Is that a nip in the air?

[smeddley]

Get this. I haven't turned on my computer in TWO DAYS. I've been doing WORK at work. I'm fairly certain there's a rollicking good snowball fight going on in hell right now. Goodness knows it got near freezing here last night, after we were sure spring had taken a stand. Spring, evidently, is a wuss.

I know I've missed a lot, so I sum up:

1. You're an amazing writer - keep it up!
2. Wow, that sucks, sending e-sympathy... :(
3. OMG drastic hair change! But it's awesome, I could never do it.
4. Wha...what? *tilts head*
5. I never know what to say at times like this, so... silence seems the best bet.
6. What-EVA. *snap-snap-snap*
7. *gigglesnort*

Though they are aimed at specific people, you may pick and choose whatever you'd like if the fancy suits you. Or not. I'll be back to LJ in a week or so, I think, in the meantime, if there's something you just know I would kick myself for missing, gimme a link!

Part of the problem is a lack of time (though not from Lego Star Wars, interestingly enough!), the other is that I have some things I'm trying to hash out and post that sprung from a conversation with someone. A few someones, actually. It started out on a rambling tirade about loving romance novels, pigeonholing books into genres, and the lure of limited predictability, but has grown. I have, at last count, 8 'posts'

• Limited Predictability and its place in genre writing


• Why I read Romance Novels, a smart girl's guide to a cliché genre


• All Romance Novels are Chick-Lit, but not all Chick-Lit are Romance Novels


• Romance, Mystery, Western, Fantasy: one of these genres is not like the other


• The 'General Fiction' category and what it takes to stay in it


• Why can't we all just get along: blending the genres - or - Hey, you got some Romance in my Mystery Novel! No, you got some Mystery in my Romance Novel!


• Don't judge a genre by its bad authors - every genre has them


• I'm okay, you read dumb books: why some people don't love your favorite genre and how to deal with them

semi-composed in my head (and a bit actually written). A ninth occurred to me the other day, but I need to do some research. And I'm afraid the way I went about it today was not the best, but I'm rash. And since part of my rant has to do with the whole 'one bad apple shouldn't turn you off a genre', I need recommendations.

So, to those of you that read erotica, can you recommend a book? It'd be nice if it was one I didn't have to order on-line (though BN's selection was limited - I picked up 'What Happens in Vegas' and 'Cassandra's Conflict', neither of which I'm sure is a good representative of the genre?) so I could get this written sooner, but if I have to order it I have to order it.

Also, Snerfflebarglast will resume next week. Consider this a mid-contest intermission while I find and install my copy of WinDVD. Oh, that's right, the next round is a 'guess the movie from the screen shot' round. Maybe this weekend might be a good time to check out some films... ;)

Comments

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

Hmm, I can't think of any specific books, it has been awhile since I've read what could be considered 'erotica' (isn't that a fairly difficult genre to define and label books?). But, most erotica I've enjoyed either as full novels or short story collections usually involved reworking old fairytales and such (though I'm not really referring to Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty work). I don't know why, but often with collections, there always seems to be some story that actually deals with abuse in some way (abuse, not S&M), and that is always so very disturbing to me.

The next challenge sounds fun!

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

"isn't that a fairly difficult genre to define and label books?"

Yes, and that's one of the main points I was going to talk about. One person's 'erotica' is another person's 'porn', while some 'erotica' is just garden-variety 'romance' to others. But, somewhere, there has to be some line, some defining thing (like full frontal male nudity in movies) that draws some line, at least in the minds of 90% of the population. Or not. I dunno.

(This came from a discussion on romance novels where I admit I skim over/skip the sex scenes, actually!)

Interesting you should mention that about collections, I just (a bit ago) read a blog post that dealt with that 'one bad story in the bunch' problem in an erotic collection (and it was based on non-consensual sex). Kinda a mood-killer, I'd guess (hence why I'm slightly leery about my 'grabbing whatever' method of research...).

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

Yeah, see, I see erotica, the written genre, like erotica the visual arts... sexy, alluring, but artsy. If I read romance novels with sex, I don't consider them erotica per se (though not always porn either, but sometimes). It is a blurry line. I guess I see written erotica as a deliberate attempt to turn the reader on in some sense, often by alluding to things, and drawing the audience in through their own personal perspectives on the piece, vs. graphic, gratuitous sex signs in the middle of a story (a story that is more than just about the sex it features, but about a romance, mystery, whatever). I have a book of poetry from a class I took long ago, and the guy had some serious perspectives regarding 'hair' being the sexiest feature ever. In reading those poems, not even dealing with sex explicitly, it made you go, mmmm, yeah, hair is sexy and sensual isn't it? It wasn't just him saying "oh, hair is so sexy" it was him describing it in such comforting, sensual, alluring ways that drew you into that perspective, while adding your own personal spin to it.

