Forum: Author Hangout

That sounds like a veritable mine field, especially if you have different stories in a shared universe, but not of the same tag-configuration.

Cousin incest is unlikely to be of such controversial energy, but look for discussions on use of tags such as "rape".

Right. I went through this for Charley and Claire. I originally tagged it for rape, but it never felt quite right as the rape in question isn't described in much detail and only covers one paragraph. But it can be traumatizing, so what to do? In the end, I used a generic caution tag with a note in the description to see the forward. There I mention that the reader can skip that one paragraph, knowing what happens, but I didn't feel right not having it.

No one has complained since. I think if they did I'd change it back, though. I can appreciate triggers.

That's how I typically treat those sorts of things. Better mentioning it, but no sense making it a bigger thing than it actually is, as again, overhyping something will anger everyone, not just a single aggravated cluster of readers.

So, given the negative response to Rape stories, it's better to use it as a discussion point (in the abstract), unless you're whole point IS attracting those with a rape-kink (which is typically most who do post such stories).

The rule of thumb, is you list the most relevant tags, not the most literal. So, if an incestuous wouldn't draw a lot of readers, or more specifically, if it happens off screen or even it's a minor scene, then it's often best to not bother listing it, as again, the tag is more likely to cost you readers than it is to gain any.

That's especially true for off-screen encounters, as that's mostly rumor anyway, even if admitted by the people involved, so there's really nothing to object to. As in such instances, they're discussing a reverent event in their lives with NO purient interest to anyone.

So, underreport minor scenes, list the MAJOR squicks (as they'll cost you the most readers), but include the tags which will also draw in the most readers (i.e. always prioritize your codes, so you list the most relevant first, listing the least used last. So, if you have a single partial gay scene, that is not a major squick factor, as it's easy enough to simply skip entirely. Though in my case, I prefer listing any squicks at the top of the chapter, so readers know what they're getting in the chapter, and can thus prepare for it before encountering it.

I laugh every time I read about a shocked or offended reader whoo saw somethingthey didnt like. This is an adult story site, deal with it. Go buy an adult book on Amazon with noo tags and see what happens.

In most cases, those situations apply equally to non-genetic family members (step-children, adoptees or custody arrangements), as they are living together and are thus active family members, whether they're physically related to anyone or not.

I would prefer not to tag at all. For me tags spoil the surprise inside.

To each their own, I suppose. When I see a description that says that the author skipped tags so as to not spoil the surprise, I just skip the story.

If I find an author has omitted an important (in my opinion) tag, I usually contact the author. Sometimes it's a legitimate mistake (e.g. I started reading Oil of Roses, then found out it's a D/s story. The author thought it was tagged that way, and fixed it right up.) If the author stands by their tagging, they go into my exclude list.

Tags are a lot of things. Warning, advertisement, and so forth.

But, for the purpose of this comment, they're at Chekov's Gun. If the story is tagged 'rape', a rape must happen. If it's not tagged 'rape', a rape must not happen.

For a long story, that means the reader may be reading hundreds of pages thinking, 'Wait! Which character is getting raped? By whom? Is it here? Here? Here?'

There's an obvious cost to that. But there's also an obvious cost to not tagging it and losing readers, either on the grounds you have or because someone is sensitive to rape scenes and potentially traumatized by one turning up unexpectedly.

I have a serious, 'trigger-warning-worthy' event in Book 1 of my story. It's not within the tag system. My solution was to 1) tag the story 'caution' and 2) add a note saying 'something bad happens soon - if you're sensitive, either send me your triggers and I'll tell you if it's one, or ask and I'll send just you a trigger-word summary'.

I received a couple of inquiries and warned them. Most people were blindsided, and happy the surprise was preserved.

If there's a point, it's this: I think it's reasonable to say 'I omitted some tags so as to not spoil the surprise' if the author is responsive and will disclose the tags upon request. It's not ideal, but it's a solution that respects both readers who don't want certain content and also respects readers who want to be surprised. But, of course, it's also reasonable to not read such stories for whatever reason.

There are countries where fiction works are against the law on child pornography grounds even without harm to an actual child. Canada, where SoL is based, was one of those countries, and the law as written still covers works of fiction.

However, there was a court ruling invalidating parts of that law in 2020 (see https://globalnews.ca/news/7359407/quebec-court-acquits-author-declares-part-of-child-pornography-law-invalid/). With those provisions struck, most SoL content is likely fine. I'm not sure if 'true story' would affect that, honestly, since the use of the tag could itself be a lie.

Note that, per the ruling (as explained in the article, anyway), if a fiction work 'advocated' or 'counseled' sex with underaged persons, it might still be criminal in Canada. Exactly what it takes to do that, I don't know.

True. Some quick category searching finds 'True Story' crossed with things like 'Futanari'.

The 'True Story' tag in Category Search seems broken (ignored). The 'True Story' genre works. But they're not the same. I'll ping Lazeez about the bug.

I would like to see a "semi-true" tag. A lot of my stories, especially my early ones, begin with real events in my life. When I get to the point where I've always wondered what would have happened if I said this, or if she had done that - well, there's a story.

When I get to the point where I've always wondered what would have happened if I said this, or if she had done that - well, there's a story.

This is exactly the case with A Well-Lived Life. The further into the story, the further 'I wonder…' takes over.