Cracked wrote an article some time back called "5 Steps to Writing Erotic Fiction." The five steps they outlined are:
1. Be Original
2. Wish Fulfillment
3. Details
4. Dialogue
5. When in Doubt Just Write About Two Bodies Fucking
The article is very informative, funny, and showcases many common problems erotic fiction writers have, which is, namely, how to write compellingly about sexual situations. Their first step, "Be Original" is probably the best (and most difficult step) as erotica trends are hard to predict. Who knew that monsterotic would take off in such a way that it did? Who could have predicted that Fifty Shades would trump literary erotica? Now, I'm not saying that you should write about any and every odd fantasy that pops into your head ("plant sex, anyone?"), but I do believe strongly in that first tenant. Originality is key when it comes to erotica. Even mundane topics can become interesting when filtered in the right way, but it's that "right way" that's hard to create.
The second step, "Wish Fulfillment" is beautiful. I have to agree that when writing erotica or reading erotica, I yearn to escape into a world where sublime sexual fantasies can become realized. I think that is the purpose for most if not all of us. We want to feel our away through the writer's imagination as that writer skillfully weaves a world that, in our mind, fulfills a fantasy that we may have. It is the ultimate drug.
"Details" and "dialogue" go hand-in-hand for me. Too much dialogue bogs a story down and too many details are annoying to have to wade through. Sure, it might be nice to tell us the shirt color of a particular character, but we don't need to know the depths of the fabric or the shape of the neckline, unless it adds something compelling to the story. The same goes for dialogue. Dialogue should feel real, but not abide by real principles. We want folks who talk in a way that is heightened and trimmed. Real life conversation doesn't sound good on the page.
The final step is funny, but hey, at the end of the day, you might entertain a few readers by simply moving into the sex scene and letting your imagination go wild from there. Some of my best experiences as a writer have been those times when my fingers danced across the keys and I fell into a trance. In those moments, you can almost taste the characters, can feel their passion and it's a beautiful thing.
Thank you, Cracked
1. Be Original
2. Wish Fulfillment
3. Details
4. Dialogue
5. When in Doubt Just Write About Two Bodies Fucking
The article is very informative, funny, and showcases many common problems erotic fiction writers have, which is, namely, how to write compellingly about sexual situations. Their first step, "Be Original" is probably the best (and most difficult step) as erotica trends are hard to predict. Who knew that monsterotic would take off in such a way that it did? Who could have predicted that Fifty Shades would trump literary erotica? Now, I'm not saying that you should write about any and every odd fantasy that pops into your head ("plant sex, anyone?"), but I do believe strongly in that first tenant. Originality is key when it comes to erotica. Even mundane topics can become interesting when filtered in the right way, but it's that "right way" that's hard to create.
The second step, "Wish Fulfillment" is beautiful. I have to agree that when writing erotica or reading erotica, I yearn to escape into a world where sublime sexual fantasies can become realized. I think that is the purpose for most if not all of us. We want to feel our away through the writer's imagination as that writer skillfully weaves a world that, in our mind, fulfills a fantasy that we may have. It is the ultimate drug.
"Details" and "dialogue" go hand-in-hand for me. Too much dialogue bogs a story down and too many details are annoying to have to wade through. Sure, it might be nice to tell us the shirt color of a particular character, but we don't need to know the depths of the fabric or the shape of the neckline, unless it adds something compelling to the story. The same goes for dialogue. Dialogue should feel real, but not abide by real principles. We want folks who talk in a way that is heightened and trimmed. Real life conversation doesn't sound good on the page.
The final step is funny, but hey, at the end of the day, you might entertain a few readers by simply moving into the sex scene and letting your imagination go wild from there. Some of my best experiences as a writer have been those times when my fingers danced across the keys and I fell into a trance. In those moments, you can almost taste the characters, can feel their passion and it's a beautiful thing.
Thank you, Cracked
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