How do I attract a female audience?

24 May 2015

Quote by clum

No, your majesty... *shuffles off*

Seriously though, in response to the question:

It's, quite simply, gender stereotyping to say that women will like a certain type of story and men another, or that women will be more likely to read an author's work because of reason X, so I'm not going to say that.

Whatever you write, as long as it appeals to you, it will appeal to someone else, be they men or women. I'm quite happy if my cat gives my writing more than a passing glance.

Well stated. It's difficult to keep this in mind at times.

24 May 2015

Thank you all for your thoughts and insights. I've had a delightful time reading all of this and giggling to myself.

24 May 2015

Quote by TristanGale

Damn straight and amazing advice!

Well... You're HALF-RIGHT there, Tris Old Buddy!!!

xx SF

24 May 2015

Quote by stephanie

Well... You're HALF-RIGHT there, Tris Old Buddy!!!

xx SF

You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.

24 May 2015

Quote by sprite

(You give SHIT advice.)

xx SF

24 May 2015

Quote by stephanie

(You give SHIT advice.)

xx SF

lol - thank god - i thought, for a moment, you were questioning my sexuality, you homosexual loving irishman!

You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.

24 May 2015

Quote by sprite

lol - thank god - i thought, for a moment, you were questioning my sexuality, you homosexual loving irishman!

Did You Miss The News???

In IRELAND, we DON'T HAVE homosexuals any more... We took a vote... Now we just have different types of people who love people.

x

(Oh, God but it's TRUE!!!)

(The Australian Premier said, "If there was EVER a question as to if AUSTRALIA will ever enact same-sex equality in law IRELAND just answered that question...")

No word from FINLAND as yet...

xx SF

24 May 2015

I don't care who read my poems.... I just write what I feel like and I write with almost negligible experience of poetry but I do get reasonable or encouraging response. So I think your personality is reflected in your words and you must feel contended with the corresponding response.... smile

24 May 2015

Put your heart and soul into your writing and have fun doing it. I think the female audience can really pick up on that.

25 May 2015

Quote by sprite
This has gotten a little off track. here's my advice for writers. write like yourself and FOR yourself. don't try to write for an audience, don't try to write like someone whose work you admire. write what comes naturally. sure, take chances, experiment with styles, etc, but always be true to yourself - the longer i do this, the more i realize that, if i am not telling a story that i enjoy no one else is going to enjoy it either.

This. You just have to write and write some more. Practice and experimentation will pile up the armoury of writing styles available to you. If it's a good story it shouldn't matter about the gender of the reader. Obviously certain genres will appeal to different tastes, whether girl or boy.

Danielle x

A First Class Service Ch.5

A steamy lesbian three way

26 May 2015

The category you write in can have an effect on the numbers of women reading your stuff. I did this research a couple of years back so may have changed.

The big ones to go for female readers are: Supernatural, BDSM, Love Poems, Lesbian and Love Stories
Categories to avoid: Mature, Wife Lovers*, Milf, Trans and Cross Dressing

*Wife Lovers is very popular among men but also with women over 35 - its low female interest is down to hardly any women under 35 being interested in it.

Incidently, changing your av to the face of an attractive young women could increase your votes/comments by 30%

Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.

Why not read some stories instead

NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber

26 May 2015

It's also fun to write from a woman's point of view. You might try that. I don't do it to attract a female audience, I do it because it's fascinating, and informative, and even a little hot, to imagine yourself feeling as a woman feels. Writing in a woman's voice is kind of freeing.

But, yeah, what everyone else said. Write what you'd want to read. Express yourself, not what you think people might like.

26 May 2015

Make it known that you eat ass.

26 May 2015

Quote by overmykneenow
The category you write in can have an effect on the numbers of women reading your stuff. I did this research a couple of years back so may have changed.

