Why people read erotica?

[HappilyM]

Here is my question: I was looking at the voting done on my stories, and I am confused. Why do people read erotic? Is it to 'get off', get excited, or something else?

A story I thought would do very well has not done anything. Is hot quick passionate sex more of a turn-on than a well developed story with real characters? I know the answers are going to vary, but I am curious.

I write more for other peoples enjoyment, more than for my own. The story I wrote "Sensuality" is an essay that turned-me on more than anything else I have written, but no one has read it and the voting is well very low.

 

[rgraham666]

Most people to Literotica to get off. It's a porn board after all.

And you have thousands of people reading, with all kinds of different tastes. Most of those tastes depend on the sex involved. And the expectations of the people reading.

One of my best pieces, which I posted in Romance, didn't do well. It broke convention. It was a first person piece, when Romance is almost always third person. It was told from the point of view of the man, when Romance is supposed to focus on the woman. The time frame was wrong for the category, taking place over a single night. Most Romances are long, involved things.

So the story didn't do that well. I'm pleased with it though.

Your essay is really unlikely to do well. Reviews and Essays isn't read by many people. And considering the ratio of voters and commenters to readers, it's not surprising you didn't get a lot of feedback.

Keep writing. The more stuff you have here the more readers you will get. That's a very important factor as well.

 

[HappilyM]

I know it is porn

But what turns YOU on? This is what I am curious about. "Sensuality" I posted in the Erotic Couplings section. Like yours it was written in the 1st person.

I personally enjoy stories written in the 1st person, it lets me totally become that character.

Trisha was 5'10" and blonde, does not let me become her. I am left on the outside reading about the exploites.

The reason why I read is to turn me on, not necessarily get off. Although a really well written story that I can easily digress into does make me grab a toy or two. LOL

 

[rgraham666]

But what turns YOU on? This is what I am curious about. "Sensuality" I posted in the Erotic Couplings section. Like yours it was written in the 1st person.

I personally enjoy stories written in the 1st person, it lets me totally become that character.

Trisha was 5'10" and blonde, does not let me become her. I am left on the outside reading about the exploites.

The reason why I read is to turn me on, not necessarily get off. Although a really well written story that I can easily digress into does make me grab a toy or two. LOL

Emotion is what reaches me. And well written stories with characters that catch my interest. Check my favourites page for good examples here.

Erotic Couplings isn't a category where I believe you'll get a high score or many votes/comments. At least I don't. I suspect it's because that's where most of the people who jerk or jill off go to and they're more interested in wanking than reading.

Ultimately Happily, you should write for yourself. Write what makes you happy, put it out there and learn from it.

Oh, one hint. If you really want feedback, enter a contest. There's always a lot more reads, etc. for contests.

You'll also get trolled more but that's one of the risks you run on this site.

 

[bill1955]

I've read a few of the stories on Literotica. I'm not a fan of first or second person because they make me feel claustrophobic. When I open a story or essay and it's written in first or second, I skim the first paragraph. Nine out of 10 times I click the story shut without going further. Sorry, it's my personal preference. It may be different for other readers, though.

Still, I appreciate that so many people contribute their work on here for free. Makes me feel rich I know I can always come back and browse through. There's new stuff, old stuff, lots to pick from.

So maybe I won't read your story today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But I just might get used to first or second person and come back another time.

Good luck to you both. Hope you find more gratification from writing to your own pleasure, HappilyM, just like rgraham.

 

[bill1955]

BTW, rgraham, what does "trolled" mean?

 

[HappilyM]

Trolling

It is when a person decides to give a 1 or a 2 on a story just because they are mean.

As far as not liking 1st person stories, that is fine. I am asking this question just to get an idea and a feel for why?

Thanks for the comments.

 

[FallingToFly]

Bill:

My most recent troll example.

one line: "HIM fucking sucks ass."

Didn't have a damn thing to do with the story, just that they hated the band and so trolled the story.

Trolls are basically bitchy people with no lives who will leave pointless and abusive feedback for you and give you 1 votes.

Welcoe to the next level of Hell, Hap and Bill.

