Is erotica under represented at the Hay Festival?

[Pabiporffor]

This week sees the world famous literary festival, the hay festival, take place in Hay-on-Wye. A small town on the Welsh/English border. It was famously described by Bill Clinton as being Woodstock for the mind. Book lovers and authors gather in their thousands to hear talks and share ideas.

But literotica is noticeable by it's absence, the only pegging you'll see is the pegs holding the tents up. There are no authors discussing how to make 25 year old virgins believable or enthusiastic LW readers discussing their favourite five star story.

I mean let's be honest, we probably get more people per week reading our stories than these professional writers do in a year. So isn't it time we sent literoticas best and brightest along to set up an incest stall or something?

 

[KeithD]

I don't see erotica represented much at any book festival that doesn't designate that as the focus of the book festival.

 

[StillStunned]

I mean let's be honest, we probably get more people per week reading our stories than these professional writers do in a year. So isn't it time we sent literoticas best and brightest along to set up an incest stall or something?

That sounds like fun. Set up a meet-n-greet with the LW fans, for instance. Workshops on how to write orgasms. A panel debate on stroker v character development. Goodie bags for everyone attending.

 

[KeithD]

You can't set up a stall at a book festival just because you want to.

 

[NoTalentHack]

Set up a meet-n-greet with the LW fans, for instance.

https://y.yarn.co/e3ff5ba6-f2db-4330-a4c0-753d0220ca36_text.gif

 

[intim8]

That sounds like fun. Set up a meet-n-greet with the LW fans, for instance. Workshops on how to write orgasms. A panel debate on stroker v character development. Goodie bags for everyone attending.

And a workshop on where the clitoris actually is, how the lovin' spoonfull is just that - maybe 10 ccs, give or take - not a gallon or even a pint, and how that one position is impossible for even very fit people to maintain for several minutes of vigorous thrusting.

Oh, and how, even if there is only one bed, there's probably a couch.

 

[StillStunned]

Oh, and how, even if there is only one bed, there's probably a couch.

One of the stories I'm working on is a seventh one about Avilia and Sligh. After a total of nearly 60k words they might actually get it on in a bed for the very first time.

Back on topic, this morning I had a profound thought. We talk about "mainstream" versus "erotica". But when you think about it, erotica is probably more universal than any other genre. Pretty much everyone enjoys it, even if only secretly, whereas plenty of people don't read sci-fi and fantasy, or detectives, or romance novels, or historical whodunnits.

 

[intim8]

One of the stories I'm working on is a seventh one about Avilia and Sligh. After a total of nearly 60k words they might actually get it on in a bed for the very first time.

Back on topic, this morning I had a profound thought. We talk about "mainstream" versus "erotica". But when you think about it, erotica is probably more universal than any other genre. Pretty much everyone enjoys it, even if only secretly, whereas plenty of people don't read sci-fi and fantasy, or detectives, or romance novels, or historical whodunnits.

"Mainstream" doen't mean most common, it means the things they will talk about on TV and that Barnes and Noble will display just inside the door.

I want them to get it on on her roc, or on his lizard.

 

[lovecraft68]

This week sees the world famous literary festival, the hay festival, take place in Hay-on-Wye. A small town on the Welsh/English border. It was famously described by Bill Clinton as being Woodstock for the mind. Book lovers and authors gather in their thousands to hear talks and share ideas.

But literotica is noticeable by it's absence, the only pegging you'll see is the pegs holding the tents up. There are no authors discussing how to make 25 year old virgins believable or enthusiastic LW readers discussing their favourite five star story.

I mean let's be honest, we probably get more people per week reading our stories than these professional writers do in a year. So isn't it time we sent literoticas best and brightest along to set up an incest stall or something?

Erotica is the black sheep genre of writing.

I was a member of the RI association of authors for four years, figured I could make some contacts, get ins at books expos etc...

The disdain they have not just for flat out erotica, but even hybrids like paranormal erotica or anything edgier than 50 shades (which is just about everything) is off the charts.

I was told by someone who wrote horror novels that only people who 'play at writing" write erotica because its so easy.

It was both gratifying and amusing when I set up next to him at Terror Con and my erotic horror novels outsold his books 5-1. I also shredded him in a round table discussion on all the aspects of writing horror.

Hack that I am.

 

[TheLobster]

I was told by someone who wrote horror novels that only people who 'play at writing" write erotica because its so easy.

