In defense of smut

[emmagrant01]

It's come to my attention that some folks look down on those of us who primarily read and write smut. I don't want to be wanky, of cousrse, but I feel a need to defend my hobby.

Why do I like smutty fan fiction?

This is a good question -- a good one because I think those of us who like to say "I'm here for the pr0n" are actually here for bit more. Not just any old pr0n will do, of course. I mean, we have standards and all. We like certain things in our NC-17 fic -- sometmes, anyway.

I'll start with a disclaimer: Most of what I've written contains smut. The first fanfic I ever wrote in my life was porn -- and I was 12 at the time. I was pre-destined to write porn/erotica. I have one fic posted to FFN and one to FA (two sites that don't allow pr0n) -- and they are the same fic, heh. That says something, I think.

So here's my manifesto: I like writing sex. It's an important part of human relationships, you know? And to be perfectly honest, it's the part I find most interesting. Sex is interesting for many reasons, but not least of which is that it's common. We've all had sex. We all have had good sex. We all have had bad sex, and we've all had sex in between. We all know what role sex has played in our own relationships, and we can relate to people through those relationships. Some folks just don't find it that interesting, and that's fine -- unless they look down on those of us who do. Then I have an issue.

But my point is that I like smut. I like reading about sex. I like reading about how people get themselves into sexual situations. I know what it's like to feel that thrill of lust, that sensation of "OMG I shouldn't fuck this person but I can't stop myself from wanting them". I know what it's like to be in a situtation where there's no reason to fuck someone except that you're attracted to them.

And I like to read that in fic. I like to see that sort of emotion realistically portrayed. If that makes me a shallow person, so be it.

You don't like it? You think I'm shallow? You think my prioirities are in the wrong order?

Fuck you. This is my hobby. It makes me happy. If you don't like smut, go somewhere else. The internet is a big place, after all. There's room for those of us who see porn as having literary value and those who don't.

Go ahead and write your gen fic. But do me a favor and don't look down your nose at me just because I don't fade to black when the characters are in the mood. You don't have to read what I write, but don't presume that it's crap just because I don't stop when the clothes come off.

And with that, I should probably go to bed...

ETA: Apparently we haven't all had sex. *grins* I keep forgetting that 34 is way above the average age in this fandom...

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_irrlicht_/]

well said! i agree a 100% with you :D

[katina-r.livejournal.com]

Eurg. I'm in the library and I'm supposed to be working... Anyway, I just had to say that I agree. And that your writing is great because you down down play it, and you don't emphasize it either... And the way you write it is way more realistic than most. When Draco and Harry are having sex, Draco isn't necessarily being blown away every time... Your characters have realistic ideas about it and about each other. Rock on, dearest. You should be looking down your nose at the gen fic writers. You're being the brave one. :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I don't have an issue with gen fic at all. It just isn't what interests me. If I want gen, I'll go read the books again. I love fanfic because can go places you can't go in the offical text, and sexuality is a big part of thta. :-)

[ccmom.livejournal.com]

Did somebody actually had the nerve to ask you if your priorities are in order? Weird. Personally, I find writing to be an outlet for me. Whether it be porn or something much deeper. If it's something you like to do, do it and to hell with everyone else. Besides, some of us around here are addicted to the porn you write and would be devastated if you stopped. *pets the writer's ego* lol

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I love that feeling that somewhere there's a really good orgasm waiting to happen.

It makes me feel alive, hopeful, grounded.

It can leave me feeling lonely, or wistful, but it's still the greatest feeling - just to know it's possible.

*g*

[rockchick-101.livejournal.com]

nicely said!!!

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

We've all had sex.
Well. This is not exactly true for quite a number of people in fandom, judging by some of what I've read. >.>

But basically, yes. I write genfic, I like genfic, it has its place, but omfg so does porn. Genfic's motto is "there's more to life than love and romance" and that's true but I don't understand why there's this automatic assumption that just because something is porny it's just about the sex. Like you said, we're here (in the HP fandom) for a bit more -- because if I can take your (generic you) Harry/Draco story, substitute the names of Anakin and Obi-Wan and still have it make sense, then you aren't writing very good HP porn.

