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What mix do you desire?
23 votes
remaining
90% sex, 10% story
(2 votes) 9%
75% sex, 25% story
(3 votes) 13%
50% sex, 50% story
(13 votes) 57%
25% sex, 75% story
(6 votes) 26%
10% sex, 90% story
(3 votes) 13%
Testing The Waters.
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I'm a mainstream fantasy reader, so I trend toward higher degrees of story and world-building when it comes to reading things like that. Otherwise, it depends upon the day, whether I'm reading or writing. I may dash off a quick fantasy story without much setup like "Little Fuckers" or I may be working on a 50-60k story with minimal and sometimes even weirdly dispassionate sex about a prostitute setting out to start her own brothel and running into dangerous competition from the local whore in "One Whore's Town".
I like to have interesting characters, but it doesn't take 5k words to set that up. Someone can be interesting in a couple of sentences. The situation leading to the sex can be the same. While I prefer to write extremely detailed sex scenes ( also one of my calling cards ) I don't necessarily need them in what I read.
Really impossible for me to answer either writing or reading. I'm all over the map.
I like to have interesting characters, but it doesn't take 5k words to set that up. Someone can be interesting in a couple of sentences. The situation leading to the sex can be the same. While I prefer to write extremely detailed sex scenes ( also one of my calling cards ) I don't necessarily need them in what I read.
Really impossible for me to answer either writing or reading. I'm all over the map.
Good Will ---|--- You Serious?
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Quote by kistinspencil
And further, does it vary by category?
Hi, Kirstin. I'm responding to your post mainly as a reader (not a Lush author).
Recently I read all the entries to the "Foolish" comp and am using what I took away from that experience to answer your question.
What I remember about those stories is not the blow-by-blow details of the sexual finale, rather the manner by which the author led the reader to the denouement. It is the characters and the world they existed in that stays with me. I want stories as windows that open out onto improbable lives.
I like to have sex scenes sneak up on me, surprise me. I love it when the erotic turns up out of the blue in the contemporary Literary and Strange Fiction I habitually read.
I recently read a collection of short stories by the contemporary author Carmen Maria Machado (See link below and use the "Look Inside" facility if you feel inclined to check out her style. That first story, The Husband Switch, is the one I'm referring to.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074V66JFQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o08?ie=UTF8&psc=1
In the first story she describes making love aged seventeen to her future husband outside the house, pantyhose tugged down. Afterward, dressing again, the soil beneath stocking and her needing to pull her hose down and wipe her knees.
I just did not see it coming, found it exquisitely erotic (I have a fetish). Machado is a superb writer. Have you read her, Kirstin? I imagine her as someone a savvy girl such as yourself might have already encountered.
I'm posting my response mainly as a reader (not a Lush author).
Recently I read all the entries to the "Foolish" comp and am using this experience to answer Kirtson't question.
Looking back now on that experience, what I remember about those stories is not the blow-by-blow details of the sexual finale, rather the manner by which the author led the reader to the denouement. It is the characters and the world they existed in that stays with me. I want stories as windows that open out onto improbable lives.
I like to have sex scenes sneak up on me, surprise me. I love it when the erotic turns up out of the blue in the contemporary Literary and Strange Fiction I habitually read.
At sixty-six, my sex drive is no longer the monster it once was. These days I feel very little compulsion to seek smut merely to abate an itch — which is one reason I read so little here on Lush, sorry to say.
From a writing point of view: for me, it's all about creating for the reader the way characters are yanked from their lives by the prospect of sex, how the impact of a sexual other can alter them — the sheer otherness of their object of desire.
Well, that's the theory. Whether I succeed? Only you, dear readers, can answer that. (Sorry couldn't help popping on my author's hat).
Active Ink Slinger
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This is a fascinating question, but I'm not convinced it's a zero-sum game. More sex should not necessarily imply less story (and vice versa) - any more than more action necessarily implies less dialogue, or more atmosphere implies less character, or more symbolism implies less realism, and so on.
