Keeping things going in a story post-castration

[Kynetic01 (imported)]

Reading stories on the archive, I noticed a certain style of writing among the majority in that the story themselves invariably lead up to and include the castration of the main character(s) and then end a short while later after a brief epilogue or fade out. Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of stories I've read have been excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one. But like movies, they all tend to follow a familiar story arc.

Stories where the main character is castrated usually end in that chapter or the one immediately after and, maybe it's just me who feels this way, tend to leave the reader wondering "what happened next?". When you read a really good story you invest emotions in a character especially when they go through a lot, like a castration. And you kinda feel a bit despondent when you're left not knowing how things turned out for them. More often than not we're left with something like "Joe and his girlfriend, had years of happiness after that fateful night in which she castrated him... THE END" Noooooooo, I loved Joe's adventures.... I wanna know about his "many years of happiness". :(

In short this drove me to work on ideas for my own story, one in which the main character(s) castration was part of, NOT the end of, the story.

I want to create believable characters that the readers can engage with and follow their adventures, before AND after they are castrated. Brainstorming is coming along nicely, and characters are being fleshed out and given personalities, I'm still a ways from writing it in full yet, but I'm happy with it's progress. (Feel free to ask, I love swapping ideas)

I'm just wondering how others feel, do you enjoy the "typical" story arcs or are you always left wanting another chapter or two in which you hear more about your favourite character went on after his castration?

[Paolo]

It's been my experience from early on that there are three types of stories here at EA:

1. The Cut & Run - a self-contained story that's done. Slice...that's it. And they lived happily ever after. THE END

2. The Serial - Much like The Hardy Boys. The "Simon" stories and the Byzantium set are such gems. Also the Azyntion City tales. Each one is self-contained, tune in next week/month. You don't have to read them all.

3. The Novel - or "This author can't shut up." Ahem. Also novellas. By the time chapter 30 comes around, you're ready to scream 'GET TO IT, MAN!'

-

Personally, I like a story that goes on, or comes back. #2 or #3. I like to see the same characters return for another adventure. But I also enjoy a good long read, where I am invested in the characters and want to find out what will happen to them. Way back when, this was the case when Waddie Greywolf was writing. The last such novel was Cainanite's How to Breathe. I also tend to get excited when I see a new part of a favorite serial come in, and keep it for myself for days before I let it out! Probably the only perk of this job.

It is the mark of good writing, even great writing, when even the novel comes to a close and you say "That can't be all of it!" Of course, this also happens with no-so-great works like Harry Potter, which I think is poorly written, at least, until the ghost writer took over in book 4.

When you've been at this as long as I have, the "cut & run" thing gets to be mundane. Granted, we're not a repository of fine literature. Just my thoughts.

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

I also believe that this has a lot to do with where one's identity lies.

Like, an actual desire to be a eunuch, I believe, is more rare. It's basically a form of dysphoria, where someone genuinely wishes they didn't have balls anymore, or genuinely wishes to not have testosterone in their bodies, and are interested in the actual life of someone who's been castrated.

However, LOTS of stories here aren't really about that lifestyle or about actually living as a eunuch, they seem much more interested in the submission/domination factor that leads up to it. And submission/domination is a VERY common sexual fantasy among all people, and castration, someone having that power over you to take away something important, seems like one of the ultimate forms of that domination/submission.

So that, I believe, is partially responsible for where some the different kinds of stories come in. The "wank and go" stories are probably more from people having a quick sexual fantasy about the power/submission dynamic of it, while those that actually write stories where a significant portion of it takes place after the event itself are probably more likely to actually be experiencing dysphoria, and thus are more interested in the actual act of living as a eunuch rather than just as a way of getting off.

Like, to someone who's having a sexual fantasy, why would they want to write anything after the castration? The deed is done. The power/submission fantasy is over. What's left to write? Where to someone who actually wants to be that way themselves, the interesting part as they see it would be after the castration, where they get to enjoy their new life, because that's the part that's exciting to them.

(And there's completely 100% nothing wrong with that. Sexual fantasies are fun. People should enjoy them.)

[Kynetic01 (imported)]

@Paolo:

Hahaha Wow I never realised there was categories for stories on here. I was really laughing at the "Cut & Run" bit. But I'm with you, I love seeing more chapters about an interesting character who's adventures I've followed and invested emotions in. While I'm not professing to thinking about writing a novel, I would love to add regular chapters to any story I eventually end up writing. I think there is just so much scope one can include in a story like that.

