Hello everyone and happy holidays.
Today's post opens up the idea of "writing good erotica." I believe that erotica is a very subjective genre. Like horror, we know it when we feel it. Erotica that you write should not only stimulate you and your desires, but should, more importantly, be an absolute joy for your readers. Without your readers, you are nothing and your story is forgotten. So, the first rule of writing good erotica is to please yourself, but make sure that you are pleasing your readers.
I admit that I don't read much erotica. Don't get me wrong. I've read my fair share. I've felt myself enter into many sexy scenes and have been blown away by imaginative sexual situations that felt like I was there, experiencing them. This is the goal of a good erotic scene. Make sure that your scenes are logistically feasible, that is, imaginative in the mind of your reader. If you have someone as a "test reader" that is able to read your material before you publish it, all the better. Use the thoughts of your "test readers" to get insight into what is working on the page. Parts of your sex scene that you think are steamy and effective, may pass right by other people. You are not other people. You are probably too attached to your own material.
That said, spend some time reading other people's work. See how they aim to please and try to figure out the parts that you would write differently. Did they linger in one scene too long or to such a degree that you lost interest? Did the characters feel flat and two-dimensional? If so, maybe you can learn from their mistakes. I believe that erotica should function as a community. One should be able to critique a sex scene and speak to writers about what works and what doesn't. We all want our readers to "feel" the scene. We want readers to get sexually aroused by our writings, don't we? Isn't that the end goal? So, please remember your readers and try to place yourself in their shoes. They are spending their money on your product just like you spend money on their product. Aim to satisfy their desires and your writing will probably end up getting better and better.
Along these lines, if you have any tips on "pleasing the reader," feel free to pass them along and stay tuned for an original Private Pocket eBook about writing quality erotica!
Thank you!
Beatrix
Today's post opens up the idea of "writing good erotica." I believe that erotica is a very subjective genre. Like horror, we know it when we feel it. Erotica that you write should not only stimulate you and your desires, but should, more importantly, be an absolute joy for your readers. Without your readers, you are nothing and your story is forgotten. So, the first rule of writing good erotica is to please yourself, but make sure that you are pleasing your readers.
I admit that I don't read much erotica. Don't get me wrong. I've read my fair share. I've felt myself enter into many sexy scenes and have been blown away by imaginative sexual situations that felt like I was there, experiencing them. This is the goal of a good erotic scene. Make sure that your scenes are logistically feasible, that is, imaginative in the mind of your reader. If you have someone as a "test reader" that is able to read your material before you publish it, all the better. Use the thoughts of your "test readers" to get insight into what is working on the page. Parts of your sex scene that you think are steamy and effective, may pass right by other people. You are not other people. You are probably too attached to your own material.
That said, spend some time reading other people's work. See how they aim to please and try to figure out the parts that you would write differently. Did they linger in one scene too long or to such a degree that you lost interest? Did the characters feel flat and two-dimensional? If so, maybe you can learn from their mistakes. I believe that erotica should function as a community. One should be able to critique a sex scene and speak to writers about what works and what doesn't. We all want our readers to "feel" the scene. We want readers to get sexually aroused by our writings, don't we? Isn't that the end goal? So, please remember your readers and try to place yourself in their shoes. They are spending their money on your product just like you spend money on their product. Aim to satisfy their desires and your writing will probably end up getting better and better.
Along these lines, if you have any tips on "pleasing the reader," feel free to pass them along and stay tuned for an original Private Pocket eBook about writing quality erotica!
Thank you!
Beatrix
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