Ratio of Writers to Readers: Learning from Erotica?
Hey guys,
I've been thinking a little about this (and I can't be the only one), so I'm going to share my thoughts and would love to hear what you think too! (Could that have been a vague-er introduction?)
Once upon a time I was writing a story based on a group of undergraduates. It turned out the only interesting thing about their lives was the crazy romances they engaged in. So instead of struggling to fight it, I wrote a piece of erotic fiction and shared it on Literotica.
It was a huge success. Readers loved that the characters were developed, the writing was clean, and the scenes, while dirty, were well paced. And I noticed something about the Literotica community - there are a lot of readers! A few of the readers aspire to write their own erotic stories, but most just enjoy the works that others share.
Here are my thoughts on why that might be:
(1) Erotica is basically porn, and has been on the internet since the beginning of time. People know to look for it.
(2) People are shy to pick up an erotic novel at the bookstore, but not so shy to grab something that's not overtly sex-based. They turn to the internet to read erotic fiction covertly.
(3) Erotic stories are shorter (usually), and don't demand the same commitment from a reader as a serial.
(4) Erotic stories have less of an emphasis on plot in general, and so aren't as difficult to read.
(5) Good erotica is hot, so even if you aren't using it as porn, it's still a pleasure to read.
Now, aside from writing more sex scenes and seductions, it would be awesome to be able to use some of the appeal of erotic fiction in regular fiction. I just can't think of how! Help a girl out and discuss!
I'm a big believer that sex should drive plot. Maybe it's because I got into the whole internet writing thing after reading Tales of Mu, where, in the main story, AE does a great job of that (at least at the beginning).
Also, like Tim says, it's easier to write good fighting than good sexing. And frankly, while my folks don't read my stuff, I think I'd be very uncomfortable if my mom read an explicit sex scene written by yours truly.
Although I'm always happy to see good examples - what's your username on Literotica?
Sex scenes (while difficult) are easier for me than battle/fighting scenes. Perhaps because I have personal experience with the former and not with the latter. I spent my first serious Orycon in all the violence seminars, and I've been known to tap the more martial members of my forum for advice and critique.
The lack of support for Scryer's Gulch (I'm down to barely 200 readers a day from a high of 2,000) leads me to believe that NC-17 stories like the History are more likely to draw in readers than PG-13. I am going to keep the Gulch PG-13 even so; I want something my family can read.
That's a rating that I'm planning on keeping BM&PR as well, MeiLin. PG13 just fits it better. And be happy to know, I am one of the readers of Scryer's Gulch. I've had people suggest adding more NC-17 and R rated stuff in BM&PR, but I don't think I'll go that route, just because in order for it to fit, it would have to make sense. As one chapter in the series takes place in a brothel, I felt more comfortable with a fade and let the reader guess as to what happened next then actually add in anything graphic.
“Well surprise, surprise,” Shani called out as she watched the pair climb the stairs. “Thet all ya think 'bout is sex, sex, sex. Gawl durned, Girly Girl, there's more ta life then jist--” she stopped herself suddenly as she caught a slight movement from the corner of her eye. A figure leaned lightly against the door frame that lead into the pantry. Shani arched an eyebrow as she studied this rather handsome individual for a moment. He had a lithe frame, and dusty blond hair. He was young, but not too young, as he carried himself with an air of sophistication. Shani muttered more to herself than anyone else in the room. “Well dang. I never knew y'all had boy whores here too.” She looked over the young man and grinned. It was going to be a good night.
That's the example and I just let the scene end that way, picking up the next morning.
Sorry - I think I might have been confusing... How we use sex in our stories is an interesting topic, so maybe it deserves its own thread.
The point I was trying to raise was aside from the focus on sex, what (if anything) interests people in reading fiction online, and how can we tell them to come here or to WFG, or muse's success?
That's kind of the focus of this whole site, Lizzy. 
We're trying to figure that out.
