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[Linyari]

I seem to recall several discussions here of sex and humor, how possible or difficult it is to merge the two in one. I still remember that someone said something like, "when the pants come off the laughing stops."

I cannot tell you which category to place your stories as I'm presently struggling with that myself, but I do have to say that I could not possibly disagree more with the above statement. Whomever made it may not have ever been in a long term or very relaxed sexual relationship?

I have often had moments of laughter with my partner. There are many occasions where we are laughing up until the moment we have sex. There are moments where something funny happens and we laugh during sex. We laugh at the end of sex. That's the joy of the whole thing! That we are that in tune and that comfortable that laughter doesn't detract from the experience. That there is so much joy in each other and laughter never ruins the mood. It merely enhances it.

If the laughter stops once the pants come off, then we've been doing it very wrong. Rather unlikely considering we've been together for 10 years and have had sex almost every day in that time.

I think your ideas of pairing humour together with sex is lovely, frankly. Sex can be a wonderful and delightful thing. Why shouldn't laughter be present?

 

[CeriseNoire]

Okay, so I got suckered back into trying to write this stuff, the challenges and the joys no different than before. Whenever I finally get something that resembles submittable completion and go through the steps, there's that one where you have to pick a category, and this often stumps me, so I just pick one that seems sort of close, but there's always the afterthoughts of doubt. I'm glad they have Erotic Couplings, because if you have different sorts of ideas going on in one story, you can pretty much cover it with the Erotic Couplings category.

But I've also been told that my narrative style tends towards convolution, and the overdone exploration into the unnecessary, thereby intruding into and ruining what erotic potential there might have been.

Problem is, I enjoy writing in that sort of narrative style, often find it gravitating in that direction, pulling against my better judgment. It almost becomes comical, which causes me to wonder about the humor category.

I seem to recall several discussions here of sex and humor, how possible or difficult it is to merge the two in one. I still remember that someone said something like, "when the pants come off the laughing stops."

So I suppose I'm wondering: If you have story with lots of sex, but told in a humorous narrative style, would you go with the sex category or the humor category? Or is this an easy way out of improving serious narrative? Could be.

Maybe if you're a reader expecting to be turned on, a humorous narrative style might piss you off, but if you're expecting to laugh, and along the way you get a little turned on, you won't be so pissed off.

I recall the old National Lampoons, a humor mag that often had plenty of bare skin and many of their stories had a lot of sex. but they were still a humor mag. For instance...

I just stick everything in Erotic couplings (except for one), and deal with the fallout.

Then again, I personally think sex can be quite funny.

 

[Carnevil9]

In my case, the laughing starts when my pants come off......Carney

 

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[Carnevil9]

Seriously, I think erotica and humor go together very well. Otherwise it's just too damn oppressive. You need a bit of humor to lighten the mood or the story can collapse of its own weight. I always try to add a little light jocularity to mine.....Carney

 

[Linyari]

For us it would be funny.

But we have three kids and come into funny situations like that all the time.

 

[TxRad]

I try to keep most of my stories light and happy. There are several exceptions to that but even then humor plays a part. I learned a long time ago that if you can make a woman laugh then you are halfway to her bed. Humor is relaxing and seals a bond quicker than anything.

Sex has to be fun or it's just procreation like the rest of the animals...

 

[CeriseNoire]

I always felt so self-conscious presenting what was supposed to be 'serious erotica' but much more comfortable with the leeway of the humorous slant or flavoring. Sometimes ones own questions are answered when you ask it in written form.

As for the idea of sex being funny: a hot and heavy sex scene, the climax begins to hit her and she makes her orgasming vocals, at which point the dog in the next room begins to howl... now, is this erotic or humor?

Erotic with a touch of humor.

 

[hmmnmm]

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[TxRad]

These questions just came along:
If Mark Twain wanted to write and submit something to Lit, would he go Erotic Couplings or Humor?

If the Three Stooges were planning to kidnap a woman for nonconsensual sex, would that go in the Reluctance/Nonconsent or Humor?

It would be according to if it was meant as a funny story or a serious one. I did a how to that should have been in the humor section according to a few people but it was serious even if it was written in a tongue in cheek manner.

 

[Stella_Omega]

These questions just came along:
If Mark Twain wanted to write and submit something to Lit, would he go Erotic Couplings or Humor?

