Writing for a niche audience

[LaRascasse]

I write stories which do not fit the populist norm. I get that.

My stories usually centre around loss, longing, despair, tragedy and death (with a few notable exceptions) and are not exactly the stuff erections are made of (unless you skim over and read only the sexy parts). I don't expect everyone to like it and flood me with 5 votes until I burst with happiness.

But, I do expect people to have the maturity to realize that I'm writing for a niche audience and not randomly comment on how erotica should be devoid of real world negativity. Negative emotions are as much a part of our world as positive ones (in most cases a bigger part) and it's only fair that somebody includes them in stories. If you don't like it, there are thousands of stories of Lit set in fantasy-land where all you need to do is glance at someone before you feel hopelessly sexually attracted to them.

In people's lives, they are condemned for their choices, they do get cancer and they do die slow, crippling deaths with only the memory of love to make them smile. The ones that live on have it harder.

But no, not in erotica.

*Ends rant. Steps off soapbox. Resumes writing*

 

[Stella_Omega]

The Hoi Polloi like a happy ending, true enough. And you are putting them on a populist site.

However, death despair blame and guilt should get you many kudos from the Lit Crit crowd. After all, The Story of 'O' was judged to be Literature because she commits suicide at the end of it-- in one version, anyway.

 

[LWulf]

I don't think I would say anything about a story that turns as you mention, though I think you might be trying to pull a Joss Whedon.

Seriously, I think that's just a style, which is fine, but what I MIGHT respond negatively to it is if you didn't mention "sad ending" or some such in the description...
I could see that being an issue.
They are expecting a happy ending (no pun intended) and instead get the elements you mention.

 

[PennLady]

I don't think I would say anything about a story that turns as you mention, though I think you might be trying to pull a Joss Whedon.

Seriously, I think that's just a style, which is fine, but what I MIGHT respond negatively to it is if you didn't mention "sad ending" or some such in the description...
I could see that being an issue.
They are expecting a happy ending (no pun intended) and instead get the elements you mention.

I don't think you should expect the author to warn you of a sad ending. I mean, if you're old enough to read/post on this site, you should be able to deal with whatever the ending is. You may not like it, but that's a different thing.

As for the "dark stuff" in your stories, LaRas, well, that's on you. If you want to write about that stuff on a site primarily devoted to sex, you have to be prepared for the backlash. If you are indeed primarily concerned with loss, death, tragedy, etc., then one might wonder why you bother with the sex at all. You can write about those things without writing about the sex.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Readers make no investment in the stories. The worst critics are always the freeloaders. So fuck what they think.

 

[sr71plt]

Unfortunately, you have to take the readers and commenters as they come (well, you can rant about it, but of course the readers won't care--nor will the Web site beyond having empowered you to cut off both voting and comments and deleting comments for whatever reason you want to.)

But, yes, it's frustrating when a poster tells you they don't want to read what they are reading--and then tell you the same thing the next time they read it.

And it does sort of put a writer in the same position they are complaining about if they complain that their nonerotic elements aren't being appreciated on an erotica story site.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I don't think you should expect the author to warn you of a sad ending. I mean, if you're old enough to read/post on this site, you should be able to deal with whatever the ending is. You may not like it, but that's a different thing.

As for the "dark stuff" in your stories, LaRas, well, that's on you. If you want to write about that stuff on a site primarily devoted to sex, you have to be prepared for the backlash. If you are indeed primarily concerned with loss, death, tragedy, etc., then one might wonder why you bother with the sex at all. You can write about those things without writing about the sex.

I think writing about sex in those contexts is perfectly reasonable.

I don't want to read it, mind you. But sex can, and should, be part of pretty much the entire panoply of human experience.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Looks like happy hour has started here.

 

[sr71plt]

Not anymore.

 

[lovecraft68]

Like every genre erotica has its mass appeal stories and expectations that you will provide a fantasy.

Hit people with some depressing reality and they will get pissed.

"Fuck, if I wanted to be depressed I'd watch the news" is what I imagine the reaction sad or dark depressing stories get here.

You've been writing this type of material for awhile now, I'm surprised you haven't adapted to the fact its never going to be popular.

Boils down to who are you writing for and if you're enjoying your work.

 

[oggbashan]

I find that I am often writing for a niche audience because many of my stories are in the Fetish category.

One person's fetish is another's turn-off, so I can't please all Fetish readers, or even a majority of them. I appreciate it when I get positive feedback because I have met the reader's particular like.

