Pushing the Envelope

Posted by SarahBella in Uncategorized | 3 comments

This week’s Wicked Wednesday blog is brought to you by ME, SarahBella, as Sirenastarot had to go out of town unexpectedly.  So I thought, hmmm, what topic have we not covered yet?  And thanks to lizabella, I came up with this.

Pushing the Envelope

And by the way, this blog is rated NC-17.

We’ve all read those fics that make you go “Oh, nuh uh!  She did not just go there!  Really?  Gross.”  I’ve always said that there are three distinct stages that you go through when you first read smut.  First you go, “Oh, eeew!  Edward would never do that.”  Then, you start to think about it, so you read the second chapter and you go “I never would have thought of that!”  And then, the third time you read it, you’re hooked.  Permanently sucked in to the world of dirty, dirty, smutty goodness.

The same thing applies when you read a lemon that’s not as vanilla as most.  (Vanilla is a term used in BDSM to refer to sex that is not kinky – i.e.  missionary.)  There’s nothing wrong with missionary, but when you read your first non-vanilla fic, you go through those three stages again, but it goes like this.

First, you go, “Oh, ewwww, Edward would never do that; especially not to Jasper!”  Then, you think about it and you read the second chapter and you go, “Two guys can do that?”  And the third time you read it you’re hooked.  You think you’ll never read vanilla lemons again.  But of course, you do, because there’s nothing wrong with the missionary position.

So, you want to write a kinky fic.  There’s an old adage that applies to everything in life.  ‘Write what you know’.  If you’ve never had sex, smut will be difficult for you to write.  If you’ve never participated in BDSM activities, it’s going to be difficult for you to describe just what Stefan sounds like with a ball gag in his mouth.

That said, there are some ways you can circumvent some of those issues.  How can a girl write Jasper/Edward slash?  Or Edward/Cedric for that matter?  Well, boys and girls, a cock up the ass feels like a cock up the ass, whether you’ve got a cock or a vag.

Some topics- bondage, dirty talk – you can ask someone about.  Have them describe the sensations, the words, the restraints.   Read books, read other fics.

Others, like spanking for example, you can get around the lack of experience.  You know what sound flesh makes when it hits flesh.  Describe that.  You know what pleasure feels like, (I hope.  And if you don’t, I feel so, so sorry for you) describe it.  Pleasure is pleasure, regardless of the source.

Desperately want to write a D/s fic, but you’ve got no experience whatsoever?  That I probably wouldn’t recommend -like I wouldn’t recommend trying to write a fic about cock and ball torture if you don’t have a cock.

Another thing to remember is that you’re writing for you, not for the reader.  If you are constantly second guessing whether or not your readers will like your story, we’re going to know it.  It’ll be wishy-washy and the lemon will be over lightning quick.  And let’s face it, a quickie is really only fun in the bathroom at work or if only one of the three kids is napping.

There are a LOT of topics (bondage, slash, Domination) that will squick some people.  And there are some topics (scat, blood play, water sports) that will squick a LOT of people.  There are no topics that make everyone happy all the time.  Everything is squicky to someone.  There are some readers out there, trust me **wink wink**, who are nearly impossible to squick based on the topic. But that’s another blog entirely.  Every fetish, every action, every kiss, will intrigue someone, as long as it’s well written.

So what have we learned today about pushing the envelope?  Not much!  Write what you know, and write for yourself.  Worry more about the quality of the writing than who you’re going to squick, and your story will be infinitely more well received.

And PS, if you’ve never tried a ball gag, I highly recommend it ;)

Now, after all my epic dirtiness, I got to interview MVF’s very own Jules.

Me- How did you first discover fanfic?

Jules - I was in desperate search for information about Stephenie Meyer continuing the Twilight saga.  A simple Google search turned up links to some fanfic sites.  At first I was reluctant to read something that wasn’t by the actual author of the series, but eventually I gave in and I’m so glad that I did.

Me- And what lead you to start writing?

Jules - When I first started looking for stories I was only interested in post BD canon stories.  I really just wanted the story to continue.  The first few I read weren’t so great.  I’ve always had a passion for writing and decided to go out on a limb and write down the thoughts that were running through my head.  While I was waiting for the story to get accepted at Twilighted, I did come across some really amazing post BD stories I enjoyed.

Me- Changing Tides New World is your first major fic.  Can you tell us about it?

Jules - It’s a post Breaking Dawn canon story that finds the Cullens preparing for their first move since Renesmee was born.  The move eventually leads them to new friends.  Some old enemies resurface as a result, leading to a final showdown.  I tried to remain true to how the series was written, other than branching out into different POV’s.

Me- I know you recently wrote a crossover Buffy/Vampire Diaries fic.  Can we expect any more fics from series other than Twilight?

Jules - I hope so! Writing in a different genre ended up being much more fun than I expected.  I’m finishing up the Black Dagger Brotherhood series currently and plan to move on to House of Night and Blue Bloods after that.  Since BDB fan fic is a no no, I hope to find some inspiration from the other two series.  I might write another crossover BtVS/VD fic at some point.  We’ll see.  I am working on another AU multi-chapter Twific at the moment.

Me- In honor of Sirenastarot, I have to do this.  Pick your three  favorite vamps in any fandom

Jules - I knew this one was coming and it’s so difficult for me to answer still.  I will say: Edward, Vishous & Spike

Me- Who would you fuck, kill and marry?

Jules - Fuck would be Vishous (from the Black Dagger Brotherhood)

Marry would be Edward

and poor Spike is getting killed two weeks in a row.

Me- If you could only read one fanfic for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Jules - This question just isn’t fair.  I have too many that I love.  I’m just going to go with one I am currently sucked into, Somewhere Along Those Lines by DreamsofJosten.  But there are so many others that I would want to do the same with.   SATL is a real life fic that everyone should read.

Me- Of the different vampire series that you’ve read, watched on TV, or movies that you’ve seen, which one is your favorite, and why?

Jules - It’s going to have to be the Twilight saga.  First off, the love story is timeless to me.  I can’t help but fall in love with the love between Edward and Bella.  And, there is something to be said for all of the characters of the series, they inspire the creativity of hundreds of fanfic authors. They are fictional muses that have driven so many to share their own ideas.  That says something.

Thanks so much Jules, for all you do for us!  To read Jules’ Wicked Wednesday entry, Paging Dr. Cullen, go to http://myvampfiction.com/dungeon/viewstory.php?sid=200

Up next week on Wicked Wednesday, is Mac.  Here’s a preview of her story, Sugar Plums.

“Ho ho ho,” I boomed in what I could only hope was a convincingly jolly voice. Bella led a pretty blond girl to me while studiously avoiding my eyes, although I hoped she’d look at me every time she approached. She lifted the little girl easily, and while she was situating her in my lap, she leaned in so close I could smell the perfume she had always worn – a mix of orange, cinnamon, and vanilla – and whispered, “Nicole” softly in my ear.

“I think you’re settling for me, as if you want more than I have. You deserve better,” she had said to me tearfully. I didn’t even know what that meant. And then she was gone. She not only left me, but she left school. She left town. And then a month ago she showed up at Mawbridge’s without explanation, the sight of her leaving me slack-jawed and misty-eyed. I had to fake a contact lens tear in the middle of Santa training so as not to let on to the entire department I was an emotional wreck over the slight girl… woman…  who had been hired to work in the Santa shop.

Woohoo!  It’s looks like we’re getting some dirty Santaward!  Check ya’ll on the flip side.