Intercourse over Four Sets of Corsets: Writing Victorian Erotica

A talk about sexual mores during the Victorian era, and how to use them to write steamy, steamy Victorian romance novels. Given at the International Steampunk Symposium 2018

Transcript

1. Intercourse Over Four Sets Of Corsets Writing Victorian Erotica as a Steampunk
2. About the Presenters Bay • About to turn 30 • Loves Hamilton: The Musical • Writes like she’s running out of time • Publishes erotica as Dominique Rothford • http://dominiquerothford.com/ James • Just turned 34 • Knows some of Hamilton: The Musical • Aspiring Sex Educator • Blogs about Sex and Sexuality as Mr. Promiscuous • https://aconversations.wordpress.c om/
3. The Title of this Presentation?
4. Last Warning!
5. Everyone gets it on • Oldest known sex toy (Dates back 28,000 years) • Han Dynasty Strap-on • Rumors of Ancient Egyptian vibrators
6. What do you mean Victorians had Porn? It’s common that anything a society tries to avoid talking about or limiting access to makes said thing much more attractive. • Holywell Street • The invention of Photography • The Playlet
7. Victorian Pornography
8. ★ The Autobiography of a Flea (1887) ★ Venus in Furs (1870) ◦ BDSM ★ The Illustrated Kama Sutra (1883) ◦ Most famous smut book ever published ★ Venus in Boston (1849) ◦ Likely the first American erotic novel ★ The Pearl: A Magazine of Facetiae and Voluptuous Reading (1879-1880) Erotica? In my manor house?
9. Prostitution • Prostitutes were mostly hired by upper-middle and middle class men. • Eroticism of the Working Woman • Whitechapel ◦ Extreme poverty ◦ Jack The Ripper • Different Shades in the West ◦ Parlor Houses ◦ Saloon girls
10. Medical Wonders!
11. Mechanical Devices
12. Prosthetic Attachments
13. Rectal Dilators
14. Writing Period Smut
15. Terminology: Acts • Having sex: ◦ To trounce [1834] ◦ To dip one’s wick [1834] ◦ To do a bit of business [1855] ◦ To get some [1864] ◦ To score [1888] ◦ To get shot in the tail [1889] ◦ To have a bit of skirt [1892] ◦ To catch an oyster [1892] ◦ To dance the matrimonial polka [1892] ◦ To have hot pudding for supper [1895] ◦ To take a turn in Cupid’s ally [1899] • Sex: ◦ Shagging [1871] ◦ A bit of cock/cunt [1890] ◦ Bitching [1890] ◦ Beard-splitting [1890] ◦ Fancy work [1896] ◦ Cock-fighting [1892] ◦ A game in the cock-loft [1894] ◦ Ladies’ tailoring [1895] ◦ Leather-stretching [1895] ◦ Under-petticoating [1901] http://timeglider.com/timeline/962856e2d593150e
16. Terminology: Acts cont • Ejaculate: ◦ To unload [1841] ◦ To fire a shot [1850] ◦ To shoot one’s row [1879] ◦ To shoot the bishop [1890] ◦ To shoot the owl [1900] • Orgasm: ◦ To spend [1879] ◦ To spunk [1888] ◦ To fetch [1888] ◦ To shoot one’s wad [1890] • Semen ◦ Spunk [1870] ◦ Spend [1879] ◦ Starch [1888] ◦ Sugar [1890] ◦ Tail-juice [1890] ◦ Melted butter [1890] ◦ Snot [1892] ◦ Goo [1900] ◦ Baby plaster [1905] • Vaginal Secretions ◦ Love juice [1882] ◦ Throw-oil [1884] ◦ Cream [1884] ◦ Goose-grease [1890] ◦ Wax [1892] http://timeglider.com/timeline/f2faf54e9a15080d
17. Terminology: Acts cont • Anal Sex: ◦ To navigate the windward passage [1785] ◦ To bumfuck [1879] ◦ To cornhole [1880] ◦ A backscuttle [1888] ◦ To ninety-six [1914] • Someone who has anal sex: ◦ Usher of the backdoor [1785] ◦ Rump-rider [1813] ◦ Backgammoner [1823] ◦ Shit-hunter[1890] ◦ Joey [1900] http://timeglider.com/timeline/4a29b5e38116bfcb • Cunningulus ◦ Eating seafood [1885] ◦ Eating [1885] ◦ Cunt-licking [1885] ◦ Sucking [1895] ◦ Face job [1895] ▪ Face man [1890] • Fellatio ◦ Cocksucking [1879] ◦ To mouth-fuck [1873] ◦ Prick-eating [1898] • Fellator/Fellatrix ◦ Cocksucker [1890] ◦ Suckster/suckstress [1890] ◦ Fluter [1904]
18. Terminology: Lady Parts • Vagina ◦ Cunt [1290] ◦ Tail [1363] ◦ House [1781] ◦ Snatch [1785] ◦ Burrow [1784] ◦ Pin-cushion [1821] ◦ Down Below [1837] ◦ Lucky Bag [1841] ◦ Hatchet [1864] ◦ Catch ‘em all alive-o [1859] ◦ Cock* [1833] ◦ Pit of darkness [1893] http://timeglider.com/timeline/07f47d6b843da763 • Clitoris ◦ Cock-trap [1888] ◦ Little man in the boat [1890] ◦ Purr-tongue [1910] • Labia ◦ Nonny-nonny [1604] ◦ Twats [1888] ◦ Flappers [1888] ◦ Cunt-lips [1888] • Pubic Hair ◦ Mossy Veil [1772] ◦ Thatch [1833] ◦ Shrubs [1864] ◦ Plush [1883] ◦ Pussy [1888] ◦ Fleece [1888]
