Conventional industry-standard book classification systems do a
poor job of distinguishing mainstream erotica from taboo erotica.
This makes it difficult for retailers and readers to distinguish
one from the other. At Smashwords, we carry a wide variety of
legal erotica, including books that contain taboo themes.
In September 2017 we implemented new erotica classification
requirements for Smashwords authors and publishers.
The purpose of this effort is to provide retailers and
their customers greater transparency about a book’s
categorization. This erotica categorization policy was
announced in a Smashwords Blog post titled
Smashwords Implements New Classifications for Erotic Fiction
Below is a summary of “Taboo” themes and their definitions.
These definitions were developed in close consultation with our
largest retail partners to ensure uniform policy enforcement
across our distribution network.
Erotica titles which have been certified by their authors or
publishers as containing none of the themes listed below are
considered "mainstream erotica" and will be shown if readers
select the
"Include mainstream erotica"
option from the filter.
Books containing one or more of the themes listed below are
considered "taboo erotica," and these, along with older erotica
or erotic romance books which have not yet been certified, will
be filtered out of a reader’s Smashwords search results unless
the reader selects the
"Include all erotica"
option.
“Taboo” theme definitions
Age play -
One or more consenting adult characters role playing,
pretending to be babies or children.
Bestiality -
Sexual relations between humans and real-world animals (sex
with Big Foot, dinosaurs, shape shifters and other imaginary
creatures is not bestiality).
Dubious Consent (dubcon) -
A common and popular theme in mainstream fiction. Dubcon
explores the gray area between consent and non-consent. Not
clear if the receiver of the sexual act was fully on board
or not at the time of the act. Most major retailers carry
dubcon erotica.
Incest or pseudo-incest -
Sexual relations between family members, whether biologically
or non-biologically related. Includes stepbrother, stepsister
and step-anyone.
Nonconsensual sexual slavery -
Erotic depiction of a person captured or held against
their will, such as kidnapping, imprisonment or human
trafficking. Not to be confused with BDSM, which is predicated
upon informed consent and negotiation between both parties
before the act, and which provides safe words so either
partner can end the act if it goes too far. If the book
adheres to BDSM best practices, we instruct authors and
publishers to not classify it as nonconsensual sexual slavery.
Rape for titillation -
The dominant theme of this book is rape — whether the
rape is by one person or a character is raped by a group of
people, i.e. a gang rape or nonconsensual "gang bang" —
and it targets readers who are titillated by the fantasy of
nonconsensual sexual relations.
The above list is not all inclusive. There are many other
taboo themes that have never been allowed at Smashwords.
For a full summary of Smashwords erotica policies, please
review Section 9f of the
Smashwords Terms of Service.
My breath caught when I saw how much this ticket was going to cost me, “Holy shit.” I wondered if he was any good at mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I could have used some of that, after what he had just done to me with this ticket.
I feel so blessed this remarkable, selfless creature came into my life apparently out of nowhere, befriending me with his wisdom and love when I needed it most. He was like no one I had ever met, nor am I likely to ever meet again.
“Who is this guy and why is it so bloody important that I go out with him?” I probably should not have said that because they both moved in with more information about the man than I needed to know.
We had come of age together, doing all the foolish things kids do including experimenting with sex which included a good deal of laughter until the day arrived when we stopped laughing and realized something else was happening.
While attempting to kickstart a straight XXX cam-site, Hot Atlanta Peepshow, Oliver and Seth find themselves deeply in debt and without any female models. When straight Seth suggests to gay Oliver that the two of them start filming scenes together for a gay audience instead, Oliver is blindsided.
David's relationship with a returning older student named Wayne slowly grows from friendship to something much more erotic as they explore his watersports fetish for the the first time one weekend.
A chance encounter with his boyfriend's gas triggers a new kind of sexual awakening for a young man. He sets out to explore this with his willing, affectionate boyfriend.
Darren and Russ have known each other forever, and Darren has been pining after Russ for almost as long. When a well-meaning friend reveals once of Russ' secrets, Darren finds he has a choice to make. Tell Russ his own secret and maybe fulfill all of his dreams, or remain silent and try to pretend nothing has happened...
American Flight 1071 lifted off at 7:05 a.m. as scheduled with me tucked into first class seat 5A next to a window. As always, I give the stewardess a fresh flower to give to the captain with a verbal thank you for his ability in taking us from point A to point B in comfort and safety. I fell asleep thinking that would be the end of it. It wasn't.
I just kept looking at him, wondering what he was up to. I began counting to myself . . . one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, three-Mississippi, four-Mississippi, five . . . he smiled and looked away. He should have, in my estimation, looked away at the end of two-Mississippi, but he didn’t . . . I wondered what was going through his mind during ‘three-Mississippi, four-Mississippi, five’.
Dane Sanders was a great boss until Snowstorm Satan hit the suburbs of DC. Now he was just a jerk who wanted to stay late just to get some loans out, but when Dane lets out a few juicy secrets, Heath starts to think there’s a lot he doesn’t know about his sexy new boss. Trapped at work with only beer and microwave dinners, Heath and Dane learn how to stay warm in a snow storm.
Linus is head over heels in love with Samson. Problem is, Linus wants to make things official while Samson is afraid of commitment. When Linus's sister lands in the hospital, he decides it's time to break off things with Samson. Samson is caught by surprise. But how can he get Linus back in time for Valentine's Day without doing something cliched, which he knows Linus dislikes?
Foster asks Oren to dinner, with the intention of finding out what he was seeking at Foster's favorite kink club. The shy musician confesses his forced seduction fantasy, and Foster can barely contain his excitement.
When Foster proposes they explore Oren's fantasy on Valentine's Day, Oren knows this will be the first year the holiday brings more pleasure than pain.
I'm a tall, younger version of Woody Allen. I often wondered if Kismet would ever find a life partner for me. Then the New York Times arrived with the ad for a holiday gala at the Plaza. I filled out the raffle ticket form and sent it in. Little did I realize I was about to step onto an emotional merry-go-round that would end with me holding the gold ring.
Snow falls hard outside the bar of a Boston hotel. Kay Westscott, a New York novelist and English teacher, is in town attending a writers’ workshop. Math professor Ann Ward is trying and failing to muster enthusiasm for a round of lesbian speed dating.
He was so beautiful, I walked around and approached him again to get a better look. He was reading a book, or so I thought and seemed oblivious to everything around him including me. But then I noticed the book he was holding was upside down. I almost laughed when I wondered what he was up to.
Three girls fresh out of their magical school are all looking for their place in the world while dealing with the loss of one of their closest friends. Meanwhile an ancient evil is waking up. Can these young heroes deal with the new threat, or will they be devoured by their grief?
The man next door is hot, mysterious, a little bit terrifying, and unbeknownst to him, Travis’s Daddy. Travis lusts for Patrick in his fantasies, and he imagines the older man pinning him down, taking him apart and calling him his boy.
In a moment of madness, the word daddy slips from Travis’s lips, and Patrick gives him an odd look. The embarrassment burns hot and fast, and Travis rushes away.
“Three gay guys lead their own separate lives and have their own friends and colleagues. But these three soon become special friends and form their own relationships. However their way of life leads them down dangerous paths, leaving one of them for a time in a critical state in hospital.