Writer thread:

[CharleyH]

I love this recent wave of hugs and surveys - its fun, but todays topic is substance - story substance:

I'd quote from Robert McKee in the non-fiction called 'Story', but lets start simple for now:

What is an erotic "story"? (mind the quoted portion). And don't tell me we've been here before, 'cuz thats a bit of an avoidance answer for those who "dunno" what they write.

 

[impressive]

Your Brain's Pattern

http://images.blogthings.com/whatpatternisyourbrainquiz/8.jpg

You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy.
You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts.
People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused.
But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpatternisyourbrainquiz/

 

[CharleyH]

Your Brain's Pattern

http://images.blogthings.com/whatpatternisyourbrainquiz/8.jpg

You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy.
You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts.
People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused.
But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpatternisyourbrainquiz/

So much for intelligence and writing topics on the AH I guess - lol -

Imp

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

So much for intelligence and writing topics on the AH I guess - lol -

Imp

Charley, my thanks to you and IMP for a great LOL.

To me, an "erotic" story has a strong emphasis on the sexual aspects of a character or a relationship. That said, like all other genre designations (romance, horror, etc.) it is a marketing, not a writing term. Many novels now marketed as "romance" or "mainstream" would have been placed in the "erotic" section a few years ago.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Liar]

What is an erotic "story"? (mind the quoted portion)

I mind the quoted portion. But I don't understand what you mean by the quotes. What's the difference between an erotic "story" and an erotic story, sans quotes? Is there any?

'splain that, and I'll give an answer. Cuz I think I have one, but I need to know if it matches the question first.

 

[CharleyH]

Charley, my thanks to you and IMP for a great LOL.

To me, an "erotic" story has a strong emphasis on the sexual aspects of a character or a relationship. That said, like all other genre designations (romance, horror, etc.) it is a marketing, not a writing term. Many novels now marketed as "romance" or "mainstream" would have been placed in the "erotic" section a few years ago.

Rumple Foreskin

Thanks Rumple , but what does the word "STORY" mean to you? Does it equate with the erotic you quoted and if so, how does story mean apart from and also in conjunction with the erotic? Do you have different judgements as a writer, or even as a reader, about the erotic vs story?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Charley,

I see the "Story" first and the erotic second, if at all. The story has to hang together. The "erotic" addition (I didn't say sex) is only an enhancement.

 

[Stella_Omega]

erotic- story- two seperate ingredients, IMO.

I can read a three-sentence description, and get throbbing, but my turn-on threshold goes up dramatically when a story is involved. My standards are much higher.

A story has to have movement, and change. It has to begin somewhere and go somewhere. If the protagonist isn't made a little different at the end of his adventures, I am not satisfied. It doesn't have to be a BIG change, you understand...

Erotic is all about my genitals- That's where the feelings have to go. If they sidestep into my heart, that's all the more satisfying

 

[Liar]

A good story is a series of linked events, retold in a way that a reader or listener gets emotionally engaged in the development of the events.

Erotic is an adjective ("Of or concerning sexual love and desire", according to Dictionary.com), that can be used to describe the properties of many things, one of them stories.

An erotic story, then, could be a story in which the emotional reaction from the reader contains sexual excitement. It doesn't have to be the main focus though. A scary story, or a comic story can also have erotic elements.

Another way of looking at it is that an erotic story is one that focuses on a main theme of sex and sexuality. Somebody overcoming sexual anxiety, someone persuing an object of desire, and so on.

Sometimes it's the first kind, sometimes the other. At best of times, it's both.

 

[oggbashan]

Using the quotes changes the question.

An erotic story is a story with plot, development and characters that is in a subset of all stories and that subset is erotic.

An erotic "story" is erotic first and a story second. Therefore it is not a story in the generally accepted sense, but an erotic form of writing that is only a story in name, in other words it is a stroke piece.

Og

 

[Stella_Omega]

A good story is a series of linked events, retold in a way that a reader or listener gets emotionally engaged in the development of the events.

Erotic is an adjective ("Of or concerning sexual love and desire", according to Dictionary.com), that can be used to describe the properties of many things, one of them stories.

An erotic story, then, could be a story in which the emotional reaction from the reader contains sexual excitement. It doesn't have to be the main focus though. A scary story, or a comic story can also have erotic elements.

Another way of looking at it is that an erotic story is one that focuses on a main theme of sex and sexuality. Somebody overcoming sexual anxiety, someone persuing an object of desire, and so on.

Sometimes it's the first kind, sometimes the other. At best of times, it's both.

I dunno. a story that's about eroticism may be dry as dust- and so many of them are.
and erotic story, though- it seems to me the modifier decribes an intent... maybe that's just me.
I know that many people use the term the way you are doings, and tell me that Anias Nin is an erotic writer. But her work never turned me on- did it you? Nor did "old what's his face, that wrote "Lady Chatterly's lover" for that matter.

