Literotica (a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words[erotica
Erotica is literature or art that deals substantively with subject matter that is erotic, sexually stimulating or sexually arousing. Some critics regard pornography as a type of erotica, but many consider it to be different. Erotic art may use ...](_blank)
) is a free erotic fiction website. It allows any user to register as an author and submit stories and has over a million registered users . Amateur authors contribute stories,
poems
Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings ...
,
essay
An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal a ...
s, illustrated stories and audio stories in a variety of categories. there were more than 29,000 erotic stories posted. Ant.com ranks the website as the 361st most popular on the internet as of April 9, 2011. Literotica, a United States-based web site, received 44% of its web traffic from the United States.
, it had 4.5 million visitors per month. In addition to written works, the site includes erotic audio and a store page.
Story submission
Literotica is among the first adult sites open to story creators, having replaced the
usenet
Usenet () is a worldwide distributed discussion system available on computers. It was developed from the general-purpose Unix-to-Unix Copy (UUCP) dial-up network architecture. Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979, and it wa ...
erotic story sections. Its few rules prohibit stories about pedophilia and bestiality (except that involving fantasy creatures such as dragons and unicorns), and it is mostly aimed at amateur writers and readers who prefer a largely image-free environment.
Stories include short, one-off stories, chain-stories written in collaboration with other authors, and entire novels submitted in a "chapter-by-chapter" mode.
The stories themselves are categorized by various themes, and there are categories for stories with pictures and stories with audio.
Message boards
Literotica's message boards account for only 6% of literotica's web traffic (Alexa.com, 2008). However, this forum has over 1,140,000 registered members, as of April 2010. Users can participate in 23 forums consisting of 16 English-speaking and seven non-English-speaking language boards. Topics include "Amateur Pictures", "Author's Hangout", "
Roleplaying
Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' offers a definition of role-playing as ...
", "Poetry Feedback & Discussion", "
Sexual Roleplaying", the unmoderated "General Board", a "How-To" forum, a place for writers to seek advice, and "
BDSM
BDSM is a variety of often erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged ...
" and "
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term ...
" sections.
Members of the message boards, known as 'Literoticans', 'Litizens' or 'Litsters', sometimes meet in 'Litogethers', where members from particular areas plan an event, in order to socialize with others with whom they have formed online friendships.
Literotica chat
The site also provides a series of chat rooms. Originally this service was through
DigiChat OR literotica's Java client software, but, because of continued cyber attacks, the chat platform moved to a Flash-based client. As of December 2015, it has been operating on a web-based client. Profiles are shared in the story section, and registration is required. Chat registration is free, and users can create their own public rooms. Chat rooms are moderated, and users who discuss forbidden topics are banned from the system.
Other services
The site has published story collections under a "Best of" banner and profits from advertising sales and links to webcam, adult video-on-demand, and an online adult store.
CHYOA
CHYOA is a sister site of Literotica, the users of the former of which may post their own stories. However, after a story is created, other users can add additional threads to expand a story in a different direction, similar to the way a
choose-your-own-adventure book allows such changes.
This site has 18 sections in which users may post stories. These sections include "Erotic Couplings," "Romance," "Sci-Fi/Fantasy," "Gay Male," "Fan Fiction," and "Non-English" and "Non-Erotic".
Reception
Searches for Literotica peak at 4 am. On a list of 7 classiest porn sites by
Salon
Salon may refer to:
Common meanings
* Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments
* French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home
* Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment
Arts and entertainment
* Salon ( ...
, Literotica came fifth.
Bustle
A bustle is a padded undergarment used to add fullness, or support the drapery, at the back of women's dresses in the mid-to-late 19th century. Bustles are worn under the skirt in the back, just below the waist, to keep the skirt from dragging. ...
recommends Literotica for women. Literotica has been used in scientific research.
Publications
Literotica has published two books containing collections of stories from the website.
*Literotica: The Very Best of Literotica.com, First Edition, published on November 1, 2001.
*Literotica 2: The Very Best of Literotica.com, First Edition, published on January 5, 2009.
See also
*
Erotic literature
Erotic literature comprises fictional and factual stories and accounts of eros (passionate, romantic or sexual relationships) intended to arouse similar feelings in readers. This contrasts erotica, which focuses more specifically on sexual feel ...
*
List of Internet forums
An Internet forum, or ''message board'', is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.
Forums act as centralized locations for topical discussion. The Forum format is derived from BBS and Usen ...
References
External links
* {{Official website
American erotica and pornography websites
American literature websites
Erotic fiction
Internet properties established in 1998