19. Terminology: Gentlemen Parts • Penis ◦ Jack [1604] ◦ John Thomas [1653] ◦ Silent Flute [1720] ◦ Faggot [1768] ◦ Doodle [1785] ◦ Nob [1837] ◦ Cork [1834] ◦ Staff of Life [1884] ◦ Trouser Serpent [1863] ◦ Cunt-stopper [1888] ◦ Baby-maker [1890] ◦ Best leg of three [1890] http://timeglider.com/timeline/194b572e19fd461b • Erection ◦ Hard-on [1864] ◦ Cockstand [1879] ◦ Half-cock [1888] ◦ Stiff [1888] ◦ Prick-pride [1890] ◦ Hard [1890] • The whole package ◦ Tackle [1533] ◦ Doings [1888] ◦ Equipment [1890] ◦ Credentials [1895] • Testicles ◦ Ballocks [1366] ◦ Eggs [1466] ◦ Balls [1508] ◦ Thingummies [1785] ◦ Nuts [1837] ◦ Knackers [1837] ◦ Apples [1834] ◦ Sack [1889] ◦ Jelly-bag [1890] ◦ Bum balls [1895]
20. Terminology: Misc • “The English Vice”: Flagellation • “Widow’s Comforter”, “The Little Soldier”, or “Laughy Taffy”: Dildos • “Dressing Ring” or “Prince’s Crown”: Prince Albert piercing • “Bosom Ring”: Nipple piercing • “Manuals of love’s devotion”: breasts • “Buttered Bun”: Sloppy Seconds • “Dollymop”: Part-time prostitute • “Venus’ curse”: an STD • “Abbess”: Madam of a brothel http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/the-real/victorian-vulgarities
21. Queerness During the Victorian Era • Queerness before the terms “Heterosexual” and “homosexual” ◦ Situational queerness ◦ Marriage wasn’t about love • Book: Gay New York • Long-haired men and Short-haired women • Social Darwinism • Trans Pioneers ◦ Chevalier d’Eon ◦ George Sand ◦ Herculine Barbin ◦ Joseph Landell ◦ And more!
22. Writing Smut
23. Writing Good Smut • Know your audience and what you hope to achieve • Read a lot! • Pick a tone and stick to it • Keep in character • Don’t be afraid to be funny! • Leave some things to the imagination ◦ But describe enough so your audience isn’t confused ◦ Treat the sex like an action scene • Balance research with actual writing • Avoid cliches ◦ “Steel covered in velvet”
24. Bad Examples #1 "Light filters in from the ravaging streaks of the dawn. It splits into fragments of every hue the world has hidden as it strikes the prism of their shelter. Tera’s eyes expand and reflect, crystal orbs of time and space. She moans in colours as he pushes the white dress away and beyond the angelic flesh, luminescent against the damp, mossy bed." -- from Mother of Darkness by Venetia Welby
25. Bad Examples #2 "Bianca grabs Simon’s dick, which is hot and hard as if it’s just come out of a steel forge, and connects it to her mouth-machine” -- Laurent Binet, The Seventh Function of Language
26. Good Example He twisted his hand, as if searching for something inside her. And then his fingertips hit a spot deep inside her body that nearly sent her through his examination room ceiling. She gasped loudly. He hooked his fingers, rubbing, pressing, flicking against that incredibly sensitive spot. Amelia began to writhe on the examination table as if possessed by a devil. Her body bucked. Her heart pounded. Her lungs couldn’t take in enough air. And then, as if the pleasure wasn’t overwhelming enough, she felt Trevor’s thumb search out the exact spot the heel of his palm had stroked with such success yesterday. Her little button of pleasure. She frantically stared at him as her world began to spin, and the look in Trevor’s eye was as fiercely determined as she’d ever seen it. He wanted this. He wanted her to have this. His thumb began to move. Ah…ah…ah…dear…GOD! She screamed then. Screamed at the top of her lungs, as her body exploded with a pleasure she didn’t think she’d survive. -- from The Disciplinarian’s Daughter by Leigh Court
27. Resources • A Steampunk’s Guide to Sex ◦ https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00ACBNT0U/ • Story Nurse ◦ https://storyhospital.com/