I remember writing an "in defense of genfic" rant a long time ago, and a few people showed up and they were basically offended that I was encouraging genfic. I boggled then, but have since then realised that they must have assumed that because I champion genfic, I must hate porn. So to those people who look down on porn just cos they're genficcers - bah! Bah, I say. You're giving the rest of us genfic fans a bad name. >:0

I've really got to figure out the explanation for why everything's got to be divided into camps and whatnot. Why can't someone have their porn and genfic too?

[untiemybinds.livejournal.com]

Well. This is not exactly true for quite a number of people in fandom, judging by some of what I've read.

Hush! :">

I think a more proper way to say it is... We all want to have sex./We've all thought about having sex.

:))

[eristeleute.livejournal.com]

Emma, I <3 you. :)

I love reading your fic because it portrays realistic relationships - the attraction, the flirting, the fights, the mind-blowing sex, the mistake sex... everything. Choosing to "fade to black" during a sex scene is an acceptable stylistic choice, but I think you develop better characterization (and, let's face it, a more entertaining story!) by including the way characters relate to each other during sex. Sexual expression can say so much more about the depth of and issues in a relationship than just portraying a couple on a date or out with friends. Nudity tends to (quite literally) strip away most of the layers between people, and I prefer the reflection of that in my fanfic.

So, once again, thank you. (And when is that book of erotica being published? Hmmmmm? :)

[eristeleute.livejournal.com]

Oh! One more thing! We've all picked up a pointer or two from *good* fanfic. Just how many people admitted trying the Draco-Colby-Harry blowjob from LMH?!?

[pombagira.livejournal.com]

yay for smutt!!

*dances!*

[elanna9.livejournal.com]

I recently realized that every story I've written (which is not all that many, but still ...) is not just pr0n, but NC-17. So, um, yeah. Apparently I agree. ;)

I suppose I'm more into it for the romance. That is, I'm often bored by reading true PWP's. I want something to happen, some needle to move on an emotional level. Sex is often a great way to have that happen, and so what I'm mostly interested in is what's really happening, beyond the sex. How do the two (or more) people have sex, and what does it say about them and their relationship? What, if anything, changes as a result? And basically using what happens during and after sex to try to convey that.

But I like my smut. I'm not so interested in G, PG-13 or even R-rated romances any more. And I almost never read fanfic that doesn't feature either a het or slash relationship (depending on the fandom) at its core.

[rabidpotterfan.livejournal.com]

Hell yeah! You tell 'em Emma! :)

[oddnari.livejournal.com]

Yes, quite so.

[jexay.livejournal.com]

For that, you get Emmett.

That is all.

*smooch*

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

God, Jex, I love you so much sometimes, it's not even healthy. That icon undoes me every time!! If I'm ever having a bad day, please come by and use that icon, 'k? ♥♥♥

[truwest.livejournal.com]

Cue Tom Lehrer: "Smut! Give me smut and nothing but! A dirty novel I can't shut, cause it's uncut, and unsubt.....tle.

...Who needs a hobby, like tennis, or philately? *I've* got a hobby: re-reading Lady Chatterly...

....don't let them take it awaaaaaaaaaaaaay!"

Me heart Tom Lehrer. *goes to bed humming*

[veryshortlist.livejournal.com]

*googles*

I agree that there's nothing wrong with pure unabashed smut. And plotty smut [stuff that furthers a long plotline] is great too.

[lagreyeyes.livejournal.com]

I agree completely with what you've said.

Plus reading good smut is a pleasurable way to pick up pointers here and there. *g*

[oddnari.livejournal.com]

We've all had sex. We all have had good sex. We all have had bad sex, and we've all had sex in between. We all know what role sex has played in our own relationships, and we can relate to people through those relationships.

Most unfortunately not. *brave smile*.

But that's what makes smut all the more interesting for me - a ... please don't napalm me for the cliche... a voyage of discovery XD

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

So, I don't know where all of this lazy writers/smut=boring wank is eminating from, but honestly. It floors me that people keep on forgetting and forgetting and forgetting some more that the entire bloody fandom is a hobby! Hence those disclaimers we all post with our carefully crafted little works (or big works!), set out there into the fandom seas to see what the masses think. The fandom isn't here to make us award-winning novelists, nor is anyone holding a gun to anyone else's head to make them read anything they aren't going to like. If you hate it, move on! If you love it, yay. It shouldn't have to be much more complicated than that, IMNSHO.