Your own stories, Kistin, are so jam-packed with story, and sex, and action, and character, and imagery, and dialogue. All these aspects support, layer over, and enrich each other, so that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
I aspire - though in a different way - to do the same. Here's one chapter I am particularly pleased with: Alison Goes to London: chapter 9 - The Prettiest Whore That You Ever Did See, because it contains a lot of rather soul-searching dialogue and character development and a lot of filthy sex in juxtaposition/contrast to that...
Your own stories, Kistin, are so jam-packed with story, and sex, and action, and character, and imagery, and dialogue. All these aspects support, layer over, and enrich each other, so that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
I aspire - though in a different way - to do the same. Here's one chapter I am particularly pleased with: Alison Goes to London: chapter 9 - The Prettiest Whore That You Ever Did See, because it contains a lot of rather soul-searching dialogue and character development and a lot of filthy sex in juxtaposition/contrast to that...
GrushaVashnadze's best stories:
Alison Goes to London (RR) - "love this... fun, and funny, and sexy" (sprite)
The Cursed Cunt (RR) - "holyyyyy sheeeiiit.... Your writing is fucking fantastic" (CarltonStJames)
A Worthless Filthy Fucking Smoking Trash Cunt Whore (RR) - "Brilliantly done. Of course." (naughtyannie)
Snow White and the Seven Dildos (RR) - "Fuck. It's perfect.... honestly genius and so fucking well executed." (VioletVixen)
Metamorphoses (RR) - "so imaginative and entertaining" (saucymh)
And There Came Two Angels to Sodom - "What a deliciously worded story! So juicy, so raunchy" (el_henke)
Fuck-Talk (with VioletVixen) - "Jeez. I feel rendered wordless by how much clever fucking fun this is" (Jaymal)
Writius Eroticus
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It varies by category to some degree, but for me as a reader I like to know why people are doing what they do rather than just being a series of dismembered body parts jigging and gushing. And as a writer I like to build a little intrigue.
While the ratio of sex-to-story (as in actual sex acts vs character development/backstory/setup/payoff) might be low in some of mine, I do like to knit both aspects with sexual tension. So there's this undercurrent of desire that runs through the piece as it builds (e.g. in "The Edge Of Control" or "Fate Into Doubt Won't Go"). After all, this is an erotic story site so if there wasn't any compelling reason to read through a few thousand words of sexless setup for 10-25% actual bonking, people would go elsewhere.
Flash is different. There's so little to play with that there's no time to build. That need has to be present from the first paragraph ("Scrabble") or even first line ("Former Good Girl") and all the story has to fit around it.
tl;dr I prefer a larger chunk of story to actual sex. Too much of tab-P-goes-in-slot-V becomes fatiguing. But in those story segments, I expect a lot of sexiness to keep me reading.
While the ratio of sex-to-story (as in actual sex acts vs character development/backstory/setup/payoff) might be low in some of mine, I do like to knit both aspects with sexual tension. So there's this undercurrent of desire that runs through the piece as it builds (e.g. in "The Edge Of Control" or "Fate Into Doubt Won't Go"). After all, this is an erotic story site so if there wasn't any compelling reason to read through a few thousand words of sexless setup for 10-25% actual bonking, people would go elsewhere.
Flash is different. There's so little to play with that there's no time to build. That need has to be present from the first paragraph ("Scrabble") or even first line ("Former Good Girl") and all the story has to fit around it.
tl;dr I prefer a larger chunk of story to actual sex. Too much of tab-P-goes-in-slot-V becomes fatiguing. But in those story segments, I expect a lot of sexiness to keep me reading.
Please browse my digital bookshelf. In this collection, you can find 109 full stories, 10 micro-stories, and 2 poems with the following features:
* 29 Editor's Picks, 72 Recommended Reads.
* 15 competition podium places, 9 other times in the top ten.
* 21 collaborations.
* A whole heap of often filthy, tense, hot sex.
Active Ink Slinger
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Quote by WannabeWordsmith
Too much of tab-P-goes-in-slot-V becomes fatiguing.
