So in a couple of my novels, I add some lewd scenes (solo & partner), but it's not the primary focus. Like, my lewd scenes to chapters ratio is like 1:10. Maybe 1:6 at most. But I feel like I shouldn't really tick the "Smut" tag because 1.) not many lewd scenes and not the focus. Just a bonus and 2.) they're not good xd So I feel that by ticking the Smut tag, I'm baiting readers or something like that.
Okay, let's break this down.
Mature - Rated R - This is what covers language, middle fingers, drugs, sexual inferences, nudity, drinking, etc.
Adult - Unrated - Same stuff as above but also some nudity, but this is a bit more graphic and sustained.
Smut - NC-17/X-Rated - If the material was even submitted, this is the rating it would earn because of how graphic the sex and violence is.
With The Nocturneverse, there's a bit of sex and inferences in there but there's no focus on it. Draven Nocturne's entire gig is seduction. The guy is a gothic rock star on his retirement tour and for forty years he's been packing stadiums but he has to retire, it can't go on forever and there are scenes with Draven and the villainous Neferet-hotep where their feeding causes the victim to undergo climax. In all 26 (27th chapter should be dropping soon) this would be the element that pushes the entire series into Mature territory.
If I promise you Sex, Blood and Rock N' Roll, I deliver just that.
Personally, I have no use for the rating system or self-censorship because, thanks to recent events, Joe and I are throttled anyway. We tried to play by those rules and got punished for it anyway so we're just not even gonna continue consulting the fictional "ratings board" to appease them.
Here's my philosophy. You're writing stuff. Who is it for? Write for that audience and forget the rest. I'm writing horror and that deals with loss, letting go, terror, yes, even the good will die young and that world is dark and brutal. I'm not writing this for those who don't like it or don't read it.
If what I have to write offends someone or they find it "spiritually caustic" then they were not the intended audience but The Nocturneverse doesn't go away because they don't like it or can't handle it and, to be fair, Joe and I have done our best to keep it tasteful.
In terms of your writing, my suggestion is the same as any recipe I give; Season To Taste.
It's all in how you use the feather:
Mature - She danced for her lover with feather fans
Adult - She straddled her lover on a feather bed
Smut - She teased her lover's body with a feather
BANNED - That chicken has seen some shit
Banned: They killed the chicken during the act.