@Cheetaking:

I actually didn't factor in that side of the arguement at all. Sure there are people on here who are unsure about their bodies and where they want to go regards those issues and yes of course there are the sexual fantasy elements to it aswell. I think the latter can encompass both in its own way though, which makes story writing universal.

I plan on having a slight D/s element in the story, but nothing along the lines of a traditional BDSM story, more a very mild version where both parties are fully consensual in the act and can back out if they wish. It will be primarily chastity, cuckold and castration themed. With

the castration of the main character

coming after both main characters have been exploring and involved heavily in the the two former fetishes. Furthermore it will be a lifestyle choice and enhancement of their relationship when the male character is castrated, by his own choice and with positive reassurance from the female character.

I'll admit I have no experience with gender dysphoria, nor do I wish to "gloss over it" in any way. Moreover I hope that anyone reading the story would enjoy it for what it is, just a story, a work of fiction meant for enjoyment. I haven't fully decided at this point if there will be any gender changing elements or characters in it yet, but at this point I think there won't. So the topic of a character conflicted about his/her gender won't be included.

One of the central points to the story is that it doesn't end when the central character is castrated, rather his castration is just another part of his tale and the story carries on, albeit he is now a eunuch and all his sexual activities will reflect that in chapters that come after the event. The idea of radically altering the sex life of the central character mid way through is quite appealing and I relish the challenge. Of course someone with your experience and knowledge on topics such as GD and HRT would be wonderful to have if you would be interested in giving your opinion on topics and story points/twists/etc.

[Losethem (imported)]

I have an idea or two for such a story, I've just not had motivation to write one the past 10 years or so. I have a small serialized story in mind, probably 4-5 chapters, and another one that could go for 10-15. Writing takes too much out of me though.

[Paolo]

I certainly know that feeling, LT.

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

Oh no, I wasn't saying that anything about gender even needs to be involved in any of the stories... I was just saying that when I read a lot of the stories on here, they sound remarkably similar in terms of describing what I might call body dysphoria... basically, I'm just saying that I can see that some of the people writing these stories genuinely feel unrest because of having certain anatomy, and they genuinely see their lives as being better with them surgically removed. Gender need not be involved whatsoever, I think there are a LOT of guys who are totally fine identifying as male but just not wanting male genitals or testosterone in them.

And again, that group is where I believe that a lot of the more detailed stories that go into great detail about the after-effects of castration are coming from...

[Kynetic01 (imported)]

@LoseThem:

I'd love to hear some of your ideas.

@Cheetaking:

I totally see where you're coming from in terms of GD and you're right when you say that a lot of stories have guys who may seem like they are uncomfortable or questioning about their gender. But perhaps it's more a case of people writing their fantasies more so than expressing a repressed need to want to change. That's the wonderful thing about writing, it gives us a means of expressing our inner fantasies, whether or not we would ever act them out is another story.

Personally, I think anyone brave enough to follow their path and go down the road of either castration or GRS is turely a remarkable individual and shows a level of courage that is sadly lacking these days. I'm going slightly off topic here, into another post, but I do see a stage coming in the future where castration is as widely accepted as GRS.

[Chris1115 (imported)]

I know for me a big part of the thrill is the dom/sub overtones in some of the stories. Think it would be the ultimate act of submission to give up the ability to orgasm and feel that sexual pleasure/thrill while still providing it to someone else. As such, based on the title of this thread, while single standalone cut-and-run stories are fine to me, there are a lot of stories where I'm left wondering how things turn out afterwards. How does the "hero"/"victim" deal with loss of libido? If their "owner" still requires their "services" how do they feel being basically used for pleasure and unable to get any for themselves? Being a bottom, I know after I have my orgasm, anal sex becomes a lot less pleasureable... even more painful... without that erotic desire and sexual tension present. I can only imagine without a sex drive, what being asked/required to perform the act would be like. You'd never have that sexual tension and probably wouldn't ever be that into it... the after affects could play a whole part in the d/s schema, yet stories that focus on that area of BDSM typically end right before and never fully explore what life would be like. I can only imagine it'd be a living hell.

[Kynetic01 (imported)]

@Chris1115;

Interesting point Chris. I've read many stories like that, where the main character/sub is castrated and then it ends shortly after without telling us how things worked out. I'd imagine it would be hell for the subs in those BDSM stories, but the story I'm hoping to write revolves around a married couple who decide to castrated the husband willingly and continuing the marriage on as... well I won't say normal... but different.