Agree. However, another way of alleviating that fatigue - apart from the sexy build-up you describe, and which you are so good at - is to layer, juxtapose, cross-reference, and cut back and forth: sex which is intercut and layered over with dialogue, action, description etc. allows the story and characters to develop without letting up on the filth factor. (I like filth, but it's always best in context...
)Either way, not a zero-sum game. The sex enriches the story, the story enriches the sex.
GrushaVashnadze's best stories:
Alison Goes to London (RR) - "love this... fun, and funny, and sexy" (sprite)
The Cursed Cunt (RR) - "holyyyyy sheeeiiit.... Your writing is fucking fantastic" (CarltonStJames)
A Worthless Filthy Fucking Smoking Trash Cunt Whore (RR) - "Brilliantly done. Of course." (naughtyannie)
Snow White and the Seven Dildos (RR) - "Fuck. It's perfect.... honestly genius and so fucking well executed." (VioletVixen)
Metamorphoses (RR) - "so imaginative and entertaining" (saucymh)
And There Came Two Angels to Sodom - "What a deliciously worded story! So juicy, so raunchy" (el_henke)
Fuck-Talk (with VioletVixen) - "Jeez. I feel rendered wordless by how much clever fucking fun this is" (Jaymal)
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I don't think there's a fixed ratio. I personally prefer a good mix and lean into story a lot, so 50/50 or lower on your options. But a well-written sex-heavy piece, maybe in the 75/25 group, can get my interest, too, depending on theme and the type of sex. I am not really into a lot of the more extreme forms of kink, for instance, so a story heavy on kinky sex won't necessarily get my interest but some good, hot loving with a bit of context could definitely hold my interest as the dominant element of a story. My mood is a factor, too. If I am horny and looking to get some stimulation, a "stroke" story could definitely be on the menu.
So, can't answer your poll, really, because it is rather variable with my mood, the story, the category, and such.
So, can't answer your poll, really, because it is rather variable with my mood, the story, the category, and such.
Active Ink Slinger
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It depends on my mood. Sometimes I just want the sex, other times the sex is nothing without a great amount of story. I suppose it does vary based on the genre but it's difficult to quantify each individual one as it still ultimately depends on the mood.
I can’t think of a good tagline so this will have to do. Suggest a better one for me?
Wouldn't you rather have a nice cup of tea?
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For me, there's a delicate balance. Sex without adequate context isn't really all that interesting. I find that the building of sexual tension is far more of a turn on than the release in an erotic story, so I would tend towards more story. But as a reader, I also need to know that the story is going somewhere (i.e. to sex) to keep me interested. Story-oriented authors often get mired in too much character development and other inessential details or are otherwise far too in love with their own narrative voice that I get bored long before any kind of sexual action is even hinted at. And then there are stories who combine the worst of both worlds - spending too much time wandering in story and then abruptly tossing the characters into bed at random. I'm a tough critic (and it's probably a good thing I don't moderate stories), but I do believe that there are a lot of people who write sex stories for this site, but very few who really know how to manage that balance of sex and story well.
Don't believe everything that you read.
Sexy Seductive Siren
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Sexual content can be explicit, implied, or simply hinted at. In reality, I think the best erotic stories are those that allow the reader to visualize the "action" without being necessarily explicit. Like real life, the best sex is that in which there is gradual build-up, not necessarily physical.
Meagan
...
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Action movies that are just explosions and firefights without the backstory are going to be a bore, no matter how cool the action is. Wrestling matches without the awesome promos and character work leading up to it are going to be a bore to watch as well.
So yes, I prefer a heavier story to sexual content ratio. That way, the sex involved has more meaning.
So yes, I prefer a heavier story to sexual content ratio. That way, the sex involved has more meaning.
My last published story: Good For Nothing
Rookie Scribe
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Quote by RejectReality
I'm a mainstream fantasy reader, so I trend toward higher degrees of story and world-building when it comes to reading things like that. Otherwise, it depends upon the day, whether I'm reading or writing. I may dash off a quick fantasy story without much setup like "Little Fuckers" or I may be working on a 50-60k story with minimal and sometimes even weirdly dispassionate sex about a prostitute setting out to start her own brothel and running into dangerous competition from the local whore in "One Whore's Town".
