9. HOT, SWEET & SPICY: LET'S TALK ABOUT SMUT -

AWW VOL. I, ISSUE 09

HOT, SWEET & SPICY

– Let’s talk about smut!

Welcome to the Captain’s table, my friend. I am your host, Linnea Lucifer, amateur liar and Captain of the mighty Resilience. Finest imaginary pirate ship ever built, if I may say so meself.

You arrived just in time for our Thursday FIKA with the crew, so grab yerself the beverage of your choice in the galley and come join us, as we enjoy a moment of the hottest tea, sweetest nibbles and something spicy from the Quartermaster‘s chest.

Today, we’re talking about smut, smut vs literature, and why it was important to me to have smut in my books. Well, in most of them at least.

Ready? Excellent, then let’s begin with a question of definition. What is smut?

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HOT, SWEET & SPICY

WHAT IS SMUT?

To have any kind of meaningful discussion about SMUT, we should probably begin with the definition.

Smut can refer to a plant disease, which amuses me greatly, but we’re not here to talk about gardening. The definition that is relevant to our discussion refers to sexually explicit material or, in a more general sense, to something vulgar and/or obscene.

The linguist in me likes to look at the etymology of words, as it often tells us something about the values and cultures they stem from. When we look into the history of the word smut, we find it in the 17th century meaning any type of soot, dirt or filth. Further back, we can see its roots in:

- - smitta (Old English: smear; blot; mark; stain; pollution),
  - besmītan (Old English: to besmut; defile; dirty; pollute; contaminate); and
  - smitten (Middle Low German: to stain).

Today, it is still used in Germany and Scandiland (DE: Schmutz, SE: smuts, DK: smuds, NO: smuss) meaning dirt or filth. In English, it can also mean soot, but I think most of us recognise it as a slang term for a piece of work that’s considered obscene or pornographic in its nature.

So, what do we mean by obscene or pornographic?

Well, this is where things begin to get a little thorny. I guess it’s fair to say that the general consensus, to the extent we can claim to have found one, is that it’s a piece of work where the characters are engaged in some kind of sexual activity. This applies to books, artwork, photography, magazines, films, language, performances, online settings etc.

All pornography is smut, but not all smut is pornographic. This is why we can find smut in books written for children, for example. Not porn, mind you. Smut.

Contrary to an opinion I’m loath to call popular, sex in itself is not dirty, obscene or vulgar. “It is a core part of the human experience, and as worthy of writing about as love,” our Quartermaster said when I asked for permission to write about smut in our smut-free newsletter. (CLICK HERE FOR THE SMUT-FILLED ADDENDUM) Indeed, sexuality often goes hand in hand with sweet romantic love and, as far as I’m aware, no one is suggesting that love is filthy. At least not love between a man and a woman. Unfortunately, some people still can’t wrap their heads around the very simple fact that love is love and so bloody precious it should be celebrated. (On that note: Happy Pride Month!)

Smut is a controversial topic. Some say that it’s harmful and should be banned, and in some places it is. Although As We Write is a (largely) smut-free platform, we consider smut to be an art form in its own right. And that is the definition we are using today.

Smut as an expression of the human experience.

Smut or Literature?

So, if there is smut, and smut can be present in a book, how do you know whether it’s literature, smut, or – shock horror – erotica you’re reading? I think we can all agree that there are some differences, but the lines between them are so blurry it can be hard to say.

The main distinction people tend to make is between literature and smut, as if smut is inherently bad. Of poor quality. This idea doesn’t sit well with me as a smut writer. First of all, because there’s a lot of literature out there that is extremely vulgar and obscene. Some of it lauded as fine literature and added to the classics canon as must-reads for the sophisticated reader of impeccable taste lah-dee-dah. The irony here is that you can find examples of both brilliant prose and bloody abysmal writing on both sides of the line. Wherever you draw it.

I would argue that the only useful distinction, if we must have one, rides on the purpose and function of the text.

To be crude, the purpose of erotica is to get you off. The primary function of the story, is to stimulate certain areas to make other areas react in a certain way. Swish and flick, as it were. The purpose of literature, if I may be so bold, is to explore the human condition and experience. To tell us something about ourselves and the world we live in.

