Do we really have to specify that pregnancy isn't a risk?

[EmilyMiller]

I think @Actingup called you here in reference to my post about half a lemon being used as contraceptives in ancient times.

Ah! I just read his post…

That sounds… awful

 

[NuclearFairy]

Ah! I just read his post…

That sounds… awful

And it wasn't even the worst on the list.

 

[EmilyMiller]

And it wasn't even the worst on the list.

I’ve tried the cut fresh ginger thing. Did nothing whatsoever for me - but half a lemon

 

[NuclearFairy]

I’ve tried the cut fresh ginger thing. Did nothing whatsoever for me - but half a lemon

Ancient times, horny people...

 

[Actingup]

Ancient times, horny people...

 

[MediocreAuthor]

So, my current WIP is an Erotic Fantasy. Set in a Fantasy world (think D&D, or something along those lines. Medieval time period like economy. No electricity, and the like. Everything is fires and lanterns, or magic.)

I recently had a comment, from our favorite reader, Anonymous, who questioned why my Main Female Character would risk pregnancy. As there is a lot of sex, and she practices a methos of free sex, with whomever she chooses.

Anon worried that she should be using some sort of contraceptive so avoid unwanted pregnancy, as it might derail her current goals.

But my thoughts here are:
A: It's a fantasy, and it's typically understood (or at least I thought) that unless otherwise stated, our characters don't need to worry about it.

B: Her practice of free love should in and of itself welcome a pregnancy anyways. (though that is not where the story is going.)

What are everyone's thoughts here? Do You feel the need to include something in your story to deal with the issue of pregnancies? Condoms and such? Or do you usually just stick with the general understanding that we write in a fantasy world, and unless it's central to the story, it is an un-needed addition to the story?

The reader you mentioned, Mr Anonymous, Esquire, does tend to leave a ton of unwanted, judgemental, and rude comments.

However, in this instance it seems like perhaps they were leaving a question which showed that they really cared about the character you'd written and how her actions would affect her future.

That is to say, they got fully invested into the story you've created. They bought into your fiction. That's awesome!

Now, I didn't read the original comment, so maybe it was more derogatory than I'm imagining, and they were questioning the logic of your character... in which case, disregard my thoughts here.

But if they were simply asking how her actions would affect her future, I think that's really not a bad thing. It means you're doing your job as an author.

With all that said, you could solve the issue in a million different ways, none of which are necessary IMHO.

Above, other authors have listed plenty of reasonable options (and some dark ones too... geez lol) but no one offered my favorite solution.

Behold this example:

---

Buried deep within her, her lover's manhood tensed, and she could sense that he was close to the edge. His breathing grew even heavier, and a lusty smile touched her lips.

"Do it," she whispered in a rapacious moan. "Fill me with your seed. We both know you can't resist."

Staring into his eyes, she could see the man's mind was suffering, torn between two unacceptable options. He could not bear the thought of removing himself from her; but if he stayed inside...

"I... I can't..." he breathed, the heat of passion audible in his voice. "I could not ask you to bear my child and–"

Her finger presses against his lips, silencing him. "Never fear," she interrupted. "That can not happen."

No sooner than he heard these words than his resistance fell away, and he gave himself over to the pleasure in an instant, as wave upon wave of euphoric sensation unleashed itself from within him.

Blah blah blah... Describe the rest of the scene, you get the point... Whatever... lol

---

↑Write the dialogue something like that, AND THEN NEVER EXPLAIN YOURSELF. She's said it can't happen, and she knows more than the reader.

You don't owe your readers a full explanation of every single detail of your world. It is perfectly fine to leave details a mystery if you choose.

So yes, if you want to explain that part of your world, do so. If you don't, then don't.

But just remember that when readers question things within your writings, it's often because they are wrapped up in your story (if they aren't being jerks).

That's a good problem to have.

 

[WeShallUnclench]

So, my current WIP is an Erotic Fantasy. Set in a Fantasy world (think D&D, or something along those lines. Medieval time period like economy. No electricity, and the like. Everything is fires and lanterns, or magic.)

I recently had a comment, from our favorite reader, Anonymous, who questioned why my Main Female Character would risk pregnancy. As there is a lot of sex, and she practices a methos of free sex, with whomever she chooses.

Anon worried that she should be using some sort of contraceptive so avoid unwanted pregnancy, as it might derail her current goals.

But my thoughts here are:
A: It's a fantasy, and it's typically understood (or at least I thought) that unless otherwise stated, our characters don't need to worry about it.

B: Her practice of free love should in and of itself welcome a pregnancy anyways. (though that is not where the story is going.)

What are everyone's thoughts here? Do You feel the need to include something in your story to deal with the issue of pregnancies? Condoms and such? Or do you usually just stick with the general understanding that we write in a fantasy world, and unless it's central to the story, it is an un-needed addition to the story?