 

[Misty_Morning]

I do not read erotica to "get off". In fact I have never gotten off by reading erotica. I read it to increase my sexual tension in anticipation of sexual encounters which may not take place for several hours. The whole time my mind continues to wander back to whatever I had just read and my arousal continues to increase.

As you know the most imortant sexual organ any of us possess is the one between our ears. I consider erotica to be mind candy. And theres all types of candy. Some erotica will work me up to the point that all I want is to do is fuck like an animal. Other stories will build a deep passion within me and I will want to make very slow, languid, passionate love. Both senarios are pretty good.


As far as my preference, I tend to go for the more detailed and developed stories. I like both first and third person stories but will immediately hit the back button when I see second person. There are certain stories that obviously geared toward the immediate gratification of men and I tend to stay away from those as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[3113]

The Lure of Title & Tagline

Here is my question: I was looking at the voting done on my stories, and I am confused. Why do people read erotic? Is it to 'get off', get excited, or something else?

A story I thought would do very well has not done anything. Is hot quick passionate sex more of a turn-on than a well developed story with real characters?

Readers here come in two types VERY generally speaking. And I do mean GENERALLY. Both want to get off. That means, they either (1) want to have their sexual fantasy (or a sexual fantasy) written up well so they can masterbate to it, or (2) they want an indepth story, with interesting characters, plot, etc. AND sex that will give them the right buzz in the right places.

But, in the end, it's not about sex or story. It's about titles, descriptions, categories and an author's reputation (i.e. "He/She writes the most ROMANTIC stories!"). It's about the fact that this site is not assigned as homework by a teacher; readers are not, IN GENERAL, going to try stuff they don't normally try. They'll skim those categories, skim those descriptions and go for the CANDY everytime. Not the fruit and veggies.

The most popular candy, GENERALLY speaking, is one of two things:

1) Stories in certain categories. Emphasis on that "certain categories" part. Erotic couplings is filled with stroke stories, for example, which is a favorite candy. But people reading E.C. stories generally aren't interested in putting in the comments or the votes. They read and move on--unless something about the story really grabs their attention.

You want readers? votes? comments? Write an Incest story. Write a Loving Wives story. THESE get readers who want to talk and vote about their candy. These are the two most popular categories with the most vocal readers.

2) Romantic stories--whatever the category. Romance readers will read longer stories, they'll stick with you and comment and vote. These readers WANT characters who are devoloped and have a story, and they want them to be more real-ish, less out of central porn casting. But just because the candy has more ingredients doesn't mean it's not candy.

What they want is some heartache, some of that drama: he loves her...but does she love him? She loves him...but does he love her? Can they make it work? Will they see the true goodness in each other? It's not for nothing that these type of stories fly off the shelves of bookstores.

People have their favorite stories (type of stories), and like little kids, when it comes to bedtime, they want it read to them over and over again. If it's not in the right category, and it doesn't suggest to them something they want to read before bedtime, something that they can dream about, they won't read it. That's the way it is with ALL popular fiction, though, of course, things do come out of left field and there's no explaining them. (Harry Potter--who could have predicted that would be a best seller?).

If you'll allow me a demonstration: imagine you've got a 20 minute break and you WANT to feel that buzz. You have a list of stories there in the index. Some twenty stories or more and you've only time to read one. Which one of these will you try:

Sensuality: he tantilizes you (Erotic Coupling)
Caught in the Act: he finds daughters secret video (Incest/Taboo)

Readers have title, tagline and category--and sometimes an "E" or a "H" to help them decide which story to read. Also, if they've read stories by an author they've liked before, they might go for it because it is by that author. But just given title and tagline, and remembering that Incest is one of the most popular categories...

My point is, your story, your writing is not to blame. Your story might well be one of the best erotic stories written. But title, tagline and category put it at a disadvantage. It's happened to me as well. I've written stories I put my heart into...but title or tagline or category just didn't lure in that many readers.

 

[bill1955]

It is when a person decides to give a 1 or a 2 on a story just because they are mean.

As far as not liking 1st person stories, that is fine. I am asking this question just to get an idea and a feel for why?

Thanks for the comments.

Thanks for the info on trolling. I just tried reading another "I" story and well Today's still not the day.

FallingtoFly, thanks also.

3113 has some good, concrete observations and suggestions. They make sense to me.

