MPAA level vs. Sensuality

[fcdc]

I came across this quote (from sunandshadow) over in the story suggestions forum and wanted to ask about it:

I like impregnation/pregnancy stories but only if they are explicitly sexual, pg-13 stuff does not belong in an erotica archive.

It's the last part I'm wondering about - does PG-13 stuff really not belong as a whole? I tend to rely a lot on allusions and still think that my stuff is reasonably interesting/hot (sorry to not link an example, but my story is not up yet - go to the flashfic thread for examples of the style, though.)

I have limited experience with the erotica genre, and tend to prefer stuff that's underwritten rather than overwritten, no matter how hardcore/softcore it is (I have a more hardcore sensibility, but a more ethereal style, if that makes sense). While I can understand the requirement of including sex in all the erotica stories submitted here, thus making them "qualify" as Rs, I don't tend to write as explicitly as others, and yet I still think that the things I write are reasonably erotic - but they're always going to be a bit more allegorical as sex scenes because that's my writing style.

This is probably a thread that pops up every few days, so sorry for repetition, but I am just wondering if that's a hard-and-fast limit, and if people have any thoughts. I am not that fluent in the genre, so figured it was worth asking.

 

[Weird Harold]

While I can understand the requirement of including sex in all the erotica stories submitted here, thus making them "qualify" as Rs, ...

There IS no "requirement" to include sex or even to be explicit about what sex you do include. The only restriction is that you can't write even PG-13 stories about thirteen-year-olds having sex.

sunandshadow's assertion is the personal opinion of one person and has absolutely nothing to do with any "requirements," official or unwritten, about what to include in your writing or how you write about what you do include. Itmmay be something you need to consider if you want a high vote and/or praise from sunandshadow, but there are literally millions of other people with different kinks and squicks to aim you stories at.

 

[3113]

I have limited experience with the erotica genre, and tend to prefer stuff that's underwritten rather than overwritten, no matter how hardcore/softcore it is (I have a more hardcore sensibility, but a more ethereal style, if that makes sense). While I can understand the requirement of including sex in all the erotica stories submitted here, thus making them "qualify" as Rs, I don't tend to write as explicitly as others, and yet I still think that the things I write are reasonably erotic - but they're always going to be a bit more allegorical as sex scenes because that's my writing style.

As Harold points out, there are readers with all kinds of kinks and in some categories: taboo, BDSM, for example, you can often find stories where no one gets naked and the sexual tension is all via something else--like someone being tied up. Similarly, there are many stories in the Romance section that have very mild sex, and/or that go on for several chapters till the sex occurs. There is even a non-erotic category if you want to keep the story very G-to-PG13 rated.

BUT--and this is the big but--you are writing on an erotica forum. This means that most readers do have certain expectations when they come here to read stories. If the camera suddenly turns away when the big moment comes, and the reader only gets to the Washington Monument, followed by the train going through a tunnel and fireworks...they're probably going to feel gypped. If that's what you mean by allegory.

This is not to say that you have to get right to the sex; you can have a detailed, powerful story with sex on the side. And you don't have to be blunt and raw about it--you can refer to the man licking the woman's "petals," rather than using crude language; you can describe the act as poetically as you like. But it is a little odd to come here to post stories if you're that shy of writing sex scenes.

 

[fcdc]

Heh. I'm not shy about writing it, but I'm unused to it in comparison to other stuff (and am a playwright by nature, so descriptive fiction is not my area of expertise in general.)

I am just wondering whether the MPAA-level rating was a hard and fast limit or whether it could be a different style of writing. I can't see myself writing stuff that's just porn-without-plot (not because it makes me uncomfortable, but because it doesn't feel natural to write). What I was asking: Can stuff that's rated R in actual plot within the story, but not overtly described, still fit into the description of erotica, or is it another creature entirely?

I was not going to pull a symbolism cheat on the reader, so no worries there. I may have mis-phrased the question: If anyone can figure out what I'm trying to get at, feel free to rephrase and thanks in advance for the favor.

 

[cloudy]

Different strokes for different folks (pun intended).

There's also a Non-Erotic category here, so no matter what whoever says (who?), there's no set "requirement" for sex - and one of my highest rated stories here is non-erotic.

 

[Weird Harold]

Heh. I'm not shy about writing it, but I'm unused to it in comparison to other stuff (and am a playwright by nature, so descriptive fiction is not my area of expertise in general.)

I am just wondering whether the MPAA-level rating was a hard and fast limit or whether it could be a different style of writing.

It is definitely a different publishing venue than you're used to. For starters, there is no "PAA rating system" (Porn Authors' Association) for Erotic Stories. At Literotica there ARE restrictions on content -- no graphic under-age involvement, no graphic animal involvement, and no rapist/snuff. (rapist fantasies are not the same as rape fantasies.)

The only ratings system you need to worry about here at Literotica is the (Troll infested?) Voting system -- i.e. whether the readers like your work or not.

 

[3113]

Can stuff that's rated R in actual plot within the story, but not overtly described, still fit into the description of erotica

Of course. Let me ask...have you been reading the stories here? Pick a favorite category and read some stories at random, or go to the New Stories section and read a few of those each day. Or pick some posters here (we are authors);most of us have something you can click on to see our stories (like our name or some picture as our sig). Or, alternately, read the nominees and winners of some Literotica contests.

You'll find a wide range of story and sexual-encounter styles: from the "stroke" stories (no plot, just sex and lots of it) to serialized soaps (tons of plot punctuated by plot driven sex).

This is the way I got into writing here. I read and read...and then said, "Wow, you can do that in Erotica? Who knew. Well, heck. I can write that...." I really think that's the best--and certainly the most fun way to find the answer to this question--just read.

 

[JamesSD]

On Literotica, I would consider any story that didn't feature at least one "R-Rated" sex scene "Non-Erotic". (I'm leaving out the Non-fiction categories like How-To and Reviews and Essays from this).

There are no hard fast rules on the amount of sex that has to be in a story, but like others have said, there are cetain expectations. One of the big questions would be "if it's not at all sexuall explicit, why post it here?" In my estimation, most of the readers here want one of two things; "stroke" (sexually explicit material that is suitable for masturbating to), or what I'd genericallly call "Romance" (deeper characterizations and emotional content, that generally still leads to sexually explicit material).

There are niches for other material. In another thread someone suggested to me that if a story has an audience of even half a dozen people who enjoy it, that's enough to justify it. For me, too much effort goes into my writing for such a limited audience, but that's just my personal preference.

But yeah, generally it's hard to call something "erotica" without at least one moderately explicit on page sex scene.

 

[3113]

On Literotica, I would consider any story that didn't feature at least one "R-Rated" sex scene "Non-Erotic".

James, speaking of such things, that AV is *still* to high. You really have to lower the camera a bit more for a proper R-Rating

 

[glynndah]

James, speaking of such things, that AV is *still* to high. You really have to lower the camera a bit more for a proper R-Rating

*offers James a munchkin to stand on*