birdsofshore | Don't get your wand_in_a

I am SO EXCITED about the new Harry Potter 24 hour porn challenge!

wand_in_a_knot is a multi-shipping comm, inspired by similar challenges in other fandoms and I'm so glad that the fabulous

writcraft and

vaysh are holding one for HP. Participants get tagged on a random day during the month and have 24 hours to create an R or NC-17 rated fanwork. If you can't manage to complete the challenge in 24 hours, the baton just passes to another participant and there are no penalties, so although it's fast and exciting, it's also hopefully low-stress. And will provide the fandom with lots of super-speedy smut. ♥

(don't get your) wand_in_a_knot –
the 24 Hours Harry Potter Porn Tag Challenge!
– Sign-ups start Sunday, May 1 –

I'm really hoping to get a spot when sign ups open tomorrow. Will you be signing up? Considering it? Nervous? Excited? Please join up anyway! Most of us are entirely new to this sort of challenge, so we can all muddle through in a big flail of nerves and squee together!

Even if you're not signing up, please watch the comm so you can enjoy the fun during May. \o/

I also saw some discussion on

kerrilee75's LJ about ratings, and I thought it might be interesting to talk about, both in general, and specifically for

wand_in_a_knot where all submissions have to be R or NC-17.

The MPAA ratings wiki has some clear guidance on content for different ratings.

The thing I find hardest to rate is when there is sex but it isn't very explicit. However, my simplest answer to this is to ONLY write explicit sex, heh. But in general, I think if it's clear sex is taking place but there's only some undressing or light groping with a fade to black or a sort of euphemistic description such as "they found release together", I would think that was probably a PG-13. I would say in art this was the equivalent of bodies under the bedclothes. If the sex is described more clearly, eg some mention of what act occurred, some mention of hard cocks, etc, I would say it's an R. In art I would imagine the bedcovers are now off, and you can tell what's occurring, but not explicitly see erect cocks or vaginas or arseholes or a blow job or cunnilingus or whatever is happening. If however there's a description of a cock or a vagina (rather than a brief mention), a description of ejaculation, a description of penetration, or rimming, or oral sex, or whatever sex act, and these contain any details, I would say that's a NC-17. In art, if you can SEE erect penises, or vaginas, or penetration, or ejaculation, or oral sex, etc, and it's not obscured by a hand or a body position or artful hair placement etc, I think that's NC-17.

So, to give an example using wanking (I wrote these examples for this purpose, please don't point and laugh :D):

Harry felt quite hot and bothered after seeing Malfoy's pale arse in the showers. When he got into bed that night, he didn't keep his hands above the covers.

In my opinion, that is PG-13. We all know what's happening, but nothing is explicitly described. Draco is naked, but it's not described in detail and he's showering, not in a sexual situation. However:

Harry's trousers suddenly seemed far too tight as he watched Malfoy smooth soap lovingly over the curves of his arse. Back in the dorm, Harry Summoned lube and quickly brought himself off.

I would say that's an R. There's an erection now, Malfoy's nudity is more sexually-oriented, and there's no doubt that Harry masturbates.

PURELY FOR SCIENCE, I wrote an NC-17 version as well.

Harry's cock throbbed, trapped against the zip of his jeans as he watched Malfoy run a soapy finger along the cleft of his arse. That night, lights out couldn't come soon enough. Harry let out a low groan of pleasure as his slick hand grasped the hot length of his cock, stroking slow and firm until he came to a juddering climax all over the sheets.

I feel FAIRLY SURE that's NC-17. But maybe I should continue? Just to be sure. ;)

Those are my opinions. What do you think? Is the MPAA guide useful? And what on earth should happen if there's a kink or other taboo acts involved? Does that change the rating? I look forward to hearing your thoughts, even if you don't agree with me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

torino10154

I'm ... tempted. I may sit back for the first 24 hours and see if it fills up. If it does, then it wasn't meant to be.

Also, I pretty much agree with you as far as ratings go and your examples illustrate the point perfectly. *wipes drool*

I do occasionally err on the side of caution when dealing with particular kinks, though usually more when it's in the realm of dub- or non-con, underage, etc. I think you can have an R rated erotic asphyxiation fic, for example, if the details are minimal. If I wrote Snape the pedo priest (which I have done), I'd likely make it R regardless of sexual content.

There are times I utilize Soft R and Hard R as well. Soft R is when I feel more like a 15-16 year old would be OK with it, but 13 seems young and yet it's not truly enough to make it R (those people would be disappointed in the content LOL). And Hard R would sometimes be less than explicit but pretty intense (and again, someone expecting NC-17 would be disappointed LOL). In both these cases, at AO3, I do just rate them the higher rating but here on LJ I can leave it this way.

From:

birdsofshore

Ah, torino, you'd be amazing at

wand_in_a_knot! I really really hope you sign up.

I see what you're saying about the content affecting the rating, and the nuances of it. I find it a pretty interesting subject! On a related topic, I often find myself amazed at what gets into a U (G) rated film! I thought the idea was that a U film would contain nothing unsuitable for even very young children, but mine have often been scared over the years. :(( Maybe the problem is that they are massive wimps like their mother!

Keep passing the open windows

Don't get your wand_in_a_knot

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