 

[HappilyM]

Thanks

3113 You made a lot of sense. I read the Erotic Couplings, just because Loving Wives can be very redundent, same plot different names. From now on I will be more careful on what catagory I post my stories in.

I knew when I asked this question I woulds get very differing opinions. By reading both stories and different posts I have come to the conclusion that the readers and writers on this site very greatly. From the very intelligent to no offense to anyone, but the young and very inexperienced.

I enjoy what I write, but I like making my readers just as happy (horny).

 

[Weird Harold]

Here is my question: I was looking at the voting done on my stories, and I am confused. Why do people read erotic? Is it to 'get off', get excited, or something else?

...

I write more for other peoples enjoyment, more than for my own. The story I wrote "Sensuality" is an essay that turned-me on more than anything else I have written, but no one has read it and the voting is well very low.

First of all, the early votes and views here have no apparent connection to the "quality" of the stories, they reflect how well the story met the expectations for the category it's posted in. Over the course of a year or so, the votes and views tend to more accurately reflect "quality" than "expectations" but they are never, ever, completely unaffected by what readers of each category expect.

If you're writing for "other people" you have to choose an an "audience" to write for; You have to tailor each story for the fans of the category to meet their expectations. "Erotic Couplings" is the catch-all category here and the readers of that category don't have consistent expectations -- although it seems to attract mostly people looking for "stroke stories" and hard-core sexual vignettes; plot is about as important there as it is in a stereotypical porn movie.

Of course, actually determining what readers expect in in each category is the big problem.

I write mostly for myself, but I do have a "target audience" of people who are looking for "stories" with plot and characterization and not people looking for for "vignettes." I worry more about the needs of the story than about the desires of the readers -- if I told the story I wanted to tell, I don't worry very much about the votes and views.

On the question of POV, I prefer reading Third Person but tend to write in First Person or a very Limited Third Person. The reason for the contradiction is that First Person is harder to write well and we're dealing with a large percentage of novice authors who haven't learned how to write First Person well.

I write in predominantly First Person because 1) I know enough not to make the most common mistakes that cause people to dislike First Person, 2) some stories are best told from a very tightly controlled POV where the narrator/main character doesn't know everything; other stories need the omnsicience of Third Person to keep the reader from being as confused as the main character and 3) the stories that demand I write them tend to be the type of story that works best with a tightly controlled POV.

bill1955, Check out Two Bags For The Bride -- I don't think I could have told that story nearly as well in Third Person.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

How about this: They read it either to get off now, or to get off later. The former means masturbate while reading. The latter means feed my imagination with sexy stuff that expands the erotic lobe of my brain.

 

[HappilyM]

Two Bags for the Bride

I really liked that story, and no I don't see how it could have been written any differently. I didn't mean for this to get off on a tangent of 1st, 2nd or 3rd person POV.

However, it has become an interesting perspective. I like the analagy that Roxanne used get off now or get off later. But reading and/or writing erotica is more than just getting off.

If it was just about getting off, we would not be reading, but watching? One's brain is I agree the largest sexual organ, but what I am begining to understand is that men and women view what they are reading very differently.

Not that there is anything wrong or right with that. My husband for example, has no interest in reading, unless he can envision himself into my stories. Which is fine, I am writing a new series, that just does not do it for him. Which is fine. I was just curious if the quick stroke stories or long romance (loving wives) stories were of more interest to people.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[Misty_Morning]

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

"giggle snort*

 

[OhMissScarlett]

E

Ultimately Happily, you should write for yourself. Write what makes you happy, put it out there and learn from it.

That's great advice. I originally started writing erotica because it was difficult to find stories that were interesting enough to turn me on.

I can't speak for everyone, but I read erotica for a lot of different reasons and that has do with me being a writer, I'm sure. There are times when I'm reading to get off and times when I'm reading to be inspired or entertained by a story. There are even times when I'm cruising for a new fantasy to adopt for later use. Sometimes I just want to see what else is out there.

I can tell you, the quality of writing matters no less to me when I'm just reading to get off. Sometimes this makes it tough for me to find what I'm looking for. Usually, intricate emotional situations or relationships is what blows my skirt up. For me, it has to be way more than insert tab a into slot b to get me going. That's what porno is for and it's easier to just sit and watch than to read.

