Well I’m a fan of this site and have been for awhile. I’ve just never commented because I don’t know much about the topics discussed. Why is that? Because I’m only SEVENTEEN.

I’m young and I enjoy this blog. The comments give me different perspectives, the topics are topics that I’m unfamiliar with, and Ans is an amazing writer. I recently discovered that my writing was beautiful and could be used as a tool to reach others. So for people to come down on Henry for writing what he wrote kind of saddens me. Like he said “good writing is good writing”.

If that’s what he was feeling at the moment then let him express it! I know that there is not better feeling than expressing something through writing. And what I love so much about writing is that it can be a place to escape. A place where you can create your own world and live in it for a paragraph or two. I love the LIBERTY of writing. And I don’t see anything wrong with Henry expressing himself in this way or with Ans posting it.

Sincerly,
A seventeen year old (lol)

I think there is a limit. Would we want our child making bombs(exaggeration I know) ,but the point still remains. Im not outraged by a 15 years old with a talent for writing even if its not really age appropriate. I cant even front like I wasnt doing things at 15.

I have no problem with him being 15, hell i think that fact he writing is a great thing. I want to say if you stifle ones creativity you may end up with cereal killers and any other crazy shit!

Kudos to Henry and to you, for supporting young artists NWSO! I am a parent of a young artist who sometimes expresses himself lyrically in ways that are explicit and lascivious. He doesn’t go around tossing up expletives at the dining room table and has been in a monogamous relationship with a respectable young lady from a good family who also shares his love for hip hop music and sexually explicit content. They are artists and their work, much like Henry’s should be respected as such. Talent has no age, and this young man has clearly worked his craft. Age aside, I think he’s on to something; apparent in the number of compliments he received later to be noted in ambivalence as his age was revealed.

I know what it feels like to be told that you can’t do something because of your age. It hurts. Now that I’m 21 I still hear it, just not as much. I admire Henry for being able to write like that. I wish I had had that gift when I was his age….hell, I wish I had it now! He wrote a damn good story that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was awesome, and even inspiring in some ways. Way to be Henry, way to be.

My parents were supportive of my “extra curricular activities” as long as they weren’t my main focus. I wanted to go to a school for the performing arts, they wanted me to go to a school for the gifted. They won the battle, but ultimately lost the war because I spent most of my time skipping classes and only attending my practices for bands, concertinas, drama clubs etc. Ultimately, I dropped out of high school before finishing because once I ran out of the elective classes, English, and Math, I was pretty much done with school. If my parents had let me take the creative path, I may have spent more time learning rather than rebelling.

That being said, I have actually graduated from college now (Canadian college gives you a diploma, University is where you get a degree) and am now in my third year of University in an honours program. But I am 25 and waaay behind the pack, because I spent so much time trying to misguidedly follow my dreams without any real starting place and shunning school, when really if I had been allowed to actively do both I would probably have completed my Masters, recorded a demo, and written a novel.

Now, my musical dreams are pretty much done (I used to sing and play 3 instruments…but I always wanted to be a singer and play the French Horn in a symphony) and so are my acting dreams, because trying to get started in your mid twenties is kinda like trying to follow a rainbow. Now I sing Karaoke. I started up a blog in October to try and hold on to some of my creativity, but my dreams of writing a novel? Over…again, trying to start so late AND pursue a PhD, all while trying to pay the bills?? Not likely.

I would 100% support any goal and talent my children had, and would make sure they have the proper guidance and outlets to become successful at whatever it is that would make them happy. I know how much happier I am, and I was, while exploring and bettering all aspects of myself and my talents, and I would never want to deprive anybody, man woman or child, from such joy. I know how much of a setback such restrictions and boundaries can be and what a negative impact it can have from personal experience.

I hope Henry, and all the young men and women out there like him who have some serious talent they want to express, come across the kind of support and guidance they need to follow their dreams and achieve their goals.

I find NWSO to be quite interesting. I don’t feel one way or another about Henry’s age. His writing is good. There are far worst things he could be doing or writing about then having “wet dreams.” His talent should be embraced and matured as he does in life – dude could be the next Zane. Great writers make you believe what they are saying is true and from the few comments I read, people were feeling as if he was wrting about actual events that had taken place. Who knows? Either way – fact or fiction the kid is nice adn I plan on checking his blog out

I don’t have kids yet, when I do I hope I remain open-minded, embrace their talents and provide them with the support needed for them to follow thier dreams and make a life that they will be happy with.

@softshock go hard with your writing. I love how you describe you’ve recently realised your writing is beautiful. Please keep on writing. And don’t lose the confidence

Henry, please keep on writing too. I was impressed with Henry, yes, at his young age, he’s got the markings of a good writer and a giving lover and something that I remarked to NWSO on twitter… he could teach a thing or two to some men in their 20’s and 30’s (in NZ anyway).

It’s not alright to stifle a young one’s creativity… we need to encourage it and encourage them to go for their dreams.

And they’ll carry that steady, quiet confidence on in other areas of their lives.

I’ve just spent this past year working with young people who were so, so talented in so many ways… but due to so many reasons (mainly criticism from the significant adults in their lives) had already learnt that they have no right to believe in themselves, who were they to think they could cut it in the real world?