And here’s the reason why I believe the only real distinction lies between erotica and other literature. Erotica can venture deep into the human experience, but it’s limited by the necessary focus on reaching a climax. Money talks, and people want what they want. Meanwhile, literature can, and often does, use smut as a plot device to help the characters explore themes like identity, relationships, and culture.

In What Is Smut above, we established that smut is considered vulgar or obscene. That it’s even illegal in some countries. Recently we have seen a lot of (in my view) sad reactionary waves from the United States where book banning is becoming more common again. And the lists of books they want to ban include many of the most loved titles from some of the masters of fiction.

Don’t quote me on this (ask our QM if you want to know for sure), but from what I understand the US Supreme Court has ruled that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment. However, I can’t find a USSC definition of what constitutes obscenity. Maybe that’s why they are trying to argue that it’s all about child protection now. It’s obviously ludicrous, but who knows.

My point is that if authors like James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Anais Nin, Gustave Flaubert, Pauline Réage, John Steinbeck, Alice Walker, Joyce Carol Oates, and Neil flippin’ Gaiman to name but a few, wrote/have written smut, you can’t argue that smut per definition equals poor writing. Perhaps, then, the only real difference is one of genre. Maybe it is fair to say that smut is more like fantasy and sci-fi. It gives you an opportunity to explore more and reach wider than you can in much of traditional fiction. And don’t forget, there are some people who look down their nose on fantasy too.

There may have been good reason back in the day to keep the number of categories and genres down, but we live in a time where audio- and ebooks outsell print copies now. We don’t need to consider shelf space, so we could easily just agree to let all literature be literature and move on. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could discuss what makes a book within a certain genre better or worse? But to do that, we would have to agree that smut is not dirty or bad, and I’m not so sure we will get over that hurdle in my lifetime.

Here on the Resilience, I made a decision from the start to draw a line between erotica and all other fiction. My reasoning was simple: some of us write for children, and some readers and writers do not want to touch or be exposed to erotica. That’s fine. I don’t want anything to do with horror, but that doesn’t mean I believe horror to be an inferior, exceptionally poorly-written genre. Or that I’d be ashamed to be seen reading Stephen King.

If you are a reader who likes all sorts of fiction I’m certain we have a book or two for you. If you also like – or prefer – something hot, sweet and spicy we have that too. Just not in the same place. If smut is your thing, you will probably enjoy our HOLIHELL site and the HOLIHELL HEADLINES.

I have two tips for you. First and foremost: Read (and write) what you enjoy! Don’t let anyone tell you what you should do or like. It’s your life and we only get one. And second, go check out SIR BEAR’S HOT LITERATURE VIDEOS, five examples of smut in general fiction. Then come tell me that smut is bad or shameful if you can.

PET’S PENANCE: BOOK 2

Sweet & Spicy Spoonie Smut

BUY NOW OR READ ON KU

“This is the champagne of smutty reads. Wherever you choose to lick your champagne from.”

Meet illustrious erotica author Maddox Rhinehart and his disabled editor, Linn Lundahl. It’s three weeks before Christmas, and they are on a transatlantic cruise going from New York to London where they will attend the yearly erotica convention and celebrate their anniversary.

“If you thought erotica was just fluff think again: a psychologically complex MC whose disability is a part, not all of her. Unblinkingly realistic, with a sparky, charismatic voice that shines off the page.”

– Amazon review

This is a slice-of-life romantic story about a dynamic power exchange duo in a full-time D/s relationship. They are also business partners who travel the world together to promote his books and build their brand. He is her Master – she’s his pet. She is his personal assistant – he’s hers.

Unfortunately for pet, she broke a rule before they left New York, and Master set her a penance to complete before they arrive in England. A task she is not happy about. Words are Linn’s domain, but it is not her story that needs to be told. And pet has zero interest in writing, let alone as punishment for something that wasn’t her fault.

As London, and her deadline, draw nearer, Maddox has realised that some things have to change in their relationship and the way they work. He has a few ideas of how to make that happen and things get sweet and spicy onboard the ship.

There are elements of kink and BDSM, a disabled wheelchair user, deliberate irregular use of spelling and grammar, profanities, smut and what some may consider inappropriate behaviour in this series.

Sweet & Spicy is available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited now. For more information about us and our books, come meet us in the Holihell writer’s room.

Current Work In Progress

I said I would make a better job of introducing myself as a writer this time, and it seemed right, somehow, to begin with a discussion around my takes on literature and smut.