But why, if they don't like that fetish, do people read to the end of a long story and then complain that they don't like it?

I know. Some people are just assholes.

 

[MSTarot]

"Fuck, if I wanted to be depressed I'd watch the news" is what I imagine the reaction sad or dark depressing stories get here.

/QUOTE]


Lol I have that very comment on the story I did "Dark as Day"


Don't let the comments get to you any more than you can help it. A lot of themes are dark in all forms of popular art. Be it Film, TV, or plays. Novels carry some of the darkest stories you will ever find. They hide things that no director could get away with on the big screen.

Tragedy though would be an awful lonely figure without Comedy at his side. Darkness and light, Heart string and G-strings, all of these are needed to make a good story.

Find the balance you like and your readers (of similar mind set) will find you.

M.S.Tarot

 

[LWulf]

I don't think you should expect the author to warn you of a sad ending. I mean, if you're old enough to read/post on this site, you should be able to deal with whatever the ending is. You may not like it, but that's a different thing.

First, you did note I said "or some such"??

You shouldn't tell the ending before someone reads it, of course, there's no point in reading it otherwise.
But, you think there shouldn't be any warning about what a person may read?

You would want to match readers up with stories they might not like?

I'm just thinking there should be a way that a writer can inform what sort of story it is.

I mentioned on one thread that I wrote a story and submitted here that was 9000+ words.
First thing they said was "you might want to put it into novellas since some people like/expect quick stories."
It made sense. Why would I want someone to open my story thinking it's going to be a "wham bam thank you ma'am" when instead it's a slow buildup?

Accordingly, you would say "If people are old enough to be here they are old enough to deal with reading the whole story and if they didn't like it by the end, that's their fault!" ??

Personally, If I kept getting connected to stores I didn't like, then I'd stop reading here. (Also, I wrote a message to the OP right after I posted my previous message and said "I'm piqued. I WANT to read this....")

I might not be right that saying "sad ending" is proper, maybe melancholic story, melodrama? IDK, just, something.

 

[LWulf]

But why, if they don't like that fetish, do people read to the end of a long story and then complain that they don't like it?

With respect, I don't know what sort of comments they are making and a nuance detail would flip around what I say next...

It seems you are presuming they aren't interested in the fetish and thus when they get to the end, then they get bitchy. Which, wouldn't make sense, but what if it is a bad tagging issue or a bad search issue? or perhaps they thought it wasn't well written?

I've done searches for "sorority, hazing, F/f" and what do I get? Some dudes having a cock swordfight and nothing to do with college (just an example).

I ain't a blushing virgin and it doesn't phase me reading that thing, but I was expecting a sorority hazing. Hello?? At the end, I'd be upset enough to perhaps not vote that well and perhaps leave a comment voicing my frustration.

Actually I haven't commented negatively with exception to one of those "create it as you go" stories and it was one option story and boom it was done. I gave the guy a two (try harder).

(if I am totally wrong on what comments are being posted, then please don't feel required to answer)

 

[JackLuis]

Cast your bread on the waters and if it draws the duck into your trap, Happy Day!
If you get soggy bread back. it's just one of life's tragedies.

Does that help?

 

[Ironiclaconic]

Writers can write whatever they want but they shouldn't be surprised or disappointed when readers come expecting and hoping for whatever is the norm for the category and aren't happy when they don't get it. You have four option:

1) don't care, and don't complain when they ding you.

2) pretend not to care, but give it away by complaining when they ding you.

3) care, but do nothing and feel sad when they ding you.

4) care, and take steps to control their expectations in description and author's note.

As a reader I know prefer getting warned when a story may be unusual in ways that readers won't like, but it is indeed a free site and writers don't owe me a thing.

 

[PennLady]

First, you did note I said "or some such"??

You shouldn't tell the ending before someone reads it, of course, there's no point in reading it otherwise.
But, you think there shouldn't be any warning about what a person may read?

No, I don't particularly think so, although if an author wants to, I have no argument with it. I've seen plenty, such as notes in nonhuman stories advising readers of m/m content. That I don't mind so much, because Lit is divided into categories, and this advises of some crossover. Still, I think if you read a story and reach a part or content you don't like, you should be old enough to click off.

You would want to match readers up with stories they might not like?

I'm just thinking there should be a way that a writer can inform what sort of story it is.

But you have a category, a title, and a tagline, and perhaps some tags - what else do you really need?

I mentioned on one thread that I wrote a story and submitted here that was 9000+ words.
First thing they said was "you might want to put it into novellas since some people like/expect quick stories."
It made sense. Why would I want someone to open my story thinking it's going to be a "wham bam thank you ma'am" when instead it's a slow buildup?

