Pornography or Erotica?

[Bramblethorn]

Tablets don't have a control key, they only have a screen keyboard at the bottom of the page. None of these shortcuts are there for me.

Options will vary with your hardware, yes. My post wasn't intended specifically for tablet users.

 

[AG31]

Paging Anais Nin, your services are required in the lobby.

Little Birds and Delta of Venus are famous collections of erotica, now famous in the mainstream. I bought my copies a couple of decades before Literotica existed.

Of course there are stories I'd class as erotica in the mainstream.

 

[EmilyMiller]

A slightly different take on this question, why should anyone feel embarrassed about writing pornography and therefore seek to label it as something else?

 

[TheGreatOz]

I write two kinds of work

- Some short stories with minimal plot, straight to sex
- long multi-part pieces with a strong focus on plot, pacing, characterisation and dialogue

Both are porn.

 

[AG31]

A slightly different take on this question, what should anyone feel embarrassed about writing pornography and therefore seek to label it as something else?

Nothing. But the air of ridicule when talking about it persists. Words like "naughty" persist. I don't know why.

 

[AG31]

I think all porn is erotica, but erotica isn't necessarily explicit, so not all of it is porn. Not that everything explicit is porn; porn is specifically something that has a primary focus on explicit depictions of sex for sexual gratification.

To answer the question, I set out to write porn, but it always ends up being about something else, too, so I have no idea.

You're getting close. I would add...

Erotica (and the subset, pornography) need to focus on sex. A story that has a different focus may contain pornographic (explicit) scenes, but they can't be the focus.

I'd adopt your definition if "pornography" were stripped of the air of ridicule that so often applies ("naughty," "dirty").

 

[SmilingLez]

Porn/Erotica - two sides of the same coin. Some feel less ashamed using the term 'erotica' and others don't care; so 'porn' (or 'smut') is fine, as is erotica. For me, if my stories/poetry captivates the reader, it is enough

 

[Off_base]

Porn/Erotica - two sides of the same coin. Some feel less ashamed using the term 'erotica' and others don't care; so 'porn' (or 'smut') is fine, as is erotica. For me, if my stories/poetry captivates the reader, it is enough

I'm not sure writers who find a distinction between the two are necessarily embarrassed or ashamed of being labeled "porn writers". People will think what they will. I don't think anyone has insinuated that erotica nor porn is better or more popular, and the opinions on what the qualifications are for each. Having a preference isn't a rejection of the alternative.

 

[SmilingLez]

I'm not sure writers who find a distinction between the two are necessarily embarrassed or ashamed of being labeled "porn writers". People will think what they will. I don't think anyone has insinuated that erotica nor porn is better or more popular, and the opinions on what the qualifications are for each. Having a preference isn't a rejection of the alternative.

I wouldn't be surprised if those stuffy holier than thou conservatives consider themselves connoisseurs of erotica instead of porn dogs

 

[LargoKitt]

Do you consider what you write “pornography” or not? How about what you read? Is some erotica “pornography” while other erotica is not? Is there a meaningful distinction in your mind between erotica and porn? I’d be fascinated to read some genuine thoughts on the matter.

Some pornography rises to the level of Erotica. Some erotica is boldly pornographic. For me, it's pretty simple: If I write a sex scene with some originality, artistry, and 'taste' and 'real' characters then I hope I am writing erotica. If I am just describing sex acts then I am writing pornography. I have the hope that readers here are looking for more than just another 'porno in print.'

 

[DEFCOM5]

I write erotic plot stories with pornographic sex scenes.

Call it what you want but I think that it would be called porn outside of people writing for this site

 

[TheRedChamber]

And not the men who paid them, of course . Some things never change.

Come now, if the men were worth looking at, they wouldnt need to visit prostitutes.

 

[Erozetta]

Honestly, to me if I say I'm writing porn, it sounds like I'm writing scripts for porn videos and I don't do that. (But absolutely would!)

Saying I write erotica is more about letting others know that my writing may not be for them. No shame about it, just "Hey, this stuff falls under the erotica umbrella, are you sure you want to know more?" Before proceeding.

