Hello World,
(Please fuck, tell me someone out there gets the reference.)
I’d like to start by rewinding all the way back to my stoya.tumblr.com blogs. Many of those early writing-ish-things were titled “Stoya vs. ____,” a format stolen from Chuck–a show I used to like having on in the background while I sewed things to other things or glued rhinestones to various kinds of stuff. I learned a lot about how people who are sensitive to social justice concerns tend to interpret words and statements. I was also pretty clearly telegraphing the fact that life frequently felt like a battle to me, if not a war.
(I couldn’t see it at the time, but other people could.)
Later, people started asking me to write things for their publications in exchange for money. For about 18 months I took basically every gig that was offered. I learned a lot about how freelance writing works, about small scale exploitation under–um, neo-liberal?–capitalism, and why a good editor is worth at least 10x the weight of a publication’s prestige or traffic. My year freelancing for VICE gave me a crash course in the mad-and-looking-for-someone-
(Predictive text suggested “women” instead of “someone” in that last sentence. This feels accurate enough to mention in an parenthetical.)
Then came Graphic Descriptions. I was being told I needed a domain of my own, and I knew that my presence on any individual social media network or blogging service was subject to change at the whims of new ownership, founders responding to straw concerned-public demands, totally automated “inappropriate content” reporting systems, and evolving ToS’s. A (theoretically more stable) web presence required a name, so I did what I tend to do when I can’t find one that feels right: describe what it is.
And indeed, I posted blogs describing (in fairly graphic ways) the world around me and what I was up to. When these things were about a sex scene, I added links out. But I was never able to write *just* to get-and-send clicks to push porno. That’s a skill I wish I had, and an aptitude I know I don’t.
And then I stopped writing. Entirely. I could barely even email.
It took a few months for me to understand what the block was. All that previous writing had been addressed to the Entire Internet, and the Entire Internet had become a bit terrifying. Threats like “I’m going to fuck your spleen” were harder to laugh off, and some MRA group had posted something claiming to offer a bounty for putting this bitch behind bars. It took a whole damn year for me to find that one funny… and then it was hilarious.
Seriously though, the Internet felt scary enough to make the writing part of me freeze up.
Over the summer I tried a couple of things and managed to write two real pieces: A poem about blowjobs that was sent as a newsletter and a lengthy description of a Balkan gonzo porn adventure with Zak Sabbath.
Then I went back to troubleshooting that writer’s block problem. The poem had been a way of saying hello to one of the men who was mentioned as a blowee; I knew he subscribed to the newsletter. The Balkan gonzo porn blog was written for friends who I knew would enjoy hearing about the adventure–at their leisure, as opposed to in a 90 minute one woman show.
This fall, Graphic Descriptions was having some malware issues. Rev Mitcz had scooped up hellostoya.com as a possible solo site, and then we decided we still don’t want a Stoya solo site.
(Solo site like the traditional porn thing where there’s one female performer and a range of visual media content of her in various stages of undress and/or fuckery.)
—–
On Friday, 20 January 2017, I went to AVN/AEE to sign for four hours at the Fleshlight booth. A few things were very different from previous conventions. I was calm. I had my own security human (they’re much more affordable than I’d thought.) And every single person who came to see me–except that one guy… fuck, there’s always one guy–spoke to me in ways that felt humanizing. Re-humanizing, even. That’s an audience I can address my words to.
So: HelloStoya.com… because that’s the gist of what y’all say to me when we first meet or see each other again. And because I *need* to be writing towards a group or individual in order to write at all.
(Mitcz installed stock WordPress, which means the comments section was automatically live. Clayton Cubitt once said he wasn’t interested in hosting anyone else’s Ids, and I tend to agree. But for now I’ll leave it open, and we’ll see how that goes.)