But they could be thinking that about anything. I have never posted in N&N, and never had a complaint, and I've posted stories -- in 2-4 Lit page installments -- that have run 100k words and more. Do you mean to say that every multi-part story should be in N&N? Or even just long stories?

Accordingly, you would say "If people are old enough to be here they are old enough to deal with reading the whole story and if they didn't like it by the end, that's their fault!" ??

No, but that's not what I said. If you don't like the ending, well, you don't, and them's the breaks. You run the risk of that even if you buy a book in a store though. It's just the chance you take.

Personally, If I kept getting connected to stores I didn't like, then I'd stop reading here. (Also, I wrote a message to the OP right after I posted my previous message and said "I'm piqued. I WANT to read this....")

People access stories differently here, though. I never, or rarely search. I usually go through New Stories and then by the categories I like (Romance, NH, SF). I don't bother with tags or anything else. I just start reading and if I don't like it, then I click back.

I might not be right that saying "sad ending" is proper, maybe melancholic story, melodrama? IDK, just, something.

Again, I have no problem with authors doing this. I just don't think it should be expected. And if the problem is that the tags are improperly used, that's not the author's fault necessarily -- it could be site glitch. Which, I agree, if that is a continuous thing, then it will turn people off. Still, I just think if you start a story and don't like it, well, you've lost the time you invested in reading but that's all.

 

[Bramblethorn]

It seems you are presuming they aren't interested in the fetish and thus when they get to the end, then they get bitchy. Which, wouldn't make sense,

It might not make sense, but it happens. Look through the nonconsent section and you'll find quite a few comments by people who find NC fiction so repulsive that they keep coming back to the category and reading the stories so they can rant about it.

I posted one story chapter which stated up-front: "This is another slow-moving chapter with more talk than sex." No doubt some people got the message and moved on quietly, but one made it all the way to the bottom and then complained: "Boring, redundant and it would have been nice if you included the "This is another slow-moving chapter with more talk than sex." comment in the description." So clearly they'd read the warning and still waded through something that wasn't their thing.

Some people just can't be helped.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Readers make no investment in the stories. The worst critics are always the freeloaders. So fuck what they think.

oh, the irony ...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

oh, the irony ...

Where in fuck did you learn IRONY? Its a 3 syllable word! The Queen outlawed use of words with more than 2 syllables back in 1953.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Where in fuck did you learn IRONY? Its a 3 syllable word! The Queen outlawed use of words with more than 2 syllables back in 1953.

she didn't say anything to me about it when i met her.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

she didn't say anything to me about it when i met her.

Senile dementia, prolly. She was younger 60 years ago.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Senile dementia, prolly. She was younger 60 years ago.

i met her in 1983.

now jog on and practice your pronunciation of Leicestershire.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

i met her in 1983.

now jog on and practice your pronunciation of Leicestershire.

Fool, I already know. LESTERSHEAR. My Brit pedigree is better than LIZ's...and yours, of course.

 

[LWulf]

No, but that's not what I said. If you don't like the ending, well, you don't, and them's the breaks. You run the risk of that even if you buy a book in a store though. It's just the chance you take.

I'm sorry, it's contemptible to put words in someone else's mouth, but I was seeking to take you out of your comfort zone to see the matter from a different aspect, yet use a similar concept to your wording.

I think we will just have to agree to disagree on the matter.

It might not make sense, but it happens. Look through the nonconsent section and you'll find quite a few comments by people who find NC fiction so repulsive that they keep coming back to the category and reading the stories so they can rant about it.

I posted one story chapter which stated up-front: "This is another slow-moving chapter with more talk than sex." No doubt some people got the message and moved on quietly, but one made it all the way to the bottom and then complained: "Boring, redundant and it would have been nice if you included the "This is another slow-moving chapter with more talk than sex." comment in the description." So clearly they'd read the warning and still waded through something that wasn't their thing.

Some people just can't be helped.

Thanks for the heads up. A story I am getting ready top post MIGHT be qualified as somewhat non-con.
(You realize that you don't have to read a story at all, but just scroll through then go to the last page where you can then launch broadside comments to your hearts content??? )

Yeah, I actually knew this one guy who targeted me for no known reason on one web site.
I accede that "trolls happen".
I guess I'd just like to think that there is only a finite amount of burrs that can get up peoples' asses and after running out of burrs, that logic can prevail.

I know, I'm a radical.