The questions regarding who gets to decide what we can read and what gets written – what’s considered “clean” and what’s labelled as “dirty” – are very close to my heart. There’s a lot of policing going on from many different quarters, and I find it rather unsavoury, to be honest. I’ll be talking more about smut in my four-weekly missives, but not exclusively. And never in graphic detail. That’s what we have Holihell for.

As for WIPs (work in progress), Sir Bear and I have two more books in the Pet’s Penance novella series coming up, plus Sir & pet’s origin story. There’s also a series of short stories in the pipeline, both from pet herself and from another character in this little circle of friends.

For now, though, I need a break. I feel like we’ve crossed the finish line three times in the past week and once I’ve sent this off I’m having a weekend of reading, playing Tears of the Kingdom, and preparing to step up my OPERATION LEXIT game next week. I’ll probably get back into my Ulfrheim world too. I may do a special feature on that in July. We’ll see… =)

THE SOCK WARS

We Have a Mutinous Demon Onboard

Of all the things you expect may happen when you set sail on a pirate ship, a war between a sock demon and the grizzled old Quartermaster is not even on the list. Yet here we are.

The red demon, General Zangrunath he calls himself, is still trying to recruit mutineers, promising he’ll steal my position and have the QM walk the plank. It’s not going to be pretty. Sir Bear does not share, and he doesn’t take kindly to thieves and rule-breakers.

Hold on to yer hats, Messmates!

FOLLOW THE SOCK WARS

SUPPORT US?

The Resilience hosts a series of independent blogs and websites, including aswewrite.com and holihell.com. But more importantly, she offers a steadily growing number of writers a home and a treasure trove of shared resources, knowledge and experience.

Your support keeps her afloat and helps us make more shit up.

Thank you and welcome aboard!

Pick up some cool author and book swag in our shop. Do you have any special requests? Let us know and we’ll see what we can do…

TO THE SHOP

It takes a lot of tea and coffee to run a pirate ship. Spot us a cuppa if you can and help us keep the Resilience afloat. We always say thanks…

TO TIP JAR

If you become one of our first patreots, all bets are off. You can check in to our reader’s hotel on discord and we may even write you into one of our books…

TO PATREON

Are You Ready for SMUT Sunday?

We are running low on the smelling salts, so we’ve had to move all nsfw material to As We Write’s naughtier little sister site Holihell. Just click the button below if you want to see more of the spicier stuff some of our Resilience-authors have to offer.

SHOW ME THE SMUT

We’ll Meet Again!

Heh, look at us, we’ve made it to the end again. Next week, our Ship’s Belle, F.K. Marlowe, will be holding the pen. She threatened us with a new nasty horror yesterday, so I had to lock her up in the rum cellar. Can’t risk having her vex the Ship’s Sea Witch – we have enough sparks flying aboard as it is.

Now, it’s time for me to curl up in Sir Bear’s lap and mys with a book and a cuppa. I hope you have something nice to look forward to as well.

Thank you very much for popping in for fika today. We all appreciate your time and will keep doing our best to provide value for you in our Ship’s Logs and, of course, in our books.

See you in four weeks’ time, but as always, before I go: Don’t forget – I believe in you!

Puss & Kram,

//Linnea 🏴‍☠️🖤

ABOUT LINNEA LUCIFER

Linnea Lucifer is the Captain of the imaginary, yet very real, pirate ship Resilience and her merry crew of indie authors. But that is not all – amateur liar, weaver of stories, peddler of merch, lifelong spoonie, ancient dragon lady and Maddox Rhinehart’s irreverent pet are a few more words often used to describe the bearer of many names.

The Captain, who was named after a delicate little flower that grows in mossy, Swedish pine forests, and a certain fiery fallen angel, spends most of her days daydreaming and writing fantasy, smut and painfully crappy poems. She takes great pleasure in everything that tickles the senses and adds a sprinkle of magic and spice to our world.

Linnea writes fantasy rooted in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore under the pen name Saga Linnea Söderberg. She writes sweet’n’spicy spoonie smut together with Leto Armitage under the joint pen name Linn Rhinehart. As Evalena Styf, she’s known as a knowsy roll model and prolific content creator. She’s also a retired writing coach, editor and graphic designer.