Turn-off and Deal Breakers for Readers

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Sure. Try Fate Into Doubt Won't Go which is nearly there.

I think I get it. You're making the narration sound as though the character was giving it. As though its in his voice even though its not dialog.

Exactly. Sometimes I can do it easily, sometimes it's a struggle, other times it doesn't work at all. It's a gradual learning curve for me.

Any author who thinks of Jack Kerouac as a role model.

Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know

Any author who thinks of Jack Kerouac as a role model.

"That's not writing, that's typing " Truman Capote (about Mr. Kerouac)

Too much interior monologue makes me tired. Not a deal-breaker, exactly, but there had better be a reason to tell me all this.

When a story takes too long before the action begins. I don't mind a set-up, but when the action begins to take place only midway through the story I'm out. Lots of people apparently need a very long lead up to the actual action, while I prefer more a short set-up or being dropped midway into the action.

Another turn off are things I'm simply not into, those are just general preferences. Like lots of stories out there about guys being submissive to a woman and stuff like that. But like I said, that's just a personal preference.

I know there are non-native English-speaking/writing members on Lush. But when their stories get published, and the grammar and spelling haven't been edited by a moderator, it makes the stories very difficult to read.

Yes, we're not editors. But most moderators will check for flow and certainly spelling. If you have any specific concerns, please drop a moderator/admin a note with the story link(s) in question and we'll take a look.

Quote by ExploringMySubmission

When a story takes too long before the action begins. I don't mind a set-up, but when the action begins to take place only midway through the story I'm out. Lots of people apparently need a very long lead up to the actual action, while I prefer more a short set-up or being dropped midway into the action.

Another turn off are things I'm simply not into, those are just general preferences. Like lots of stories out there about guys being submissive to a woman and stuff like that. But like I said, that's just a personal preference.

I'm guilty on both counts.

I'll nope out of a story if it has too many spelling or grammatical errors, if the sex (or other) descriptions are weak or lack detail. Also the story has to flow, if a story jumps around for no apparent reason i won't finish it.

As someone far more likely to write a story than read one, this thread does remind me of the 'pleasing some of the people some of the time' saying. Someone's pet peeve is important to them; I understand that. That said, this will also be true for the next person, whose gripe is different but just as 'deal-breaking' for them. If you write for your personal pleasure and see others connecting with it as a bonus, you rid yourself of fretfulness and fear over alienating one reader who has bugbear #33539, etc.

Quote by LYFBUZ

I'll nope out of a story if it has too many spelling or grammatical errors, if the sex (or other) descriptions are weak or lack detail. Also the story has to flow, if a story jumps around for no apparent reason i won't finish it.

I find all of those issues annoying enough to quit reading a particular story. And I've found that some authors are very repetitive even when stories aren't a series. I just stop reading those authors.

If the author doesn’t follow their own script that is a big turn off. Realism is key for me to enjoy any movie/story otherwise I’m distracted backtracking to see if I missed something or if it was a misread on my end. One story I stopped reading had a group scene but half way through one of the participants removed his clothes for a second time in the same session.

I enjoy a good story that build some momentum and even better if it has some well placed surprises.

The other annoyance that I can often overlook but sometimes it will cause me to lose interest is when a long story especially a series ALWAYS has porn star supernatural orgasmic characters in every scene. After a while I’m just wondering how this fellow is finding the fluid to cum for the 5th time in a session all the while the women involved seem to scream with orgasm every time they are touched.

Your timing on this is interesting as I wrote a PM to an author today about these same inconsistencies in a new story. I won't go into details here because he took offense to my comments, so I won't any reveal his/her identity. This author routinely writes stories that have very similar ... the same? ... plotlines as prior stories, but this one was different, and not in a good way. Like your example, the character was undressed twice in the same scene. There were several other plot inconsistencies that I won't go into, again to protect his/her anonymity.

I’m always worried about moments like that. Going over my drafts it’s always an important part to me to make sure there are no inconsistencies in the scene. I probably go a little overboard, literally figuring out timing and how long acts take so it fits the flow of a plot. Like if someone is fucking on a lunch break, I sort of time out the scene to make sure it fits within 30-60 minutes from beginning to end.

Quote by RowanThorn

I’m always worried about moments like that. Going over my drafts it’s always an important part to me to make sure there are no inconsistencies in the scene. I probably go a little overboard, literally figuring out timing and how long acts take so it fits the flow of a plot. Like if someone is fucking on a lunch break, I sort of time out the scene to make sure it fits within 30-60 minutes from beginning to end.