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

That would be 'graphic, gratuitous sex scenes' not 'signs'!

And to clarify further, I guess I'd describe erotica, in any form, as an art that requires engaging the audience in some manner, versus just 'here it is, look at this (or watch this or read this) sexy stuff I want to show you'.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting take on it - you're seperating erotica from sex, really. Hmmm, and I was thinking it was just different... levels, if you will, of sex and its descriptions.

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

I don't know how much I'm separating it though, I just find erotica more... provoking, where romance w/sex and/or porn is more show and tell.

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

Ah, and because I love analogies:

Erotica = sexy lingerie
Porn = crotchless, edible panties

Not to infer that porn is bad or whatever, but it's definitely a personal taste that people can take or leave it. Good sexy lingerie still takes personal taste, but even when it's see-through, it's still provocative, not just in your face.

[tjstein.livejournal.com]

I used to read a ton of romance and I usually skipped or skimmed the sex scenes too.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I'm glad someone else does! Honestly, even in an otherwise well-written book they can be a bit painful to read...

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

OH! Here we go... a link that goes with the fact that Spring just can't seem to make a full appearance (as some say, it's a sign Persephone isn't ready to leave her bed with Hades quite yet), and your mention of erotica:

http://www.fishnetmag.com/archives/2007/01/17_short_films.html

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I shall read that tonight!

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

Speaking of blending genres, one of my favorite series is Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. As I'm crazy fan-girlish about my favorite authors, and used to be spoiled by living near Denver, I have gone to a reading and signing by her (and others). She often mentions the difficulty her books have caused her publishing company in initially marketing them. A bit of fantasy/sci-fiction due to the time travel, a lot of romance, even more historical fiction, and drama, and mystery, and lots, lots more. Anyway, definitely one to consider under that topic.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things about it from several people, but have never taken the plunge. I 'm not sure why.

By the way, I'm listening to Good in Bed, and I have to admit I hate Cannie. Really, really, really hate her. I'm not overly impressed with the book on the whole (though there are admittedly well-written scenes), but I'd like to take a rusty steak knife to her.

:(

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

Really? Oh, no!!!

I have to say I wasn't overjoyed with the sequel, but I did love Good in Bed. Huh.

Regarding Outlander, there is a couple of books in the series I didn't particularly like, but the early ones I could read over and over. But it's also one of those things where that book came to me at just the right time of my life that I needed just that exact type of story to escape into, so I'm definitely biased just on that.

[cazrolime.livejournal.com]

:D ♥.

The romance posts sound awesome. I love stuff like that. :D And now I'm trying and failing to think of erotica I've read that isn't internet porn... >_>

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Well, since I do actually have to compare and contrast to what people think of as porn, too, any links would be useful. Because so often when people try to write erotica, you hear the comment, 'that's just porn'. Well, what is it, exactly, that steps it back from porn to erotica? Inquiring minds want to know!

I hope I make a decent write-up of it, I'm usually much better at these things as conversations, not written pieces!

[cazrolime.livejournal.com]

xD I... actually have no idea what the difference between erotica and porn is. It's just that the one brings up images of red silk and tasteful novels, whilst the other suggests fanfic or dirty magazines and repeated use of the word "cock".

Saying that, if you want some links, this (http://broodingbacchus.livejournal.com/647.html) is awesome awesome. Like, actually awesome. And, entirely despite what I just said, strikes me as erotica. And for what I'd refer to as porn, this (http://capn-mactastic.livejournal.com/33830.html#cutid1) is very very hot. It strikes me as repetitive sometimes, but then again it's a super-long story about men having sex with each other over and over again, so a little repetition may well be unavoidable. >_>

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on the terminology. That's the biggest difference I've seen.

I shall check out those links! Thanks!

[aeamek.livejournal.com]

Maybe I can fold some erotica into Adamas for you. Wouldn't that be disturbing?

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

Um, let's see... domination by an superhuman man, disfigured but still with a good heart... Nope, can't see that appealing to anyone.

<.<

>.>