Writing for Martians.

[Alex Bragi]

You would have to agree, wouldn't you? There's a huge difference, generally, between writing for men and writing for women.

Men tend to enjoy the graphic vividness of porn and blunt raw language. They usually require a lot less emotional involvement with character and plot to be enticed to read on. They need sex - lots of it. Clean it up afterwards with a mop and bucket kind of action, and if the plot is good then that's a bonus!

We Women, I believe, more frequently prefer 'erotica' to porn. We like words. We like a plot. We demand more information behind the scenes. The story can be very sexually graphic in context, but a woman needs something that allows her mind to get wrapped up and emotionally involved in the story.

It's not that women are any less sexual than men. Ever wonder why we're such teasers? It's simply because it takes us longer to heated up. Our sexual parts are more complex and so the time it takes and way we get turned on is different.

I've made some very gross generalizations here, each human being is unique, and each has their own individual tastes. There are women who really like porn and there are men who really like erotica, and there are both who like both, and both who like neither. Overall, however, I believe our tastes are quite different.

[slavelucy]

Yeah, i'd probably agree with most of that, Alex. That's not to say i don't like seriously hardcore stories, but without plot (one that makes sense), it doesn't work as a turn on. Even in my own sexual fantasies, i have always had to sort of 'justify' what i am doing 'there' or how i ended up in a situation, whereas men seem more capable of jsut accepting a situation for what it is.

sl

[ProjectEuropa]

You would have to agree, wouldn't you? There's a huge difference, generally, between writing for men and writing for women.

I guess I am such a sissy. I can appreciate the cruder points of porn and it has its place but a good plot and erotic suspense, I find vital in a story or often I can't get past the first wham bam thank you mam, multiple simultaneous orgasm. I'm not sure if it is about the apparent differing complexity of sexual psychology that appears to exist between men and women, though I do believe it does exist. Maybe it is because as you say, women take longer to get warmed up or maybe women are very much more decerning about sexual partners than men, though I think things even out a little in long term relationships but a book and a picture is not a long term relationship. However on the whole I think you are right, women like artistic foreplay and men want to forget about the nicities and have her bend over and yell 'Fill me baby!'

If I want a wank, then porn is fine, who wants to trawl through page after page of complex plot to get to the money shot, when one just wants to come and get on with the day. Porn is also a turn on when sharing it with a partner as there is no bigger turn on than knowing what turns your partner on. But to be able to suspend belief because of good writing and be taken on psychological journey into the heart of eroticism is a wonderful experience. I love to read good female erotic writing as it imparts so many secrets to the psychological motivation and physcal experience of women. How can men not be interested in that? I read a fine piece not long ago that was pure sexual heroin. In a way it was porn but it was also very well written, deliciously delivered, measured and observed detail that took the writer through a simple sexual experience of a woman.

I also have the same feelings about films and images. Often I find nothing more unerotic than erotic imagery. Women with pneumatic chests and arses that are firm enough to be able to park your bike. That pouting as the mere thought of her taking a 12 inch dick brings her to spontaneous orgasm, just makes me want to slap her face. A Barbie doll just doesn't get me hot, they are asexual. Hmm I'm getting off the point here. Good art is necessary for the finer sensations and emotions, porn is for a wank and then it doesn't always work because it is so so obvious and transparent.

[Mad Lews]

I've made some very gross generalizations here, each human being is unique, and each has their own individual tastes. There are women who really like porn and there are men who really like erotica, and there are both who like both, and both who like neither. Overall, however, I believe our tastes are quite different.

A very wise man (not always an oxymoron ) once said that man's role in life is to find simple solutions to complex problems.
He was so wise he never mentioned that women enjoy the role of creating complex problems to entertain and or distract men.
Male oriented erotic, (labeled porn) may often lack the subtle nuance so admired in erotica designed for a more feminine audience but sometimes one can find elegance in simplicity.

[tmordan]

If I want a wank, then porn is fine, who wants to trawl through page after page of complex plot to get to the money shot, when one just wants to come and get on with the day. Porn is also a turn on when sharing it with a partner as there is no bigger turn on than knowing what turns your partner on.

I guess this would be a matter of opinion, ProjectEuropa. Personally, I can't get off to porn, believe me I've tried. I have more luck reading a scene from some well-written erotica, then lying on my bed and visualising it all. It's just too bad there isn't much well-written M/m erotica around, however the good stuff is long enough to contain many scenes, and by the time I finish I can just start again at the beginning.

I also don't see the attraction to sharing porn with a partner, I'd much rather create it myself. It embarrasses me to say that my "porn stash" consists almost solely of pictures of myself tied up, again so that I can close my eyes and remember what happened, or what I'd hoped would happen at the time.

But then, it takes all sorts to make a world, does it not?

[Alex Bragi]

...It's just too bad there isn't much well-written M/m erotica around, ...

Although I'm a female, like you I enjoy a good M/m story too. If you haven't already check out Rob, he's an author at this site, I would highly recommend you do. His stories are well written, red hot, and deep with emotion. He has this clever way of making the reader feel tortured one moment, and exquist next.