It breaks my heart because I recognise myself in these young people…. and at now at 38years… I’m recognising what my dreams were… and hoping it’s not too late

we should stop pretending like the negative comments/discomfort was about stifling creativity in a child because it’s not a mainstream or “appropriate” activity- it had nothing to do with that. the series is called “wet wednesdays” because it turns people on. the commenters were turned on by the story, as they wanted and expected to be, and then found out that they were turned on by two kids having sex. see if an adult had written the piece, they would have viewed it as being turned on by an adult reminiscing about having sex as a teenager which they can remember and relate to. they feel embarrassed and uncomfortable that they were turned on by two kids having sex and resent you for it. the comparisons to child porn aren’t all that far off in that respect. and the fact that an adult would present 2 kids having sex from a kid’s point of view to an audience of other adults with the purpose of turning them on (because that IS the series’ purpose), is admittedly a little weird and creepy. i think the commenters probably quickly got over their guilt and moved on to other things/feelings, but that doesn’t mean they were off base. i think it’s great that you’re supporting/mentoring a young writer and i don’t think erotica is an inappropriate avenue for him if that’s his fancy; however, presenting that erotica to adults to turn them on IS weird. i’m disturbed that you don’t at least understand where the commenters were coming from and have turned it into a stifling of dreams deal. that’s also kinda weird…

For me, it was the age thing that bothered me, a bit, maybe because my child is 11. *shrug*

Yes, Henry, KEEP WRITING!!! Not JUST erotica, but everything you can. And kudos to you, Ans, for encouraging him.

I overlooked the comments and was fully prepared for the responses to come. I knew I would receive mostly negative than positive comments, so I chose to take the chance. I understand how its kind of weird to see that type of work done by an adolescence as myself. I find it wierd how its liked, but my age isnt accepted. Maybe because my knowledge is way more than the “average” teenager, and that the story was very well detailed. I appreciated all the compliments. And recognized how some people felt about it, like they were turned on by a kid. Like most people said, rather this than me talking about the ignorance of most teenagers in today’s world. Everyone does something differently. And I always want to push a few boundaries with what are considered “limits”. And I find nothing wrong with that.

I recognized that something was off while reading (the dialogue, though short, was lacking something) so I didn’t really get turned on by the tale. Not every WW results in steamy shorts. Anyway, my issue is with the content that we are choosing to encourage at such a young age. If the writer werefemale, I wonder if so many males would have been so quick to cheer the author on.

If the author were your 15 year old daughter or sister, how would you feel then? I sense a double standard is at play here and it’s preventing some from recognizing this as more than a boy being a boy.

@ Bran exactly! I did enjoy the piece but I was under the impression an adult was remembering a pass sexual encounter. I have a 13 year old sister and if she wrote as well as henry I would encourage her to write but not erotica. It’s inappropiate for her age. If she could sing I would encourage her to sing but not sexually explicit lyrics. I’m all for supporting dreams and I come from a household were my mom is very open and supportive of us But to have children distrubuting sexually explicit material to the masses is not cool. so the issue isn’t about stifiling dreams that’s not the problem the issue is about boundaries for children. If your daughter was a great dancer and she wanted to become an exotic dancer @ 15 would you allow it ….probably not

@SassyNoLA

Thanx for your insight. I DEFINITELY see your stance but there were one or two comments along the lines of “he shouldn’t be writing this kinda stuff” so the stifling part of this post addresses that and not all the comments. This post is my response to reading ALL the comments throughout the day. Also, I wrote in this post in second graph that I understand the kneejerk reaction, so again I definitely hear where you and some other folks are coming from.

Since I created the Wet Wednesdays series, I just see it as another form of entertainment. Honestly, I’m normally surprised that folks actually get turned on by it. Some posts I can definitely understand like last week’s but others not so much. But I’m not playing dumb at all…

I see your point and agree it’s intended for adults. However, it’s the internet and obviously people of all ages have been logging in. I’ve been surprised in the past that people from overseas check in, so I was just as surprised to have a 15 year old reader.

Would I want my 15 year old brother to be reading everything on here? Nope, but at the same time I think that there’s a lot of useful information and conversations that I put up here that people of all ages can relate to and get something out of. But I’m with you, didn’t thing Wet Weds was the younger gen’s cup of tea and not my intended audience with those posts.

As for the issue of the author’s age, I think we could look at that a million different ways. Would it ruin the fantasy if people found out I was some White guy from Nebraska writing about “Black” issues? Would everything that you’ve read and agreed with now be null and void just because you thought I was Black and I turned out to be White/Asian? What if I were a 60 year old man writing erotica would it make the words you read any less valid because my sexy chocolate skin was wrinkly and grey?

Well, probably.. LOL

I know the fact the image in your head of the author would kinda ruin things, but the quality of the art would still stand. I didn’t ask Henry to turn in his piece, he chose to and it was up to par with some of stuff adults have submitted. I’ve actually been sitting on his post for a while, but it was too good not to share. I debated putting his age, but I thought that was necessary for understanding the post. I initially had his age at the top, but one of the midnight commenters hit me on Twitter and suggested I move it down. Would a heads up have been better?

Maybe it’s because I don’t have kids (but I do have younger siblings-one in his teens) and I understand the concern. Still, I don’t see that big of a difference between me writing about a teenage love affair and a teen writing about one. Your argument is with the former scenario readers can relate and reminisce as well. I say the same can and actually did happen with the latter. Everyone thought back to when they were RJ or Layla, it just burst their bubble to discover that the author didn’t have that far back to reminisce.

You said, “they feel embarrassed and uncomfortable that they were turned on by two kids having sex and resent you for it. the comparisons to child porn aren’t all that far off in that respect.” At the end of the day, regardless if an adult or an teen wrote it, they were still thinking about teens having sex. But I imagine more of themselves than the actual characters. But yeah I can see the bamboozle feeling.

I won’t rattle off any longer, BUT I definitely see and hear where you’re coming from. So don’t think that I do. It is weird for me too. But as a writer I appreciate good writing and I wish I had someone to appreciate my talents when I was younger so I’m just paying it forward. Hopefully Henry doesn’t forget me when he wins his Pulitzer.

