What IS erotic horror anyways??

[PorscheLynn]

So I don't think I understand what erotic horror is. And I'd read some stories to find out, but I'm a bit nervous, since I'm not always a bit fan of horror. It depends on what kind of horror it is. To me, the term "erotic horror" is pretty vague.

I ask partially because I have the beginnings of a story idea in my head, and it might be erotic horror, but I don't know. It involves a haunted corset, and the original owner taking over the body of the next wearer to complete unfinished business. I don't yet know what that business would be though.

Anyhow, can anyone help me get a better understanding?

 

[Guest]

Erotic horror is a blend of two genres: erotica and horror. It's not quite as clear cut as that, because, as there are variations on what different people find to be horrific (and even erotic), there are as many variations with the erotic horror sub-genre.

I am a huge fan of erotic horror and, to me, the ultimate authors within the genre are Edward Lee and Wrath James White (you can find a lot of Wrath's stuff online, just by doing a Google search). These are not for the faint hearted. When I say extreme, I mean "extreme". Anybody who has read their collaboration "Teratologist" will know exactly what I mean.

My own stuff is influenced by my favourite authors, but anything I currently have published anywhere online is nowhere near as extreme as their best stuff. Not that I want to push my own stuff (yeah, right!), but my favourite of my own erotic horror stories, currently at Lit, is The Letting. It has some very good horror elements, as well as some very erotic stuff.

There are many ways to approach an erotic horror story. You can write a plain horror, and just add a few sex scenes. Or, you can write a plain piece of erotica and add a few horrific happenings. Or, you can write all out horrific sex, but I have found that this is somewhat of an acquired taste in most people.

Personally, I feel that erotic horror has a much firmer base within the horror genre that it does within erotica. Most horror fans will love erotic horror, but most lovers of erotica don't actually go for erotic horror.

To write a good erotic horror my advice would be to concentrate on the horror elements, and build up the atmosphere of fear and suspense. The sex often works its way in naturally. So, yeah, what I am saying is: the horror element should shine through above and beyond that of the erotic. That could be down to my own personal taste, but it's also my findings of writing in the genre and feedback I've received from other horror writers.

Your haunted corset idea sounds good. But, you must bear in mind that most fans of horror (and erotic horror) rarely go for light atmospheric ghosty stories. You have to work out how the previous owner would possess the new owners; to what extent and how fear/suspense/terror and all out dark atmosphere, can be introduced.

Blimey, I hope at least a little of that helps.

Lou

 

[ABSTRUSE]

My life is erotic horror, minus the erotic some times.....

~A~

 

[Boota]

I've got a story coming out in an erotic horror anthology soon and I'm still not sure I can really define it. Erotic horror is considered everything from Anne Rice to the extremity of the aforementioned Edward Lee. (A truly sick bastard! I like him.) I guess it depends on who you ask.

 

[sweetnpetite]

I think you probaby have to write the peace and then look at it to see if it goes under horror, fantasy, mind control or whatnot.

I think that erotic horror is vague- it can encompas a lot. I posted some things under story ideas and were told that a lot of my ideas weren't 'horror' For instance X-Files, I was told is Sci-Fi which in general is true, but if you actually watch the show, it has many many cross over episodes.

You don't have to kill anybody to make it horror. That's the biggest misconception. It could be two people dared to spend the night in a haunted house, scared shitless, and the adrenaline lands them in each others arms- or it could be a Vampire or Wearwolf or other creature with an insatiable sexual apetite (conversely it could be the huters or protectors of the creature who give in to there lusts) It could be human's doing horific things to each other or themselves for a sexual thrill- could be BDSM taken to a higher level or something else entirely. I read a story once about people who perposly amputated themselves on the theory that their sensation would be more concentrated in less of a body (and they used amputated limbs in kinky ways) The horror was in the narrators realization of what was happening.

The important thing I think is the atmosphere of fear and suspence (as Tatelou has said) some people may not be cut out for it- no matter the subject matter, their story may never feel like horror. And that's ok. I do think that it would probably be *ok* to post a 'lite horror' in the category if you clearly used horror elements (haunted house, frankenstien monster, serial killers, ect.)

Ok, hope that helps and ads something that hasn't already been said.

 

[PorscheLynn]

Thanks for the clarification! I have a much clearer picture now. I think the story I mentioned probably wouldn't belong there, more like SCifi/Fantasy or NonHuman. But with this clearer definition in mind, it seems to me I may write something for that category eventually.

 

[oggbashan]

I have written several stories that I categorised as 'Erotic Horror'. I wrote two when the category was new.

One, 'Donna' is horrific but NOT erotic unless you are excited by degrading someone else for real. The other 'White Scut' is neither and was rightly described by one feedback as 'weird'. It is the second lowest rated in the Erotic Horror category.

Three stories, 'Hannah', 'Hannah and Kay' and 'Maids in Waiting' are closer to the category definition. 'Maids in Waiting' seems to be popular. Sex with two female ghosts who might have killed you - works for votes and feedback. It was a Halloween entry.

I think that Erotic Horror is difficult to get the right balance in. When the balance is correct the story can be very effective. When it is wrong the story can be dire, like my first two.

Og