If you know my work at all, you know I take my erotic writing seriously -- well, seriously enough to care about what my readers get out of it, what they look for in a “good” story, and whether I’m fulfilling their expectations as well as my own. What follows is a compilation of all those questions I would love to ask readers of my own published erotic fiction, if I had the opportunity to interview each of them personally and individually.

NOTE: This is not a “joke” survey of the sort you often see on the Net. No, I’m genuinely interested in the responses I hope I will receive and I expect them to be of potentially great help in my future writing.

This is not in any way a scientific or statistical study but a purely subjective attempt on my part to get a feel for the general audience, and therefore for my own audience. The more relevant details you care to provide, and the more candid (and truthful) you can be, the “rounder” and more valid the results will probably be.

If you feel comfortable giving your name, please do so -- but reply anonymously if you prefer. If you find a subject here you’d like to discuss in more detail, I’ll be happy to do so, either by email or via postings to a.s.s.d.  If you reply privately, I won’t divulge ANYTHING you say on this survey to ANYONE, period -- you have my word on that, take it or leave it.

At some point in the future, when I think I have received enough responses to establish a meaningful base, I will post and discuss my comments and interpretation of the results. I hope this will benefit other authors as well as readers.

In any case, feel free to answer the following questions at more length if you have something in particular you want to say! Please email your responses to me at <mksmith1@bellsouth.net> or use the link at the bottom of this page. Or you can post them to a.s.s.d. and I’ll harvest them there.

Thanks!

Michael K. Smith
 
 

NOTE: If it’s not clear from the questions themselves, this survey is entirely concerned with WRITTEN erotica, not visual erotica or “pornography” (a word I don’t care for). We’re talking about the creations of an author’s mind, okay?

1.  Are you male or female?

2.  Age:  Under 18? Between 18 & 22? Between 23 & 45? Over 45?

3.  Are you married, or in a long-term stable romantic/erotic relationship? (If YES -- For about how many years?)

4.  Do you read erotic fiction online? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

5.  Do you read erotic fiction in books or magazines? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

    5a.  If YES to either of  the above two questions:  About what age were you when you began reading erotic fiction of any kind?

6.  How old were you when you had your first “serious” sexual experience (i.e., mutual masturbation to climax, intercourse, etc.)?
 
 

7.  When you read a story with an erotic theme, do you generally look for (a) a “quick fix,” cut-to-the-chase story with lots of explicit sex, even though it may have a minimum of plot or character development? Or, (b) a more leisurely story, even though the sexual content may not be as high-powered or as explicit?

    7a.  If (b): What do you mostly look for in a more “developed” story -- Well-developed characters? Realistic motivation for the sex?

8.  When you find a story that particularly turns you on, do you re-read it regularly? Does it *continue* to turn you on for an extended period of time?

9.  Does a high degree of romance/love enhance an erotic story for you?

10.  Do you mostly prefer stories that feature “straight” sex? Gay sex? Oral sex? Anal sex? Exhibitionism? Voyeurism?

11.  How do you feel about stories that feature “non-standard” sex -- i.e., those subjects that are still taboo in porno films, including S&M, water sports, bestiality, etc?

12.  How do you feel about stories (NOT VISUAL PORN) that feature underage characters of either sex? Do you enjoy them? Avoid them? Hate the thought of their existence? Feel indifferent/tolerant about this as a specific theme?

13.  How do you feel about erotic fiction that features CONSENSUAL incest as a theme?

14.  How do you feel about NONCONSENSUAL or violent sex as a theme (e.g., sexual horror, rape, torture, snuff, etc.)?

15.  Do you often identify (or try to identify) with a character in a story? If you’re successful, does this significantly increase your enjoyment of the story?
 

16.  Have you ever read online erotic fiction naked? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?) Do you think this enhances your enjoyment?

17.  Have you ever masturbated while reading erotic fiction? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

18.  Do you enjoy (or CAN you enjoy) reading erotic fiction that does NOT cause immediate physical arousal?

19.  If you have a Significant Other, have you ever read erotic fiction aloud to each other?

        19a.  If YES to the above question: Has this led to sex with your SO? (Occasionally? Frequently?) Has erotic fiction become a regular part of your sex play with your SO?
 

20.  Do you consider yourself to be more “erotic” than most people? NOTE: This doesn’t necessarily imply actual sexual activity, much less promiscuity, but rather your outlook on the world and on people; is it easy for you to discover an erotic component in your everyday activities? Do you fantasize easily? Do your daydreams frequently have a sexual theme?

21.  Do you regard sexual fantasies as “normal”? Do you consider them a healthy part of your personality? Do you consider too-frequent sexual fantasies indicative of psychological problems, such as the inability to separate fantasy from reality?

22.  Have you ever fantasized about coworkers, schoolmates, or other people you know? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

23.  Have you ever fantasized about strangers (e.g., people you see on the bus, on the street, in restaurants, etc.)? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

        23a.  If YES to either of the above two questions: Do such fantasies tend to follow a particular theme (e.g., seduction, rape, voyeurism, etc.)?

24.  Whatever your sex, would you be aroused (frightened? annoyed?) by the notion that members of the opposite sex are having sexual fantasies featuring you?

25.  Whatever your sex, do you enjoy talking about sexual fantasies with other people of either sex? (This is NOT meant to include verbal/sexual pressure on an UNWILLING listener!)

26.  Have you ever attempted to convert a sexual fantasy you’ve had about someone into reality with that person? (If YES -- Were you successful?)

27.  Whatever your sex, do you ever “act out” by dressing erotically in public (e.g., thong bikinis, Speedo briefs, pants that are tight/revealing in the crotch, short-shorts, revealing tops, going braless, etc.)? If YES -- Do you do this only around strangers? Only around people you know? Both?

28.  Have you ever engaged in active telephone sex with someone who was not your SO, or before that person became your SO? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

29.  Have you ever engaged in active online sex with someone who was not your SO, or before that person became your SO? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)

30.  Have you ever attempted to write a work of erotic fiction? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?) Have you ever posted such a story online? (If YES -- Occasionally? Frequently?)
 

31.  In general terms, do you think of yourself as a “social conservative” or a “social liberal”?

32.  How do you feel about regulation/censorship by government (at any level) of erotic or sexual writing, either published on paper or on the Internet, being made available to adults?

33.  How do you feel about regulation/censorship by parents of erotic or sexual writing, either published on paper or on the Internet, being made available to their children?

34.  Do you think those over the age of 18 should have readier access to erotic or sexual writing than those under 18?

35.  Do you consider it possible for ordinary adults to be “harmed” in any way by exposure to erotic or sexual writing?

36.  Do you consider it possible for ordinary children or teenagers to be “harmed” in any way by exposure to erotic or sexual writing?
 

.  .  .  And that’s it -- and my thanks for taking the time to do all this! Now, think about what you’ve read and written in the past few minutes:  Do you think you know yourself a little better? Are you curious about other people’s responses? Are you hoping they’ll be as honest as you’ve been? Or more honest? Anything you want to change about what you’ve written .  .  .  ?
 

Please send responses, or direct other comments and inquiries to:  Michael K. Smith
 

Copyright 2000 by Michael K. Smith. Copies may be made and posted elsewhere for personal enjoyment, but all commercial rights are reserved.