What is erotica?

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Can someone answer what is erotica?

I think much of what I write is erotic. To me, erotic is hinting at the sexual stuff without naming it. Too many times I receive comments from those who just want graphic sex.

What happened to foreplay? To me, foreplay is the best part. Teasing and seduction is sometimes much more fun that the actual act.

I mean, this is Literotica and not Litersexica. Right?

If they want graphic sex let them go read stories at Paul's Pornographic Prose. (Is there such a place? I just made it up.)

Anyway, I have more fun writing stories that prolong the sex. I've had too many complaints where they just want me to start the story with sex, write more sex, and have more sex, but then, that's not much of a story. There's no plot or character development.

After all, how many different ways can you write about sex without having it get tired? Erotica is what is the exciting part. Holding your breath waiting for it to happen is what is exciting. Isn't it?

I don't want to write a porn movie script. Too many of those are boring.

I was just wondering if anyone else had the same problems with erotica versus sex and how they handled it.

Thanks

 

[sr71plt]

Good question. But, no, it doesn't keep me up at night wondering about it.

 

[fieryjen]

There was a pretty interesting discussion about it here - I thought it was a good thread, anyway.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Good question. But, no, it doesn't keep me up at night wondering about it.

Huh?

Well, I don't lose any sleep over it either. I was just wondering...but thank you for giving me some insight in your sleep pattern.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

There was a pretty interesting discussion about it here - I thought it was a good thread, anyway.

Thank you, fieryjen.

 

[Saucy_Sage]

If you don't want to write nothing-but-sex stories, then don't write them. Complaints are part of life. Perhaps you need to work harder on writing stories that attract the sort of readers that don't complain about having to read stories with plot and character development. There seem to be plenty of authors with stories on the top-rated lists who have accomplished that. Good luck!

 

[fieryjen]

Thank you, fieryjen.

You are welcome.

 

[sr71plt]

If you are interested in writing a real story--plot and character development, established setting, dilemma leading to resolution (or purposely not), I see no reason why you can't do it and have it erotic, if you want--or hard porn, if you want.

I don't see a reaons to agonize over whether something is erotica or porn, though. There are readers for all levels.

 

[TxRad]

Some readers hate it when they come here to read porn and a short story breaks out or a novel.

As with sex in any venue, it's only as boring, uh, I mean interesting as you make it. There are only so many ways to describe sex, the act itself that is. So now enter plot and characters and emotions and consequences to take up the slack.

Foreplay is fun and exciting but with out a climax it becomes teasing.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

If you don't want to write nothing-but-sex stories, then don't write them. Complaints are part of life. Perhaps you need to work harder on writing stories that attract the sort of readers that don't complain about having to read stories with plot and character development. There seem to be plenty of authors with stories on the top-rated lists who have accomplished that. Good luck!

"If you don't want to write nothing-but-sex stories, then don't write them."

Okay, I won't.

"Complaints are part of life."

Yeah...so?

"Perhaps you need to work harder on writing stories that attract the sort of readers that don't complain about having to read stories with plot and character development."

Now, why would I do that? Why would any write who wants to be a better writer do that? I don't think I'll do that. I think I'll continue to write stories that have character development. I'll leave the stories with undeveloped and flat characters to you.

"There seem to be plenty of authors with stories on the top-rated lists who have accomplished that."

Wow, thanks for the encouragement. It gives me something to aspire to. It gives me a warm feeling...Shit, I just peed myself.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Erotica is the literature of sex, the drama. Porn is the comic relief.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

If you are interested in writing a real story--plot and character development, established setting, dilemma leading to resolution (or purposely not), I see no reason why you can't do it and have it erotic, if you want--or hard porn, if you want.

I don't see a reaons to agonize over whether something is erotica or porn, though. There are readers for all levels.

Did I write that I was agonizing over this? I just asked a question.

Let me ask you a question? How many cups of coffee have you had today? Are you back to drinking again? Why are you so tense. I just asked a question is all. That's it. I just wanted to know if anyone else was experiencing the same problem.

