The conflicted life of a female porn writer

Bill · 2009-12-22, 11:25 PM

Kiinda funny article about a woman who started out hoping to be a successful fiction writer but who ended up being a porn writer.

I'm sure we can all relate.

I guess the article won an award or something, which just goes to show, it's all about the fucking sex. Would the author have won an award if the story wasn't about porn? I bet not.

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/pornwriter/column1.html

Let me be clear about something: I never set out to become a porn writer. I set out to be a writer. Ever since I was seven, I've wanted to write novels and children's books and illustrate my own work. But, as it turns out, writing fiction isn't such an easy thing to make a living at, and along the way I stumbled off the path and wound up here, amidst the plastic-wrapped, two-for-one skin magazines. I still work on my own creative endeavors, and I've even had a few stories published here and there, but the only lucrative gigs I've ever had as a writer have been for bottom-shelf wank rags.

How did this happen? Well, I followed a pretty typical trajectory after college, casting about in a general fugue of post-B.A.-in-English angst for a few years, and then settled in New York, where writers have been losing their souls for centuries. When a friend mentioned that she knew the editor-in-chief of a sleazy porno magazine who was looking for a DVD reviewer, I figured I'd give it a try. I'd spent some time working as, among other things, a go-go dancer, a nude art model, and an amateur Sex and the City expert, and hell, I'd seen my fair share of internet porn. It was something I had never felt particularly proud of watching, but I saw nothing wrong with pornography; I'd read it was as old as the cave paintings. Part of the human condition. As a practical, if not exactly radical, feminist, I did have a moment's hesitation about becoming part of an industry notorious for its exploitation of women. But then again, as a feminist, I should be willing to support the right of women to do whatever they wanted with their lives, minds, and bodies, right? If they decided to have sex on camera, I would support their decisions, and make a buck out of reviewing their work. And, hell, I was broke. So why not?
Shortly thereafter, I found myself in a maze of dimly lit hallways called an office in flip-flops and shorts ("Doesn't matter how you're dressed," he'd said on the phone, "this is a porn office. Just stop by."). Within a half hour, having met a few of the tattooed and jaded individuals running the operation, I was handed a box packed with some of the filthiest magazines I had ever seen and a double-disc set of a XXX film called Something-or-Other "ASSault." Within a week I'd written my first porn review, had it approved for publication, and was hired as a freelance reviewer. I was officially "in" the skin biz.

J-SiN · 2009-12-23, 09:37 AM

But isn't that every porn writer's experience? Those thoughts are nothing new.

RedCherry · 2009-12-23, 10:53 AM

If someone had told me years ago, you will end up writing in the adult industry, building porn sites, I'd of laughed my ass off. Like her, I wanted to write fiction. When I discovered the computer, I wanted to do a career with it. Now I get to combine both loves.

But dang, I love my job. 10 years later, I still love it. My experience wasn't like hers, as I always worked for other companies over the internet, but I can relate.

I think that it is a woman who is writing it is the only reason it won any kind of award.

kathblack · 2009-12-23, 04:01 PM

I have to agree. I started out writing for mainstream magazines and family-oriented tips and homeschooling books/tutorials. I began writing erotic/romance type stories and looked to the 'net for a place to start posting my stories for people to read. After a week of full-immersion HTML cramming I learned to build my own sites - and the rest is history! lol

I bet there are literally THOUSANDS of stories just like these all over the globe. LOL Where's our awards? Guess we weren't smart enough to write an article about our porn-writing experiences. Time to toot our own horns?

pornsprite · 2009-12-24, 02:48 PM

Writing is a skill set,that I didn't pay the correct amount of attention to during my earlier years. So, I am continuing to get there from a different direction. I am definitely getting better, with every attempt to write compelling blog text, for my sites.

I am positive no one, will offer to pay me for my copy prowest anytime soon, but I do enjoy the process of adult content writing.

Useless · 2009-12-24, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pornsprite

Writing is a skill set,that I didn't pay the correct amount of attention to during my earlier years. So, I am continuing to get there from a different direction. I am definitely getting better, with every attempt to write compelling blog text, for my sites.

I am positive no one, will offer to pay me for my copy prowest anytime soon, but I do enjoy the process of adult content writing.

I'm fairly confident of that too. You use commas in the most unusual and unnatural places. No comma prowess, I suppose.

pornsprite · 2009-12-24, 03:24 PM

I have to admit, to a small amount of embarrassment, after your proof reading. Even at my expense, your post is funny.

Useless · 2009-12-26, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pornsprite

I have to admit, to a small amount of embarrassment, after your proof reading. Even at my expense, your post is funny.

That, post, was. Almost, as, bad, as. Your, first.

Nikitos · 2009-12-26, 03:03 PM

Very nice reading...
Well, i guess most of us came into this biz like this. Personally i wanted to build web sites, but i couldn't even imagine that would be porn sites

Max@PuZcash.com · 2009-12-28, 05:16 AM

I can write porn stories with no problems but seem to have problems writing 'normal' stories..

Agent · 2009-12-31, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-SiN

But isn't that every porn writer's experience? Those thoughts are nothing new.

But it's nice that someone wrote about it, on a non-adult web site no less.

I don't know how many times I've backspaced over a piece and replaced it with something sanitized and less effective because I considered it too "dirty", "perverted", or "suggesting". Or how many times I've hit post and thought to myself, "ergghhh, what if a friend or family member read that? She would think I was fucked in the head."

