What do readers of Literotica REALLY want?

[nitengale]

Does anyone know what the readers of Literotica really want to read? Are most into finding sexual content in the first paragraph or are they really here to read good works of writing? Do the writers really care, meaning to each is own (the reader) and I will write what I enjoy writing? Does anyone get a sense from their feedback? I'm just curious, I guess.

 

[CW]

To get an answer that would make any sense, you'd have to poll each reader here on the site. Some want the Penthouse letters approach, nothing but sex, forget dimensional characters, forget any character that doesn't sport either massive perky boobs or a twelve inch cock. This group just wants to start in with the masterbation stroking from the first paragraph.

Then there are those who desire the sex scenes in relationship to a believable cast of primary characters. Something that is rooted in reality and can be identified with. For these folks it's not necessary that all characters be perfect blond haired and blue eyed studs or wenches.

Perhaps the middle ground is beleivable characters that have some depth with rocking sex scenes?

In any case, I would suggest that you write the way that YOU feel comfortable writing,,, with as many readers as this site has, you are bound to appeal to some of them.

Last remark and I'm outta here,,, use an editor !! Always.

 

[Whispersecret]

"Massive perky boobs"

I think that's an oxymoron.

On topic, I agree with CW and Kerrie. There is no way to know the answer to your question without a poll. Perhaps it's something to propose to Laurel. Perhaps polling results would help writers target their stories better. I know there are Literotica writers out there whose main goal is to turn on as many people as possible. I also know that Laurel has the numbers on what words come up the most on searches. Maybe that information would be helpful to you.

Personally, I think polling the readers for preferences is a mistake. If we all only write what they seem to want, then Literotica will end up like the mainstream publishing industry, pandering to what "sells," and not to the individual author's "vision." As a writer, I think that you should write the story YOU want to tell, not the story you think they want to hear. Those are the ones that will turn out better anyway.

 

[KillerMuffin]

The most frustrating question! Ahg. Literotica literally has no demographics. You're audience comes here to read stories with sex in them.

Coming Home, which doesn't have very much sex and what sex there is isn't all that hot, doesn't get as many votes as Pastorale, which is nothing but sex, but it's higher rated and generates alot more email.

The thing that I've concluded is that the readers at lit are eclectic. They want it all. You can't satisfy all of the readers, you can't even satisfy a majority of them sometimes. I've quit trying to write to garner votes, to satisfy what the readership wants, and I've begun writing just for myself and the story. If they like it, then they let me know. If they don't, then they'll let me know that too.

So, if you have a story where the sex doesn't start until page 32, then I would suggest you finish writing the entire thing and chop it up so it can be sent in as a novella.

 

[Laurel]

I agree. I've never done a survey (though that might be a fun thing to try sometime), but just from the emails I receive and from looking through the Member profiles, I'd say we get a wide range of ages, races, nationalities, and a pretty even men/women split.

It's a rare story - here or in life - that captures the attention of a majority of readers. DCL's "Teaching Patti" was #1 for months. It had hardly any actual sex in it. If you look at the stories at the top of the Top Lists that have a decent number of votes, you'll find that they're usually plot-driven with developed (to some degree) characters. There are exceptions, of course. However, I think even readers who come here to "get off" (which is most of us - otherwise we'd be over at CNN.com, right?) prefer stories with an interesting plot and intriguing characters.

Fantasy's only fun if you get sucked into it, if it becomes real. Generic sex scenes with throwaway characters are boring. I think people NEED the action to build naturally. You can't just throw a reader into a story without any explanation or development and expect them to enjoy it, any more than you can throw two people into bed together without any warm-up and expect them to immediately go at it fast & furious-like.

Take action movies, for example. Not a genre that anyone would consider great art, but their success requires that people have an emotional investment in the characters. A successful action movie isn't all wham-bam-kablam...it has the requisite "slow scenes" in which we discover that our Hero lost his wife to an assassin sent by the Bad Guy, and that he loves his daughter more than his life...Without this knowledge, we wouldn't care as much when the Bad Guy's henchmen kidnap his daughter. This isn't sophisticated - this is basic storytelling. Every single moviegoer NEEDS some level of characterization in order to make sense of or care about the movie.

Same goes here. There are extremely well-written stories that never make the top lists. However, slam-bam-thank ya ma'am stuff doesn't make it their either. Readers NEED plot and characters - that's what separates the exceptional story from the one that resembles a porno transcript. That's what makes a reader say, "Wow, I liked that!" Being as it's a sex site, you do need sex in the story - just as those going to see an action movie expect to see some gunfire & high-flying kicks - but that's not all that readers want.

Predicting what story will be highly rated and which ones won't is impossible. After 2 1/2 years of reading & editing 6,000+ stories, I still have no clue. Sometimes I think I find a pattern, and then some story will come along and totally prove me wrong. I do think that if you do your best to write a true STORY, then you are on your way. Follow your heart. Go for quality. Don't underestimate the reader.

The thing that I've concluded is that the readers at lit are eclectic. They want it all. You can't satisfy all of the readers, you can't even satisfy a majority of them sometimes. I've quit trying to write to garner votes, to satisfy what the readership wants, and I've begun writing just for myself and the story. If they like it, then they let me know. If they don't, then they'll let me know that too.

Amen. That's really the only way to win. If you're truly happy with the story, then nothing can change that. If you rely on something as fickle as public opinion (there's a reason top A&R guys get paid the big bucks - it's a nearly impossible job), then you're doomed to ride an emotional roller coaster.

That's all the blathering I have for now. More to come, I'm sure. lol.

 

[nitengale]

Thanks for the responses....I have been writing exactly what I want to write, and have provoked both postive and negative emails. (as well as a few offers to meet them for sex...charmers) I was merely curious as to what the writers here thought made the readers happy, made them tick, pissed them off, etc. I'm going to write what I am comfortable writing, and sharing with others. I think my writing turns out better this way anyway.

Again, what a nice group of writers you all seem to be. I feel like I am in good company here. =)