Kenn Ghannon: Blog

I do a bad thing when I read. I invest myself in the characters. That's one of the reasons I prefer longer stories, it's easier to invest in a character when the story is longer because you really get to know them.

I guess what I'm saying is that a part of me begins to identify with one or more of the characters. Reading, even reading erotica, is almost NEVER sexual for me. I don't masturbate to it. I'll admit I get hard but..sometimes the wind can do that to me.

I was reading a story that I probably never should have started. The writing style seems very juvenile and yet innocent even when it's not. Simple sentences. Lots of repetitiveness. Little to no punctuation. It sucked me in and I just couldn't seem to put it down. The author is Gulf Coast Mattie. I read the first story called "It's better than Nothing" and I was thrilled until the very end. It's about a rather innocent young man who has sexual relations with his mom and sister and a bunch of their friends. He's a bit of a milque-toast; very subservient (especially to his sister and then, later, his wife). It was hard to read but I couldn't put it down...until the end.

Now, one of the things the story is about is how his wife allows him to have sex with other girls (blow jobs mostly but sex with a select few). His mother and sister are extremely sexual (most of the women in the story are) and get off on having 2 lovers at a time (or more).

I've started on the second book "Living with Strong Willed Women" and...I'm not going to be able to finish it. It starts with his wife coming to him and wanting to have an affair with a well-hung college professor -- one that his mother and sister have already had. I found myself growing angrier and angrier and I'm not sure why. I mean, she was letting him have his fun so turnabout is fair play, right?

Wrong. She starts the conversation about how she wants to have the affair by saying "Oh, I'm real understanding and let you have all of these other women so you should let me have this one." She makes it abundantly clear that he can say no at any time -- but she practically guilts him into it. That's wrong. Way wrong.

She has complete control over his life (at his insistence) and he feels he HAS to say 'yes' to her because she's let him have sex with other women. That's fucked up. I'm not saying what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander or whatever metaphor you want, but she had a choice whether her husband can continue. He doesn't really have that choice. It's evident that he doesn't want her to do this -- and they're supposed to know him so well -- but they essentially talk him into it.

Don't get me wrong, if the guy is all for it that's one thing. Same with the girl. She was evidently okay with sharing him -- but if he isn't, and you know it, that's not alright.

I found myself angrily writing a story about what I would do if I found myself in a similar situation. Luckily, I stopped after a half page -- I've got enough stories I'm writing right now and I don't need another.

I will say -- this is not something I could EVER put up with. If my wife ever 'has a fling' that's it for me and her. Forever. Knowing my wife, I can honestly say that the opposite is equally true.

Anyway, I just needed to get that out here instead of writing another stupid story about it. :)

So, I went story hopping today while taking a break from writing; I won't say what I was writing because too many people will get mad (let's just say, I had an idea that came to me and haven't been able to put it down). Sadly, I couldn't find anything I liked. I started a few stories but they just trailed off into absurdity or the dialogue began reading like some strange 1st grade book (You know the one: Jack likes Jane. Jane likes Jack. See Jack fuck Jane? Fuck Jack Fuck!). I can't help it...realistic dialogue is important; if it doesn't sound real I completely lose the story.

I also look for long stories; nothing against short stories (and there are some in certain areas I really enjoy reading) but I prefer the long developed story that has great character development and where the sex is a natural part of the story instead of the intention of the story. Stories like "Burr" or like "Robin" by John Smith (even though that one hit a few of my minor squicks, I still enjoyed the heck out of -- even to the point of having read it about 3 times now over time). Memorable characters, excellent plot -- these are the things I crave and there seem to be so few stories I've found that I like. In a way, that's what drives the stories I write. I put a lot of time and effort into making the characters as real as I can; I don't always succeed but I try. For example, all of my dialogue is read out loud to let me hear the words spoken. I'll often change a single word or two because a contraction sounds better or I've used a word that that character wouldn't really say or isn't familiar with.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my frustration...and I guess I have...so I'll shut up now. :)

An anonymous e-mailer asked me "How is nudging someone into having sex with you by using mind control not rape? It is not a free choice if you push them for it."