But stay rest-assured, more than likely any future teen love stories will be from adults to adults. Or at least till Henry turns 18. Lol

if its there its there and yes I was turned compleatly off once I saw it was a 15yr old But being the mother of a young artist I had already gone through the shock of someone at such a young age having that much imagination and the guilt of feeling What did I do or not do as a mom to encourage such detailed thoughts I think its more of a guilt thing with women We are not living our mothers lives Times have changed and we must understand that Unless we raise our children under rocks the world good and bad Will have an impact So get over the shock ladies and begin talking to our youth So these types of thoughts are not misguided

Do you think that way too many people try to stifle young people’s hopes and dreams? Was there something you always wanted to do in your younger years that people always told you you’d never accomplish?
- My experience gorwing up was exactly the opposite but not one bit better. I was always told I could do anything I set my mind to. I grew up under the premise that if I got good grades I could go to college, get my master’s and have the career of my dreams plus the money to match it. BULLSHIT. Things may have been that way when my parents were young but nowadays business school grads end up stacking shelves at Walmart or driving cabs because they can’t find proper employment. I was sold a dream which I find much more disturbing than shattering unrealistic dreams at an early point in one’s life. Saves a lot of time and work.

Did you ever get back to your dream or was it deferred forever?
- I lived my dream(s) only to find out that they are not all that. A much more painful realization than not pursuing your dreams in the first place but still being able to have them. But that’s just MHO.

If Henry was your child or young relative, would you support his creative writing or not recognize his talents and try to steer him in a different direction?
- I’d support my child or young relative in everything he/she would want to do. As unhappy as I may be about the outcome of my dream(s), I am still a firm believer in “only make moves when your heart’s in it – the sky’s the limit”.

Would you be open to Henry writing again if you just didn’t know his age? Or should I just set him up for NWSO Jr.’s blog?
- I’m definitely open to reading more of Henry’s work because he does have a way with words. I just don’t wanna picture him hump somebody until he is 18.

Rt@SassyNola

“we should stop pretending like the negative comments/discomfort was about stifling creativity in a child because it’s not a mainstream or “appropriate” activity- it had nothing to do with that. the series is called “wet wednesdays” because it turns people on. the commenters were turned on by the story, as they wanted and expected to be, and then found out that they were turned on by two kids having sex. see if an adult had written the piece, they would have viewed it as being turned on by an adult reminiscing about having sex as a teenager which they can remember and relate to. they feel embarrassed and uncomfortable that they were turned on by two kids having sex and resent you for it.”

I fully agree with the above, although I wouldn’t have necessarily said I resented NWSO for posting it. I’m all for supporting someone trying to express themselves and develop their talent. But finding out the writer was 15 did put me off, perhaps I could compare it with watching some some porn on tv /erotica- getting turned on then finding out the actors were kids. Hell nah!!! Yeah we all did our ish, some earlier than others, no judgement- but i still do not feel comfortable reading kiddie porn man.

But Henry keep doing yr thang. I love that u write period- whatever the subject matter.

1.Do you think that way too many people try to stifle young people’s hopes and dreams?

Yeah, parents mainly do it because they want you to live their own dreams and not yrs.

2.Was there something you always wanted to do in your younger years that people always told you you’d never accomplish?

Not really- i wanted to write- and i did…till i didn’t anymore. But i think i was always the biggest obstruction in the way of living my dream. The constant 2nd guessing, not believeing in yrself, etc etc

3. How did that make you feel?

Disappointed in myself.

4.Did you ever get back to your dream or was it deferred forever?

Not really, just moved onto another dream. The mind is a powerful thing.

5. If Henry was your child or young relative, would you support his creative writing or not recognize his talents and try to steer him in a different direction? Why?

If he was my child and i knew he wanted to write- i would fully support him. I would just ask him not to show me any of his erotic writings- cause i doubt i’d be “cool” enough to really hang. If eh was my younger brother- well, to support him i’d read it- even though i’d tell him it makes me uncomfortable reading that ish.

6.How important do you think it is for young people to be able to express themselves?

It’s very important develpoping and finding yr voice at sucha young age.

Would you be open to Henry writing again if you just didn’t know his age?

I’d certainly enjoy it more.

Or should I just set him up for NWSO Jr.’s blog? Isn’t he on that already?! Lol.

I was a bit taken aback knowing the author was under aged. I’ve got kids that are older and younger than him that I dont want to think about them associated with sex. I know the older ones have already had sex, but no mom wants to think about or get a mental picture of it happening. I agree that teens are having babies and killing folk at an even younger age than this author. But that doesn’t make it right. However, I know what it is like to be told you should not pursue a creative outlet, for whatever reason. Like your sister, my dad told me I could not sing. That hasn’t stopped me, but I’m afraid to sing solos for fear of sounding bad.

That being said, I think he does have a gift. It is great that he wants to use it. I would be interested in seeing if he has more writing that is not erotica. I would be disappointed if that is the only type of writing he does.

I didn’t read yesterday’s post because they usually have me ALL messed up for the workplace lol!! I love to write and read erotica but I didnt discover that till the age of 20. So many of us had teenage sexual experiences so why wouldnt it be appropriate for him to write about it? I think many of yall are just mad that a 15 yr old got you heated.

I wouldnt be dissapointed if that was the only writing he does, you can’t really decide where you find your inspiration to write…it just happens…atleast for me it does.

SassoNoLA write:

we should stop pretending like the negative comments/discomfort was about stifling creativity in a child because it’s not a mainstream or “appropriate” activity- it had nothing to do with that. … the commenters were turned on by the story, as they wanted and expected to be, and then found out that they were turned on by two kids having sex …
presenting that erotica to adults to turn them on IS weird. i’m disturbed that you don’t at least understand where the commenters were coming from and have turned it into a stifling of dreams deal.

I agree.

Bran wrote:

If the author were your 15 year old daughter or sister, how would you feel then? I sense a double standard is at play here

And I agree with this too

NWSO wrote:

Would everything that you’ve read and agreed with now be null and void just because you thought I was Black and I turned out to be White/Asian?

He’s a minor. Apples to oranges. If he were 18, I doubt you would have gotten any negative comments.

I’m a parent. At a very early age, when my children expressed interest in specific things, that was fully nurtured, both emotionally, practically and financially. Most great achievers started very, very young and when you pay attention, you can cultivate those gifts. My job, as a parent, is to provide the resources to nurture that talent so that they have the best opportunities to cultivate them.