The big ones to go for female readers are: Supernatural, BDSM, Love Poems, Lesbian and Love Stories
Categories to avoid: Mature, Wife Lovers*, Milf, Trans and Cross Dressing

*Wife Lovers is very popular among men but also with women over 35 - its low female interest is down to hardly any women under 35 being interested in it.

Incidently, changing your av to the face of an attractive young women could increase your votes/comments by 30%

Actually I'm not usually interested in those categories you mentioned that female readers go for in a big way. If I do read a story in any of those categories its despite the subject matter and because they are written by an author that I love to read, regardless of their avatar or gender.

Which brings us back to what all the authors are saying about writing from the heart, and practicing and experimenting with genres.

26 May 2015

Quote by curvygalore

Actually I'm not usually interested in those categories you mentioned that female readers go for in a big way. If I do read a story in any of those categories its despite the subject matter and because they are written by an author that I love to read, regardless of their avatar or gender.

Which brings us back to what all the authors are saying about writing from the heart, and practicing and experimenting with genres.

sigh

He can write from his heart, but if his heart tells him to write gay male fiction and he thinks that it's going to get a lot of female readers he'll be proved wrong. I've just laid out the bald facts of what women TEND to go for here. Not all women. Not you. A majority of women.

Obviously, you read on past experience, a lot of people do - myself included - but unless he writes in a category you're going to read without knowing who he is, he's already got barriers he's going to struggle to get over no matter how good a writer he is.

I actually agree with the authors, people should write whatever you feels good for them - however, in this case - he's, what is known as "targeting a demographic". If you want to do that you have to write from the head as well as the heart.

Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.

Why not read some stories instead

NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber

26 May 2015

Quote by overmykneenow

sigh

He can write from his heart, but if his heart tells him to write gay male fiction and he thinks that it's going to get a lot of female readers he'll be proved wrong. I've just laid out the bald facts of what women TEND to go for here. Not all women. Not you. A majority of women.

Obviously, you read on past experience, a lot of people do - myself included - but unless he writes in a category you're going to read without knowing who he is, he's already got barriers he's going to struggle to get over no matter how good a writer he is.

I actually agree with the authors, people should write whatever you feels good for them - however, in this case - he's, what is known as "targeting a demographic". If you want to do that you have to write from the head as well as the heart.

Oh dear I don't think you read my post properly, as I did mention (as did Danny) practicing and experimenting with genres. Which is pretty much what you are saying.

26 May 2015

It's all pretty patronising that we are so shallow that we can't enjoy any genre, if it's well written.

I know we're meant to want to read about white horses and sex on the beach, but if you look at the breadth of the genres that some of us write, you get a very broad cross-section of comments and followers. It's not something that I'd write about but some of the gay male stories that I moderate are very enjoyable and well-written!

Actually mad now cussing

*stomps off*

A First Class Service Ch.5

A steamy lesbian three way

28 May 2015

A well written story will attract a female audience. Both men and women like a story that is well written and has a clear plot line. I, personally, have enjoyed stories in BDSM, cheating, bisexual, gay male, college sex, office sex, love stories, and many more. If the opening snip-it we get on the home page or what we see as I am browsing the stories is good, I'm keep reading.

I always say I write stories I would like to read. I've been blessed that many others feel the same, though not always. One such example was a message I received by someone who has enjoyed many of my pieces, but not one in particular. I thanked him for reading my piece. It's like when people question the scores (as in "What ________ gave you a _____?") I never let this get me down (well... not anymore that is.) I have found that if a person takes the time to vote... they are entitled to their opinion. I don't need my ego stroked (it can be big enough by itself without help.)

read

Time to read again! read2

28 Feb 2016

Quote by TristanGale
It's odd - I have what I think of as a more feminine hand when it comes to writing erotica. However, I don't seem to find much in the way of a female audience. I am very happy for the audience I have and grateful the opportunity to share and have my work critiqued and enjoyed. Yes, I've read the statistics that women tend to like women writers, but is there something I might do to attract a female audience?

...have you tried writing lesbian stories?...