The 'my story doesn't fit a category' headache

[Dansak]

Is there a 'nerdy guy with milf, also teen girl, and affair with married neighbour, some group sex, lots of lesbians and a tiny bit of bdsm' category?

No? Why the heck not?

I'm writing my first ever branching story, which covers a bunch of categories and I'm having a devil of a time trying to work out which one fits best. No one category is screaming at me as the right one.

I generally write Family type stuff, and my protagonist is in an adopted family, and there will be at least one branch that delves into that genre. So I think I shall revert to type and stick it in the family category. But it could just as easily fit into several others.

Not for the first time, I feel the need for a multi category option. I know we have miscellaneous but that just feels a bit like it's for anything not mentioned on the list, rather than a specialised category for stories with multiple categories equally covered.

 

[Dansak]

Oh, and Harem should be a category in it's own right to.

 

[Tonyrolo]

I agree. I've had a few stories like this where I don't want to risk pigeonholing them into one category when they feature elements that fit various different ones and also don't want it in miscellaneous which makes it sound like something super niche that doesn't feature any of the other categories. I have ended up in each case goiug with fantsay as there have been magical elements and that felt slightly catch-all. but I do fear that makes people think of elves and pixies in imaginary worlds which is not my stories at all.

 

[Dansak]

I agree. I've had a few stories like this where I don't want to risk pigeonholing them into one category when they feature elements that fit various different ones and also don't want it in miscellaneous which makes it sound like something super niche that doesn't feature any of the other categories. I have ended up in each case goiug with fantsay as there have been magical elements and that felt slightly catch-all. but I do fear that makes people think of elves and pixies in imaginary worlds which is not my stories at all.

I feel your pain. It's a real headache.

If there was a 'multi category' option, would it fit your story better?

 

[Tonyrolo]

For sure, that would be the option I would have picked in each case.

 

[Syreno]

Oh, and Harem should be a category in it's own right to.

I went to check the categories thinking "there's gotta be something that covers this" and I was probably thinking of Group Sex, but it doesn't feel like a good fit. Group Sex really feels like it is about the group while there are so many stories on here that are about just one guy building his harem, even if some of them do have his lovers mingling. Just an all together different feel so I can definitely see the benefits to a category like Harem.

 

[TheLowKing]

Yep. Tags always beat categories. There are no sharp dividing lines between black and white, only shades of grey.

 

[Dansak]

Yep. Tags always beat categories. There are no sharp dividing lines between black and white, only shades of grey.

How many shades of grey i wonder...

 

[daciasdesire]

A Dansak branching story! Sign me up now

 

[Dansak]

A Dansak branching story! Sign me up now

Thanks!
But there are issues with it right now...my slow burn branch has an orgy in chapter 2. My Milf branch is full of teenagers and my wholesome romance branch is a BDSM kinkfest.

I'm kidding, it's not that bad, but I have had to be very careful and rewrite a few chapters and one whole branch that strayed from the plan. I've got about 60 chapters written as of now, divided between 3 branches. But I'm long way from ready to publish.

And I may even throw caution to the wind and open it up for public contribution.

 

[Zeebop]

My tag clouds are longer than some people's chapters.

 

[HeirAscendant]

Yep. Tags always beat categories. There are no sharp dividing lines between black and white, only shades of grey.

Ehh, I dunno. With all the tag spam people do, they aren't nearly as useful as they could be.

 

[daciasdesire]

Thanks!
But there are issues with it right now...my slow burn branch has an orgy in chapter 2. My Milf branch is full of teenagers and my wholesome romance branch is a BDSM kinkfest.

I'm kidding, it's not that bad, but I have had to be very careful and rewrite a few chapters and one whole branch that strayed from the plan. I've got about 60 chapters written as of now, divided between 3 branches. But I'm long way from ready to publish.

And I may even throw caution to the wind and open it up for public contribution.

You're right, I believe an orgy has to wait until chapter 3 at the earliest to be called a slow burn lol!

And do you think I can get any of my characters to stick to a plan lately?! They're all a bunch of willful horny sods.