Monday is for shitpollsting about sex in fanfic

[lunabee34]

I was just commenting in china_shop's journal that I don't write much explicit fanfic anymore and that I don't really read it much now either. When I first got into fanfic, the porn aspect was novel for me, and almost everything I read was explicit. Now if I do read explicit fanfic, I'm just as likely to skip all the sex scenes so I can get to the good parts: Draco crying in the bathroom because Harry hates him or Tony crying in the workshop because Steve hates him or, you know, some other people crying and misunderstanding each other egregiously (like in ways that stretch the limits of credulity).

And that got me to wondering about what the rest of you think about sex in fanfic. Please discuss any and all points in comments! Tangents welcome.

Poll #22479 And then the taller man licked into the tallest man's mouth

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 36

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I often skip the sex scenes in explicit fanfic.

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yes, and I'm going to tell you why in comments
9 (25.7%)

no
12 (34.3%)

how much is often?
14 (40.0%)

Never thought I'd be reading fic that features __________, but here I am. Reading it.

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OT3's

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do not solve love triangles, sheesh.
8 (25.0%)

are the best way to resolve love triangles, sheesh.
24 (75.0%)

Effective sex scenes are really hard to write.

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yes; I mean you can't just write, "she tasted like strawberries, and sugar, and something uniquely her," TWO times in a single fic
14 (42.4%)

no; you get the right combo of elements (say, spanking, some egg custard, and a little light bondage) and *somebody* out there's going to find it hot
5 (15.2%)

sometimes
14 (42.4%)

Comments

[china_shop]

If I'm skipping/skimming the sex scene, it's almost always a sign that I'm skimming the rest of the fic too (probably just reading the dialogue, at that stage).

Atm I feel like effective sex scenes are really hard to write for some pairings. Or maybe "in some moods." Idk, but I'm pretty sure there's a qualifier in there somewhere. ;-)

I love OT3s!!! But only if they all love each other (whether or not that's platonic love for two of them).

[lunabee34]

Edit away, my friend. I always find something to tweak after I've posted a comment. :)

That is not true for me re: skimming. I'll be reading a HP fic that has truly excellent world building (all this cool stuff about the way magic works) and be extremely impatient for Snape and Harry to stop fucking already so Neville can get back to explaining the magical properties of roses or whatever. LOL

Oh, yeah. I agree re: OT3s. If they're not all into each other, then it's a weird power imbalance.