Because it's clearly much harder to write a page turner than it is to write a page turner and work in a bunch of hot, believable sex scenes.

 

[lovecraft68]

Because it's clearly much harder to write a page turner than it is to write a page turner and work it a bunch of hot, believable sex scenes.

We all went out to have a few drinks for Christmas and I told a table full of them that the reason men look down on guys who write erotica is they're mad my words do more for their wives than they ever have.

And this is one of many reasons I don't have many friends.

 

[THBGato]

I mean let's be honest, we probably get more people per week reading our stories than these professional writers do in a year. So isn't it time we sent literoticas best and brightest along to set up an incest stall or something?

I can think of at least two Lesbian Sex writers who live near Hay on Wye. Might be slightly more socially acceptable!

 

[intim8]

they're mad my words do more for their wives than they ever have.

You verbally cucked the whole table at once.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Given Hay's current controversy, what's the chances of persuading Laurel to have Literotica sponsor it next year?

Or if anyone knows a pub landlord or similar in the area, schedule a meeting of the UK Literotica society. Getting on the programme isn't too difficult - there's nature walks and pizza-making sessions, for goodness' sake.

 

[12oclocktales]

I suggest an alternate festival: invite all the erotic writers you can lay a hand on (that would be all of them, they love that) and change the festival’s name to Hey, Why Not? since that will be the typical response from said writers to all the inquiries about those impossible sex positions, those 30-year-old virgins who are saving themselves just for their kid brother to turn 18, multi-day gang bang block parties, etc., etc., etc. Sell T-shirts: Erotic writing is HARDer than you think; I survived the Hey, Why Not? erotic writing festival – stroke me and I’ll tell you how. Imagine what Clinton would say about this one!

 

[Euphony]

That sounds like fun. Set up a meet-n-greet with the LW fans, for instance. Workshops on how to write orgasms. A panel debate on stroker v character development. Goodie bags for everyone attending.

Bad idea.

I know what happens when a Lit line forms.

I've read the stories.

*bow chicka wow wow*

 

[CockSparrow]

It was about twenty years ago now, but a publisher from one of the big trade houses once told me that erotica is just about the most difficult genre from which to make money. She put it down, partly, to the fact that there are so many people who are prepared to put it out there free or change. Also, while some people say that erotica is easy to write, good literary erotica is far from easy to write. Have things changed in the intervening years? Making money from erotica certainly hasn’t.

 

[lovecraft68]

That sounds like fun. Set up a meet-n-greet with the LW fans

They're too scared to create a handle, you think they'd show up in person?

 

[StillStunned]

They're too scared to create a handle, you think they'd show up in person?

I really wish we had the option of setting a background colour for our posts to indicate when we're not being serious.

 

[lc69hunter]

"Mainstream" doen't mean most common, it means the things they will talk about on TV and that Barnes and Noble will display just inside the door.

I want them to get it on on her roc, or on his lizard.

Back in the day the local Barnes and Noble had a top shelf (out of the reach of children) of books by anonymous (all paperback). There was a lot of steamy porn there, and quite a few takeoffs in the vein of The Story of O. One weekend I went there, and they had all disappeared.

 

[StillStunned]

I want them to get it on on her roc, or on his lizard.

I'm not sure I've established it in the stories, but the roc isn't strong enough to carry the two of them. They get a bit dirty on the back of the lizard, though, in Chapter 5. I was quite pleased with that scene, despite how unrealistic it is to get the necessary access down a woman's trousers while she's sitting astride a mount.

 

[intim8]

I'm not sure I've established it in the stories, but the roc isn't strong enough to carry the two of them.

Yeah, you did, now that you mention it. But hey, it could be on the ground, like at the drive-in or something.

 

[intim8]

out of the reach of children

As a former 13 year old boy, I can tell ya nothing like that was out of my reach.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

It was about twenty years ago now, but a publisher from one of the big trade houses once told me that erotica is just about the most difficult genre from which to make money. She put it down, partly, to the fact that there are so many people who are prepared to put it out there free or change. Also, while some people say that erotica is easy to write, good literary erotica is far from easy to write. Have things changed in the intervening years? Making money from erotica certainly hasn’t.

Easiest thing I've found to write is fanfiction.

 

[Voboy]

So isn't it time we sent literoticas best and brightest along to set up an incest stall or something?

Lit Story idea. "The Incest Stall." So many possibilities.

Who's writing it for the Summer Lovin' contest? Anybody?