I like writing sex, too. I like it for all of the very same reasons you mentioned, and I'm so glad you mentioned them. ♥

[willysunny.livejournal.com]

It floors me that people keep on forgetting and forgetting and forgetting some more that the entire bloody fandom is a hobby!

This is an interesting--and very true--way of looking at things. I sometimes find myself struggling with the wank and arguments and judgements that go on in the fandom. I don't think anyone should be made to feel like they have to defend their ideas, beliefs, reasons for writing certain pairings, scenarios, etc. It's a hobby. Hell, it's a personal journal. If others don't like what they read, the easiest answer is just to move on.

I LOVE writing sex for all the reasons mentioned above. I also love writing almost-sex and after-sex and whoops-I-really-don't-want-to-be-having-sex. There is so much depth in an act that intimite. And there's a ton of fun to be had for the characters and the readers. :)

[aviss.livejournal.com]

I really don't get it. No one is forcing us to read smut and if we actually read it is because we want to, there are warnings telling us what kind of fic we're going to read. If I see het in one or BDSM and I don't want that I just don't read it, I would never tell the writer off for writing something I don't like. This is a hobby, not a long life comitement to eortica or something that pays the bills, if you don't like it, don't read it.

[ktoth04.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwwwwwwww icon *dies of cute*

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

Well, I read mainly pr0n too! It's fun. It's LOTS of fun. It's even better to write it. I think that in some ways sex is much more difficult to write than some things, mainly because, you know, everyone's having sex, and it's hard to lie and imagine and be fake. Sex in a way is like a barometre of how well the writer can describe the entire relationship - be it a one-night stand or a marriage.

Once, (90% of my fic is NC-17) I got a comment that said something along the lines "I loved it, save for the sex, which I skipped, because it's not my thing." Honestly, I laughed a bit, but I think it's a much more maure attitude than 'you suck because you write sex.'

Yes, I might answer, and you suck because you don't. So what?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_seraphina_/]

yeah...i like reading smut because it makes me feel i have a sex life :/ which is not to say i don't have standards *shifty eyes*

[silver-osiris.livejournal.com]

Bravo. ^_^

[ktoth04.livejournal.com]

We've all had sex.
No, we haven't! (and I'm less than a month away from leaving my teen years)

Uh err... yea *raises hand* though I'm closer to two months.... we should start a club or something.... *shrugs*

*looks up* *agrees with this person :D*

[anise-anise.livejournal.com]

*scoffs* I of course only write fic that are high in literary value and I never inclue gratuative sex.

*waits for lightning to strike*

:P

Don't let it rile you up, sugar. I'm sure I'm not taken seriously because of what I write and I give shit, man. I'm sure as fuck not getting a paycheck for this (although I keep checking the mailbox)... so yeah. *hugs*

OMG I'll be seeing you in a few weeks squeeeeeeeeeeee... we'll only talk about gen though. *nodnod* as we're fucking of course. ;)

[askani.livejournal.com]

that was very well said. i just cant believe that someone would complain. i mean, the amount of people that read smut i think is pretty large. there are warning labels and the like. if you dont like it dont read it. simple as that.

[lazy-daze.livejournal.com]

I was going to write a thoughtful reply, but then I got distracted by porn. :D mmmm porn.

[madeleneg.livejournal.com]

Nicely written. Very good! :)

A year ago, or maybe shorter than that, a good friend of mine over the internet read my journal, I have linked it in my screenname over msn, he found it there I think. But anyway, he read a R-rated fanfic written by me there. And he totally freaked out about it. And I was shocked because he reacted like that..

It was not much sex in it at all. Hello, it was R-rated, and het.
But he was saying things like: I didn't know that you were that kind of person and I'm so disappointed at you.
And I got mad at him, he was suppose to be my friend, and he reacts like that..

Anyway, I talk to him like one time a month or so, if someone says hi on msn, but thats it. God, I lost a friend because of that I wrote a smut fanfic.. It's so wrong. Wrong of him.