Writing How to control "deviations" from your overall plot? (without deceiving readers)

Feudyn · Sunday at 9:58 AM

I apologise if the title is slightly misleading, but I'm unsure on how else to put it into my question title without writing a whole darn essay.
(I'll try keep this short)

So, when I first started writing my web-novel, I did the usual whole kit and caboodle thing where I prep, plan, and set the info up in the profile and publishing phase of the book (set genres, blurb, themes, and cover art etc.)

In my story and in its initial phase, the genres and themes included are fantasy, dark-fantasy, seinen, adult, and mature/sexual amongst other things. This is where it gets tricky, because the book has all those things, and will explore some themes more in certain parts of the book/chapters.
But where I am starting to get a bit worried is that; because my book is the slow-burn type, I am worried that the first proper "sex scene" will scare readers away or put them off? Even if the genre and tags did mention it? I am worried because nothing "sexual" has happened in a few chapters and that because of that, I'm worried that it may cause issues.

I'm not planning on writing out smut or anything like that. My version in "erotic" writing prioritises sensual graphical eroticism over anatomical descriptions. The main concern is that reader(s) may find it too sudden - even though I have teased a build-up to it.

I enjoy writing, and I enjoy writing the things that I do, so I know that I am not forcing anything. But has anyone ever had something like this happen to them? Or am I just being overly anxious about it? And if this has happened to you, how did you deal with it and overcome it?

L1aei · Sunday at 10:04 AM

Feudyn said:
I apologise if the title is slightly misleading, but I'm unsure on how else to put it into my question title without writing a whole darn essay.
(I'll try keep this short)

So, when I first started writing my web-novel, I did the usual whole kit and caboodle thing where I prep, plan, and set the info up in the profile and publishing phase of the book (set genres, blurb, themes, and cover art etc.)

In my story and in its initial phase, the genres and themes included are fantasy, dark-fantasy, seinen, adult, and mature/sexual amongst other things. This is where it gets tricky, because the book has all those things, and will explore some themes more in certain parts of the book/chapters.
But where I am starting to get a bit worried is that; because my book is the slow-burn type, I am worried that the first proper "sex scene" will scare readers away or put them off? Even if the genre and tags did mention it? I am worried because nothing "sexual" has happened in a few chapters and that because of that, I'm worried that it may cause issues.

I'm not planning on writing out smut or anything like that. My version in "erotic" writing prioritises sensual graphical eroticism over anatomical descriptions. The main concern is that reader(s) may find it too sudden - even though I have teased a build-up to it.

I enjoy writing, and I enjoy writing the things that I do, so I know that I am not forcing anything. But has anyone ever had something like this happen to them? Or am I just being overly anxious about it? And if this has happened to you, how did you deal with it and overcome it?

Okay, this one I am also curious about. I'll be learning with ya.

Makimaam · Sunday at 11:34 AM

Don’t worry too much about it. Some authors tag their stories as smut but the first sex scene doesn’t even appear until after 100+ chapters.

Feudyn · Sunday at 11:39 AM

Makimaam said:
Don’t worry too much about it. Some authors tag their stories as smut but the first sex scene doesn’t even appear until after 100+ chapters.

genuine question:

Have you ever read a book that has been tagged as smut and didn't come across the first sex scene until 100+ chapters later? And how did you feel about it?

Makimaam · Sunday at 11:44 AM

Feudyn said:
genuine question:

Have you ever read a book that has been tagged as smut and didn't come across the first sex scene until 100+ chapters later? And how did you feel about it?

There are many books like that.

But here’s a popular example: Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox. The smut tag has been removed though it was originally tagged that way.

How do I feel about it? I’m illiterate. I can’t read. I don’t mind. But as long as the story builds up to it naturally, it works.

Dawnathon · Monday at 1:15 AM

Feudyn said:
I'm not planning on writing out smut or anything like that. My version in "erotic" writing prioritises sensual graphical eroticism over anatomical descriptions. The main concern is that reader(s) may find it too sudden - even though I have teased a build-up to it.

It depends on how far your sex scenes are going. If it's just some kissing and touching with a fade to black, I've even seen PG-13 movies get away with that. If there's anything involving actual depictions of the beast with two backs, I'd say just mark it as containing s*xual content, even if it's only a small portion.

Feudyn said:
I enjoy writing, and I enjoy writing the things that I do, so I know that I am not forcing anything. But has anyone ever had something like this happen to them? Or am I just being overly anxious about it? And if this has happened to you, how did you deal with it and overcome it?

Personally, my current story went over 25 chapters before there was a sex scene, since it's not the focus but it has enough importance with the characters' direction that I felt it needed to be there. I went into enough graphic detail that I just sectioned it off as "Part Two" of the preceding chapter, clearly marked it as NSFW, and then put a brief summary of anything story-wise that happened afterwards.

I feel the "Part Two" method works better than having them be separate numbered chapters. It helps anyone who skips it feel like they only skipped one scene, and not that they're missing out on full chapters of a story. They're skipping the same content either way, but it helps lessen the risk of feeling left out just for not wanting to see NSFW. It's like marking something as $19.99 instead of $20.00. The numbers just make people happier that way. It also means you'll be posting both "parts" at the same time, so SFW-only readers will still have something to get from the update.

DismaiNaim · Monday at 5:25 AM

I put sex in my story wherever I feel like it, and if the audience doesn't like it that's their problem.

Seriously. It's NSFW, trigger warning all that shit so they knew what they were getting into.

The only thing is I've learned to refrain from that stuff in the early chapters because if you put the good stuff in too early, you miss the buildup tension. A little foreplay goes a long way, and a lot goes even further.

writerwolf359 · Thursday at 11:38 PM

I slow-burn my sexual content and am rather stingy with it, often going quite a few chapters between scenes. It hasn't been too much of an issue for me.

