• Smut (fungus), a classification of grass fungi
  Smut (comics), an adult British comic title dating back to the 1980s
  A colloquial term for Obscenity
  Smut (song), satirical song on obscenity by Tom Lehrer

Now, I've written porn, and I've written erotica, and I've also written erotic romance. I also used to jokingly refer to what I write as "smutty romance."

I don't any longer.

Why? Because what I write doesn't fit the definition as outlined above of "smut." It's not a grass fungi. And, it's not a British Comic. And I don't write satirical songs. That leaves the last definition, a colloquial term for obscenity. Just what is obscenity? If we go back to wikipedia, it tells us that obscenity in Latin obscenus, meaning "foul, repulsive, detestable", (possibly derived from ob caenum, literally "from filth"). The term is most often used in a legal context to describe expressions (words, images, actions) that offend the prevalent sexual morality of the time.

This provokes the question, is erotic romance, or more specifically erotic romance obscene? Well, I don't think so. It doesn't offend me. Pushes some of my buttons yes, takes some things to the edge and a smidge beyond, yes. But never offensive.

There are people who find the frank sexual descriptions found in erotic romance to be offensive to them. Just as there are people who would find the prevalent discussions of God in an inspirational romance to be offensive. In fact, if you look at media, I'm sure there's more than something out there to offend everyone. To me, if we say erotic romance is offensive, well, then we're making that distinction at the exclusion of everything else. If we're being honest here, there are some nights when I find Steven Colbert's show funny and offensive all at the same time!

All of this means that I don't call what I write smut anymore. It's not offensive. It's not dirty. Erotic romance can be many things. And while I'm all for reclaiming words, I'm also all about using the proper words. And when it comes to smut, it's not even in the same universe as what I write.

And that's why I proudly say I write erotic romance! I don't write smut.

Posted by Mary Winter :: 9:52 AM :: 0 comments

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