What I didn’t like was people saying “oh well that’s better than shooting people up” as though the only choices for black boys is violence/drugs/gangs or this. It’s a false choice, there are plenty of other options. If it were a girl, there would be a definite double standard because people would be excessively concerned about her getting pregnant (or even make derogatory comments about “fast a** girls). Such is society.

If my son were writing erotica at fifteen, yes I would be disturbed and I would try to expand his writing into other genres. I acknowledge that sexual indulgence is common at that age, that doesn’t mean that as a parent, I just encourage whatever my children want to do as long as nobody is getting stabbed. I just firmly do not believe in being an adult and encouraging sexual behavior in minors, even if you believe they will do it anyway.

I read the post on yesterday and waited to read the commentaries to determine how I would respond.

I work with teenagers in several settings (school and church) and this post from the young author is not that far off from what our teenagers are saying and doing to one another.

I think many adults are misinformed if they think our children are not engaged to some degree in these activities. When I try to gently suggest to the parents of the teens I serve that they should talk with their kids about sex, they dismiss it and ignore me only to find out later that the innocent image they have of their own is not accurate. :-/ Their kids are just as incorrigible as the ones they talk about!

I was not surprised by the details described by the author. There are many coming of age movies out here that show us how the adolescent male mind works in fantasizing about every female he sees and most of the consumers are grown men!

We all know from CDC statistics that teenagers are sexually active, I guess your readers didn’t want a visual in the form of this post. SMH.

I cosign on paying it forward, and I agree with your final conclusion of no underage erotica. RJ has an outlet for sharing his thoughts with his age group that is not targeted to your readers and if some of them want to follow him you have given us his link. Fin.

wow. it took me a long time to make the decision to comment on this one, because I’m amazed that Henry’s age is an issue at all. also, as much as i agree with Ans that his writing/dreams should be supported, I think there is an even bigger issue that is not being touched on here.

yesterday a post by a young man was posted on this site and it featured content that we grown folks prefer to associate with adults. that said, the fact is that millions of kids (many far younger than Henry) who are actually thinking about or already having sex can’t talk to the adults in their lives about it, so they can get any solid guidance from someone they trust and respect on how to go about doing so safely or in away that honours their needs. many of the comments i saw yesterday made it real clear why this is the case.

is it uncomfortable to hear about young kids/teens desiring or having sex? absolutely not. nevertheless, as far as i’m concerned teen sex needs to be discussed/written about more openly, so kids have a fighting chance of getting the info the need to protect and do right for themselves. although Henry’s post was erotica, it helped to shed light on something that is going on in communities everywhere – whether we like it or not.

in essence what i’m saying, instead of getting on Ans’s back for posting the piece or being disgusted by the age of the author, some of you should take the time to take a long hard look at how you view kids and sex and then get real with yourselves.

perhaps i’m way out to left field here, but that’s just my two cents.

As a young child I exhibited a talent for writing and I wished that at 15 I was as talented as Henry and that is why I had no compunctions about expressing my support. One of the hallmarks of good art is that it challenges conventional thinking. Being provocative is one of the responsibilities with which artist are charged.

Their creations should challenge us to view the conventional in a different way. Henry has done that. I understand where some of the detractors are coming from though, as there is a concern about how much children in our society are sexualized in the media. That is a real concern but we must resist the urge to have a blanket approach to every issue as if it is the same.

I challenge the detractors to view Henry’s story in the context in which it was presented, a fictional composition about teenage loving. There is always the temptation to read more into things because psychoanalyzing every event is now a popular pasttime. It is like looking at Alice in Wonderland differently because Lewis Carroll was alleged to have been a pedophille.
Does it make the story any less appealing?

Ans, I believe you may have erred in revealing the age of the author because it has detracted from the quality of the work. Most artist engender to have their work judged by the quality of the work not the nature of the artist.

So if the peice was done by a 15 y-o Henrietta, instead of Henry it should not matter because all the responses would have been about the story and not the author’s age.

@NZ green-eyed bandita – Thank you! I will keep going with my writing

i’m seventeen too. honestly, i don’t see what the problem was.

think it’s odd that various commenters have referenced safe sex, teenage sex, pregnancy, etc. this series is called “wet wednesdays” and the genre of writing is erotica. this has zilch to do with educating children about responsible sex or setting off this epiphany for parents who think they have angelic kids: Henry’s post addresses neither of those issues. i’m actually not all that disturbed by the posting. i did have an “ewww :side eye to NWSO:” reaction, but i got over it cause the creepiness is your fault, not mine! lol. but all these reactions to me stem from some kind of guilt. either people feel weird about being turned on and are morally repulsed that anyone would post something on a series that seems to be intended for the purpose of arousing (because let’s be really REAL, none of the wed wednesday pieces display EXEMPLARY writing. it’s like people saying they like Zane novels because she’s a good storyteller. no she ain’t. her writing is garbage but the visuals it induces and arousal factors are high because you don’t really need great writing to accomplish that). those defending and moving the conversation off on tangents about people realizing that kids ARE having sex (what a revelation!) are trying to escape their guilt and the creepiness factor by normalizing and de-sexualizing the experience/post. lies and alibis. let’s just all embrace our guilt about the pseudo kiddie porn and move on. maybe we can establish a support group.

As a writer myself, I have to say that just because the kid is writing in detail about sex, doesn’t actually mean he’s having it.

I started writing romance novels (though I never completed one until I was in my mid-20s) at 12. Of course, they weren’t as explicit as this– but that’s mostly because I’m not really into overtly raunchy fiction writing… grew up reading Harlequinn romances and whatnot so my stuff reflected that. A lot of times, I was writing about things I’d never even actually experienced. Writing was a way of releasing pent up frustration or a way to explore my sexual fantasies safely, if that makes any sense.

