Damn.

Just when I was thinking I could avoid being interested in fanfic, I had to go and read one that made me cry. (BTVS fic, called The Funeral, recently added at fanfiction.net)

Now I need to seek out the kind of fic I like.

If anybody has any suggestions for really well-written stuff that doesn't contain any seriously pornographic scenes, that'd be great. That's really been the biggest fanfic turn-off for me: I prefer my erotic fiction to have faceless, voiceless characters, that I can use my imagination on and never feel wrong.

Unfortunately, it seems hard to find good fanfic that isn't basically erotic fiction in disguise.

To be clear: I don't mind love scenes, but they should be secondary to some sort of interesting story, or at least character exploration, and should not be the focus of the fic.

Now I want to write fic. I have too many hobbies I WANT to pursue.

Nova, I feel your pain. If there's a plot reason for two people to hop in the sack, go for it. There's rarely a plot reason for the extensive choreography that then gets described. I've been known to scroll past such scenes when re-reading my favorite fics.

Not to say I haven't perpetrated smut myself ;), but I try to have a reason. Makes it difficult to write "porn without plot," because I am plot's bitch.

Poly recs has plenty of gen recs.

Where do you start to consider things seriously pornographic? (To help me seek out recs. As I own a lot of erotica, I tend to view things as seriously hardcore erotica if and only if there's nothing but sex. But YMMV.)

Golf carts in a secret passage in a farmhouse cellar. Check.

Near the end of the movie Masterminds, there's a scene where Patrick Stewart is chasing Vincent Kartheiser through a school, and they somehow end up in these tunnels under the school (maybe connected to the sewers?) where there are, for some reason, a bunch of golf carts. The lamest chase scene ever filmed ensues.

Well, if you consider pornographic=excessive/over-the-top, then it would be when every move is described. A first encounter or one that takes place under exceptional circumstances--in the middle of a battle or a "we could all be dead in the next five minutes, c'mere" or "I haven't seen you in months"--work, for me, to be extensively described. I'm much happier with the occasional fade out if the encounter is something that would normally occur in the course of a relationship, especially stress-relief or make-up sex. I'd write such a scene ending with the clothes coming off or starting with the afterglow snuggling. We know what's going on, I'd prefer to keep the story rolling.

NovaChild, what fandoms are you interested in? If Buffyverse B/A would work for you, I can easily recommend Phoenix Burning. Lots of plot, considerably less sex than your standard romance novel and what little there is is fade-to-black.

Sweet. Thanks. I'll read the Phoenix Burning then move on to Poly Recs. =)

The tryst had been divine, although designed to serve many purposes for both participants, a commingling of sorts inspired by expressive green eyes and vivacious blue ones. There were factors galore that played an important role in the coupling, like attraction, the scratching of an itch, the need for survival, and the desperate attempt at establishing beachheads – all acting as necessary conduits to answering the question of who was on point. The attraction was understandable, after all the Prince was not only indistinguishably handsome, he was a Prince; and the woman, sultry, bold, and incredibly beautiful was after all a woman (good enough for the all male Prince).

---

She instinctively took an errand curl that fell over his right eye and gently tucked it behind the perfect shell of his ear, brushing gently the side of his face with the palm of her hand. The spontaneous act causing an immediate reaction in Michael’s being and he smiled in his sleep, kissed her lips tenderly, and hugged her tighter whispering, “Sleep my love, tomorrow is going to be a busy one”.

---

She nodded and he almost missed her answer for he was busy watching the black pupil that contrasted magnificently with the woman’s blue orbs.

---

He sat up with his back to the sofa bed and pulled her up with him, his torso exposed, tanned and inflexible

---

Michael smiled and slipped a hand under the covers, looking for Nikita’s center, she was giggling from the feel of his expert hand on her and she asked, “So what do I call you?” Then followed it by a resounding, “Oh God Michael.”

He took a breast in his mouth, sucked and laughing answered, “Not God, that would be too much to ask”. Then the couple proceeded with the foreplay they were quickly becoming addicted to and forgot to rest part of the equation, if just for a while.

Hey! The math is back!

People love that? That makes me sad.

She instinctively took an errand curl that fell over his right eye and gently tucked it behind the perfect shell of his ear

Um-- what is an "errand curl"? Does it ride a bicycle and deliver packages? Cause then maybe I need one.