Evie's London Escort Blog

It is my real pleasure to tell you about Harlot’s Parlour, if you’ve not seen it already!

Harlots Parlour http://www.harlots-parlour.com is a blog for sex workers and the allies of sex workers to openly and freely discuss the rights of sex workers, and sexuality. The focus is on Europe and the UK, but extends beyond all borders!

I found out about a group that was being set up via a post on Punterlink with a link, and happily I was invited to join after emailing with regards to my ‘cred’. (The cred being this blog, my MFPS story and my status as sex-positive feminist and whore!).

I had mentioned here and on twitter when I got involved, that I would get the opportunity to guest blog on a sex-positive site. I loved that as an actual sex worker I will have the chance to speak for myself and my place within the sex industry. If anything, just the chance to add my voice to the chorus opposing the resounding false, offensive, and misinformed negativity that gets chucked at sex workers would be a hell of a treat!

The other great thing that Harlot’s Parlour has to offer is that it is a diverse group! From editors Douglas Fox  and Catherine Stephens from the IUSW, Caroline Shepherd, a feminist writer; All the way through to Amanda Brooks,  Jil Filopovic from Feminste… specialists in women’s health, sex workers from different walks of life, sociologists…the whole kit and kaboodle in one place to approach things from all angles.

I’ve yet to contribute my first work… So far my contribution has been limited to private discussion, support and OK I keep trumping this up- The fact that I picked the winning name for the site, Harlots Parlour was the name I thought of (though others suggestions were far better then my own!) Thus far, that has been it.

To be honest, I’m a bit nervous about it. It is all well and good my writing here for myself, where I can sit at my laptop in my knickers and post pictures of my boobs, wax lyrical on the joys of French new Wave and generally be a shameless if perhaps subtle (ha) self promoter. If I can’t think of anything good to write I can just write…whatever. Or nothing. Or I can post a video link or a new picture.

And that is fine, because I am not touting myself on my own blog as a writer!

Now when I write something for Harlots-Parlour.com I kind of *will* be. I feel like now it isn’t a question of whether I can contribute, I know I can, but whether my contribution is actually A) Well written, B) Properly realised and C) Well informed and D) Hits its target. And then of course there’s E) Is it actually a good read. No mucking about! And another thing I need to address: What exactly do I want to say?

Writing was a big passion when I was a kid. I wrote all of the time. I had an old timey typewriter and I used to sit and hammer out page after page of surprisingly well scripted gibberish (for my age at least!), mostly centering around anthropomorphic animals, and I dreamed of being published, of being the big thing… Maybe just being successful at it. I was raised on Reading Rainbow, that’s just how it was

Then when I was a bit older and I started devouring ‘adult’ books, I dreamed of Margaret Atwood and writing the worlds next Handmaids Tale, of toasting with Tom Wolfe, of movie deals and book signings and a reclusive house in Tahoe. To a certain extent, that is the desire we all have inside us to leave a legacy and do something of real worth. I had my heart set on taking a class that Alan Ginsberg was teaching in Boulder but I was too young, and he passed away before I was too old.

Then later I had dreams of other things… and writing became something I was convinced I wasn’t particularly meant for.

So I worry that my writing won’t be up to snuff when it comes to a world stage, or on the bigger issues I’m going to be revealed as being less well informed than I make out to be. And CRAP- So Far Harlot’s Parlour has had some *great* writing. My feelings of excitement and honour at being counted on those ranks are thus far being out-shined by a sense of being out of my depth!   If there is one thing I have found profoundly encouraging it is the praise I get for this blog, and the fact that people seem to enjoy it. (And I love ya for it too! )

I guess we’ll see. Going forward, my posts for Harlots-Parlour will be confined to things that I know I can write about, and I’ll save the big battlegrounds  til I’m fully prepared.

There are only so many times you can read some remarkably ill-informed or completely uninformed slut-shaming rhetoric in the media before you have to say “Can I see your statistics on that please? OK Thanks Bye!”And I’m happy to help address the issues where and if I can.

I don’t intend to slang misinformation and falsehoods in the name of winning the argument (Unlike a few people on the other side of the sex-workers issues fence…).  That would be fighting fire with fire. Fuck fighting fire with fire! Apart from preventative controlled brush fires, that tactic does not work- Fight fire with *water* Or that special retardant foam.

xxxx