Does anyone like reading ertotic fiction?

Page 1 of 1 [ 13 posts ] 

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

12 Mar 2014, 3:08 pm

This genre seems to have become quite popular across the board since Kindle and ebooks. But I wonder what people think of it. I have only read a couple of books with MM romance and they are pretty poor.

I wonder if those books are meant to be just sex with no plot, or if people want a plot but with same sex characters falling in love and having sex etc just like you see in typical Hollywood movies and mainstream books.

Does anyone have opinions on this?



Tim_Tex
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Jul 2004
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Posts: 45,472
Location: Houston, Texas

12 Mar 2014, 3:29 pm

It's one of my favorite genres.


_________________
Who’s better at math than a robot? They’re made of math!

Now proficient in ChatGPT!


Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

12 Mar 2014, 4:08 pm

Tim_Tex wrote:
It's one of my favorite genres.


But what do you want from the genre? Do you appreciate novels that have a plot and storyline other than the romance/sex aspect? Or do you think they should all be about the romance/sex?

I am trying to gauge whether readers of this genre would be turned off by a plot and storyline that, although encompasses sex and a relationship between two characters, has a plot that involves something else like a crime story or a ghost story etc



Concept
Toucan
Toucan

User avatar

Joined: 18 May 2013
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 256
Location: Manchester, UK

13 Mar 2014, 3:05 am

I did, but aways into transition it was polluting my headspace so I had to stop. Genre? Forced fem.



stardraigh
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 May 2013
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 744

13 Mar 2014, 7:42 am

Concept wrote:
I did, but aways into transition it was polluting my headspace so I had to stop. Genre? Forced fem.


Being trans myself, I've read LGBT fiction which can contain BDSM, forced fem, and other off the wall things that are far from what most consider vanilla. Forced Fem is a turn off for me. I can tolerate some BDSM. I seem to prefer fiction where erotica in general isn't the primary aspect. Some pieces of fiction it does factor in, or even occur regularly as an element but isn't the main goal.


_________________
Hell is other people ~ Sartre

My Blog
Deviantart Page


Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

13 Mar 2014, 11:32 am

stardraigh wrote:
Concept wrote:
I did, but aways into transition it was polluting my headspace so I had to stop. Genre? Forced fem.


Being trans myself, I've read LGBT fiction which can contain BDSM, forced fem, and other off the wall things that are far from what most consider vanilla. Forced Fem is a turn off for me. I can tolerate some BDSM. I seem to prefer fiction where erotica in general isn't the primary aspect. Some pieces of fiction it does factor in, or even occur regularly as an element but isn't the main goal.


Thanks. This is what I am asking. I want to know if people like fiction where there is romance/sex involved but that isn't the main storyline.



ReverieMe
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 20 Apr 2014
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 178

21 Apr 2014, 5:17 am

I've been known to read/write, but from what I've seen of the steamier romance and erotica suggests it's often about wish fulfillment or flat-out pornography for the reader. Since that doesn't require a very clever plot, it can often be left out...

However, I don't doubt that there are people who'd love a gay romance with more plot. There are plenty of romantics out there.



Marky9
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 Mar 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,625
Location: USA

21 Apr 2014, 8:21 am

I have noted there seems to be a subniche or two.
- Romance: Mainly about love, and light on the sex, or even only implied sex.
- Erotic Romance: Same as above but with explicit sex scenes.
- Erotica: A series of sex scenes loosely strung together by a story.

Different authors tend to specialize in one or another of these. Finding an author that suits one's fancy and sticking with his/her works can help.



Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

21 Apr 2014, 12:14 pm

Well I have been writing some and what I am producing is a plot based novel which involves two or more gay characters that have a relationship (fall in love etc) as a result of the main plot, which could be crime/action/going after a goal etc.

I am trying to establish what readers want, and if they would find the main plot getting in the way.



stardraigh
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 May 2013
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 744

21 Apr 2014, 2:08 pm

I'm very partial to superhero settings.

There is a book titled Hero by Perry Moore. The main character is gay. He does end up having a varied relationship with two other characters all the while becoming a superhero. I actually liked the story. It really wasn't erotic, but it had its moments.


_________________
Hell is other people ~ Sartre

My Blog
Deviantart Page


Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

22 Apr 2014, 3:39 am

stardraigh wrote:
I'm very partial to superhero settings.

There is a book titled Hero by Perry Moore. The main character is gay. He does end up having a varied relationship with two other characters all the while becoming a superhero. I actually liked the story. It really wasn't erotic, but it had its moments.


That sounds pretty good actually. I will check it out.



Marky9
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 4 Mar 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,625
Location: USA

22 Apr 2014, 6:53 am

Robdemanc wrote:
I am trying to establish what readers want, and if they would find the main plot getting in the way.


I have dabbled a bit in this area. The approach I took was to first check with gay novels were bestsellers, and determine the mix of sex/romance/drama in them. If I am going for money, I figure I might do well to work toward something like that mix.

I might add, though, that if you have a strong idea for a plot line to go with it and only add erotica as it fits your natural creative story flow. Afterwards, if upon review of the work, you decide it needs more erotic undertones or sexual overtones to be commercial, I think those can be relatively easily added during the editing / revision process.

The key is to have a well-structured and engaging story line. Any needed extra erotica or sex can be added later, like icing on a cake. :)



Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

22 Apr 2014, 12:13 pm

Marky9 wrote:
Robdemanc wrote:
I am trying to establish what readers want, and if they would find the main plot getting in the way.


I have dabbled a bit in this area. The approach I took was to first check with gay novels were bestsellers, and determine the mix of sex/romance/drama in them. If I am going for money, I figure I might do well to work toward something like that mix.

I might add, though, that if you have a strong idea for a plot line to go with it and only add erotica as it fits your natural creative story flow. Afterwards, if upon review of the work, you decide it needs more erotic undertones or sexual overtones to be commercial, I think those can be relatively easily added during the editing / revision process.

The key is to have a well-structured and engaging story line. Any needed extra erotica or sex can be added later, like icing on a cake. :)


LOL. Icing on a cake.

I have written a few and am getting one ready to submit. I think I have the right mix and the erotic scenes tie in well with the overall plot. I usually end up having to remove some sex scenes from my subsequent edits if they seem too gratuitous.