Thank you and xoxo,
Stoya
Wish you did more mainstream shit! You’ve got more talent than that Halle Berry bitch.And she’s in stream.
hello, Stoya, I am following you on social media for many years, you are so beautiful. Believe me, you are talented and going to hit in the industry soon, it’s my promise
YES! Greetings fellow nerd. I DID get the reference. The man who taught me (a long time friend) worked for Dennis Ritchie. My friend’s boss was Ken Thompson… Hello (SMALL) World.
We all have writer’s block at times. It passes. Chuck was not bad.
Cheers
You are very beatiful. I love you. I want to be with you
“Hello world” as in that token stub of code one first writes when learning a new programming language (like C or C++)?
“Hello World” was the first thing I said as I was being born. The “World” immediately proceeded to “mute my a$$”… 🙁
Always loved seeing your presence at conventions. Knowing there was at least one likeminded human amongst the mess comforted the heck outta me. Thank you for contributing so much to this industry.
– C
不知道说些什么，你真漂亮；你有一些说不出来的气质在里面，可能你与众不同，但是我更认为你是另类的代言人。好吧！hellostoya
So glad you’re writing! You have a powerful voice!
i want you
vsafan.fcc@gmail.com
I think you’re an amazing human being and I’ve been a fan of you (outside your film work) since learning more about you years ago. Keep being an amazing inspiration for young and first time writers and the goddess you are.
I bought your book and can’t wait to read some amazing stuff. Although you’re a little younger, I look up to you as an inspiring person.
Thank you for all you do.
P.s. fellow cat mom!
It is a sincere compliment to say that I read with intensity and interest your “About” posting, even if I didn’t understand about a third of it, and equally enjoyed but probably misunderstood the other two thirds. You have a tremendous mind for writing, a gift. I plan to keep reading.
that’s……. not an obscure reference. everyone gets it.
reallyyyyy?? im surprised that you will read my post <3
I just want to tell you… ERES UNA HERMOSA!!!!! (u are beautiful inside and out)
Come to MEXICO again!!
Happy Holidays 🙂
Hello Stoya. What an intriguing find you are. Not a typical site of anyone let alone someone in such an exposed yet private industry. What a rarity this is and that fascinates me. Well done.
Which reference do you want me to get? The WP one or the programing one?
Hi How to Do It Jessica-
I’m writing about the girl on your How To Do It page on SLATE –who hates the come dripping out and down her leg after she makes love w her man.
You wrote about a drip stick and mentioned any other ideas what to do about this are welcome. SO HERE IT IS:
I used to hate that too, and kept a couple small clean dry hand towels and/or washcloths next to the bed. You just grab one after we making love and shove it down there underneath. It will catch and absorb everything more or less. You can also squeeze the kegel muscle a bit to get the rest out– and after that there’s no wet spot or drip. I highly recommend. When I used to do this I also could just lie there and enjoy the afterglow with my lover instead of suffering the cold drippy goo. Later just use the towel to wipe the rest and toss it. XOXO Jazmin Light http://www.sexywellness.com
I first saw a video of you, and the first time watched sex video from an another level. I saw someone’s soul in it. I can’t erase you from my head. This has never happened to me. I wish to give a big hug to you.
i’m probably your first visitor who doesn’t know you from porn, rather from 2018’s ai rising despite having watched probably half the internet’s adult content. i’m also well aware of the origins of “hello world”, which dates back considerably farther than c, c++, or any other object oriented programming language, since another commentor specifically brought those up. i say that to say this: you uniquely have your own voice & nobody is better suited to tell your story than you, preferably from precisely your point of view so it’s more meaningful, regardless of what the naysayer assholes may decide is a good enough color of shit to regurgitate. ignore them & do your thing.
Hello Stoya,
I greatly appreciate your writing on Slate and your kind, direct, wise council. I am a queer woman trying to figure out how to be a sexual being in this world (oof, and on the internet!) and your candor is guiding and centering for me in my journey. Thank you for showing up and continuing to write in the face of the trolls and that FUCKING one guy. Ugh.
Sending you whatever good vibes the universe may have to spare in this moment. Grateful for you.
K