Sinedra - Writing Through Time, Space,and All Things Magical

Erotica vs. Porn.

Warning: this is not my area of expertise and more of an observation. Dime store romance novels get a bad rep, being called “porn for woman”. I disagree but that doesn’t mean I like it. It usually feature the damsel in distress being rescued by the perfectly built hero (who usually is a vigilante or a mysterious stranger). I wouldn’t call them porn, most only have short sex scenes that last for a page or two and are done. Mostly, they’re the same plot with cardboard cut-out characters. Notice the key word? Plot.

Erotica has a plot, a story. No matter how overdone and unoriginal it is story driven. Sex does not fill it cover-to-cover. This doesn’t excuse shoddy writing but it is it’s one saving grace (granted there are some good ones).

Again, don’t be mistaken, erotica is it’s own genre. If you find a book in the fantasy section and it has sex in it, it’s still fantasy. Erotic specifically aims to incorporate sex and sexual tension; it’s the promise of at least one intimate, explicitly detailed (but for the most part tastefully worded), romantic moment between the two main characters. Another key word: romantic.

Porn is not tasteful. Porn is beginning to end sex with hardly any plot, or a horrible plot. There does not need to be any romance. The writing, more often than not, make dime store novels look like a “New York Times Best Seller”.

If you enjoy porn, it’s your life and your choice. I’m not trying to criticize a person’s life, but I bring this up for a few simple reasons: 1) Porn does not need to be video or images, stories can also be porn. 2) Woman in Erotica at least are (for the ones I’ve read) truly loved and are in love. Some are even very independent characters and CAN be likeable. Woman in porn are not like this. They are weak and submissive, bribed or coerced into their relationships. 3) Again, erotica is story driven with a fairly solid (no matter how dull) of a plot. They go through editors and a publishing house to end up on shelves. Porn is written strictly for the sex with little to no imagination put into it. The writing not up to par with erotica. 4) Fifty Shades of Gray is porn and, I admit, the reason for my post.

Sorry if this is overdone, but Fifty Shades of Gray is NOT erotica. It may be published, but it’s all about the sex with no plot. The romance is more of a hoax as Anastasia IS brided back into a relationship with Gray and emotionally blackmailed. And really guys, what other proof do you need than it was a Twilight fanfiction that was even less story and all sex.

writing specific characters - advice

a young character

a character who lost someone important

a villain (2) 

a character based on yourself 

a hit man or mercenary

an indifferent character

a bitchy character

a dancer

a vampire

a drunk character

a manipulative character

a friends with benefits relationship

a natural born leader

a nice character

a rich character

a witty character

For those of you who thought you couldn't write sex scenes. I promise, very little could beat these. (Worst part is my professor read these out to us in class.)

Bad sex award 2015: the contenders in quotes

Eight purple passages are up for the prize every author dreads, the annual Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction award. Can Erica Jong beat Morrissey to the sweetspot?

Hahahahaha Morrissey I had no clue breasts could barrel-roll. This is some next level hentai shit.

So I normally don't post personal stuff outside of my side blog, but I just wanted to thank dragontameroutoftime for helping me through a rough night I had last night. I really can't express how she helped me calm down when I was a sobbing wreck. Thanks for being an amazing friend!

Um…

I'm not even slightly sorry.

THINGS WHICH MAKE WRITERS ANXIOUS:

not writing

writing

people reading their stories

people not reading their stories

Dear Writers

Your value as a person is not at all dependent upon the quantity or quality of writing you produce

Your identity as a writer is not at all dependent upon the quantity or quality of writing you produce

Your stories are still important even if they can only live in your head

You are still important even if you can’t tell your stories right now (or ever)

Having a story that fails or flops or stops or falls apart doesn’t mean that story is worthless, a waste of time, and you are not worthless or a waste of time because you couldn’t see the story through

Don’t tell yourself getting published is your capital-G Goal, and that you’re worthless until you’ve been published. The goal is to practice that art that makes you so happy. If you’re writing specifically to get published, you’re no longer writing for you.

You are still important whether you last wrote ten minutes ago, yesterday, a month ago, or three years ago.

People, your parents, society, capitalism will tell you all of these things aren’t true. Fuck them.

And please be kind to yourselves and to your writing.

Love,

A writer who has learned all these things the hard way so maybe you guys won’t have to

You want weapons? We're in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!

David Tennant as the 10th Doctor. - Doctor Who season 2: "Tooth and Claw"