To Lewd Or Not To Lewd

[2wordsperminute]

If you feel the need to include sex, do it. Porn is not an inclusion of sex. It's the focus of sex.

I feel like every time I see you make a post you have more novels in your signature than the last time.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I feel like every time I see you make a post you have more novels in your signature than the last time.

Yes.

 

[nemonusquam_]

How does the old adage go? Sex sells.

On a more serious note, it depends on what kind of story you want to tell, and who your target audience is. To lewd or not to lewd—both choices are okay. ScribbleHub has a big smut community, so I think your story having it is more of an advantage than a disadvantage.

 

[Deleted member 133647]

Almost all of my stories are roughly PG-13, but I have dabbled in adult stories... but the question is when does writing go from being adult writing to straight up porn?

I want to write something for the story, but including sexual scenes without making it porn.

Any tips?

Are you talking about writing porn or turning the story into porn?

 

[Lysander_Works]

What I've learned was, if you want to write smut in addition to regular work, go for it. You typically have more of a negative response whenever you have a story that is 90% PG-14 that suddenly has one or two NSFW chapters in them, I guess because people don't want the surprise, or they want the SFW separate from the NSFW, or maybe because they want to know what to expect from the beginning. Having them mixed in the same book is still often acceptable for most if the NSFW chapters are perfectly skippable in some ways, but do expect in some instances a few people to get mad at you and quote bible verses on their way out if they are mixed in the same novel.

If anyone gives you flak for releasing a purely NSFW book (majority of it is smut), just ignore them; authors can write whatever they want and readers can read whatever they want at the end of the day.

However, the smut scenes came in very late (around 50 chapters), so a lot of readers were turned off, resulting in them dropping the series.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about. It's because it is mixed in with the story at around CH50. One thing you could try is to totally skip those chapters on publish, and with the proceeding chapter that comes, make a pre-note/author note about where the missing chapter can be found (this only really works if you cross post, and only sometimes.)

 

[AstreiaNyx]

Yeah it can be pretty tough because if you delay it's introduction then the ones looking for it are turned away from the story and those that are reading and not looking for that can be pushed away by it. Not much that can be done about it beyond setting clear expectations in the synopsis or by introducing it sooner.

That's right. Around the 30th chapter, I noticed that I had attracted a significant number of readers seeking pure smut content, so I added a disclaimer, and it proved effective.

What I've learned was, if you want to write smut in addition to regular work, go for it. You typically have more of a negative response whenever you have a story that is 90% PG-14 that suddenly has one or two NSFW chapters in them, I guess because people don't want the surprise, or they want the SFW separate from the NSFW, or maybe because they want to know what to expect from the beginning. Having them mixed in the same book is still often acceptable for most if the NSFW chapters are perfectly skippable in some ways, but do expect in some instances a few people to get mad at you and quote bible verses on their way out if they are mixed in the same novel.

If anyone gives you flak for releasing a purely NSFW book (majority of it is smut), just ignore them; authors can write whatever they want and readers can read whatever they want at the end of the day.


Yeah, that's exactly what I'm talking about. It's because it is mixed in with the story at around CH50. One thing you could try is to totally skip those chapters on publish, and with the proceeding chapter that comes, make a pre-note/author note about where the missing chapter can be found (this only really works if you cross post, and only sometimes.)

My issues were with readers who looked for smut but didn't find it in the story. But I found that adding a disclaimer in the synopsis worked.

 

[RealNanBread]

A bit related but quick question. I read the community guidelines, and I just want something clarified.

If, let's say, I had a scene involving fantasy creature smut as one of my alternate ends for the first arc, am I safe, or no?

 

[Sylver]

I'm going to be as crude and open possibly because Im late in my medication this week

Does the story have sex? Okay, that's fine a bit of fun under the sheets isn't taboo nor does it mean it's a porn story.

How much sssex does the story have? Sex is fine in small intervals, but just like IRL, too much sex loses the appeal. If we're reading a 20 chapter story and over 6 chapters have the MC playing leap frog with their partner(s), then ta~da! We have a porno!

How detailed is the ssssex? Too much graphic details about penetration, insertion, noises and whatnot would turn a romantic ssss~sex(!) scene into a sweaty, steamy smut shot under spotlights with the director describing the scene rather than recording it. In other words, don't be too descriptive or people will catch you on that and start asking questions.

What is the focus of the story? Is it a romance revolving around the developing relationship between a selected person and/or people? Or is it about the focus of an MC going around, meeting new people to add to his/her harem, or adding to their bed count?

Just because a story hasssssssss? sssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSEX doesn't make it a porno, but too much 5ex, or $ex that can be too descriptive, or secks that doesn't serve a purpose or role other than for carnal pleasures, all three make the difference between a Novel with smut scenes and a Smut Novel.

TLDR, if the sex feels forced or plugged in, both in literature and IRL, then you have either a porno or legal troubles on the way.

most adequate indeed hubjubjubjubjub~jub!

 

[SurfAngel_1031]

If you feel the need to include sex, do it. Porn is not an inclusion of sex. It's the focus of sex.

I'm almost certain that my response will be of zero shock to the beloved vampy queen - Envy.

Here goes:

I see it in terms of two things erotica and porn.

Erotica seeks to celebrate human sexuality through emphasis on emotions and the relationships while still giving a healthy outlook to sex.

Porn is sexually explicit for the sake of arousal and outright sexual pleasure.

I personally write erotica. Both my books have romantic erotica in them. It took a little bit in my own head to remove the idea of some words and actions being taboo.

