So You Want to Write Erotica

I’ve received a lot of emails asking me about becoming an erotica writer and so I decided to post a specific email and show my response, mostly so I can just refer people to this page instead of repeating myself. The email below is paraphrased

Hello, I’m an aspiring erotica writer. I’d like to know if you have any advice on how to go about this. Also, should I should focus on writing the things that turn me on – for instance, watersports – or just stick with mainstream erotic stories.

Personally, my take is that well-written erotica sells, no matter how edgy it is – IF it’s well written (unless it involves underage sex – then it’s almost impossible to get published).

There is an awful lot of straight up erotica out there, and you can definitely make your mark in the genre if you choose to write about less visited themes, such as fetishes, but only if you write for an audience who needs to be introduced to understanding the eroticism of the fetish.

A lot of fetish writers make the mistake of assuming that their readers will instantly be as turned on as they are by their fetishes. This is a mistake. All you will end up with are readers who are already into watersports – and that’s a small minority.

The trick is to be honest enough and analytical enough about why watching women pee arouses you. You are inviting readers to see the erotic in what they very well might consider unerotic. To do that, you need to take them through the discovery process. One way to do it is by writing about the first time you realized you found this erotic yourself. And this involves being extremely open, and willing to look at some things that you yourself might be shy about admitting to.

Someone once said that behind every fetish is a story. And that story is how someone came to associate something generally considered unerotic (urine) with a sexual response. Perhaps it was the fact that it was considered forbidden or taboo. Perhaps because it was about watching someone without their permission. Perhaps it was just the sheer sensual delight of feeling all that warm liquid trickle over your skin. (I don’t have that particular fetish, so I’m just guessing about what it could be) Whatever it is…that’s what need to be communicated to the mainstream erotica reader. Not just the fact that she’s peeing…and isn’t it hot?

You are attempting to persuade someone to look at something as erotic that they hadn’t considered before. And that involves very good descriptive writing.

Personally, I think that writing erotica requires more, not less, literary talent that writing a literary novel for the Booker prize. So the other thing I’m going to say to you is – it takes years to be a really good writer of erotica. Everyone knows how to have sex. Everyone knows what it feels like. If you’re just going to show them what they already know, then that’s porn. To write erotica is to ask people to see something they know well from a new perspective. You need to use all a writer’s toolbox to do that: plotting, character development, dialogue, description. You need to follow the rules of good writing: showing, not telling; consistent POVs; good control of grammar and tense; naturalistic dialogue.

Most people don’t want to hear any of this. They think that because they have hot kinky thoughts, they can write them down and that’s erotica. That’s letters to the editor of penthouse – not erotic fiction.

Good luck with your venture. If you’re serious about it, I suggest you join a writer’s critique group, such as ERWA ( http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/index.htm ) to help support you and help you develop your skills.

If you’re an erotica writer and would like to volunteer any other pieces of advice, please feel free to add your take in the comments section. I’m sure the aspiring writers who read this would be most grateful.