Look at my hair. Do you see any gray? No. So, I'm not worried about erotica nor am I agonizing over it.

I'm more worried about you, Ace. Take care of yourself. Maybe, you should take a cold shower and relax.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Some readers hate it when they come here to read porn and a short story breaks out or a novel.

As with sex in any venue, it's only as boring, uh, I mean interesting as you make it. There are only so many ways to describe sex, the act itself that is. So now enter plot and characters and emotions and consequences to take up the slack.

Foreplay is fun and exciting but with out a climax it becomes teasing.

As always...thank you...I think.

 

[sr71plt]

Did I write that I was agonizing over this? I just asked a question.

Let me ask you a question? How many cups of coffee have you had today? Are you back to drinking again? Why are you so tense. I just asked a question is all. That's it. I just wanted to know if anyone else was experiencing the same problem.

Look at my hair. Do you see any gray? No. So, I'm not worried about erotica nor am I agonizing over it.

I'm more worried about you, Ace. Take care of yourself. Maybe, you should take a cold shower and relax.

Don't get your panties in a bunch, Boston. You asked a general forum question, and I've responded to the general forum with my views on your question.

You seem to be awfully combative toward anyone here actually taking your questions seriously.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Erotica is the literature of sex, the drama. Porn is the comic relief.

I fail to see any comedy in porn, unless you mean that it is so badly done that it is funny.

Yes, I like your description, "erotica is the literature of sex, the drama." Very good. Thank you for that image. Well done, Dr.

 

[Saucy_Sage]

"If you don't want to write nothing-but-sex stories, then don't write them."

Okay, I won't.

"Complaints are part of life."

Yeah...so?

"Perhaps you need to work harder on writing stories that attract the sort of readers that don't complain about having to read stories with plot and character development."

Now, why would I do that? Why would any write who wants to be a better writer do that? I don't think I'll do that. I think I'll continue to write stories that have character development. I'll leave the stories with undeveloped and flat characters to you.

"There seem to be plenty of authors with stories on the top-rated lists who have accomplished that."

Wow, thanks for the encouragement. It gives me something to aspire to. It gives me a warm feeling...Shit, I just peed myself.

I had heard that the road to hell was paved with good intentions, although I honestly did not expect to arrive this quickly. I had actually meant this quite sincerely. There are lots of authors whose stories don't attract "too many" complainants about the lack of sex in their stories, and there must be something that sets their work apart from yours. My thought was that there was an audience out there for those kinds of works and you simply need to do something different to find it.

Perhaps you're posting in the wrong categories. Perhaps you're frustrating your readers by putting in all the foreplay without then giving them any sex.

As for:

I'll leave the stories with undeveloped and flat characters to you.

Having a bad day?

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Don't get your panties in a bunch, Boston. You asked a general forum question, and I've responded to the general forum with my views on your question.

You seem to be awfully combative toward anyone here actually taking your questions seriously.

Combative? Me, combative? I don't even wear boots. You must have me confused with one of your other friends.

You're the one with the chip on your shoulder against me, Ace. You're the one with the attitude and your the one who is always snipping at me.

Now, calm down and place nice or I won't send you a Xmas card this year. Yeah, I knew that would get your attention. You like my Xmas cards and you don't want to be the only one not getting one.

I accept your apology (this always gets him going).

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

I had heard that the road to hell was paved with good intentions, although I honestly did not expect to arrive this quickly. I had actually meant this quite sincerely. There are lots of authors whose stories don't attract "too many" complainants about the lack of sex in their stories, and there must be something that sets their work apart from yours. My thought was that there was an audience out there for those kinds of works and you simply need to do something different to find it.

Perhaps you're posting in the wrong categories. Perhaps you're frustrating your readers by putting in all the foreplay without then giving them any sex.

As for:



Having a bad day?

No, actually, I'm having a good day. The sun is out here in Boston and the Red Sox are playing Tampa Bay tomorrow.