@ MeiLin, of course!
But does that mean there's nothing to learn from erotic fiction communities aside from the idea that "sex sells"?
What defines erotic fiction communities? I've only frequented a few places that come close to that definition, so I'm not sure. I'll try firing a couple of random salvos, though.
Since online you don't have the awkwardness of seeing each other face-to-face in person, and you don't have to have your identity attached to the handleyou use in a community if you don't want to, I think it's easier to talk openly. In the erotica circles this broadens - it's sort of accepted up-front that people are going to be talking about what they think is hot, and there's less of a limit on taboos. When I think of the erotica-type crowds I've frequented online, I automatically associate them with being less uptight and more open-minded to new ideas or daring approaches. Sometimes I contrast this with the other crowds I frequent and frown a little - I find the non-erotica crowds to be, in general, less open.
Online discussion in the WebLit crowd gets a little difficult. I've seen people get a little hesitant about discussing certain issues, especially when it comes to sex. (I think this is especially the case for anyone who's trying to appeal to a general audience. It's a little difficult discussing things while also keeping yourself presentable to the reading public.) The erotica crowd has less of this problem by default, I think.
I'm going to be doing an erotica serial soon, so when it comes to that I guess I'll see if the readerbase is any different. I've been pretty eager to find that out.
I'm not sure how to learn from the erotica crowd per se, because I don't know how to transfer the qualities of one readership to another. Even while writing to attract a certain sort of crowd, that's not going to affect the readership of every weblit at once, right? Other than that all I can think of is to just keep in mind to be more open and think community.
It's hard to sell better than sex does. 
We'll have to study this more closely. The porn industry ALWAYS leads the way in technology. ALWAYS.
ETA: and I'm sorry for that last post. I am WAY too harried this week.
I was just thinking about the interview with Isa on Cafe Wednesday. Is it possible that sites like Literotica are popular because of the level playing field? Like that anyone can contribute a story, read one, and comment on one? Kind of like fanfic?
I'm keeping my eye on fluffy-seme. I've got to admit that I'm a bit of a control freak. I have no real problem with fanfic of my works, but I guess I feel a little weird about people writing about my characters when I'm not done with them yet. It feels kind of like sharing your boyfriend or something....
I don't think that's quite it. First of all, most of the stories on Literotica aren't using the same characters. It's each person's take on an erotic scenario.
The beauty of weblit is that anyone can get a free blog and just start writing. Before I was on DN, I was on blogger. What makes us different is, it's a lot harder to come up with interesting characters and plots than just to slap down some quick sex scenes. And yeah - there are writers on Literotica who write great characters and interesting plots - it's often the multi-chapter stories that make it to the most popular lists. But there's also a LOT of quickies posted.
Also, I think one thing that makes Literotica so popular (aside from the obvious) is that everyone shares their work on a communal site. You don't need to go hopping around from page to page. You go to Literotica and BAM - everything is collected there. That's a very different model than what we run here. WFG and the like are filling that gap.
Also, let's not kid ourselves - the vast majority of stuff on Literotica provides a better payoff in a quicker time than most of what we write.
Well, as far as Black Mask & Pale Rider goes, while one of the characters could be seen as sexually active, the target audience is a little younger than what I'd want to have a full sex scene in. Believe me, I thought about it and decided that unless the scene helps drive the plot, then it has no place in the story.
On the other hand, I've started a new series that will hopefully later this year see the light of day. It's more a romance, set in the sci fi world of super heroes (though, neither of the characters have super powers). It's girl lawyer (by day) avenging archer (by night) meets girl singer (by day) blade dancer (by night). I've been planning the plot for several weeks now, and find I'm at that same point; do I put in a sex scene just for the sake of having it, or do I make it so it fits with the plot. In the case of Blood of the Moon (Working Title), it's easier, but at the same time difficult.
That and writing the sex scene is a hell of a lot harder than writing a fight scene.