I'm glad someone has written about these feelings in a well put together piece intended for people outside of the business. I can get pretty conflicted over my work sometimes. It's nice to be reminded that I'm not alone.

If I have to write copyright for sites that deal with 18-19 year old porn stars I can't do it in one shot. It gets overwhelming and makes me feel like shit. Guilty, even. I have to space the work out over days and write about other things. I can't explain why. I have no moral problems with the niche (when it's not taken to highly suggestive extremes.) But that's just the way it is.

2009-12-22, 11:25 PM	#1
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	The conflicted life of a female porn writer Kiinda funny article about a woman who started out hoping to be a successful fiction writer but who ended up being a porn writer. I'm sure we can all relate. I guess the article won an award or something, which just goes to show, it's all about the fucking sex. Would the author have won an award if the story wasn't about porn? I bet not. http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/pornwriter/column1.html Let me be clear about something: I never set out to become a porn writer. I set out to be a writer. Ever since I was seven, I've wanted to write novels and children's books and illustrate my own work. But, as it turns out, writing fiction isn't such an easy thing to make a living at, and along the way I stumbled off the path and wound up here, amidst the plastic-wrapped, two-for-one skin magazines. I still work on my own creative endeavors, and I've even had a few stories published here and there, but the only lucrative gigs I've ever had as a writer have been for bottom-shelf wank rags. How did this happen? Well, I followed a pretty typical trajectory after college, casting about in a general fugue of post-B.A.-in-English angst for a few years, and then settled in New York, where writers have been losing their souls for centuries. When a friend mentioned that she knew the editor-in-chief of a sleazy porno magazine who was looking for a DVD reviewer, I figured I'd give it a try. I'd spent some time working as, among other things, a go-go dancer, a nude art model, and an amateur Sex and the City expert, and hell, I'd seen my fair share of internet porn. It was something I had never felt particularly proud of watching, but I saw nothing wrong with pornography; I'd read it was as old as the cave paintings. Part of the human condition. As a practical, if not exactly radical, feminist, I did have a moment's hesitation about becoming part of an industry notorious for its exploitation of women. But then again, as a feminist, I should be willing to support the right of women to do whatever they wanted with their lives, minds, and bodies, right? If they decided to have sex on camera, I would support their decisions, and make a buck out of reviewing their work. And, hell, I was broke. So why not? Shortly thereafter, I found myself in a maze of dimly lit hallways called an office in flip-flops and shorts ("Doesn't matter how you're dressed," he'd said on the phone, "this is a porn office. Just stop by."). Within a half hour, having met a few of the tattooed and jaded individuals running the operation, I was handed a box packed with some of the filthiest magazines I had ever seen and a double-disc set of a XXX film called Something-or-Other "ASSault." Within a week I'd written my first porn review, had it approved for publication, and was hired as a freelance reviewer. I was officially "in" the skin biz.

2009-12-23, 09:37 AM	#2
J-SiN Lord help me, I'm just not that bright Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SiN2.0 Posts: 108	But isn't that every porn writer's experience? Those thoughts are nothing new. __________________ SiN2.0 Adult Webmaster Podcast

2009-12-23, 10:53 AM	#3
RedCherry Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Middle of the Desert, Pahrump, NV Posts: 3,187	If someone had told me years ago, you will end up writing in the adult industry, building porn sites, I'd of laughed my ass off. Like her, I wanted to write fiction. When I discovered the computer, I wanted to do a career with it. Now I get to combine both loves. But dang, I love my job. 10 years later, I still love it. My experience wasn't like hers, as I always worked for other companies over the internet, but I can relate. I think that it is a woman who is writing it is the only reason it won any kind of award. __________________ Our 3D Comics and Props on Renderotica

2009-12-26, 03:03 PM	#9
Nikitos If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can't speak English Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 31	Very nice reading... Well, i guess most of us came into this biz like this. Personally i wanted to build web sites, but i couldn't even imagine that would be porn sites __________________ IdolBucks.com - the best Asian affiliate program

2009-12-28, 05:16 AM	#10
Max@PuZcash.com If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can't speak English Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 35	I can write porn stories with no problems but seem to have problems writing 'normal' stories.. __________________ www.puZcash.com ICQ: 575610973 Max

2009-12-23, 04:01 PM	#4
kathblack If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can't speak English Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SoCal Desert Posts: 32	I have to agree. I started out writing for mainstream magazines and family-oriented tips and homeschooling books/tutorials. I began writing erotic/romance type stories and looked to the 'net for a place to start posting my stories for people to read. After a week of full-immersion HTML cramming I learned to build my own sites - and the rest is history! lol I bet there are literally THOUSANDS of stories just like these all over the globe. LOL Where's our awards? Guess we weren't smart enough to write an article about our porn-writing experiences. Time to toot our own horns?

2009-12-24, 02:48 PM	#5
pornsprite Aw, Dad, you've done a lot of great things, but you're a very old man, and old people are useless Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 27	Writing is a skill set,that I didn't pay the correct amount of attention to during my earlier years. So, I am continuing to get there from a different direction. I am definitely getting better, with every attempt to write compelling blog text, for my sites. I am positive no one, will offer to pay me for my copy prowest anytime soon, but I do enjoy the process of adult content writing.

2009-12-24, 03:24 PM	#7
pornsprite Aw, Dad, you've done a lot of great things, but you're a very old man, and old people are useless Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 27	I have to admit, to a small amount of embarrassment, after your proof reading. Even at my expense, your post is funny.