Is My Story Erotica Or Porn?

[icarus]

But if you do want a distraction, come take a look at underlucius' latest.

hp_literotica

With hp_literotica abd pornish_pixies on your friendslists, you will never lack for a pick-me-up.

We fanfiction writers joke about writing pr0n, but actually most of what we write is erotica. There isn't much of a distinction between the two lists however, becaust a lot of what's posted to pornish_pixies is erotica after all (for example, prillalar's Perquisite is definitely erotica). As switchknife would probably say, more of a good thing is definitely a good thing.

Few people realise that there is a distinction between Erotica and Porn. So if you're not sure which is which, take this handy dandy test:

Is My Story Erotica or Porn?

ETA: Whoops. Prillalar, I mean Prillalar's Perquisite.

Comments

[marksykins.livejournal.com]

"Perquisite" is prillalar's, hon.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh. *slaps forehead* Hell. Thank you.

*Quickly fixes.*

Icarus

[seelechen.livejournal.com]

Is anything described as crotchless?

*snicker*

I was actually discussing the difference between porn and erotica with someone recently, wondering if the large amount of fiction in the fandom that is focused on sex would be classified as porn. I wonder if the definitions of porn and erotica overlap somewhat. One definition of 'pornography' that I remember reading a while ago was that pornography was anything that was currently being censored/censured. So a lot of erotica would fall concurrently under this definition. Though the sleazy-porn sense can be relevant too.

There seems to often be an immediate assumption that anything primarily about sex must be sleazy, disreputable, or just generally not worth serious attention, but when there is simply so much well written, insightful, just-generally-good erotic fiction in this fandom, it seems silly to exclude it from the realm of serious appreciation. Sex is part of the human experience - why shouldn't it be written about and explored like other elements of our experience. And if erotica is well written enough to be genuinely arousing, to be good erotica, well then why shouldn't that be applauded?

And I'll take this chance to applaud your own erotic (and is some good senses pornographic) writing. ;)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Great points. In my opinon, the difference between porn and erotica is the focal-point of the story. If you could take the explicit sex out and still have a story (if a butchered one) then it's erotica. If there's nothing left but a few character names, an excuse, and a setting -- it's porn.

A good indicator of a story being porn is if it starts In Media Res, right in the middle of the sex.

I've written both. Unexpected Guest (http://www.percyfest.muse-wanted.com/icarus_fiction/stories/unexpectedguest.html) and Two Men On Top (http://www.percyfest.muse-wanted.com/icarus_fiction/stories/twomenonetop.html) are both porn. A Moment of Sin (http://www.percyfest.muse-wanted.com/icarus_fiction/stories/amomentofsin.html), and gosh, pretty much everything else, is erotica.

I think.

No, I have a few that we call Gen, which would be called humour/fantasy, and the other adventure/fantasy in professional circles. :D

Icarus

[purple-avocado.livejournal.com]

Um...I would like to be included in the filter so I can read about your dying heat and your cat. I promise not to be obnoxious. *sits quietly*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Okay, no sweat. I haven't been using the filter much lately. :)

Icarus

[purple-avocado.livejournal.com]

Lovely. Thanks.