Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Who Says ‘Chicks’ Can’t Write Sex?

Written by Kat Meyer

I love a good controversy, and while the brouhaha over the legitimacy of e-only authors technically fits the definition of a controversy, the quasi-kerfuffle surrounding whether or not women have what it takes to write erotica is just a heck of a lot more FUN to gab about. Don’t you think?

Recenty, a TimesOnline.com article by Kathy Lette, posited the question – “Who writes best about sex?” For Ms. Lette, the question orignated during the BBC Radio 4′s “Today” program, when the new owner of the relaunched “Erotic Review,” Kate Copstick told Ms. Lette:

that women seldom write well about sex because females ‘have an agenda, they complicate sex, they make layers, it’s conditional. And they lie as well.’

Silliness, yes. But, the cool thing is, the silliness generated some usefulness. And subsequent to the silliness, lots of smart people have seized the opportunity to talk not only about why it’s such silliness, but to offer good advice on what makes for good erotic writing.

• Salon.com noticed Ms. Copstick’s comments, and rounded up a few voices to comment:

  Salon’s Laura Miller suggested in an e-mail: ‘As she well knows, women are as capable of naked and shameless sex writing as they are of naked and shameless bids for attention — which is what her statements so patently are.’ The inimitable Susie Bright, who got a good laugh from Copstick’s comments, wrote in an e-mail: ‘I do have to applaud her PR instincts … say something ridiculous and put yourself on the map!’

• In a post called “Chicks Can’t Write Sex,” Carolyn Kellog over at the LA Times’ Jacket Copy blog had a great discussion with Rachel Kramer Bussel about erotica and what critical elements go into doing it well — (hint: it’s not who writes it, but how they write it).
• Belle du Jour concurs, and offers some very nice erotic writing tips of her own.

• Keri Stevens makes some salient–and “grandma-proof”–arguments as to WHY writers write about sex in her post, “Pelvic Power for Core Stabilization.”
• And though not a result of the above-mentioned silliness, this oldie but goody from Salon.com “How to Write a Sex Scene: The 12-step program,” by author Steve Almond certainly fits the spirit of a wise response. In it, Mr. Almond gives some dead-on guidelines for writing great sex scenes (and never once says women shouldn’t pick up a pen).

So, the lesson here is obvious: If, in order to draw attention to your otherwise un-noteworthy publicity campaign, you choose to start a silly sexist controversy about whether or not women can write sex as well as men, be warned — good journalists, bloggers, authors and critics will just turn it around and make it a fun link-fest to fabulous information and fantastic examples of good erotic writing by women, while pretty much ignoring whatever it was you meant to draw attention to in the first place.

As always, we’d LURVE to hear your opinions. What makes for good erotic writing? Does the author’s gender matter to you? Do you think “”kerfuffle” is the best word ever? Comment away, we’ll be listening!

And in other fun news: CONGRATS to our very own Ms. Kassia Krozser who will be a speaker at O’Reilly Media’s Tools of Change Day during the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. Way to go, Kassia! We’re so proud!