Now that I've written a few stories here on Lush, I have a few questions to pose which I'm curious. Do readers prefer stories in which the action is explicitly written? I've written a couple of stories with a lot of implied buildup, but I'm not able to determine from the comments I've received, if people truly enjoy this style over another. Although I'm attempting to write a cross section of stories, which I enjoy doing, I'm just wondering what I might be able to do to increase the reception.
Also, I really enjoy using cliffhangers. For me, it allows me as a reader to add my own thoughts as to what happened next. Is this a turn off for readers? I've only received one comment that led me to believe this might be the case, so I'm asking.
Thanks,
Scott
Good question. On some level, I almost think it has to do with what readers expect from your stories (reputation wise).
I tend to write really long explicit sex scenes, but that style has kind of evolved over time. I remember with one story I diverged from this formula slightly and had a bit of feedback from readers who thought that the sex scene wasn't long enough. That story was lengthy but had a solid 5-6K word sex scene built into it so it surprised me. I think it's partly what readers end up expecting from you that determines the reception you get.
Personally, for me, I write according to the genre. If it's erotica, I write with the focus of an erotic situation and the story has to be building to the sex scene. Sometimes I'll read a story that doesn't feel like it belongs in the erotica genre but rather just has a sex scene tacked onto it. If I bought en eBook like this with the assumption that it was erotica and that I'd be reading some dirty, juicy sex scenes, I'd feel ripped off if the sex seemed like an afterthought.
Most people read erotica to get turned on or to masturbate along with... so I do think the sex should be explicit and it should remain the focus (high point) of the story. If the sex is implied or glossed over, I see the story as belonging to another genre of writing and just masquerading as erotica.
I also think if the sex is going to remain softcore or implied (for the purposes of this site) that the Love Stories category is the best fit. I don't think readers of that category necessarily expect anything too explicit.
Not necessarily but I do tend to come here for the sex. I love the long build-up, but love a nice steamy payoff, too.
Thinking of another post that asked "how did you come to read erotic stories"
I answered that I stumbled on a story while just going through a sexy magazine.
I remember thinking "wow this is better than the photo shoots.
So my answer would be: yes detailed detailed steamy action.
Yes, I do want the cake thank you, but I want to eat it too
Choose n Practice Happiness
Life is simple; we are what we eat and what we read. Talk is superfluous.
This is a sex site.. and when i come here to read the stories.. I like to read the details.. what the characters are doing.. what they are feeling at that time..so I like stories with details.. lots and lots of details..
If the Author leaves the details to my imagination.. then the purpose of erotica is lost.
So please give us details as much as possible.
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”
― Helen Keller
no, some sex scenes can be just as erotic if not in detail as in full detail. it depends on how the writer describes the scenes leading up to it..
As a bisexual woman I have watched both straight and lesbian porn with both men and women and I must say that although I want porn to be hardcore and explicit I also want less focus on the male perspective. Bad lesbian porn is a male idea of lesbian porn and does very little for me regardless of its content. Bad straight porn, again, is the male fantasy of 'using' the women for the man's or men's pleasure. I am submissive and want my partner to take control but I've no interest in fish hook mouth, multiple cum on face and gagging. The would be the one thing I would change about straight porn, the cum shot. Give me the porn from the seventies and some from the eighties when the cum didn't have to go over the face or in the mouth but could actually be over the pussy or breasts.
No it don't have to it. However, if you writing a love scene that is not explicit on this site then you're gonna have to make sure you bring the fire and leave them soaked.
I don't think that stories need be explicit, at least not always, in fact, maybe only sometimes. For me, a good story is one in which my mind is used by the writer to "fill in the blanks" to an extent. That might be a situation, the weather, the way a building or a bedroom looks, and can also be about exactly how the sex taking place would feel to me, if I were taking part.
So, I don't need instructions, in the way some writers think explicit sex should be. Far better to let me think myself into the scene, so much more erotic.
As for videos, I agree with Debs entirely, and as one who is more dominant than anything else, its not about the cum shot, but about how you get to that point, and when I think of deep throating a lover, then it is she who lets me do that, that is her submission, and the more aggressive aspects so often shown don't need to be there. Why confuse dom-sub with force and agression.
As to where the cum goes, if she wants to have it in her mouth, fine, but otherwise, I far prefer to shoot over her breasts, so much nice to share that way! Or of course, where nature intended it to go, as what I do dislike is the fucking to the point where the guy has to cum, and then he pulls out and shoots it wherever. My lovers have always told me that when the sperm hits them inside, that is what they enjoy, and the way they want it to be.
Explicit stories can work, but I would have to say they definitely don't need to be explicit, at least from my standpoint.
There are times when I personally have a very active imagination. In fact, I've read erotic stories, and imagined the characters going outside the limits of the story to another erotic conclusion. Of course, something like this is strongly dependent on your readers, and what they think.
I just really want to address the "cliffhangers" question:
Cliffhangers can be a fantastic device in a story and can really excite a reader. However, if there's no promise of ever revealing "what happened next" then you have to get it absolutely right. It's not something I have seen a lot of authors do well, to be honest; even less so on an amateur site.
Leaving something to the imagination of the reader, leaving some things unsaid, is one thing. Leaving them at a complete loose end is something else entirely and runs the risk of frustrating the reader to the detriment of their enjoyment of the story. Don't end a story prematurely just for the impact you think it might have; leave it at a point where the reader can say, "That was a great story, I really loved the characters; it really intrigues me to think about what might have happened afterwards."
Obviously no one's actually saying those words, but you get my point. So, by all means, do it, but tread carefully and don't antagonise your audience unnecessarily.
I think one of the things all good, dramatic writing (erotic or otherwise) has in common is a powerful buildup of tension. It can include elements of desire, fear, guilt, love, hate, shame - and many other strong emotions. To me, that delicious, teasing, frustrating, agonizing buildup is where the real heat is. Kind of like real sex, come to think of it.
I get this all the time too. People message me saying They love the story they just want more explicit sex.
I think like stated by others, it depends on the style and what the reader is expecting/wanting. And simply having more explicit sex does not mean the story will be any better... less so if poorly written. It is kind of like sex in general. Just having a hot body, or big cock, or pumping in and out for hours at a time does not really mean the sex was "good" or even less so GREAT sex. And what one person may consider fantastic sex might not work well for another.
Well,of course. Have to have that cum shot !
Explicit at times, not always...can be lack of thinking
I prefer a more subtle suggestion along with a description of what the person is feeling as opposed to explicit sex but it really just depends on the authors writing technique or style.
Write as you feel is more natural to you. Different readers have different ideas on the style they prefer to read. You will never please everyone but it sure is fun trying.
No, I don't think they need to be explicit, but it would certainly make the sex scene spicier, if you know what I mean.
I enjoy explicit sex scenes. I have an excellent imagination. When the author glosses over the sex most of the time I can picture in my mind all the nasty action that is happening. But lets face it most of the authors that grab my attention are the ones that describe the sex in full detail. Those are the stories that get my juices flowing. Literally-LOL.
I don't know that I'd really considered the fact that I could actually get a reputation on the Lush based upon the type of stories I wrote. 
(climbing under my bed to hide.)
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