 

[CharleyH]

I mind the quoted portion. But I don't understand what you mean by the quotes. What's the difference between an erotic "story" and an erotic story, sans quotes? Is there any?

'splain that, and I'll give an answer. Cuz I think I have one, but I need to know if it matches the question first.

LOL - You will give the best answer no matter what I say - and you know what I am talking about so go for it!

 

[CharleyH]

My standards are much higher.

I am interested - higher than what? ( I probably agree, but... just want to make the ask).

 

[Liar]

I dunno. a story that's about eroticism may be dry as dust- and so many of them are.
and erotic story, though- it seems to me the modifier decribes an intent... maybe that's just me.
I know that many people use the term the way you are doings, and tell me that Anias Nin is an erotic writer. But her work never turned me on- did it you? Nor did "old what's his face, that wrote "Lady Chatterly's lover" for that matter.

That's why I said, sometimes it's one, and sometimes the other.

I've read stories that was not at all about sex, and the main purpose was not to excite the reader, but that were erotic as hell. Think Noir mystery novels. Sexy, but it's the whodunnit that is the main theme.

And I've read stories that were all about sex, but were not erotic at all.

However the most arousing stories I've read were those that could combine the erotic "air" of the first category with an interresting and unique sexuality themed plot.

Which is what I believe Nin tried. But IMO never succeeded with the first part.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I am interested - higher than what? ( I probably agree, but... just want to make the ask).

oh- my standards for literature are higher than my standards for porn, that's all

 

[CharleyH]

oh- my standards for literature are higher than my standards for porn, that's all

I know - you just did not answer the question. Are you saying - lol - that erotic is not Lit? I never talked of porn. lol

 

[Stella_Omega]

I know - you just did not answer the question. Are you saying - lol - that erotic is not Lit? I never talked of porn. lol

but- I did!
I said that erotic and story are two different parts, for me...
Honestly Charley, do I have to come over there and demonstrate this for you?

Okay, more seriously. I do see where I didn't answer you.
An erotic "story" for me, is one in which the action and/OR the character transformation are centered around at least one act of sex.


A story with erotic elements is a nice thing, for sure. BUt if the mixture isn't stirred right- and, of course, that becomes subjective- it isn't erotica primarily.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Okay, more seriously. I do see where I didn't answer you.
An erotic "story" for me, is one in which the action and/OR the character transformation are centered around at least one act of sex.

Weird question: Why does an erotic story have to have any sex at all? I would think you could have an extremely erotic story without the licking, sucking and ass pounding.

 

[CharleyH]

but- I did!
I said that erotic and story are two different parts, for me...
Honestly Charley, do I have to come over there and demonstrate this for you?

lol OH, MAJOR COOL, YUM. YET?

How does an erotic 'story' differentiate from one you think of as literature? Is there a diff in reading or writing?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Weird question: Why does an erotic story have to have any sex at all? I would think you could have an extremely erotic story without the licking, sucking and ass pounding.

um...

A metaphorically erotic story? Sure! But something would have to be a metaphor for sex, right? Or else you've got a metaphorically some other kind of story...

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

um...

A metaphorically erotic story? Sure! But something would have to be a metaphor for sex, right? Or else you've got a metaphorically some other kind of story...

Do you even need the metaphor? I see Bram Stoker's Dracula as an Erotic story with no sex at all. Maybe I see erotica more as a Psycho-emotional thing rather than as a sex thing.

Anyone?

 

[CharleyH]

um...

A metaphorically erotic story? Sure! But something would have to be a metaphor for sex, right? Or else you've got a metaphorically some other kind of story...

Hm, interesting debate.

 

[Liar]

Weird question: Why does an erotic story have to have any sex at all? I would think you could have an extremely erotic story without the licking, sucking and ass pounding.

Without the licking, sucking and ass pounding? No problem.

Without any sexual content, like for instance attraction and desire? Possible, if you can sneak in enough innuendo in your metaphors. But probably too tricky to pull off.

 

[Stella_Omega]

but- I did!
I said that erotic and story are two different parts, for me...
Honestly Charley, do I have to come over there and demonstrate this for you?

lol OH, MAJOR COOL, YUM. YET?

How does an erotic 'story' differentiate from one you think of as literature? Is there a diff in reading or writing?

oh, absolutely, isn't there to you?
When it's literature, I want seamless flow, brilliant comunication, depth of feeling, a new way of looking at the world, rich wordplay... ALL of the candy, and I want the sexual element to present me with doors that might open...

When I'm just reading to Gett Off, as Prince says, I could care less about sytax and structure, cliche's are fine with me, and I am far more intent on replicating the same old same old than I am in investigating new horizons....
Yes? no?

 

[rgraham666]

A good story is always the same, in my opinion.

It starts somewhere, goes through one or more events, involves one or more characters, and then it comes to an end.

The events should ideally be quite emotional. A story without emotion is very dull.

Err. That's it.

I don't bother with the 'erotic' part. I don't differentiate between the 'subsets'.

'All writing styles are valid, except the boring.' - Voltaire