Either way, whether the kid is having sex or not, at least he’s doing something productive with his time, and honing his skills as a writer. I’ll take this short story over another 15 year old-YouTuber with aspirations to be the next Waka Flaka or Jim Jones any day.

So this discussion hits home for me, being that i was a teenager with interests in creative things that perhaps weren’t “appropriate” for my age.

All my life i have drawn. And sometimes my imagination would lead me to explore things i didn’t know about through art. Sometimes id draw naked bodies embracing, other times id draw vicious depictions of violence (very detailed might i add).

At some point, a friend of my mom’s who happened to be very religious, saw my drawings and criticized my then young mom. Told her that instead of drawing pictures of violence i should have been drawing “pictures of our Lord” That’s a whole other conversation but it got to under mom’s skin deep enough that she began to be concerned as well and sent me to a child psychologist to have me “evaluated”.

So there i am, a kid barely discovering my pubes, now sitting in front of a shrink asking me if i was abused or if i had hidden secrets id like to share. Turns out, i wasn’t abused or had any real developmental problems. Doc pretty much told my mom what she KNEW already, that i was a “very talented and imaginative young man with lots of curiosity..that’s all”.

Years later, I graduated from a prestigious art school and i am a full time designer and cartoonist. I always think what if my mom would have thought the same as that friend of hers, would i too have had my creativity stifled?

I say, Henry do your thing. Its exploring an artform. People have opinions about art all day long. Its too risque, its too advanced” but in the end that’s who they are. Creative people make innovation. Conformists like things the way they are and sometimes try to push those beliefs on others. Its fine line to not support someones art, but its another to try to judge them because it doesn’t fall in line with their own beliefs. I’ll say it outright. We Americans need to get over our sex taboo notions. Its THE most natural thing in our lives, so why is writing about it, talking about it, relating to others about it so wrong? Inappropriate? cmon.

Other countries have bare beats on TV all day long and yet WE in the US have the most incidents of heinous sex crimes and abuse crimes. Its no coincidence that in a country that tries so hard to shelter “young impressionable minds” from sex that we practically breed sexual deviants. Its like telling someone they cant. Guess what, thats ALL they will think about doing when they get the chance to. We need to loosen up and embrace sex as part of human existence and not some risque taboo only for adults…

it was real good, totally enjoyed it

I look forward to reading your book in a couple of years, lol.

———–Its fine line to not support someones art, but its another to try to judge them because it doesn’t fall in line with their own beliefs———

Get around enough white upper management in Corporate America and you’ll hear stories of how they “tried coke” once or twice, and may even have gotten caught, and they’ve turned out fine…

When people say “I did it and I’m ok” for every one of you, there are probably 2-4 others for whom it didn’t turn out so great. So as adults, we have to be careful about what we encourage in minors. There will be one kid who grows up to be a stellar writer/artist, etc. and a few others who end up on the wrong side of the fence.

It’s a fine line to walk. And also, for every adult that is encouraging creativity, there will, inevitably be those who encourage it predatorily. Again, it’s a fine line.

You can be careful of what you feel is okay to encourage in kids. If you’re a teenager for whom adults have normalized certain behaviors (and see, the part that gets me is that when you say the writing is okay, it implies the content is ok, and that is how kids will see it) then how do you have boundaries?

Do you think that way too many people try to stifle young people’s hopes and dreams?
Yes I do!

Was there something you always wanted to do in your younger years that people always told you you’d never accomplish?
Yes and I’m trying not to defer it any longer! I want to at least try it and if I fail or not even complete it, I know that at least I tried and I won’t go on later through life regretting it. Life is to short for coulda, woulda, shoulda!

How did that make you feel?
Frustrated, confused, hurt and angry, but I now let that be one of my motivators.

Did you ever get back to your dream or was it deferred forever?
See my answer previous to the last one.

If Henry was your child or young relative, would you support his creative writing or not recognize his talents and try to steer him in a different direction?
I would support it for the simple fact I remember what it was like to be his age. Granted times have changed but being a teenager really hasn’t. In being creative there are no limits unless they are breaking the law and to that I would not turn a blind eye to or encourage. Herny’s writing has many more posibilities on top of erotica and honestly so long as he still continues to write is my one and only concern.

How important do you think it is for young people to be able to express themselves?
I think it is important as they can on some levels communicate better through their creativity!

Would you be open to Henry writing again if you just didn’t know his age? Or should I just set him up for NWSO Jr.’s blog? LOL.

I am good for what ever neither him or you are breaking the law. I really enjoyed his submission and if you are to be his mentor than he is in good hands!

my dream was shatter due to me wanting to be a police officer when i graduated from high school. my mother was dead set against that idea. the passion is still there all these years. but working with juveniles doesn’t come close to me doing what my heart so desires. I say let the kid write and express himself…. pump fist at henry.

Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live. –Mae Jemison, African American physician and NASA astronaut.

As an adult, my stipulation would be that his parents are involved. While personally, I wouldn’t stifle my child’s creativity it is up to the parent. For possible legal reasons, I would be careful.

I haven’t read the comments on the other blog, but without doing so I think that it’s naive to think that removing ONE outlet is going to remove the thoughts or the experiences that he has had with sex. He needs to be able to express himself. It when a person is not allowed to be expressive that more serious issues can cultivate. In this case, with his level of knowledge, the written word is arguably the best place for his creativity.

I enjoyed yesterday’s “Have Your Wet Dreams Come True? (Teenage Love Affair)/ Wet Wednesdays column. I was glued to my screen. As to Henry’s age, I was shocked…but not offended in the least bit. I only thought to myself “15 year old Henry writes much more creatively than a 34 year old woman.”

By no means do I condone adolescents having the hot and steamy sex that Henry depicted. But I cannot condemn a gifted 15 year old scribe for graphically depicting what my girlfriends were already doing when they were his age and younger and what I began experimenting with when I was only one year older than Henry! Who knows Henry writing erotica may be a less risky alternative to impregnating someone’s daughter(s) or contracting AIDS or a sexually transmitted disease.