At first I wanted to say it's silly, but I can kinda see where they are coming from.

Pregnancy simply is a real concern for almost anyone with a fertile uterus. Talking about it humanizes your character. They become more than just a "always ready to fuck"-robot. It gives you an opportunity to talk about how they feel about sex, safety, men/penisfolk, their future.

The "logistics" aren't hidden away from the reader, that way, no more than they would be from the character, and that brings life to the story.

The trick is to not be too stiff about it, like obviously don't let characters lecture the reader about contraception every time they want to fuck.

In one of my summer contest entries, I included this as a cheesy line where the fmc is someone who is both very horny, has an implied breeding fetish, and a tendency to overthink stuff and fall into spiraling silly thoughts.

Quote:
If I wasn't on the pill, Heather Farnswert thought, I would get so fucking pregnant right now. My tummy would swell up like a beached whale and then I would birth an entire fucking race of absurdly handsome muscular people. Homo Sapiens Farnswertii... Well, maybe not "sapiens".

Conversely, if the female sex adventurer is supposed to be mysterious and never reveal her strategies and secrets, you could have her partners wonder "How is she doing it...?" to show that they care about her, and she's not just a fucksock to them.

 

[big_cane_sugar]

fucksock

I agree with your post but most of all I wish I'd known this word before today. You have greatly enriched my vocabulary and I thank you for it.

 

[big_cane_sugar]

Ancient times, horny people...

The Chinese classic Jin Ping Mei (often translated as "The Plum in the Golden Vase" and you can figure out what the plum and the golden vase refer to) includes loads of detail on the sexual toys and practices of its era. One of them actually seems like a good idea to me, a kind of cock ring with a stem (not putting this very elegantly but also I'm relying on my memory here and too lazy to look it up to get it right) designed to stimulate the clitoris while the man thrusts. This probably exists in our culture too but I'm no expert on toys so I don't know what to call it.

As far as I recall their main method of contraception that actually might've worked was basically small doses of poison. I guess that's technically an abortifacient rather than contraception. I don't recall anything along the lines of condoms but again this is from memory.

Definitely had some stranger things in there but alas I have not remembered them.

Some of our members here will have seen excerpts or maybe even entire pornographic movies based on the book, but the book has many, many virtues that cannot make it into the movies. It's a huge allegory about corruption in the empire. Plenty of humor. All kinds of good stuff. If you can tolerate a 2000ish-page novel from a very foreign culture, I'd recommend it.

 

[NuclearFairy]

If you can tolerate a 2000ish-page novel from a very foreign culture, I'd recommend it.

I once read nearly 2000 chapters in a wuxia novel before deciding it was getting too repetitive. XD

That was before I started writing though... But I still might try looking it up some day.

 

[big_cane_sugar]

I once read nearly 2000 chapters in a wuxia novel before deciding it was getting too repetitive. XD

That was before I started writing though... But I still might try looking it up some day.

Definitely don't read it just for the porn. You'll go 150 pages between graphic sex scenes. But as literature enhanced by graphic sex, well, obviously.

 

[stickygirl]

So, my current WIP is an Erotic Fantasy. Set in a Fantasy world (think D&D, or something along those lines. Medieval time period like economy. No electricity, and the like. Everything is fires and lanterns, or magic.)

I recently had a comment, from our favorite reader, Anonymous, who questioned why my Main Female Character would risk pregnancy. As there is a lot of sex, and she practices a methos of free sex, with whomever she chooses.

Anon worried that she should be using some sort of contraceptive so avoid unwanted pregnancy, as it might derail her current goals.

But my thoughts here are:
A: It's a fantasy, and it's typically understood (or at least I thought) that unless otherwise stated, our characters don't need to worry about it.

B: Her practice of free love should in and of itself welcome a pregnancy anyways. (though that is not where the story is going.)

What are everyone's thoughts here? Do You feel the need to include something in your story to deal with the issue of pregnancies? Condoms and such? Or do you usually just stick with the general understanding that we write in a fantasy world, and unless it's central to the story, it is an un-needed addition to the story?

There was a poster here a few years back who was kind enough to link her readership to some Lit stories, but only if safe sex were mentioned. I think her readership was youths, so that made sense. I edited one of my trans stories to meet her criteria. If you're reading, send me a PM!

I've only had a quick browse through the thread and perhaps this has been mentioned already? We writers are old enough to have educated ourselves at a younger age about contraception and safe sex. It does not harm in any story, to make a brief mention of responsibility. It doesn't need to be a lecture, but maybe it adds some authenticity to a story?

Untreatable gonorrhea is on the rise, especially in the gay community, but like Aids, that's how these things get started. Is you story so precious that a reality check to include a condom is going to destroy the plot?

Same with pregnancy, especially in today's Gilead

Lecture over