I was looking through the H/Hr forum and found a thread on smut. Now, I know us D/G fans have been accused of being smut lovers because people believe that Draco and Ginny is a more physical relationship, but I've always disliked this idea. I don't like smut, and considering I have written goodness knows how many D/G fics that don't have a trace of smut or sex in it, I think it is safe to say that D/G does not have to be a physical relationship all about sex.

My point is, do you prefer to read fics that have a lot of smut, or are you like me and search for the fics that have more meaningful relationships based on friendship or something else? Granted, a lot of the best D/G fics have smut somewhere in it, but there are some really great ones that don't as well.

Also, which ratings do you tend to read or search out? I find PG 13 is what I prefer, as I love romantic stories that end happily, and those tend to be my best bet. I like angst, but only in small doses, or if the writer happens to be particularly brilliant.

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think.

I'll read any and all ratings, so long as the fic is interesting and well-written. I do admit I'm a sucker for happy endings! And I do love angst, provided it all ends well. The worst thing I hate is a sad ending, particularly any where Draco and/or Ginny end up dead. Call me weak, but that's how it goes with me.

As far as the smut issue...While in general I do, of course, prefer fics where the relationship of our beloved couple is based on a good friendship, is meaningful, etc...I'm gonna come clean and say I love smut. You know those shamelessly trashy romance novels that middle-aged housewives love to read, or whatever? Yep, I've been reading those since I was a kid (weirdly, and probably very wrong). I love classic literature as much as the next bookworm, but every once in a while I prefer to kick back with a book that's essentially a huge ball of hormonal fluff.

That's how it is with my fanfiction reading habits. I don't write smut (I tried it once for literally five seconds and cringed and laughed throughout the entire ordeal, before finally giving up), but I like reading well-written smut very much. It all depends very much on my mood. Sometimes I just want something that's so sinfully fun. Also, there are some great fics out there that have smut in them - and the smut itself, as weird as it may sound, is just as great as the plot, the writing, and what have you.

Of course, it's not like it doesn't get old. When you've read one smut fic, you've basically read them all. Though there are a few gems that truly transcend the basic "boom they have sex" line.

There's a fic by sugarbear_1269, called Smoking in the Head Boy's Room, and wow. Smut is very integral to the plot of the story. But it's so fantastically well-written, and the characterizations and emotions and everything are so spot-on, that it elevates smut to an art-form.

But enough of my rambling.

Also, I was wondering...are we differentiating between a scene that describes them making love to each other as an expression of their profound love for each other, and a scene that describes them having raunchy sex for the sake of having sex (aka PWP)?

I've read that fic. It is a good one

Yeah, I'm aiming more at the "raunchy sex" here, as that is what most people seem to think we like. They have the idea that Draco and Ginny are always going at it like bunnies. I don't mind a fic where the couple will have sex because it's their wedding night, or it's the right time for them to share that moment, but when it's everywhere and randomly placed it's just, ugh for me. I tend to skip it when that happens, lol.

I don't know why, but I'm firmly sure that D/G would have a thriving sexual relationship. However, the endless barrage of Smutty!D/G gets really annoying. Hardly any ship but Harry/Draco suffers from smuttitis so acutely. Why is it so hard to find fics of Draco and Ginny simply falling in love?

*restrains self from making derogatory-HMS-Pumpkin-Pies-&-Mai-Tais joke*

Well, a lot of why NC17 fics are so common on Portkey is because there is no ban on it. Fanfiction doesn't allow smut, so there you go.

I have noticed that it is hard to find the 'falling in love' fics now, which is sad. Romance ain't about sex.

I'm continuing to find the "falling in love" variety of fics on dracoandginny.com True fact!

Also, I don't understand why people think that D/G would be the only ship that would have a thriving sexual relationship...I've seen enough smutty H/Hr fics to last me a lifetime. Or Ron/Pansy! Or...whatever you fancy, really. Though maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's so easy for many of us D/G shippers to imagine Draco as the Slytherin Sex God. The wealthy playboy. And then there's the fiery redhead, and the love/hate relationship potential. What other stereotypes in the entire world add up so well to fantastic, toe-curling sex?

But I digress. Again.

True that the NC-17 PK rating does facilate smut a wee bit, but believe me, that NEVER has stopped ffnet shippers from churning out totally child-inappropriate smut.

I have mixed feelings about FIA. On the one hand, DRACONIS AND GINEVRA lives there (best. fic. ever. that simple.) and is easier to read there than on FFnet. On the other hand, Anise's impossible-to-read and/or super-ARGH-y fics are revered ultraly. Sigh.

I never go on Fire and Ice. I find the site very un-user friendly in terms of trying to find something, and I'm still unhappy they turned away my fanfictions for such stupid reasons. I swear I got the most nit-picky person in the world, who was unhappy that I use a mixture of British and American phrases. The thing is in NZ we do that. We're so muddled with who we're following that a couch can be both couch and sofa, and everything else has mixture of names too. Just irritates me, considering I've read some absolute crap on there that has typos to make the world run.

But I digress (I am still touchy about that as you can see ) and Portkey still manages to give me some good fics. I do like getting fic recommendations for other sites though. I just hate searching for them myself. It's why I love the rec board.

Yeah they're really hardcore about having work beta-ed over at FIA. I like the place because due to the nitpickiness of the Cabal and the insistence on betas, the quality of the fics posted is so high overall...there are a few duds, but they're so few and far between that they don't really matter in the end. And then there's the fact that many of my favorite DG authors post over there.

As for Anise...I have to admit, she scares me a wee bit. I tried reading one of her fics a while ago and actually couldn't sleep a few nights because I kept thinking about it. Though I do think she's a really good writer. And her latest fic over there actually has me caught up in it. Meh.

It's all good though because I love it here just as much!

Anyway, to get back on topic...one style I absolutely cannot stand is the songfic. I have no idea why. Maybe they're a bit...cheesy? Thoughts?

Hrm... I have written one song-fic in my life and that was enough for me. I have written others that are inspired by words of songs, of course, but only one of them actually has the lyrics written in.

I generally don't like them though. They can be a little random sometimes, and the words don't usually fit with the fanfic anyway half the time. It's very rarely you find a good songfic.

Yeah to be honest I've yet to find one that didn't have me rolling my eyes.

Also, I'm quite averse to poems. Dunno why...but every time I accidentally come across one, I press the back button in a hurry.

I don't mind poems if they are not the serious, depressing type. Too many times people say the poem is about HP, but more than likely it sounds like emo rubbish (nothing against emos...)

I like quirky stuff, so I don't mind quirky poems.