If the Three Stooges were planning to kidnap a woman for nonconsensual sex, would that go in the Reluctance/Nonconsent or Humor?

Eddie Valentine, to Jessica Rabbit; "What do you see in that guy, anyway?"
Jessica; "He makes me laugh."

I suggest, if there's explicit sex in the story, stick in EC, and use the description field to let people know there is humor in the story.

 

[Weird Harold]

These questions just came along:
If Mark Twain wanted to write and submit something to Lit, would he go Erotic Couplings or Humor?

Not everything Twain wrote was humorous. He might well aim his contribution at the Romance or Erotic Horror categories.

If the Three Stooges were planning to kidnap a woman for nonconsensual sex, would that go in the Reluctance/Nonconsent or Humor?

That is going to start a debate about whether the Stooges were ever humorous or just stupidly silly. Generally, any story that contains non-consent should go in the non-consent category to avoid squicking the anti-rape trolls.

As to your original question: Eroic Couplings is the dumping ground for authors too lazy to choose a more specific category. IF your story has any claim to being humorous (as well as, or instead of, being erotic) then put it in Humor. If your story has any claim to any category other than Erotic Couplings, put it there.

 

[hmmnmm]

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[Stella_Omega]

Or C, Neither.

The Three Stooges only seemed funny-- in reality they were master tragedians, utilising the pathos of satire to make subtle points about the inhumanity of man towards stooge...
Tragic stuff, really, to the eye trained to see the troot.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Now that I think of it, one of the stories I posted had a touch of humor. I put it in the Romance category (because I found it just a bit mushy). Most of the emails and other feedback I got mentioned they enjoyed the chuckle-factor of my silly scene. Actually, the only person who complained about it also said there was too much buildup before the sex (in the Romance category!), so it was obvious what kind of read he'd been looking for.

Anyway, I'm in agreement with Stella about putting it in EC. Besides, unless it's mostly a comedy that just happens to have sex (as opposed to humorous touches here and there), I don't see it fitting in Humor.

 

[hmmnmm]

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[Stella_Omega]

I recall John Belushi's peeping tom scene in Animal House.
Her hand gliding down her belly, slipping under: pretty darn erotic.
He slowly falls back with the ladder to the ground: pretty darn funny.

Poor ol' Belushi, never got laid.

 

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[TxRad]

Generally, any story that contains non-consent should go in the non-consent category to avoid squicking the anti-rape trolls.

Please, N/C Has enough anti-rape trolls of it's own to make up a herd.....

 

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[CeriseNoire]

Tentative verdict, for what it's worth: As much as I'd like to wish, a tough truth to accept is that I may be out of my element trying to compose and construct 'serious' erotic prose. Maybe once in a great while something comes together... once in a while. But the humorous/absurd narrative comes much easier and is more comfortable. Maybe it provides a soft barrier to hide behind... Of course, all this over-analyzing is near criminal in itself, so...

Maybe a better thread: when/where are you really in your element and otherwise?

I'm tempted to say never. Whatever I'm good at, there's always so much better.

 

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[Stella_Omega]

Yeah, that can be a tough demon to exorcise, once it gets in your head. I can go along for a long time without thinking this or letting it get to me, but once it does, and I receive it... oh boy! Paralysis! Why bother? I'll never get past a certain place, never overcome the weaknesses.

Or, sometimes, realize that truth and take a different direction towards liberation. Then it becomes fun again. And I recall someone with wise words reminded me to have fun. Everyone around the world in every avocation is at their own place, and if everyone stopped because they reach a point where they need no more improvement... dull times, then. Worldwide catastrophe.

So I suppose we'll null the tentative verdict, in favor of the Final Verdict: Have fun with it, do what you can, and never allow the joy of the exploration to slink away and hide.

My element? If I had a small audience who were familiar with my voice and weren't repulsed by it, and I felt the joyous liberty of presenting pretty much whatever came out that week or month, that'd be pretty sweet. It really makes a difference when you know someone is listening. I guess they call it a following. A small following, that's all. As far as Lit is concerned, if I can someday attract a small following, I'd just turn off the voting feature.

So I imagine this would be less passing out samples to any and all, feeling discouraged when most of them throw them on the ground, and more of finding the right match. Finding those few who enjoy the flavors they sample. Find the audience, and pleasing them is easy, just being yourself.

Beautifully put, sir!

 

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