Are you a Self-Inserter?

Now there's a conversation starter!

Am I waxing lyrical about the joys of self-abuse with fingers, hands, cucumbers, or a good old-fashioned eight inch dildo?  Most times, the answer would be yes.

However, this time I'm not. So you can either relax a little and breathe out, or I suppose you can feel a bit deflated. If the latter, then of course there's a simple solution: buy my stories! Simples.

Nope, what I'm asking is something that comes ("Oh stop sniggering at the back, Perkins!") up again and again in smut-story world. Namely: how much physical details should be included in erotica stories? Should there be lush descriptions of the protagonists? 
What about: height, build, hair length, hair colour, eye colour, skin colour, breast size, cock size, butt size/shape etc etc etc.... ?

Some readers will appreciate a full, flowing, descriptive image of the tall, dark, rugged handsome chap, and the hot girlie that's having her world rocked. Others will prefer a skeleton description, perhaps no more than hair length, great cock size and girth, shapely ample breasts (as everyone in erotica is perfect, right? Or is that another dated cliche?) and the fact they possess a pulse. Readers can then insert themselves into the scene and become the character, without too many issues. Readers can be whatever skin tone, eye colour, hair colour they like and effortlessly sync with the character. The alternative could be self-doubt or perhaps a reader feeling short-changed. What happens if they can't completely identify and sync with a character because they know full well the character has long flowing locks, whilst they've got short, spiky hair? Will this affect their subsequent enjoyment and arousal levels?

Is there a middle ground where readers can enjoy the physical descriptions already provided by the author, then mentally park them to the side when they want to 'join in'?

Furthermore, does book length or writing style have any bearing on the matter? 


Answers on a postcard please!   (or you could simply make a comment below)