rules regarding violence, only about age of characters and about overall consent.)


Secondly - in the story, there are 3 magical items. One of the magical items allows basic mind control.

Would you say this is a fantasy story, or a mind control story? When a story could fit into many catagories, which one do you decide to place it in?


Thanks in advance for your imput!

TheOtherTeacher

 

[Winter_Fare]

Hey! I'm right behind you in 1529
I think in terms of category it's more about the sex, and how it happens. Violent plots are ten a penny, they don't turn me off personally, and are definitely allowed on lit.

You could go fantasy category and tag for mind control. I write in a realish+ magic/supernatural setting but non human/non con/horror work best for me. Fantasy has a bigger readership by miles than mind control.

 

[NotWise]

Hi!

I'm working a bit on a new story, and it's given me a couple of questions.

Firstly - how much violence do you want in a story? It starts in the 1530s, with a very bloody scene, involving decapitation and other deaths by sword. (It is valid for the plot, and everyone dying would be over 18).
Would that level of violence be acceptable? Would it stop you reading it? How much violence and gore puts you off?

(I can't find anything in the rules regarding violence, only about age of characters and about overall consent.)

This forum post by KillerMuffin lists reasons why stories are rejected. It goes beyond the site's stated content rules, and is cited by the site as a guide.

Near the end of the list is this, including an addition by Laurel:

Was there excessive violence, snuff, or abuse of characters in your story?

Your story was too extreme for our guidelines. These judgments are subjective, and thus we can't give an exact definition of what exactly is "too much". Certain "violence" in a BDSM situation between consenting adults may be allowed, while the same "violence" between strangers in a non-consentual situation will not. Tone and respect for characters, as well as the "violent" scene within the context of the story, are what we make our judgments upon. If your story is rejected for this, feel free to send the story back with a polite request for an explanation and we will tell you why it was rejected. If you disagree with our assessment, you are more than welcome to publish your story elsewhere rather than alter it to our guidelines. We respect your rights as authors to write on whatever you like, however you like.

Added by Laurel for clarification: While we do accept submissions with graphic violence, we don't accept "snuff" - i.e. death & extreme torture with the aim of sexual titillation. We generally do not accept submissions of nonconsensual sex in which the "victim" gets absolutely no sort of thrill or enjoyment from the acts, or is seriously and /or permanently physically harmed/abused.

As you describe your story, the violence is probably alright. You may want to avoid over-detailed description and you probably need to be careful about putting it into an erotic setting.

Secondly - in the story, there are 3 magical items. One of the magical items allows basic mind control.

Would you say this is a fantasy story, or a mind control story? When a story could fit into many catagories, which one do you decide to place it in?


Thanks in advance for your imput!

TheOtherTeacher

To me, that's a fantasy story.

There are few firm guidelines on how to categorize stories, and if you get if wrong Laurel may fix it for you. This how-to article by Tx Tall Tales is the go-to guide.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Secondly - in the story, there are 3 magical items. One of the magical items allows basic mind control.

Would you say this is a fantasy story, or a mind control story? When a story could fit into many catagories, which one do you decide to place it in?

Depends on the focus of your story. If the mind control is a major part of the story, and especially if it's being used for sexual purposes, then MC might be the right category. Otherwise, SFF. If in doubt, you probably won't go wrong with SFF, it's a pretty cosmopolitan category.

 

[Grendelpuppy]

Hi!

I'm working a bit on a new story, and it's given me a couple of questions.

Firstly - how much violence do you want in a story? It starts in the 1530s, with a very bloody scene, involving decapitation and other deaths by sword. (It is valid for the plot, and everyone dying would be over 18).
Would that level of violence be acceptable? Would it stop you reading it? How much violence and gore puts you off?

(I can't find anything in the rules regarding violence, only about age of characters and about overall consent.)


Secondly - in the story, there are 3 magical items. One of the magical items allows basic mind control.

Would you say this is a fantasy story, or a mind control story? When a story could fit into many catagories, which one do you decide to place it in?


Thanks in advance for your imput!

TheOtherTeacher

Look at some of my stories for examples that push the boundaries.

THE CASE OF THE VINDICTIVE CUCKOLD

MARRIAGE TO A ZOMBIE

 

[HeyAll]

The guidelines were answered above, but personally I think crime/violence and erotica go well together. Both have that sense of danger and excitement.

Of course, if the violence is over the top and/or gory then it defeats its own purpose.

 

[SimonDoom]

Secondly - in the story, there are 3 magical items. One of the magical items allows basic mind control.

Would you say this is a fantasy story, or a mind control story? When a story could fit into many catagories, which one do you decide to place it in?




TheOtherTeacher

This is the way I approach this kind of question. What is the MOST erotic thing about your story? It has multiple elements, but what element gives it the most sizzle and will appeal to the largest audience, in an erotic sense? Asking the question should guide the decision about the category into which to publish the story.

It's possible the Site may override you, based on its own criteria, but I think that's the way to start thinking about thing.

 

[Voboy]

Violence that serves the story and/or establishes the setting is not a problem. I wrote a story set in Ancient Rome where they stone a guy to death pretty sadistically, and nobody seemed to mind. Same for swordfights in fantasy stories. It's not a problem. Just don't make them gratuitous.

 

[RejectReality]

What Voboy said. I've written some pretty horrific scenes that were necessary to convey the story in Sci-Fi & Fantasy. ( Non sexual ) Sexual violence ( and to a lesser extent, violence in a real world setting ) is the place you start running afoul of rejections.

What you've described sounds like Sci-Fi & Fantasy to me. Despite being about a fantasy ability, the mind control category seems to become less enthused in direct proportion to the amount of additional fantasy elements you put in there.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Hmm... violence? It would depend on whether the one committing the violence got any pleasure from the act. Then it wouldn't fly here.

I have stories where thousands are killed in one sweeping flyby of a spaceship. I have other stories where everyone dies in the end. And others where the main characters die in the end. Violence is part of life for some. If you enjoy it, there is something wrong with you. Otherwise, it's just part of life.

Personally, I have seen all sorts of violence. That was in the service though. After that, not so much.

Then again, just look to Hollywood for violence. They seem to think it's okay.

 

[TheOtherTeacher]

Thanks Everyone for your feedback! I think I've found a good level for the violence, but I might send it via an editor closer to the time to get a doublecheck.

Still trying to decide where the story will live - mind control or fantasy. But I don't think the story has decided yet, so I can't either!

 

[njlauren]

One other note to all authors on here, there is another subtext I am learning with violence in stories. I recently tried submitting a story (a dark satire on the phenomenon of a story on the LW section spawning 2 years of other takes) and had it rejected, saying that they don't allow stories that condone violence or promote illegal acts . It puzzled me because to be honest, especially in the LW category, a lot of the stories have violence that made mine look tame , people being buried alive in concrete, people being hacked apart slowly and fed to sharks, etc, etc..... In the end it seems like from what some people who read the story suggested, they were afraid that someone might take what I wrote seriously (it as a satire and was pretty easy to see it was, I also said it was in my comments). From what I can tell the original author was harassed by idiots, literally received threats of violence and death, walked away from lit because of it, and the background vibe I get is this is getting worse (not surprisingly). I can understand it, was saddened I couldn't post it here (it was a story that wrote itself and I really liked what it ended up being) but I really can understand their worries with it. Posted it elsewhere and people who read it seemed to enjoy it and got a laugh, which is what I intended.

 

[JohnEngelman]

In a good story with violence in it the violence advances the plot. The plot does not exist in order to string a lot of fights together.