Emotional Attachment & Smutty Fic

[ithildin]

We discussed this on IM last night, and thought it was worth throwing out for conversation.  My musing is such: I've bought and read some of those 'erotica anthologies', and for the most part, they bore me to tears. So I've been wondering if there's a component of having an attachment to a character that adds to the enjoyment of such fic. As in: I find I enjoy 'adult' fanfic with a character I know and care about more than the 'professional' sorts of stories found in published anthologies. With many of those, it's virtually nameless and faceless and I just don't care enough about the participants for the story to be satisfying on any level.  Obviously, there are exceptions. but generally speaking that seems to be the pattern.

Thoughts?

And here's hoping the other participants of last night's conversation share their thoughts.

Comments

[viridian.livejournal.com]

You know, I think that's likely?

For example, I am bored to TEARS reading 99% of smut out there, even within the fandoms that I read, UNLESS it is a pairing that I really and truly feel for and wanted to see happen in canon. If it DID happen in canon, then there's usually got to be some unsatisfied aspect of it that makes me seek out fic, otherwise I think "eh, why read it when the show already did it?"

And I rarely, RARELY write smut myself unless the pairing really really moves me to. I cannot read smut for smut's sake. It's only interesting if I adore the characters and I believe they have genuine tension there that needs to be fulfilled.

Writing a sex scene is like writing a death scene.......

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

there should be a good reason for both to be written.

Re: Writing a sex scene is like writing a death scene.......

[beccadg.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm more lenient towards sex scenes than death scenes, but that's a pretty good rule. :D

Re: Writing a sex scene is like writing a death scene.......

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I have killed off characters before, but it was for a reason. It had to happen. I don't think it was senseless. I cried when I did it because I didn't want her to die, but.... And if what I'm reading (or watching ) makes me feel the same, then I can deal.

Re: Writing a sex scene is like writing a death scene.......

[beccadg.livejournal.com]

I have killed off characters before, but it was for a reason.

Heh, I'm really touchy when it comes to character death. I know I wrote out a whole long rant about it for a friend in an email once, but I don't think I've put it in my LJ. The thing I remember from the rant is, "If you've got a cast of 10 characters, and you kill 4 you are more virulent than the Black Death." I meant it mathematically based on the claim the Black Death killed a third of the population of Europe.

For a character I care about I absolutely require a writer make me completely believe the character's death is necessary, and frankly I know sometimes even when they succeed I'm still mad at them because I still feel that they as the "god" of their world manufactured that "necessary" situation. Now, for a character I hate I'm equally capable of wishing them dead anytime anyway. Dropping them down an open elevator shaft? No problem. Go for it!

I end up writing a lot of sexy stuff too.......

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

since I write vampires and also, I enjoy writing erotica:)