Reason or no reason for tickling in tickling fiction?

[Cosmo_ac]

One of the things i've learned over the years, is that part of me really likes there to be a reason for the tickling in tickling fiction. Maybe the tickler can't leave any marks on the victom, or maybe the torturer has a soft spot for the victom and uses tickling instead of hot pokers, or a milling other reasons out there. But, part of me also likes the tickling for no reason, like you might see in some fiction and comics. There's no reason why this char is going to tickle this other char, asside from the fact the tickler likes to tickle. It's like somebody said "We don't need an excuse to have tickling!" And then tickling happens. You see this a lot in comics, but also a lot in tickle-fiction quickies.

Personally, i sometimes feel like my writing is restrained because of my want to have a legitimate, or at least semi-legitimate reason for the tickling to happen. I don't know. I guess i just want general thoughts on what people like and why. Does having a reason for the tickling make it more real to you, or do you like there to be just tickling because to hell with it, your reading a work of fiction anyway?

Thoughts and comments appreciated.

 

[Mane'o]

I think tickle fiction is the place to explore fantasies so a reason for the tickling can carry more weight. The cat burglar who is trying to get the captive housewife to divulge the combination to the wall safe. The terribly ticklish coed who is trying to keep her ticklishness a secret while enduring sorority hell week. The shoe salesman with an uncontrollable foot tickling fetish. Well, I could go on for days.
The point being, tickle writing is the place to indulge in tickle fantasies so the justification for the tickling adds much, IMHO, to the story and allows vicarious pleasure in reading of tickle situations that may only exist in the fictional world.

 

[Myriads]

From a writing point of view this issue is one of the hardest to handle in any form of long fiction.

With my WoW series, I've never spoken directly to the issue as to why so much ticking happens in my future world, sidestepping the issue. There is a reason, but I've never seen the reason to spend the time to write it out in the series at this point. Eventually an organic point will appear, but I'm not overly worried about it. People seem happy to enjoy the series without that one question being answered so far. And some folks who have written me have filled in some interesting reasons on their own.

So unless not having a reason utterly causes a story to become non functional I'd not worry over it.

Myriads

 

[Bohemianne]

Just let it happen. As a creative person, at times, the idea about tickling fiction comes like a spark. I agree, tickling is indeed a very limiting and tough genre to handle. But it tends to hound, asking for visual or narrative execution. If you're brave enough, you will pursue beyond the doubts fighting inside you and make it to the finish output, then you'll be happy. You bridge the gap between the reader and your own. But when it's out there, people come from all walks of life and see it in various ways. It is something beyond a writer/artist can control.

What a thought provoking thread, btw! Nice.

 

[Joker Jack]

I have read some wonderful fiction stories where tickling has been employed exclusively for the purpose of inflicting humiliation on the victim.
I'm thinking here of non-con situations where the ler and lee might be sworn enemies or where the ler has cause to seek revenge or payback for whatever reason. In these instances I think the use of tickling as humiliating torture is utterly delicious.
Think perhaps of a wife wronged by her adulterous husband. She conspires to end up with her husband's lover (or perhaps the husband himself!) suitably bound. There is, I would suggest, a limit as to how far she might go using conventional forms of punishment. However, the idea of using tickling as torture would be a different matter! The idea of making one or the other beg through their hysterical laughter for mercy would be a most suitable punishment and one I would find utterly irresistible.
There are many situations where the torturer simply does not want to cause pain to his or her victim. Tickling fits the bill here perfectly.
I think much also depends on the tone and style of the fiction in question. In an attempt at an authentic spy story for example, the use of tickling as torture would be rather unrealistic. In a more 'camp' style story however, it would be far more acceptable.
I also very much agree with the comments already posted - fiction is a great way to explore fantasies. Long may it continue!

 

[proud2tickle]

I don't know the spy stories have always caught my eye as odd seeing as how people are trained to elude and withstand, but I do know one girl in a federal govt law enforcement agency that would Honestly rather be tortured then tickle tortured. She is extremely ticklish everywhere. And it would make for a fun reason because maybe her torturer saw her be tickled once.

 

[Coda]

Well, that's the great thing about writing -- you can justify anything in some extremely well-thought-out and clever way, or you can ignore justification completely. Readers approach fiction temporarily willing to assume that what they're reading is true in the fictional world, so it doesn't make sense to hold yourself to a standard you don't make up; that only seems like an unnecessary impediment.

And a character's tickle fetish is a reason for tickling to occur in fiction. It seems like the most believable reason possible when you think about why erotic tickling happens in real life.

 

[c7_assassin]

I find that unless the author is a genius with prose, tickling without a clever build-up can be fairly pointless. A video can just focus on the act, because it's a visual medium, but when you're writing you need to get inside the characters' heads; you really need a story to make it interesting.

 

[Joker Jack]

I don't know the spy stories have always caught my eye as odd seeing as how people are trained to elude and withstand, but I do know one girl in a federal govt law enforcement agency that would Honestly rather be tortured then tickle tortured. She is extremely ticklish everywhere. And it would make for a fun reason because maybe her torturer saw her be tickled once.

That sounds fascinating! Can you tell us a bit more about her?

 

[Jagermeistered]

I find that unless the author is a genius with prose, tickling without a clever build-up can be fairly pointless. A video can just focus on the act, because it's a visual medium, but when you're writing you need to get inside the characters' heads; you really need a story to make it interesting.

I love C7's post...

There is a big difference between visual/audio porn and storytelling. A story writer has many complexities to overcome: plot, characters, theme, style, etc... The video producer suffers from none of these, unless it is a complex custom from a future buyer. The fictional author has a war to be fought when inspiration hits them.

 

[P[a]pi]

I don't need a reason for the tickling, but I do like a reason for why the ler is tickling the lee. Basically, I don't care why the ler chose tickling as the punishment/torture/revenge/etc, but I do like to know why the ler wants to punish/torture/get revenge/etc. Hope that makes since haha.

 

[Jagermeistered]

I don't need a reason for the tickling, but I do like a reason for why the ler is tickling the lee. Basically, I don't care why the ler chose tickling as the punishment/torture/revenge/etc, but I do like to know why the ler wants to punish/torture/get revenge/etc. Hope that makes since haha.

It sure does... 🙂 Also known as the plot.