I do not believe that youth creativity should be stifled. I work with youth and encourage them to express themselves in unconventional ways. My dreams were not stifled as a young person. I attribute much of my success today to being allowed to forge my own way, make mistakes, and learn invaluable lessons along the way. I thank my father for empowering me with a level of independence. I am happy to say that I have never had any sexually transmitted disease, no adolescent or out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and no legal troubles whatsoever. I say all that to say…sheltering young people often inhibits their development and can lead to a future of unwise choices once Mama/Daddy no longer have them on a leash. Trust me, I saw more than enough examples during my tenure on the hallowed grounds of my beloved Spelman College!

NWSO, I give you props for providing Henry a forum through which his craft could be shared!

@ Malia,

With all due respect, i understand your point of view. Its certainly not a great idea to encourage kid when they exhibit questionable behavior such as violence and what not. But in all earnest, whats so wrong about discussing sex?

I’m willing to bet that with all the STD and early pregnancy lecture that kids get already drilled into their heads, they know whats out there. They know the consequences. Will they follow the sound advise is another thing. But simply limiting access information or discouraging curiosity or exploration can only go so far. Ultimately they are on their own so i ask what boundaries are we setting up here? Are they truly for their safety or are they because we want them to act according to our own individual standards? (Hey i don’t like erotica to begin with but i still see the right in allowing him to express his ideas.)

A kid thats already on the “wrong side of the tracks” got there through a decent amount of their own effort. To prohibit or limit the expression of ideas seems like preventative measures that wont actually prevent any wrong doing. Its the same argument that playing violent video games magically makes one act violently. It might have those themes in there more frequently but to cross that line, requires much much more.

Simply put, exposure to these themes does not dictate that a child will abuse and exploit these interests in negative ways. I stand by the idea that we in the US still have very big hang-ups about sex in particular. I don’t condone child porn or child abuse, but it should be noted that where other countries are more open to dialogue about sex at an early age, there is much less eagerness to exploit it. Because its everywhere, the novelty is lessened.

From my experience kids in other countries have a much more mature outlook about sex and practice much more birth control and abstinence than kids here. I think in part due to this openness. If we treat it as some taboo, it is more likely to have people feel the guilt, and possibly be pushed to suppress this curiosity…until it manifests itself later on in much less healthy ways.

Take for instance another taboo example but i feel it pertains to this: If churches allowed priests to marry and have “normal” lives would it have prevented them from molesting children? If they didn’t feel the need to suppress something as natural as sexual urges, perhaps it might not have pushed them to commit such acts with children. I know i may have opened a can of worms with that one, but that’s my two cents.

@ Skye Blue “in essence what i’m saying, instead of getting on Ans’s back for posting the piece or being disgusted by the age of the author, some of you should take the time to take a long hard look at how you view kids and sex and then get real with yourselves.”

I think this sums it up in a nutshell. Those individuals who shudder and find the post repulsive really need to wake up and recognize that our children are faced with images and expressions that we were not.

As for stifling dreams, I try to make sure that my children have an opportunity to experience (on some level) each of their interests. This means not transferring my fears or ideas of what is “acceptable” to them. Keep in mind, that as a parent it is my responsibility to create a certain atmosphere of freedom and respect that serves as a foundation for those choices.

For instance, If my almost 14 yr old son had submitted this piece we (his parents) would have seen it BEFORE he submitted it. Additionally, as his parents, we would have known if the piece was fantasy or reality and appropriate discussions would already be part of the landscape. We would be fully supportive because that support would be couched in knowledge, and love, of our son.

I wanted to check my reality on this and had my husband read yesterday’s post. I then asked him how he would feel if that was our son.

His response? He would help him put his stories together for a book.

I teach high school, grades 9-12, and believe me this is what I hear daily. Intentionally or not. Children have realized that most of their parents would kill them if they shared some of their innermost feelings and/or thoughts, and they tend to reach out to those outlets that embrace them without judging them. Be it a friend, MySpace, Facebook, teachers, etc.
Didn’t most of us have these same feelings during adolescence?
I am usually thought of by some of friends as “The Holy One,” but I must say…that young man has incredible talent. As a teacher, I would love to be the teacher that developed his talent. Stop being dream busters & pay attention to the art. Truth be told-I was the “Good Girl!” back in the day! ;0)

—But in all earnest, whats so wrong about discussing sex?–

I didn’t really see it as an open discussion about sex. It was more of an erotic, sexual, fantasy expressed online.

And while I do understand teens do what they do, I am just not supportive of adults encouraging it.

Let me just rephrase it and see if I get an answer:

if a fifteen year old girl wrote a long story (like this) about visiting a boy, waiting for his dad to leave, giving him a BJ and swallowing, would you all feel the same?

Would you be like, way to go Katie, keep it up, you’re a brilliant writer?

I see where you are going with this and its just more supportive of the idea that there IS in fact a double standard. i wont deny it, but i also personally, try not to abide by those conventions.

I would only see it as harmful if someone got hurt. Who is gettting hurt by your example? Furthermore, what boundary are we setting if we DID chastize the girl about WRITING a sexual story? Are we teaching them that simply writing a story like this, as a girl, is unacceptable? even LESS so than a man of similar age? What in reality do we gain by doing this?

We can agree to be on opposing sides of this discussion. i respect your opinion.

1st off, Props to Henry, d@mn good job man!!! Now, as I read his literature and became enthralled, my imagination ran wild making visuals, as I’m sure (tho not entirely) a majority of you other readers did. And the people I imagined doing this were adults… and after hearing Henry’s age, those two imaginary people… were STILL ADULTS!!! I am not shocked at all by the graphic nature of his writing, hell at 16 I experienced a very (almost identical) situation, only after telling the girl about my fantasy. A fantasy that sounded a helluvalot like this one… However I do have a question. How would any parent respond in a supporting manner to finding out their child is very good at erotic literature???

