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Questionable Questing: Exploring NSFW Creative Writing

1. Introduction to Questionable Questing

We are not here to replace current fanfiction communities, we are not trying to recruit members away from other sites they frequent. Rather we offer a much more specific grouping. There may be times you read something that would normally put you off or perhaps an author who specializes in said content. It’s a sure thing that there are people who would see a hidden genius and QQ is aimed to offer these people a place to better nurture the works they may enjoy.

We do not hide the fact that our focus is adult-related material. That said, this is always in an attempt to raise the bar, show that it is possible to produce something of higher quality or deeper meaning even within the restrictions of certain content. We at QQ agree that smut for the sake of smut is not a good thing, it’s often the case within mainstream works that the authors or creators themselves simply used it as a selling point or fell back on it to keep the interest of a particular audience. This shouldn’t detract from the sometimes subtle provocative content that can actually serve to illustrate a story or character better than anything else. Now this doesn’t mean we shun clean works either, it simply means we want people to feel comfortable posting their adult works knowing that there will be an audience that appreciates it.

Questionable Questing was created as a site where creative individuals can produce high-quality material and have it appreciated purely for its creative value. Adult/explicit content has been part of many fanfiction communities, it’s no secret that it’s out there, but it does not always receive the same appreciation or quality control as the more mainstream material. On frequent occasions, the writers themselves are hounded simply to backtrace and drop their work because it could risk the reputation of the community or the genre.

Tired of the attitude that anything of a sexual nature is dirty and should be kept in its own corner of the internet? Do you feel that the sorry state of most adult fanfiction sites, if there are any even available, is impacting on the creativity shown in adult creative writing?

2. Understanding NSFW Creative Writing

The bounds of what specifically is considered NSFW in entertainment and literature are transient and vary by culture, but it is always necessary to have a detailed understanding of the implications of something before including it in creative works. The most obvious, direct way of stating the meaning of NSFW is “Not Safe For Work,” and it refers to content that is inappropriate to view in a public or professional environment. This doesn’t only encompass literal work spaces, as it can also allude to the environment being presented in a creative work. Writing that takes place in a historical war zone, but portrays a version of events in which the soldiers are scantily clad women, would fall under NSFW depictions, because it is a reinterpretation of war unfit for the original setting. Failing to consider the context of NSFW material can make its depiction in creative works shallow and lacking impact, simply as an excuse to use sexually explicit content. Clearly defining the reasons and implications of depicting something in a NSFW manner is essential to effectively executing and integrating it into a body of work. Before embarking on a NSFW writing endeavor, or assessing how to better handle one already in project, it is necessary for one to understand his or her mindset in creating NSFW material. Unsurprisingly, people can write NSFW content for the same reasons general content is created: it can be emotionally moving, serious, comical, serve as an outlet for creative expression, and even created purely for the sake of appealing to others with similar tastes.

3. Techniques for Engaging NSFW Content

The first aspect that engages people is drama, the promise of action or conflict. It’s the standard cliché of sex scenes being two characters falling through the door in mid-embrace, but it’s the truth nonetheless. The real problem is that in erotic work the drama often does its job too well and leads into the content itself, becoming either something that the writer doesn’t want to or can’t follow up on, or consumes the work so that there is no content but the drama. This thus leads to subpar storywriting or the writer having to shift the work into non-erotic territory in the name of higher quality and reader engagement.

The techniques required to engage NSFW content effectively are somewhat more advanced and certainly more abstract than creating emotionally engaging work. These techniques rely on what the human mind finds engaging content, and there is no set formula or guideline to follow for what is, at its core, a primal response to images and information. What can be done though, is to break down what is generally considered to be engaging content and find ways to apply it specifically to NSFW content.

4. Addressing Controversies and Ethical Considerations

To begin with, our understanding of what constitutes a controversy or an ethical issue is important. In their framework for understanding ethics in writing, Weaver and Wetzel (2015) suggest that “true ethical problems are those which involve a conflict of responsibilities; that is, an author believes he or she has a moral obligation that stands in opposition to another moral obligation”. In this sense, a writer may feel that they are obligated to responsibly represent sexuality and various sexual themes in their writing, but are aware of possible negative consequences, such as alienating some readers or limiting the scope of publishing for their work. This is a simple example but it gets the basic point across. An ethical issue or controversy occurs when a writer feels that by writing a certain piece of content they may be acting irresponsibly or conflicting with other moral obligations that they have.

When engaging with any form of creative writing, it is only natural for the writer to encounter ethical and controversial lines that they may be hesitant or unwilling to cross. This is no different for writing in the NSFW genre, a genre which exists purely to challenge conventional social norms and explore sexuality and sexual themes. It is not the aim of this essay to suggest that any writer should break their own ethical codes or write content that they are uncomfortable with, but to instead encourage a greater understanding of some of the controversies surrounding the NSFW genre and to provide a framework for writers to use to analyze whether or not they are comfortable with writing content which challenges these ethical codes.

5. Conclusion: Embracing the Boundaries of Creativity

In terms of the word “questionable” in the name, making work of this sort is not easy. I’m sure the writers of involving stories have gotten some weird looks, concerned questionings, and even some people backing away slowly. They’ve been skittish, as if interaction will result in instantaneous corruption. We publish a challenge to creative writers in communities of both the internet and “real life” – have you not experienced a similar reaction upon pushing the envelope in what you write, however slightly? Writers engage in questionable questing all the time, with or without intent to disturb. It’s only too easy to unsettle someone with story; and often it is juxtaposition between the normal and the abnormal that produces the strongest sense of discomfort. This is by no measure limited to sexual themes. With the ambiguity of the word “NSFW” in mind, it is worth considering that a sexual scene can be less perturbing than many other things. And, if one dared to explore in writing it, even acts considered abhorrent have a range of motivations and results. In storytelling, as in life, there are many places where one fears to tread but finds oneself curious regardless. Art often imitates life that way, and questioning the purpose and results of that imitation is a question worth asking. A writer who can stomach the raised eyebrows and tentative questions about their integrity has much to gain by exploring such themes. Coming to terms with the reactions of others is a necessary life skill, and if it is said that too much curiosity can be a bad thing, it is also said that curiosity is the root of all knowledge. An informed choice to delve into uncomfortable territory for the sake of broader understanding is leagues more respectable than ignorance.