My first answer is -- this is a story and that point of view was within Jess' perspective. What my characters say and do are not necessarily (or even usually -- if I had a Ring of Control I don't think I'd be strong enough NOT to use it to have sex with everyone within the sound of my voice, etc.) what I would say or do.

That's kind of the short answer. The longer one is that we ALL do things to get others into bed with us. From the moment we go out on that first date, we are trying very hard to end the night in bed. It usually takes some persuasion. It usually takes some acting. We're not really trying to be deceitful -- we're just trying to ease someone into our shell, to see the real person underneath in bits and pieces instead of all at once because we think, rightly or wrongly, that subjecting someone to all of ourselves at once will cause them to run screaming into the night -- and we're usually right. So, is that rape? I mean, we're bedding someone without being truthful with them so...

Andy just has a different and more powerful means to enact that persuasion that we all use. Is it rape? Ah, that's a trick question. He changes their mind to *THINK* it isn't rape -- and perception is reality. To them, then, it isn't. However, to an outsider it most certainly is. Semantics, I know...but viewpoints are going to differ.

Anyway, I just had to answer the question the way *I* think it should be answered. Other people may disagree. :) That's what's so great about being human -- our penchant to disagree and discourse about why we think we're right.

I know it's been a few weeks since I've posted anything; don't worry, I'm still writing but the holidays are for family so I've been spending quite some time with mine. I did, however, want to give you some news on my efforts.

I'm a mercurial writer -- it means I write things as I feel them. Even when I don't really care for what I'm writing, I still write -- I wonder, sometimes, if I don't suffer from some strange form of OCD since there are times I don't WANT to write and I just can't help myself.

"Ring of Command" -- I started writing this 2 years ago. I wrote 11.5 chapters before I put it aside. I finished up chapter 12 and started posting it (proof-reading one final time before sending it over the ether to SOL) a chapter at a time. When I finished chapter 12, I was elated and thought I'd really start writing this again in my spare time -- and I haven't. I will, however. It's just a matter of finding the time. Meanwhile, I'll likely post another chapter very soon (maybe today!) and then start stretching that out a bit until I write the next chapter. I don't want to run out of buffer...

"Mirror" -- I'm about half way through chapter 13 (and my editors are beginning to fear I've abandoned it) and I've run into some conceptual issues that caused me to re-think some of what I'm doing. Luckily, I've come up with some solutions using two characters that were meant to be more-or-less throwaway characters and I'm implementing that now -- it doesn't require ANY re-write (thankfully) but it does mean I have to adjust my chapter plans a bit.

"Beautiful 2" -- When I posted 'Beautiful' I received a very large number of e-mails that were disappointed that I hadn't carried David's character to a happy ending. I never intended to actually write a 'sequel' but some of the e-mails got me thinking and before I knew it the sequel had invaded my mind. I'm about 11 pages into it, writing piecemeal which is never good, but remarkably it IS coming along. Even more remarkable, I was able to pick David's character up after a long hiatus -- something I didn't think I'd be able to do. So, expect this when it's finished (no timetable).

"Not Enough" sequel -- I've got the basic outline but...Marc's character is very difficult for me to write. I really need to be in a dark place to do it and, at the moment, I've actually been quite content for my life. You wouldn't think Marc was a dark character but there is a certain ruthlessness and drive to him that I just don't share. I need to invade his mind and I haven't been able to do that. THERE WILL be a sequel...it's just going to take a little while.

There are other stories in my hopper in all manner of states from outlined to partially written. Some will never see the light of day and others are just waiting their turn. Hopefully, I can share them with you soon.

For now, though, I hope that all of you have a very happy and prosperous New Year.

I'm a little amazed at all of the feedback I received for Chapter 1 of 'Ring of Command'. It wasn't all positive but the negative was all constructive -- and none of it contained the death threats I'm so used to receiving (I kid!).

My plan was to post a chapter every 2-4 weeks depending on the amount of time I had but...I'm going to strike while the iron is hot. So, I hope you enjoy the second chapter...