I consider my writing both and neither. They are stories written to titillate and arouse feelings within a person. It's fear, disgust, hope, despair, anger, sorrow, joy, etc alongside erotic arousal. I like complicating people and emotions. The hate fuck, the revenge fuck, the unexpected fuck, the joyful fuck, the last fuck, the much longed for fuck, etc. Those are the things that make me think and feel and connect with others, so that's what I write.

I tend to use the term smut to differentiate between visual porn and written porn. I write smut doesn't have the same implication of writing scripts for porn films. But it also makes it more clear that what I write leans more pornographic than they might like. So as above, if they are good to know more, I follow up with "It's smutty erotica, are you sure?"

And then they have to keep their regrets to themselves.

 

[Blake_Palafox]

You're getting close. I would add...

Erotica (and the subset, pornography) need to focus on sex. A story that has a different focus may contain pornographic (explicit) scenes, but they can't be the focus.

I'd adopt your definition if "pornography" were stripped of the air of ridicule that so often applies ("naughty," "dirty").

I don't think gratification is bad, so I was going for totally neutral. I think the term "gratification" has an unfair implication of selfishness and negative vibes, yeah. It was the most neutral thing I could think of, though.

I kind of need it to suggest that someone gets a more visceral kick from it than something like "enjoyment." Enjoyment could mean that you find the style interesting, or that it was relaxing. Porn almost always means that the consumption of it is a sex act in and of itself, and most words that mean something like that have negative conotations.

Maybe porn means, "Media intended to be consumed as an active expression of sexuality." Like, things meant to be a sexual experience for the viewer or reader.

 

[AG31]

I don't think gratification is bad, so I was going for totally neutral. I think the term "gratification" has an unfair implication of selfishness and negative vibes, yeah. It was the most neutral thing I could think of, though.

I kind of need it to suggest that someone gets a more visceral kick from it than something like "enjoyment." Enjoyment could mean that you find the style interesting, or that it was relaxing. Porn almost always means that the consumption of it is a sex act in and of itself, and most words that mean something like that have negative conotations.

Maybe porn means, "Media intended to be consumed as an active expression of sexuality." Like, things meant to be a sexual experience for the viewer or reader.

"Arousal" maybe?

 

[madelinemasoch]

Honestly, to me if I say I'm writing porn, it sounds like I'm writing scripts for porn videos and I don't do that. (But absolutely would!)

Saying I write erotica is more about letting others know that my writing may not be for them. No shame about it, just "Hey, this stuff falls under the erotica umbrella, are you sure you want to know more?" Before proceeding.

I consider my writing both and neither. They are stories written to titillate and arouse feelings within a person. It's fear, disgust, hope, despair, anger, sorrow, joy, etc alongside erotic arousal. I like complicating people and emotions. The hate fuck, the revenge fuck, the unexpected fuck, the joyful fuck, the last fuck, the much longed for fuck, etc. Those are the things that make me think and feel and connect with others, so that's what I write.

I tend to use the term smut to differentiate between visual porn and written porn. I write smut doesn't have the same implication of writing scripts for porn films. But it also makes it more clear that what I write leans more pornographic than they might like. So as above, if they are good to know more, I follow up with "It's smutty erotica, are you sure?"

And then they have to keep their regrets to themselves.

I actually think this is a wonderful answer.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

A slightly different take on this question, why should anyone feel embarrassed about writing pornography and therefore seek to label it as something else?

They shouldn't. The more I see the dichotomy between pornography and erotica, the more I see a lot of subjectiveness in it. There's a reason why people are quoting the infamous "I know it when I'll see it:" nobody agrees on a clear definition, plus the "pornographic" adjective carries moral stigma that any artist who has a degree of self-respect should both laugh off the stigma, wear it as a badge of honor, and double down. Seriously, if someone is offended by a single sentence featuring titties, the proper answer is to make an entire page about them, but make the titties bigger and bouncier.

Besides, I'm a simple girl. If a word has no clear definition, then that word is meaningless and ceases to exist.

Again, what I write is pornography, and I'm sick of pretending the opposite. It doesn't matter how stylish or how much I try to cover it. It's still porn. No further questions.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Again, what I write is pornography, and I'm sick of pretending the opposite. It doesn't matter how stylish or how much I try to cover it. It's still porn. No further questions.

I agree. I think I write quasi-literary porn with characters, plot, and motivations. But it is still porn and I’m proud to say that.

