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.
Mature genre = can talk about themes that genres that are not mature shouldn't talk about (Example: A person talking about how they were raped and/or tortured, a character talking about self harm, etc.).
Adult genre = goes out of its way to show mature themes (Example: A depiction of a sex scene during a honeymoon, a person actually harming themselves, or an actual torture scene). All adult stories are mature, but not all mature stories are graphic enough to need the adult tag.
Smut genre = stories that have a focus on erotica (graphic depictions of sex) (Example: two people explicitly and in detail having sex, more than two people having sex, or a graphic depiction of masturbation). All of these stories are adult stories, but not all adult stories have erotica as a focus.
From your description on top, it sounds like you need the mature and adult genre but maybe don't need the smut genre (even though 1:10 is pretty often, it would depend on how graphic the scenes are). That being said, it should definitely still have the sexual content warning.
To sum things up best I can;
Baby Level: Mature - you got your violence, trauma/dark themes, non explicit sexual themes, gore. My first thought - dragon age games.
Advanced Level: Adult - content only suited for adults because it can include graphic violence/gore, explicit sex or very dark. Think Game of Thrones.
Oh Dear God Level: Smut - doesn't really need explaining. its heavily fucko bingo. So, like 50 shades of gray.
And for example, my story has the mature tag for now but when it gets to a certain point that's even more mature, I'll upgrade it to the adult tag. I could preemptively add it now, but it'd be misleading. It's better to upgrade at the right time to get the right audience.
After writing my examples I realized your examples are better lol. 10/10
www.scribblehub.com
www.scribblehub.com
www.scribblehub.com
TLDR: Mature is for Teen+, Adult is Adult+, Smut is what used to be called "Romance".
There is no romance in some of these smut stories. Too many awful "systems" that allow MCs to mind control/force partners into sexual encounters. That being said, I wish there were more romance around.
The point of genres and tags isn't just to draw in readers who want to read those tags, it's to be a filter to keep readers who don't want to read it away.
Correct. I generally avoid "fanfiction," "boys love," "xinxia," "wuxia," "cultivation," "rape," all three NTR tags, etc., and proper tagging ensures that I don't run into those stories.
Going by the links you posted, 'Adult' seems to be more accurate, as the scenes are rare.
The rarity of the scenes shouldn't be the deciding factor (besides, I don't think 1:10 is rare at all; sex appears pretty commonly in his story); the main deciding factor should be how graphic the scenes are written.
Certain people will be offended by ANY sexual content, so if you have a scene, good or not, that describes naked sex organs, or their interactions, it's safer just to tag it with mature.
If I am reading space mecha milfic, I don't want the writer talking about boobie sex without a warning.
You are 100% correct. BTW, not only are tags important, but content warnings are too.