@Potato w/ Jive

You all act as though the only two options are to support it or chastise it. There are many shades of gray in between.

——I would only see it as harmful if someone got hurt. Who is gettting hurt by your example?—–

I could make a whole list of stuff that kids like to do, that’s common at that age. It doesn’t mean that grown folks should sit around encouraging it, that’s all.

——Furthermore, what boundary are we setting if we DID chastize the girl about WRITING a sexual story?—–

I believe that when sexuality is about teenage girls people are more likely to be honest about, and concerned with, the slippery slope. When it involves a boy, it’s more “atta boy” than anything else.

SassyNoLA expressed my sentiments exactly.

It’d be interesting to see what people would say if Henry was *Henrietta* instead. The comments probably wouldn’t surprise me (if it was Henrietta).

@SassyNoLA

Wait you said: “because let’s be really REAL, none of the wed wednesday pieces display EXEMPLARY writing. it’s like people saying they like Zane novels because she’s a good storyteller. no she ain’t. her writing is garbage but the visuals it induces and arousal factors are high because you don’t really need great writing to accomplish that).”

So you saying I’m wack? And all the guest WWers too?

Zane, I agree, though, I finally read some of her stuff last year and I poked so many holes in it, but back to Wet Wednesdays.. WhatchitalkinboutSassy?

lol

Damn. Zane? Yikes.

(Yeah, Zane isn’t all that great. Only read 1 of her books. *shrugs*)

I think people are really being over the top with the “Kiddie Porn”. I don’t think that was the intention at all. He’s just just displaying the work of a talented 15 year old. The first thought in my mind after reading the post and that he was only 15 was “He’s a really good writer”. So please cut that kiddie porn crap out!

To Henry: No matter what you do in life people are going to have criticism because they aren’t brave enough to do it themselves. KEEP WRITING!

Henrietta or Henry – it would not make a difference except the writing would be even better. LOL

15 year old kids – male or female – think about sex. They are singing about it, rapping about it, writing about it, watching videos that are ruled by it, and reading about it.

My husband taught middle school for years – private, independent, rich kids middle school. You would be surprised what kids are doing and what the are considering sex. MIDDLE SCHOOL – ages 11-14. Henry’s story is nothing compared to what it is really happening.

I cosign sassynola 99%. I have to disagree with the likening WW to Zane. That comment gets a boo and a hiss I did follow the link and read the original version before Ans edited: quite an improvement. No worries Ans, you’re better than Zane, but so is Henry. Lol.

@NWSO: I have to say that I was also thrown off a bit by yesterday’s WW when I read that it was written by a 15 year old. Yes, the writing for such a young person was good. Yes, we know kids that age have sex. Yes, he should be given the opportunity to publish his writing online or print.

The problem here, however, remains to be the explicit content. Just because we know that teenagers know about sex doesn’t mean that they should be doing it, and that we should be encouraging their thoughts in it. Sex is adult. The end. The consequences, mainly conceiving children and diseases, are something that few to no children are prepared and capable to handle on their own.

So no, I don’t believe you should be publishing a 15 yr. old’s erotica. You are not stifling his dream by encouraging him to write on age appropriate subject matter. There are a million subjects in the world for his creative writing that might also merit being published on this blog or any other forum.

And yes, I would go so far as to say this is a mild form of child pornography: You are promoting/presenting the sexually explicit writings of a child who is most likely unequipped to handle its adult consequences.

It’s the truth, like it or not.

I was going to comment on Sydnie’s post but it’s probably a waste of time. She thinks what she thinks and I can respect that. But, of course, I don’t have to agree with it (sometimes, this is a great country…LOL!). Instead I’ll direct this at Henry:

Henry, keep on doing what you’re doing. As you can see, there are people who feel very comfortable telling you not to express yourself this way. As human beings, our need to express ourselves is instinctual. And I think you’ve found an outlet. Sex and/or erotica is not bad nor evil. And who’s the say that erotica is all you’ll write? I don’t think so. They always tell writers; write what you know. Or if you don’t know it, fake it like you do! LOL! You’re a writer; writers (like all creative folks) like to try different things. So whatever you do, just keep on doing it. You’re fortunate to have a mentor (benefactor?) like NWSO willing to give you this opportunity. Don’t squander it. I’m sure folks like Syndie mean well but ultimately, you’re not Sydnie. You’re Henry. Do you. I look forward to your future erotica, action-adventure, comic books, thrillers, childrens’ stories & news articles as you grow and evolve.

I can’t wait!

I scanned Henry’s piece bcuz I try not to really check out wet Wed’s these days, but what I read seemed impressive. Finding out he was 15 was slightly jarring bcuz there is a general sense that WE are all adults in here (I have seen posts from teens and know the web is accessible to all ages, but the regulars in here are assumed to be adults–and there is a comfort one feels associated with that fact). I understand the various views expressed and see positive elements in what is essentially the two camps on this age thing. The bottom line to me is this: IF Henry goes to a college level writing course, he will NOT be allowed to solely write erotica, he will be immersed in ALL forms of writing, so for those who think supporting him means supporting him JUST in writing erotic pieces, you need to re-think what it means to support an artist. You can’t concentrate on one form until you experience all of the standard styles of writing, bcuz THAT is how you continue to expand your vocabulary; learn to analyze your target audience; learn to use a variety of settings and props, change tempo, etc,. I think if it had been stated up front that Henry was 15…….it would have been received in a more positive light. There IS a double standard for boys and girls and there is also a double standard for young adults versus adults. Finally, if we could simply adopt more sexually permissive dialogue between American parents and young ppl to solve our teen STD and pregnancy rates–it would be all too easy. But I think you would have to adopt different family patterns (some places over-seas adults remain in the household with their parents until they marry, or they assume responsibility for their parents once they marry) or the extended family lives in the same town, city, etc,. Over-seas life styles encompass more than general facts about teen pregnancy rates, there’s a lot of “stuff” that goes into producing those facts that wouldn’t fly too well here, in the land where the individual is supreme.