I've had a long list of birthdays and lesson plans to hand at all times for my main series. I've also checked TV listings, found out what was on the news that specific day, have a work schedule, release dates for music/albums and any major events/gigs. Immersion 🤗 I'm currently reading medical studies/journals. Also reading, re-reading and triple-reading scenes is a must to make sure characters haven't dressed or undressed at the wrong moments. Also gotta fit the contraception in and test stuff with my husband first 🙄

Quote by utterchaos

I've had a long list of birthdays and lesson plans to hand at all times for my main series. I've also checked TV listings, found out what was on the news that specific day, have a work schedule, release dates for music/albums and any major events/gigs. Immersion 🤗 I'm currently reading medical studies/journals. Also reading, re-reading and triple-reading scenes is a must to make sure characters haven't dressed or undressed at the wrong moments. Also gotta fit the contraception in and test stuff with my husband first 🙄

Lol, I think one of the more hilarious things I’ve done in the name of consistency is rolling around the bed, going line by line in a scene and doing what the character was as it was written to make sure it all worked. And I had to do that for both characters.

Quote by RowanThorn
rolling around the bed, going line by line in a scene and doing what the character was as it was written to make sure it all worked

Method acting, ftw 🤣

Pulling people out of the story is a pet peeve of mine too. It includes plot and character inconsistencies, like someone repeating an action because the author was copying and pasting chunks around and left old parts in. And articles of clothing being removed twice, as mentioned above.

But more than that, inconsistencies in character voice can destroy a piece for me. That comes down to word choice in the prose or, especially, dialogue . You don't get many mid-fifties peeps saying they're glazing on Taylor Swift cos she's goated, for example.

I work hard to try and make sure my characters feel real, don't have eternal energy or do impossible things, and give readers an immersive experience. I don't always get it right.

If there’s no 10-inch cock in the story, I’m out. 😀😊

Quote by KimmiBeGood

If there’s no 10-inch cock in the story, I’m out. 😀😊

Like, exactly?

Quote by RowanThorn

Like, exactly?

Yup 😀🤣

Seriously though, I don’t like being told measurements—bra sizes, cock lengths. Seems amateurish or something. Just my opinion.

Agreed. Honestly, I try to avoid too many exact descriptors. I figure when reading erotica it's best when someone can mesh their own fantasies with your story. Give them a little wiggle room to see what they want.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Yup 😀🤣

Seriously though, I don’t like being told measurements—bra sizes, cock lengths. Seems amateurish or something. Just my opinion.

I prefer to weave descriptors into the story.

He cupped her voluptuous breasts.

rather than

She had 40 DD cup breasts that he liked to squeeze.

Quote by techgoddess

I prefer to weave descriptors into the story.

He cupped her voluptuous breasts.

rather than

She had 40 DD cup breasts that he liked to squeeze.

A woman after my own heart. If I slip a measurement in, it will be for a reason, usually.

I do understand that some things appeal to others that will never appeal to me. It would be a dull world otherwise...HOWEVER, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone believes anyone gains anything from the numbers game.

"They took 1.4 seconds to climb the 3 feet into the six foot six bed, He caressed her with his 5 inch fingers, his 4 inch thumb poised..." How statistical! ( and decimal-pointless)

Quote by techgoddess

I prefer to weave descriptors into the story.

He cupped her voluptuous breasts.

rather than

She had 40 DD cup breasts that he liked to squeeze.

That's it, I'm going to write an erotica tale set in a lingerie shop with a bunch of women all getting fitted for new bras and cup sizes and strap lengths are going to abound. Won't be nary a paragraph nor a bit o' dialogue without a body measurement of some sort.

Quote by YourMomThinksIAmCute

That's it, I'm going to write an erotica tale set in a lingerie shop with a bunch of women all getting fitted for new bras and cup sizes and strap lengths are going to abound. Won't be nary a paragraph nor a bit o' dialogue without a body measurement of some sort.

Keep me updated. This, i want to read. lol

Quote by JustForYou
How statistical!

Bell curves are sexy!

Quote by sprite

Keep me updated. This, i want to read. lol

Ok, the story is submitted. Now we just wait for a mod to approve it.

I got a little carried away with the story, as one does.

Quote by YourMomThinksIAmCute

That's it, I'm going to write an erotica tale set in a lingerie shop with a bunch of women all getting fitted for new bras and cup sizes and strap lengths are going to abound. Won't be nary a paragraph nor a bit o' dialogue without a body measurement of some sort.

Seconding sprite's sentiment. Done right, this might actually be interesting. And maybe I'll learn a few things (having never been fitted for a bra before for some strange reason 😜).

Quote by YourMomThinksIAmCute

Ok, the story is submitted. Now we just wait for a mod to approve it.

I got a little carried away with the story, as one does.

Oo, you snuck that in as I was posting. 😊

Quote by Seeker4

And maybe I'll learn a few things (having never been fitted for a bra before for some strange reason 😜).

They go exactly as you'd expect, with nude pillow fights and a lot of kissing, fingering, and licking.