I like to have interesting characters, but it doesn't take 5k words to set that up. Someone can be interesting in a couple of sentences. The situation leading to the sex can be the same. While I prefer to write extremely detailed sex scenes ( also one of my calling cards ) I don't necessarily need them in what I read.
Really impossible for me to answer either writing or reading. I'm all over the map.
Can I recommend one of my stories, relatively new, but have touch of fantasy and world building, but there is also the erotic aspect that we all enjoy, so I recommend to give it a read and share your thoughts and ideas on how to move it forward, I would really like some pointers on how to flesh out this new world I’ve created
Simple Scribbler
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I’m definitely more story now and less sex. I guess I’ve written and read so many stories, I’m bored with the sex. I know that probably sounds weird for an erotic writer. I’m hoping it’s just a phase I’m going through. I cringe reading certain words and phrases now: honey, nectar, puckered star to name a few. Loved those descriptions the first dozen times I read them, but no more.
Headbanging ape from cold North 🤘
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As a writer, I'm kind of leaning to 100% story these days and focussing on material that will end up on StoriesSpace (or maybe other markets). But for here, I'd say somewhere between the 50-50 option and the 25-75 option lies my sweet spot. Where a given story lands depends on the story.
As a reader, probably around the 50-50 mark. If I'm reading smut, I generally there for the sex, not just a story.
Apes can talk dirty, too. Here's my entry in the "Dirty Talk" competition. Read it and let me know what you think. A virgin student gets a special present from his female housemate.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/free-use-friday-or-a-sweet-taste-of-cherrys-pie-3
Wouldn't you rather have a nice cup of tea?
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Quote by KimmiBeGood
I’m definitely more story now and less sex. I guess I’ve written and read so many stories, I’m bored with the sex. I know that probably sounds weird for an erotic writer....
Doesn't sound weird to me. I get that way as well where writing sex seems repetitive and almost mechanical - foreplay -> oral for him -> oral for her -> penetration in a handful of positions -> climax. The formula is pretty basic and there's really only so much you can do with it. Without a good amount of back story to charge up the tension and give it meaning, like Carlton mentioned above, it all gets a bit boring.
Don't believe everything that you read.
...
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Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
Doesn't sound weird to me. I get that way as well where writing sex seems repetitive and almost mechanical - foreplay -> oral for him -> oral for her -> penetration in a handful of positions -> climax. The formula is pretty basic and there's really only so much you can do with it. Without a good amount of back story to charge up the tension and give it meaning, like Carlton mentioned above, it all gets a bit boring.
Most of the time, I find writing the non-sex parts more fascinating than the sex itself. When it comes time to write the sex, many times I take a break from writing the draft and only write the sex when I'm feeling randy. This could be days apart.
It's a great hobby, but sometimes it can leave you feeling a bit flat.
My last published story: Good For Nothing
Headbanging ape from cold North 🤘
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Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
Doesn't sound weird to me. I get that way as well where writing sex seems repetitive and almost mechanical - foreplay -> oral for him -> oral for her -> penetration in a handful of positions -> climax. The formula is pretty basic and there's really only so much you can do with it. Without a good amount of back story to charge up the tension and give it meaning, like Carlton mentioned above, it all gets a bit boring.
I think part of my problem as a writer is that it gets hard to get really imaginative on the physical part, especially with my generally vanilla experiences. I actually find it easier to deal with the setting, character, and plot elements than the sexual ones these days. And eventually I decide that I can't be bothered with the sex anymore. I have two characters in my current writing project who probably should be hopping into bed eventually (not this story, a future one) but I will probably keep it at SS levels and put the grisly details offscreen.
Apes can talk dirty, too. Here's my entry in the "Dirty Talk" competition. Read it and let me know what you think. A virgin student gets a special present from his female housemate.
https://www.lushstories.com/stories/first-time/free-use-friday-or-a-sweet-taste-of-cherrys-pie-3