 

[slyc_willie]

When I first started writing erotica, I was not sure what to expect. I had read both stroke pieces and long, drawn-out romances, and found them both erotic, arousing, and entertaining. I suppose it mattered depending upon my mood at the time.

You ask what turns people on, what they like to read. Well, essentially, I can guarantee that, whatever you write, there is an audience for it. It's like something a friend of mine once said: for every song ever written, there is at least one person in the world who considers it to be their favorite.

I don't think about what turns people on. I think about what turns ME on, at the moment, and that's what I write. Some of my stories are all about the sex, titilation, taboo, or kink. Check out 'Under The Table' and 'Mandy's Kink.' Others are more involved, driven by the characters and less by the sex, such as 'I Believe.' Still others are as thick on sex as they are on emotion ('Door To Door' and 'Cousin Lacey').

I guess the bottom line is, write what you want to write. Write a story that affects you, strikes some kind of chord within you. You have a vivid sex fantasy about a girl with big breasts who tit-fucks you on an airplane? Write a stroke piece. You have a thing for the hot, quiet girl who lives in your building, imagining slowly seducing her? Write a romance.

If you do that, you will put more feeling (whether it be sensual, erotic, or a mix) into your work and your readers will pick up on that. But don't write because you think a certain category or type of story is more popular than others. That's wasting a gift.

Oh, and, advertising yourself in the AH never hurts, either.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

If I want to get off I find pictures are about 10,000,000 times as effective as a porn story. I can usually supply a story in my head to enhance the eroticism of the picture.

 

[672]

erotica writing does not, and has never, gotten me..."off". then again, not much of anything at all does.

so there you go. i am a frigid bitch.

 

[Dr_Strabismus]

and yet, here you are.

 

[672]

and yet, here you are.

boredom.

and the friend who nows ignores me resides on this forum. the best way to find out what goes on in her life anymore is to come here and read her posts about thanksgiving and shit.

the only contact i have. so i've been reading through to she where she has posted.

pretty much.

so fuck you a little bit. kthxbyeeatshit.

 

[Weird Harold]

I really liked that story, and no I don't see how it could have been written any differently. I didn't mean for this to get off on a tangent of 1st, 2nd or 3rd person POV.

Thanks. Everything came together for me in that story and most people seem to like it -- even if it was just an excuse to tell "ugly jokes."

The recommendation was actually for Bill-who-doesn't-like-first-person but I'll take all of the readers I can get.

The way things worked out in that story is kind of an answer for your original question though -- That story has a little bit of everything in it and I've not gotten a single negative feedback in the nearly six years it's been posted. I like to think that the positive reception is because it's well-written and doesn't take anything too seriously; the non-sexual part is interesting enough to hold the readers' attention and the sex is often and kinky enough to at least avoid disappointment in those looking just for sex.

 

[HappilyM]

The way things worked out in that story is kind of an answer for your original question though -- That story has a little bit of everything in it and I've not gotten a single negative feedback in the nearly six years it's been posted. I like to think that the positive reception is because it's well-written and doesn't take anything too seriously; the non-sexual part is interesting enough to hold the readers' attention and the sex is often and kinky enough to at least avoid disappointment in those looking just for sex.

This was a well written story that had a lot of non-erotic parts. I read for the brain stimulation more than for the physical stimulation. It is interesting to know that the voting and comments have been very good. I have discovered a lot about the type of readers that reside on this site.

I really want to thank every one who has offered thier input and advise.

Just one more thing why is "Virgin" under my name, don't get me wrong it might be nice to be one again, but well I am very far from that. LOL

 

[rgraham666]

This was a well written story that had a lot of non-erotic parts. I read for the brain stimulation more than for the physical stimulation. It is interesting to know that the voting and comments have been very good. I have discovered a lot about the type of readers that reside on this site.

I really want to thank every one who has offered thier input and advise.

Just one more thing why is "Virgin" under my name, don't get me wrong it might be nice to be one again, but well I am very far from that. LOL

You're a virgin here on the Lit forums if you have less than thirty posts.

At one hundred posts you get an AV, one of those little pictures.