Literotica (a portmanteau of literature and erotica) is a free erotic fiction website. It allows any user to register as an author and submit stories and has over 2.5 million registered users as of March 2023.[1] Amateur authors contribute stories, poems, essays, illustrated stories and audio stories in a variety of categories. As of March 2023 there were more than 500,000 erotic stories posted,[1]and the site allows stories to be posted in several different languages.[2]

Literotica
URLwww.literotica.com Edit this at Wikidata
RegistrationOptional
Launched1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Current statusLive

As of January 2012, it had 4.5 million visitors per month.[3] In addition to written works, the site includes erotic audio and a store page.

Story submission

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Literotica is among the first adult sites open to story creators, having replaced the Usenet 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.[4] Stories include short, one-off stories, chain-stories written in collaboration with other authors, and entire novels submitted in a "chapter-by-chapter" mode.[4]

The stories themselves are categorized by various themes, and there are categories for stories with pictures and stories with audio as well as for stories that do not actually feature erotic content.

Message boards

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Literotica's forum has over 2.4 million registered members, as of March 2023.[5] Users can participate in 52 forums, consisting of 38 English-speaking and 14 non-English-speaking language boards. Topics include "Amateur Pic Feedback", "Authors' Hangout", "Online Role Playing", "Poetry Feedback & Discussion", "Sexual Role Playing", "General Board", "How To...", a place for writers to seek feedback on their stories, and BDSM and "LGBT" sections.

Members of the message boards, known as "Literoticans",[6] "Litizens"[7] or "Litsters",[8] sometimes meet in "Litogethers",[9] where members from particular areas plan an event, in order to socialize with others with whom they have formed online friendships.

After having been on the VBulletin platform since inception, the forum was converted to XenForo in February 2022.[10]

Literotica chat

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The site also provides a series of chat rooms.[11] Originally this service was through DigiChat OR Literotica's Java client software, but, because of continued cyberattacks, 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.

Reception

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Searches for Literotica peak at 4 am.[12][dubiousdiscuss] On a list of 7 classiest porn sites by Salon, Literotica came fifth.[13] Bustle recommends Literotica for women.[14] Literotica has been used in scientific research.[15][how?]

Publications

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Literotica has published two books containing collections of stories from the website.

  • Literotica: The Very Best of Literotica.com (2001)[16]
  • Literotica 2: The Very Best of Literotica.com (2009)[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About". Literotica. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  2. ^ "Literotica Free Adult Community - Erotic Story and Picture Index". other.literotica.com. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  3. ^ Tiku, Nitasha (13 January 2012). "Amazon Has a Throbbing Erotica Problem, But Not the One You Think". Observer. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b Jacobs, Katrien (2007). Netporn: DIY Web Culture and Sexual Politics. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-7425-5432-0.
  5. ^ "Literotica Discussion Board". Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  6. ^ @Literotica (Jan 22, 2022). "Happy Saturday, Literoticans!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @Literotica (Feb 18, 2021). "Happy Audio Thursday, Litizens!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ @Literotica (Oct 1, 2021). "Happy Friday, Litsters!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "litogethers". Literotica Discussion Board. Jul 17, 2007. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  10. ^ "Literotica Forum Update: Share Your Feedback, Issues & Requests". Literotica Discussion Board. Feb 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "Adult Chat by Literotica.com". Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  12. ^ Stephens-Davidowitz, Seth (4 July 2015). "Days of Our Digital Lives". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  13. ^ Hamilton, Jill (13 April 2015). "The 7 smartest, classiest porn sites". Salon.com. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  14. ^ McGowan, Emma (May 13, 2015). "How To Masturbate Better, Because Watching Feminist Porn Is Just One Fun Way To Celebrate National Masturbation Month". Bustle. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  15. ^ Wheaton, Oliver (22 January 2015). "Psychologist discovers the nine most frequently used words in erotic fiction". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  16. ^ Selke, Lori, ed. (2002). Literotica : the very best of Literotica.com. San Francisco: Black Books. ISBN 1892723093.
  17. ^ Brent, Bill, ed. (2007). Literotica 2 : the very best of Literotica.com. Pahoa, Hawaii: Black Books. ISBN 978-1892723178.
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