Once I did? I've enjoyed writing my couples together, expressing the details of their sexual desire.

I think that covers it for me :)

Be well, if you have questions please feel free to ask me anything.

 

[OokamiKasumi]

Almost all of my stories are roughly PG-13, but I have dabbled in adult stories... but the question is when does writing go from being adult writing to straight up porn?

I want to write something for the story, but including sexual scenes without making it porn.

Any tips?

Okay, first we need to do some defining.

According to the publishing industry in the US and Canada:

Pornography consists of images, video content, and illustrations of people having sex.
-- In short, if it's not a Picture, it's Not Porn.
-- The main audience of Pornography tends to be Men strictly interested in 'getting off.'

Erotica is WRITTEN Stroke Fiction; fiction specifically to get the reader hot and bothered to the point that they can actually 'get off.' Plot may or may not be included. If there is a plot, its purpose is to get the main character involved in as many sex scenes as it can before the story ends.
-- Erotica is the most easily accessible form of fiction available because there are literally thousands of free internet story sites that specialize in only Erotica. This also means that other than Fan-fiction sites, these sites host the most amateurs to writing. Reader Beware, seriously. The grammar will make your eyes bleed long before the impossible sex scenes and over-the-top characters will.
-- The main reading audience of Erotica tends to be Men strictly interested in 'getting off,' but a lot of older women in their 30's and 40's read it too.
-- To satisfy these readers the detailing tends to focus on the sexual action scenes, so the author needs to be at least half-way decent at writing sex scenes without confusing the reader as to who is doing what. Also, these readers enjoy the sexual partners being lovingly described with an emphasis on proportions and the messy details; the sweat, the tears, the saliva, plus the slapping and jiggling of flesh in action.
-- Love can feature in the story, but it's not anywhere as important as the sex.

Erotic Romance is Adult Pulp Fiction. It has explicitly described sex scenes AND a detailed adventure plot.
-- These stories tend to be written for Adult Women in their 30's and 40's with adult appetites, who also read for pleasure. (BTW, this is one of the largest paying reading audiences out there -- which is why I write it for a living.)
-- Erotic Romance is what made the eBook industry take off, and why the eBook industry still exists. It's a lot easier to hide that one is reading a work of smut on a phone or tablet than when reading a paperback.
-- To satisfy these readers the detailing needs to focus on the Action scenes; sexual and non-sexual. The author not only needs to be able to write damned good sex scenes, they need to know how to write good action scenes too: fights, chases, and daring rescues. These readers also want detailed descriptions of not only ALL the characters in action, but the scenery around them. These readers want to BE these characters and Live the adventures they're reading.
-- Romance should feature in the story, between the MC and their main love or lovers, but it doesn't rule the story, Adventure does.

Romances are the Emotional journey between a Lover and their Beloved, or Beloveds. Plot doesn't need to be heavy, only strong enough to get between the lovers and keep them from confessing until 3/4s of the way through the story. Technically speaking, once the confession scene happens where the lovers declare their love for each other, the story is OVER. The rest of the book is Plot clean-up where all loose ends are tied, all faces that need slapping are slapped, and a wedding may, or may not happen.
-- This reading audience tends to be almost strictly Women between 15 and 40.
-- Romance has the #1 largest paying reading audience in the US and Canada, trouncing every other genre reading audience by a Large margin. However, this reading audience tends to get the bulk of their reading material from bookstores, Amazon, and Kindle -- not online story sites.
-- To satisfy these readers, the Emotions the main characters feel need to be detailed, with emphasis on Angst and Pining. Scenery and Clothing descriptions are also appreciated. Sex scenes can be halted at kissing scenes if the writer is feeling particularly pure, but full b;own Romantic sex scenes are much appreciated. Adventurous chase and rescue scenes can be lightly described, but should be there too.

But that's strictly for the Publishing Industry in the US and Canada. Other countries have their own definitions.

As for Scribble Hub, I've personally noticed that the main reading audience seems to be fairly young; in the late teens and early 20's. There is a fairly strong showing of those in their late 20's and early 30's, but only a smattering of those in their 40's and 50's.

There is also a strong division in reading preferences between the older audience and the younger audience.

The younger audience seems to prefer strongly plotted Adventure stories with no sex to only hints of sex; minimal kissing scenes and fade to black sex scenes that are easily skipped over. Think: Young Adult novels.
-- The drawback is that this audience is not willing to pay for their reading material. Mainly because the youngest of these readers are generally unemployed. They're not willing to spend what little pocket money they do have on stories when there's too much available free online that while not great, is good enough.

The older audience prefers the Adult Adventure stories with the sex as detailed as the adventure scenes. These people also read some of the Erotica selections, but it's far too easy for them to find actual erotica written by far more skilled authors from other sources.
-- These readers do tend to have a regular income, so they Are willing to pay for a good story -- but that story had better be worth paying for.

My advice?

Practice your Plotting skills, writing sex scenes, and writing action scenes on a different story-posting site Under a Different Author Name before presenting it on Scribble Hub. This will garner you the largest reading audience -- and the highest praise.

Why should you practice on another site first?
-- Readers Remember and Avoid authors known for writing poorly. They remember rampant typos, poor grammar, poor punctuation, hateful main characters, and plotting foul-ups. THIS is why you want to get all your practice done elsewhere, this way you can come in clean and strong and make a good reputation for yourself from the very start.

But that's just my Advice. Take it or leave it, as you please.


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