Sex Still Spoken Here: An Anthology Read Online Free

want to make this a safe space.
    JC : I think what I invite us to do is remember that at the Erotic Reading Circle we have a real breadth of understanding of what the erotic is and so folks can be invited to bring material that is of all different varieties and contents. That we want to keep readings to about 10 minutes. That we really want to listen intently and attentively to each other’s work. And [pulling from the Amherst Writers & Artists method], we request that if folks have specific kinds of feedback that want to receive from the room to let us know. That otherwise we really default to saying what’s strong for us, what we like about a piece of writing. Especially if it’s a brand new piece of writing, I encourage us not to think about how we’d critique it, because [the writer] has those voices already in their head telling them what’s wrong with this piece. It’s really helpful to get from the room that other side, to hear about what’s strong, what’s working in the piece. Also, that the writer can come with specific questions (“I’m really wondering how this voice is working”), so when we’re giving more critical feedback the writer is really driving that. We can say, you know, “you wondered about if this is hot,” so we can give pretty immediate response to that. And so I feel that’s what I … what else do I say? And I like the specificity around wanting this to be a safe space and wanting this to be a space where folks feel ready to take risks. That it isn’t actually always comfortable—it’s often not comfortable—but we can sit with discomfort and we can hold each other in it and we can hold each other’s writing in that, which I think strengthens us as writers and also as folks in the world that we get to do something risky like this and be met with kindness and generosity, which is something you were talking about earlier.
    AB : And I love the simplicity. It could sound like those are very simple instructions, yet I think all of those very simple things create the safety. One could overlook them easily, but I think they’re incredibly important to the potency that comes from creating a strong container. For somebody trying to set up their own Circle, even though those things sound simple, don’t not do them. Because they’re actually critically important.
    CQ : Another thing you say often is “What stays with you?” You know so even if it’s just the vibe of the story, if it’s one particular element of the story, it helps people figure out what they’ve got going on to build on if that’s what they’re choosing to use their time at the Erotic Reading Circle for. I think that there are different reasons that people walk in the door. People come in to use this as a writing workshop-like space. I think there’s no question that people are using it for that purpose, but that’s not the only reason at all. Some people are doing it because they’re scared, some people are doing it because they’re really proud of their piece of writing and they’re being kind of exhibitionistic about it—“I’ve just gotta share it!”—and every once in a while somebody will come in with something that’s just brand new and they’re all “Woohoo!”—they’re all excited about having just finished it and that’s kind of sweet. And I think some people come to the Erotic Reading Circle just to be in a sexually diverse space.
    JC : To be in community.
    CQ : That there is a real powerful thing: that it’s personal but can be kind of anonymous, that it’s a special zone. It’s not exactly like any other zone of sex positivity or sexual diversity or whatever. It’s not exactly like anything else, it’s unique.
    Making space for erotic art
    CQ : As Dorian [Katz], our gallerist, keeps pointing out about the art show that we have here, you think that these amazing artists would just put the stuff in any gallery show with the other art that they make. But other galleries don’t