If you have been wondering why I call myself “the Erotica Queen”, you probably haven’t read any of my books or stories. No matter. This post is not aimed just at my readers or potential readers, even. It is aimed at writers, as well as readers. Anyone that likes sex, really!
Have you ever read a story that was quite hot as a concept, but that left you yearning for more? Perhaps it was not actually erotica, because the author did not want all the headache that comes with advertising such work, or perhaps it was poorly written erotica, which is arguably worse. I do not want to waste time analysing why some books fall short of arousing us, because there is no point in doing that. Rather, I’d like to focus on what DOES work, and why.
There are actually very few people out there who can stir desire in us, merely through the use of words. That is the skill and mastery of erotica, and it hinges on two things:
- good writing skills
- actual life experience, in particular – sex
I have been honing my writing skills for most of my life, and writing erotica just came naturally. I wrote my first erotic novel in my thirties, while living quite a wild existence and having many sexual escapades with both men and women. I participated in swinging with my partner, attended events at local BDSM clubs, had wild sex outdoors, became a full-time sex slave for a few years, and enjoyed group sex whenever the opportunity presented itself (this is distinct from swinging, because it involves more participants, in case you were wondering). So, when I say, “every sex scene in my stories is based on real-life experience” – I mean exactly that.
What really sets my scenes apart, however, is not just my ability to write down what I recall. It is the ability to imagine other scenarios and set up the entire story, to build sexual tension between the characters. This requires proper character development, where you can really identify with at least one character and feel everything they are feeling. I like to think of myself as “the big guns” of erotica, as opposed to some “lightweight” who is unwilling or unable to go the whole way. Because there are plenty out there who will write bad quality smut, hoping to make a quick buck. That is not me! I write prolifically, yet I could write a whole lot more, if I were to sacrifice the quality of my work. I refuse to do this, why? Well, it’s because I can’t get turned on writing crap! I need that whole emotional element, that build-up of tension, that connection with the characters, to make me go all mushy inside.
I am, after all, a woman. Yet my writing appeals to both men and women, and I’ve often been able to get a man seriously turned on during sex, by telling him some of my stories. Like they say, the mind is the biggest sex organ, and I’m here to tell you it is true (just in case you didn’t already know).
Some tips for success:
- consider the set-up and the meet-cue, that is the first time two characters meet. The more dramatic the first meeting, the better the chances of exciting the reader and yourself
- don’t make your characters too predictable or too malleable. Allow them to have thoughts and reactions of their own, give them depth and make them believable. The inner conflict of a masochist experiencing pleasure-come pain-come pleasure for the first time can be absolutely delicious
- don’t be afraid to examine big questions in your stories. Why? It gives your readers something else to focus on, as well as making the story more interesting. Then, when they are thinking “I wonder what will happen next here”, you can surprise them with another steamy hot scene and get their minds back on the sex, essentially taking them on a rollercoaster ride
- if you think you’ve managed to write a super hot scene, great! Now, go back and re-read it the next day and the day after, and possibly the day after that, too. Read it and tweak it, until it doesn’t just sizzle – do it until the words leap off the pages and you have to go take care of business… ahem
- whatever you do, keep your descriptions simple. Make sure to focus on the right details, not every single detail, which can detract from the scene, believe it or not. Like, when you are having hot sex with someone, are you really aware of every single thing going on, or are you focused on one or two things? Hm? The answer is, you’re focused exclusively on your lover and probably on one or two things they are doing to you… 😉 So, keep it simple in your erotica and direct your reader’s minds exactly where you want them.
Of course, if you are just a reader and you are now really curious about my stories, click on one of the tabs on my home page – BDSM erotica or Sci-fi erotica – and go check them out. And keep your eye on this space, because I actually have a number of short stories in the pipeline, and I will be publishing them soon!