I apologize if I offended you. It's easy to misread someone on this forum board. Thank you for your input and for your post.

 

[TxRad]

As always...thank you...I think.

Just some general observations after a few years around here.

In the end I've realized that it doesn't matter if you classify it erotica or porn. It's the story that matters. It will tell itself and the readers will read it. How well the reader likes it is up to them and how well you told the story.

So, is it erotic or porn? It really doesn't matter. A great majority of readers are here for the porn value but a discerning few want a story to go along with it.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Just some general observations after a few years around here.

In the end I've realized that it doesn't matter if you classify it erotica or porn. It's the story that matters. It will tell itself and the readers will read it. How well the reader likes it is up to them and how well you told the story.

So, is it erotic or porn? It really doesn't matter. A great majority of readers are here for the porn value but a discerning few want a story to go along with it.

Then, it sounds like the best way to make it to the top is to be able to write both and carry both audiences, not an easy thing to do.

No matter, I certainly like the idea of the story over just raw and graphic sex without developed characters and a good plot.

 

[sr71plt]

Combative? Me, combative? I don't even wear boots. You must have me confused with one of your other friends.

You're the one with the chip on your shoulder against me, Ace. You're the one with the attitude and your the one who is always snipping at me.

Now, calm down and place nice or I won't send you a Xmas card this year. Yeah, I knew that would get your attention. You like my Xmas cards and you don't want to be the only one not getting one.

I accept your apology (this always gets him going).

Ah, well. Perhaps you won't be as juiced up some other day.

 

[TxRad]

Then, it sounds like the best way to make it to the top is to be able to write both and carry both audiences, not an easy thing to do.

No matter, I certainly like the idea of the story over just raw and graphic sex without developed characters and a good plot.

Hot sex and a strong story line will carry everything. The best of both worlds but don't count stroke stories out. We have several authors right here in the AH that rate very high and that's all they write. Raw and graphic sex can be it's own rewards. Uh, no pun intended.

 

[hmmnmm]

Great topic. A question with no absolute answer. Different things to different people, and at different times as they make their way through life.

But the way I see it is something like this:

You're riding a horse. A really powerful steed. You've been out in the beautiful countryside scenery. You're perfectly content to go at a casual walking pace, look around, think, meditate, etc.... but the horse keeps trying to break into a gallop. You keep trying to restrain the horse. Sometimes it takes all you have just to keep that power reined in, under control. It's that struggle. The closer you get back to the barn the more the horse tries to take over the ride. All that horse wants is to bury its face in a trough of sweet oats and trot around in the green pasture. It might even try and throw you off. The longer you keep that horse from its one goal, the greater becomes the tension. It's not that you don't like to go at a gallop, but you want it to be at the right time and place. Like, cresting the hill and there's the barn and the pasture, in sight, downhill. Then maybe you let that horse go like the wind, and just hope you can stay on all the way.

Something like that.

I get thrown off a lot.

 

[BOSTONFICTIONWRITER]

Hot sex and a strong story line will carry everything. The best of both worlds but don't count stroke stories out. We have several authors right here in the AH that rate very high and that's all they write. Raw and graphic sex can be it's own rewards. Uh, no pun intended.

Yeah, I agree. I've written a few stroke stories. Sometimes you're just in the mood to write a bit of fluff and we all know what buttons need be in there for the reader to have pushed.

Well, I take my hat off to Scouries. I don't know how he does it. I simply can't believe that he's able to manipulate that many votes. Well, then again, GW did it in two elections (lol).

 

[Sandy_Fox]

Damn. This is a tough room to get an answer in, ain't it?

Okay, viewpoint of "Joe Six Pack":

If it hits my heart and gives me an "Awww moment", I consider it Romance.

If it gives me a series of "groin twinges" (and often some "Awww Moments") it's erotic. But to do that takes a plot, character development and good writing.

Porn/Stroke stories are ones that give a person something to jerk off to. They are purely graphic and often poorly written. They rarely if ever give you anything other than the raw sexual act.

Just my opinion for what it's worth as a reader.