Erotica ...then and now...Story of O to Fifty Shades of Grey

2012-04-27T02:35:35Z

I need to work on my book dammit. So I can send her off to former work colleague. But, I'm admittedly procrastinating again. By the way? My novel was inspired by the characters of Spike, Fred and Faith and started out as a sort of bizarre fanfic...which changed over time. Fanfic, I have decided makes you a better writer. Actually writing online has made my writing better. Why? Because you get instant feedback. It helps you find your voice. To determine what works and what doesn't.

For ten years now, I've called lj - the online correspondence/frustrated writers club. It's better than a book group or writers group. And here, unlike anywhere else in my life - I can be my insanely geeky self. I can be the eclectic crazy pop culture geek. Which I work hard to hide from the world at large.

Coworker: I'm reading Sun Also Rises Again...loved that book.
Me: Oh I remember that one. They made a movie of it.
Coworker: Oh...any good?
Me: No, really bad. (pause) English Lit major, read it years ago.
Coworker: Me too.
Me: Now, I'm into...(pause, blushing) trashy novels. Reading a really popular risque one.
Coworker: What is it?
Me (embarrassed): Oh, you'd know it - it's been on the Today Show, Time, etc...
Coworker:Tell ME! What is it!
ME (whispering): Fifty Shades of Grey.
Coworker: oh. I may try it.
Me: Not sure you'd like it, not to everyone's taste. But I can't put it down. I couldn't get into Twilight, didn't like that.
Coworker: Me neither.
Me: Just weirdly in this trashy novel phase.

I am. Although this book surprises me. Spoke to a friend about it recently, and they accurately assessed that the writer probably wrote it out of a frustration for something that wasn't in Twilight. That they liked aspects of Twilight, but the submissiveness of the heroine may have gotten on their nerves, and they wished or wanted more from the writer. Much the same way, my friend pointed out, that you wrote and read fanfic on Spuffy and Spike - there was something in that show that fixated you, hit you, turned you on - but you didn't like what the writer did with it or were disappointed, you wanted to like it, you wanted to like the writer, you wanted to make it work - but it didn't - so you obsessed want searched for fanfic that fit it. This writer, the Fifty Shades Writer, is most likely doing the same thing. Which is why fanfic sometimes can be so much better.
( more on erotica, where I include excerpts from The Story of O, and information on Ann Rice's Sleeping Beauty novels, amongst others..not for the erotically squeamish and bond to trigger someone - if BDSM sex makes you cringe? Do us both a favor...and look away. )

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Erotica ...then and now...Story of O to Fifty Shades of Grey