@NSWO

sowwy! lmao. i didn’t mean to imply that the writing for wet wednesdays is wack. simply that “good” writing isn’t really the point or draw, is it? “good” writing in this sense = writing that gets people excited and enjoying the piece. but style, syntax, vocabulary, fluency, etc. aren’t in high demand for these erotic pieces; and for the end goal, they’re really not all that necessary. nobody is reading these wet wednesday pieces with their academic glasses on and a piece of paper to take notes on style and foreshadowing. lol. the series is called “wet wednesdays” not “shakespeare’s freaky corner” or something. i just think this move to step back and appreciate the superb writing when faced with the author’s age is amusing and a way to create distance between personal (re: sexual) reactions to the piece and henry’s age. i’m just saying that people are deflecting when they either praise henry/you for his good writing or denounce him/you for his poor writing/focus on erotica.

As I told my 15-year-old niece, it’s not that I don’t realize you’re experimenting and having sexual thoughts and feelings, it’s just that adults have difficulty navigating sexual relationships, which is why i think you should take your time. i agree with sassynola…this is an adult site and to read through and then find out dude was 15 was a little disconcerting. i think that could have been said from the top and then at least folks would have KNOWN they got turned on by a teenager’s fantasy. People are sexual from the womb. Children touch parts and are curious about other parts though of course they need age-appropriate explanations for their curiousity. I do think though, that we feel like we’re all adults on here and that was misleading to say the least. But Henry should feel free to write on, and should he want to make those fantasies a reality, please strap up, young man!

In agreement with SassyNoLA again.

yes i very so much agree. Mr. Henry is obviously a very advanced 15 year old & he will no doubt be a very passionate and understanding lover as he matures in his writings as well as his life.
Good work henry, I wish my husband would woe me like that.

First off… way to go Henry!!

Do you think that way too many people try to stifle young people’s hopes and dreams?

Yes people do… whatever the reason may be they do… its rediculous…

Was there something you always wanted to do in your younger years that people always told you you’d never accomplish? How did that make you feel?

Yeah there were things…. people can so deivant in trying to discourage you in what you want to do… espcially when it comes from someone in your corner is can be destroying…. just constructive critisim please?

Did you ever get back to your dream or was it deferred forever?

Talib Kweli said it best “what becomes of a dream deffered? it never makes it to the world to be seen or heard.. do it breathe? does it have a heart beat? is it alive or do it leave and become a star in the sky?”

its stifliing and can be a deal breaker or change the course of ones live good or bad…

If Henry was your child or young relative, would you support his creative writing or not recognize his talents and try to steer him in a different direction?
Why?

Im all for what he’s doing…. stephen king discovered a dead body when he was a kid…. look @ him now!!

How important do you think it is for young people to be able to express themselves?

At the end of the day you gotta be you… if you’re not you then who are you?

Would you be open to Henry writing again if you just didn’t know his age? Or should I just set him up for NWSO Jr.’s blog? LOL.

Let HENRY do his thing… i understand everyones ( the nay sayers) angle on it but lets be real…. at his age countless of us was already engaging in this behavior, cultivating thoughts and all that….. even in the 1400s people thought the same way but it was hidden and repressed…. he is being open with his thoughts and i can appreciate that… now if you had a 7 yr old writing this way? yeah he’s over exposed and something needs to be done to reign him in ( not creatively but subject wise) cause if a 7 yr old is writing stories like HENRY’s then he may b on genious level and shouldnt be stifled….

its a new world and its constantly changing… reguardless of what people want we are goign to change and evolve… what people were learning in 6th grade 2 years ago is what 4th graders are currently learning…. the stations (radio and tv) are less censored as even as a parent if you censor your kids manually they are gonna learn about things from their friends in school and in the neighborhood and live vicariously through them… when i was growing up my mother felt the simpsons was too vulgar and innappropriate for my siblings and i to watch so we couldn’t….. but from my friends i knew what happened in every episode!!!!!

I have to say that Henry sounds like the average Teenager but he is using his thoughts in a creative manner. I was a father at 13. My parents worked all the time so I pretty much had free reign. I was kissing girls at 11. Sneaking the car to pick up my 15 year old girlfriend when I was 12. We had sex in so many places and did so many wild things I could have written a book myself. Maybe Henry can keep most of his words on paper so he can choose his own direction and the choice won’t be dictated by making a baby or by catching a disease or something like that.

The world today makes sex a topic we should not discuss because kids will do it. They need to be able to talk about it and get guidance from someone other than their sexually active friend who is only a few days older. My son knows at 10 about sex, drugs and violence and he is a straight A student who most of the teachers know and commend me on how good of a child he is. We have to stop hiding things from kids and start educating them so they can make an educated decision when they do make their own decision.

We are around our kids less now than it use to be back in the days. They are exposed to everything we hide from them as soon as they are out of our sight. So tell me would you rather a child learn from other kids or would you rather help guide them?

We have to help shape these young minds and develop them into productive people. Some people pointed out some things he could do different and thats what our kids need, guidance.

Through Henry and kids like him we can get back the ideas off family and being married. We can help plant positive things in our kids minds about sex and it’s purpose.

This is the age of technology everyone has it and I see that the kids that are doing something with thereselves are stepping outside of the box at younger ages than back in the day. I mean to go striaght from high school to the pros or some students graduating high school and are collage by 18. So i mean if he was 15 good writing is good writing. He could have gone by a fake name and age those or the kids that you need to worry about lying about being 18 when they are only kids. False advertisement on their part putting themselves in situations that they may not be able to grasp at young ages when they think they are grown and are far from it. He was honest about his age and good with his writing. I say keep up the work, may be reading the next Erick Jerome Dickey or Zane for all you know.

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