Fic Talk > General Discussion
NC-17 Stories Have Plots!
Tri:
I was reading through old threads earlier (just because I haven't been here in a while and I checked back to old posts I'd made) and I found this thread on chapter summaries (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php?topic=512.0), which ended up discussing NC-17 rated stories. It's come to my attention, especially lately, that there is a certain negative stigma in the fan fiction community associated with NC-17. A stigma that I see as unjustified and frankly unfair.
As a writer of a few NC-17 stories, I feel that people have an unfair view of what they are really all about. They HAVE plot. They're not just smut that contain sex scene upon sex scene. (Some of them, I'm sure, are, but definitely not the ones that I've read.) There are a number of examples of GREAT stories that are extremely well-written and thought out that have the NC-17 rating attached, but because of that, they're unrecognized by many. I think this is extremely unfortunate for the authors that write them.
The reason I rate my stories NC-17 is because I know that when I was younger, I didn't like reading stories with a lot of sex in them. I thought it would only be courteous to rate my stories with a rating that reflected that fact that there ARE a number of sex scenes throughout the story and a person that's sensitive to that may not wish to read it. I didn't know, however, that certain readers wouldn't even approach the story if it was rated NC-17.
I think it's very important to show the physical/sexual relationship that characters have right alongside the mental/emotional relationship. To me, it's just more honest and more realistic. In real life, sex happens. It doesn't make people "bad" to have sex. It's natural. And in order to show the true chemistry between characters, I believe sex is necessary. (I don't think it needs to dominate a relationship, but anyone that's read NC-17 stories that have plots understands that.)
A lot of times in my stories, the sex that the characters are having is reflective on their relationship. And sometimes, sex has even become an issue (as in What the Heart Wants when Katrina is dealing with the loss of her mother and is grieving through sex) that spawns off into a bigger issue in the characters' lives. And anyone that's taken the time to read my stories (which I've linked below my post) knows that my characters are not sleeping around with everyone - the main female character has only ever been with one man in her life. It's not like I'm writing smut. I just recognize the importance of a physical relationship along with a mental/emotional one.
One of my favorite shows is Sex & the City and it has a complex and well-thought out plot along with sex. And for those of you that have seen the show, you know how important BOTH aspects are. That's what I'm trying to convey here.
I understand that the sex scenes DO bother some people, so I'm not saying that everyone should love every single story out there. People have various opinions and I understand that. But what I am saying is that I think that people that haven't actually taken the time to read certain stories just because of their rating are really missing out because of a preconceived idea they may have. Also, I think it's unfair that the stories that seem to be recognized, even on this site, are never NC-17 rated stories. Shouldn't all genres and all ratings be recognized if they happen to be quality literature?
So, please, next time you see a story with an NC-17 rating, don't look it over just because you're judging it by your own limited perception of what it contains. Check it out and then judge for yourself!
Links to my stories are found in my signature. If you'd like to see what I mean, check them out and see for yourself! (This is NOT a shameless plug, I'm just trying to get readers to realize that stories have plots regardless of the NC-17 rating.)
Are there any other NC-17 writers that feel the same way I do? That your stories aren't as recognized as others just because of the rating?
chaotic:
I think your stories are more than just great! i like them no I love them... because it isn't all about sex, like you said they have a plot! and thats what makes a story great!
Great plot what the story is all about,great sex which makes the story hot lol and a great writer like you to come with lots of ideas.!
Teri:
I feel exactly the same way. A fellow author and dear friend who will remain nameless told me that I'll never get recognized no matter how good my Series is because it's NC-17 and really that's discouraging to an author and disheartening that there are such narrowminded people when we're supposed to be a community of authors.
It's annoying to think that just because I happen to put sex in my stories as an important aspect means that the real story will never get recognized or even read by some people because they don't like graphic sexual content.
When I first started posting on this site, I didn't know what to expect, but now I have two stories on the favorite stories list and am #2 on the favorite authors list. So it makes me wonder why more writers (not necessarily myself) aren't getting recognized for NC17 writing?
I can site a million stories where there's TONS of sex but there's TONS of plot. I wanna be bad by Karah and Jenn is a PRIME example of NC-17 having extremely good quality. It wouldn't have been the most popular and awarded story on the net in 2002 if it wasn't good.
This narrowmindedne ss I've encountered is really just an elitest attitude and you know for a community fiction site you really can't be elitest, because if you are that just makes you unworthy of saying whose good and who isn't. Because honestly it's not fair to good writers who happen to write sex scenes to highlight both chemistry and any potential relationship issues.
I'm not asking you to check out my stories, just to keep an open mind when going to look for new fiction because really it's YOUR loss if you pass on a story just because it's NC-17 then maybe we don't want you reading our stories if you're going to be THAT judgemental and close-minded
Teri:
--- Quote from: chaotic on October 07, 2007, 03:52:53 PM ---I think your stories are more than just great! i like them no I love them... because it isn't all about sex, like you said they have a plot! and thats what makes a story great!
Great plot what the story is all about,great sex which makes the story hot lol and a great writer like you to come with lots of ideas.!
--- End quote ---
Thank you for your opinions chaotic! I hope we are able to see more open minds like yours in the future!
Tri:
--- Quote from: chaotic on October 07, 2007, 03:52:53 PM ---I think your stories are more than just great! i like them no I love them... because it isn't all about sex, like you said they have a plot! and thats what makes a story great!
Great plot what the story is all about,great sex which makes the story hot lol and a great writer like you to come with lots of ideas.!
--- End quote ---
Thanks, Doreen! I'm glad you recognize that sex can be a part of plot. :D Thank you for your input.
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