That said, I'd highly recommend some sort of explicit scene (even just masturbation) early on if your book is going to include it. Waiting too long is going to lose you a lot of people there for it, and blindside those who aren't expecting it when you do get to it (does anyone remember how a story is tagged after 100 chapters?).

foxes · 2026-03-07T07:04:48+0000

Feudyn said:
I am worried that the first proper "sex scene" will scare readers away or put them off?

Should this scene be placed at the beginning or later, when you've built up to it? Generally speaking, cluttering the beginning of a story with something that won't be part of it is a bad approach for a general audience. But for those who understand it, it doesn't matter.

I was in a situation where I started with hard science fiction, but the whole story was fantasy. Even though the main plot is science fiction, I'm comforted by the thought that it's just a prequel, a separate volume. And if anyone wants it, they can just skip it without any problems.

CharlesEBrown · 2026-03-07T13:18:15+0000

foxes said:
Should this scene be placed at the beginning or later, when you've built up to it? Generally speaking, cluttering the beginning of a story with something that won't be part of it is a bad approach for a general audience. But for those who understand it, it doesn't matter.

I was in a situation where I started with hard science fiction, but the whole story was fantasy. Even though the main plot is science fiction, I'm comforted by the thought that it's just a prequel, a separate volume. And if anyone wants it, they can just skip it without any problems.

Hey, I have a "Western" that is also a science fiction isekai, if you can image that mashup...

Though it doesn't (and won't) have any sex scenes.

Two other stories do - they don't reach smut level (IMO), but both Strange Awakening (superhero/urban fantasy/slice of life mashup on this site) and Between Earth and Pyrroth (on Pocket FM; mix of Urban and High Fantasy) have characters who hook up quite a lot (its even kind of a plot point).

Feudyn · 2026-03-07T14:05:03+0000

writerwolf359 said:
I slow-burn my sexual content and am rather stingy with it, often going quite a few chapters between scenes. It hasn't been too much of an issue for me.

That said, I'd highly recommend some sort of explicit scene (even just masturbation) early on if your book is going to include it. Waiting too long is going to lose you a lot of people there for it, and blindside those who aren't expecting it when you do get to it (does anyone remember how a story is tagged after 100 chapters?).

Hmm...this may sound like quite a silly question, (please understand this from an author's perspective, I don't want to be misunderstood) but do you think that a

sexual assault scene

would somewhat count as an explicit scene? I don't remember exactly where I mentioned it, but that initial scene is important for one of my character's lore and future arcs.

DismaiNaim said:
The only thing is I've learned to refrain from that stuff in the early chapters because if you put the good stuff in too early, you miss the buildup tension. A little foreplay goes a long way, and a lot goes even further.

I like this.

And I agree too.

Looks like my hesitance to writing and inserting a full NSFW scene too early was a good choice.

Dawnathon said:
It depends on how far your sex scenes are going. If it's just some kissing and touching with a fade to black, I've even seen PG-13 movies get away with that. If there's anything involving actual depictions of the beast with two backs, I'd say just mark it as containing s*xual content, even if it's only a small portion.

Personally, my current story went over 25 chapters before there was a sex scene, since it's not the focus but it has enough importance with the characters' direction that I felt it needed to be there. I went into enough graphic detail that I just sectioned it off as "Part Two" of the preceding chapter, clearly marked it as NSFW, and then put a brief summary of anything story-wise that happened afterwards.

This is some really solid advice.

I need this in like a guide book form from you because this is something that I can definitely see myself implementing.

And if you don't mind my asking:
How were the results after you went with that tactic? Or did you just not worry so much about it and just did it just as a consideration for the readers that may not be interested in those scenes?

foxes said:
Should this scene be placed at the beginning or later, when you've built up to it? Generally speaking, cluttering the beginning of a story with something that won't be part of it is a bad approach for a general audience. But for those who understand it, it doesn't matter.

I guess I also still am in the phase where I have not been able to gauge the readers of my web-novel properly yet (has readers and returning readers, but no clear follower changes etc.), which doesn't help with me trying to figure out who my audience(s) are and what they like or dislike.]

That is, if there even is an audience lololol

CharlesEBrown said:
Two other stories do - they don't reach smut level (IMO), but both Strange Awakening (superhero/urban fantasy/slice of life mashup on this site) and Between Earth and Pyrroth (on Pocket FM; mix of Urban and High Fantasy) have characters who hook up quite a lot (its even kind of a plot point).

I have characters that do sexual and NSFW things because of plot points too! I just hope that readers can appreciate and understand why it's in there!

Representing_Tromba · 2026-03-07T14:25:48+0000

Plan out your story instead of being a pantser.

Feudyn · 2026-03-07T14:41:15+0000

Representing_Tromba said:
Plan out your story instead of being a pantser.

Don't worry, I plan alright. If anything, I might even over-plan which is probably what's making me overthink

Juia_Darkcrest · 2026-03-07T14:45:13+0000

Feudyn said:
I'm not planning on writing out smut or anything like that. My version in "erotic" writing prioritises sensual graphical eroticism over anatomical descriptions. The main concern is that reader(s) may find it too sudden - even though I have teased a build-up to it.

Okay, what are you doing then?

Are you building tension up to the moment, then they kiss and touch a bit, then fade to black?

Cause if it is something as light as that, you will be fine to drop them in whenever.

Writing How to control "deviations" from your overall plot? (without deceiving readers)

Feudyn

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L1aei

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Makimaam

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Feudyn

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Makimaam

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Dawnathon

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DismaiNaim

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writerwolf359

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foxes

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CharlesEBrown

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Feudyn

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Representing_Tromba

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Feudyn

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Juia_Darkcrest

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