 

[Blake_Palafox]

They shouldn't. The more I see the dichotomy between pornography and erotica, the more I see a lot of subjectiveness in it. There's a reason why people are quoting the infamous "I know it when I'll see it:" nobody agrees on a clear definition, plus the "pornographic" adjective carries moral stigma that any artist who has a degree of self-respect should both laugh off the stigma, wear it as a badge of honor, and double down. Seriously, if someone is offended by a single sentence featuring titties, the proper answer is to make an entire page about them, but make the titties bigger and bouncier.

Besides, I'm a simple girl. If a word has no clear definition, then that word is meaningless and ceases to exist.

Again, what I write is pornography, and I'm sick of pretending the opposite. It doesn't matter how stylish or how much I try to cover it. It's still porn. No further questions.

I agree no one should be ashamed about saying they write porn, but having some words that mean "this is about sex" and other words that mean "this is supposed to get you off" is a useful distinction to my mind.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

I agree no one should be ashamed about saying they write porn, but having some words that mean "this is about sex" and other words that mean "this is supposed to get you off" is a useful distinction to my mind.

No. Further. Questions.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Well, we don't exactly agree. I don't see sexy mainstream fiction as erotica. By the same token, I think a bunch of stories in Literotica don't qualify as erotica. I think erotica needs to be about sex. Even if the story contains lots of plot and character.

I wonder when the last time was that you went into a bookstore, or a library for that matter.

My wife bought a paperback at Target last year that would be highly rated as a story in Erotic Couplings on Lit. The sex was the driving element and it was described in its entirety. Then, there are all of stories published by imprints, such as Carina Press and others, which with the romance discounted would easily meet most definitions of pornography.

Erotica does not need to be about sex. It needs to inspire thoughts, feelings, and emotions about sex. If this can be accomplished without describing the actual physical steps involved, that doesn't make it any less erotic. To some, it runs counter to the "show don't tell" concept of writing. If a writer can "tell" a story that incites feelings of wanton desire and passion in a reader without "showing" them how tab 'A' fits into slot 'B', then they can be very successful.

It has nothing to do with love or romance. It can be random, illicit, and spontaneous; as long as it gets the desired reactions from the reader about the situation.

 

[Statius]

I think I agree with @KittyOfSteele. It's all pornography. But I know that in my head I need to differentiate to change my mentality when I'm writing. The erotic scene I keep referring to has a far different vocabulary than my 'porn' scenes. Along with mood, tone, and objective. Let's call it lighting and camera angles. 'erotic' movies play with shadows and light, curves, teasing and sheets. 'Porn' couldn't give a fuck about any of that. It's all holes, filling them, body fluids. and glaring lights. So then in my mind the semantics matter, and maybe also in the mind of a reader and we all need to make that decision ourselves and yes it is subjective.

 

[Blake_Palafox]

No. Further. Questions.

I'm not trying to look down on porn. I try to write porn, but I don't think I get there. I think it would be presumptuous of me to say I write porn when I can't stick the landing. If I could write something in which the sex and arousal was of sufficient interest to be the entire story, I would do it. I love the writers on this site who can do that. I get way too much in my own way about it all.

Hell, I don't even write the genre on this site that I almost exclusively read.

 

[crookedletter]

I write erotica that contains pornography. It crosses that threshold, I think, when characters -- who I've tried to artfully develop and relatably build their sexual tension, i.e. erotica -- get down to business, and I describe things in enough detail that a reader so inclined might participate in their own little way. So to speak. I like to do both, and I think the porn is better with the erotic build-up, and the erotica is better with the pornographic payoff.

 

[Off_base]

It's all subjective. In my definition, erotica is the broader category, and porn is a type of erotica, but erotica is not a type of porn.

If I write a story that makes you cry or feel sad at certain points, I clearly wasn't going for porn, even if there's steamy sex mixed in.

And, if people feel embarrassed or ashamed of what they write, why post it? There are plenty of readers looking for every type of story on lit, so write what you want, and own it. If we all wrote the same way, no one would bother reading anything that wasn't from the top twenty authors on the site.

Erotica is valid. Porn is valid. Judgements from other writers on which is on higher moral ground, is not, in my opinion.