I knew that would get your attention.
For the last few months, the regulars in the ArmitageWorld chat room (it’s the place to be 9PM – 1AM EST) have been asking, “Judi, when are you writing some porn? More porn! More porn!” (they are a classy bunch). Each time I say I don’t know when I’ll write more *erotica.* I encourage them to write their own, but they plead ignorance.
Let me start right off by saying I don’t have a clue how to write erotica either. No, seriously. Before posting my story over Christmas, it had been a long time since I wrote fiction, and never since writing erotica. Since my readership is so demanding (I’m looking at you, chat room gals), I knew getting away with an erotica-free Guy story wasn’t going to happen. No cutaway to exploding fireworks would work for them. So I researched it.
After quickly realizing Google would take me places I really didn’t want to go, I headed to Amazon.com which turned out to be a vast depository of erotica and how-to books. I spotted one called literally How to Write Erotica and the other, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance. The latter one had me at “Idiot’s Guide.” I purchased them both and waited. Since one was an ebook, I didn’t have to wait long. By page 182 of the 266 page book, I was yawning and still hadn’t gotten to the “good part” – how to write the mechanics of explicit sex- which my readership explicitly requested. When the other honest-to-goodness-paper book arrived, I noted its thinness and made short work of it. An hour later, I came to a realization – I’d learned nothing. So, how do I write good erotica?
Needless to say, this was no help to me at all. But because I was running against a self-imposed deadline, I simply dove in and started throwing sentences and paragraphs together to see what sounded good. Then I realized the books were absolutely right in what they had been trying to tell me all along. They could give pointers, but nobody can really teach how to write erotica. As one book suggested, you simply have to get over your inhibitions and write it.
Obviously I’m no expert in erotica with only one story under my belt, but this is what I found: what eventually occurs in the story reflects how comfortable you are with the scenes and how far you want to go with them. If you’ve never read erotica, you need to find some and read lots of it to learn different styles of prose. Do you want to the sex to be implied or explicit? Do want a sensuous (of the senses) tone or a more sexual (carnal) vibe or something in between? What words do you feel comfortable using in describing the human body? How does the scene work to move the story along?
Basically imagine what you would like to read and write it. If you like it down and dirty and it fits in with the story line, then that’s the way to go. If using clinical anatomical words would throw you right out of a scene, then don’t use them. If more romance with only implied sex is your style, then that is what you should write. If you’re uncomfortable with an action, then don’t go there because your reader will sense it immediately.
If there is one secret I’ve culled from reading, it’s this – if it doesn’t turn you on, it probably won’t turn on the reader either.
Judi,
You claim to be “no expert in erotica” but it seems to your readers that words slip like silk from your thoughts, landing on the keys to be caressed by your sensitive finger tips; spilling effortlessly onto our screens to be explored with our hungry eyes and fertile imaginations.
You teased us with your tale of Guy and the girl in the flaming red dress. By the way, you didn’t think we’d miss that colour choice so flushed with meaning, did you? Surely it was as impossible to miss as the tempestuously given florid mark on the creamy skin of Guy’s backside after his night of passion with the mature, but still lovely, local midwife/wise woman who was caught with him in the deserted yet cosy hut during a storm? Or was that a cut scene I happened to see somewhere?
Your description of Guy in the waterfall conjured images of a kouros all grown up – what a diverting detour in a circumlocutious (can I get away with that as an adjective? I just like how it sounds) day. Thanks for that.
However, I have a complaint. You gave us a sneak peek and then made us wait and wait for the pay off. I suspect that strategy was a chapter in “Idiot’s Guide”?
Well, if erotica be the food of hungry chat room friends, write on – Judi – write on. I’m sure others await your next story like star-crossed lovers waiting for their Romeos. Don’t leave us hanging like shiny, ripe fruit on a thirsty vine. In other words, hurry the heck up.
ROTFLMAO! See, you’re a natural at this. A bit more on that cosy hut scene and you would have a nice vignette. In fact, I urge you to write the scene. I dare ya! 😉
BTW, I think Frenzy gotcha on circumlocution. LOL!
I don’t know if you’ve read her, but Meljean Brook’s writing is excelent in sex scenes. Extremely well written, very graphic, but sexy and not vulgar.
Start with “The Iron Duke” and tell me if you can resist picturing RA as the lead male 😀
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll look into her books. 🙂
Hi Judiang,
You are a wonderful storyteller! And no, you didn’t write “porn” in my view with your Christmas Story. I felt that you spoke to the emotions of the characters of Sir Guy and Lady Marian so well. And the waterfall scene that BG mentions was indeed quite steamy and sensuously descriptive–definitely for a mature audience. Dare I say what my gentle sensibilities might call erotic? But in a “good” way–not gratuitous at all. I am quite the romantic at heart.
Some authors seem to string sex scenes together like so many sausage links in the butcher shop. I know that you’ll like that imagery. Ha! But they have no real story to tell–or very little of one. But, I have only read a few of that nature, since that is not my preferred type of story to read. And I stop reading if they seem to be doing that.
Dear friend, please keep writing and share more of your stories with us. You have a gift.
Cheers! Grati ;->
Thanks so much for your compliment and encouragement. I’m flattered. I’ll probably write something more but not sure when. Waiting for inspiration to strike. 🙂
Your headline is sure to draw attention today, Judiang ;o)
I am not one of the chatters (Time is just somewhat really in the middle of the night for me), but encourage you to jump in and write your story/stories. I loved your Christmas story!
Yeah, that headline is what happens when you panic the night before with nothing to post. I’m getting an unusual number of hits for midway. People are certainly going to be disappointed. So glad you enjoyed the story. 🙂
Heehee, not sure your post provides an adequate guideline for writing erotica! Guess we just have to strike out on our own, when the iron grow warm. 😀
BG, you had me in stitches.
Fitzy, I know you have it in you. I’m just trying to coax it out. 😀
So how do you define erotica vs. a story with sex in it? Or rather how did the books define it? Or it is a circumlocutious explanation?
That adjective was begging to be used. : D
PWNED! And yes, I am 12. 😀
judiang, no way! I’m the properest of proper ladies. Wouldn’t entertain the thought of writing explicitly! (Implicitly – well…) 😀
See, there’s a style for everybody, my dear. I’ve got my eye on you. 😉
Well, all I have to say is that if these chat room ladies are encouraging you to continue, it’s probably worth considering. Your story was very well written. In fact, they sound like a bunch of classy lassies and I’m sure they would be willing to help you get your creativity flowing. Perhaps a story involving Guy and the use of prophylactic devices? Just a thought, you may even be able to link to another blog that would have illustrations….
Jael! You troublemaker! 😀
Oh lord!!! We already have discussions of “inseams” over at servetus’ place! Now it’s prophylactics here! (ROFL!!) Judiang, you are a menace to morals. Exit giggling….
Me??? Jael started it! LOL!!!
I like your style,Judiang! I don’t know why but the word does more for me than an image.:)
Thanks Joanna! I find too with the written word, the imagination can really run free. Makes a bigger impact than something shown to me.
Interesting. Khandy said when I interviewed her that she wasn’t turned on at all by the sex scenes she wrote.
That’s interesting too. I find it makes a good barometer for whether a scene works or not.
Particularly because I find her sex scenes WAY hot. I think, though, that it’s because her actors are so in character when they are having sex. For example, her basic insight into Lucas North is that he badly needs to feel control. So her sex scenes with him end up being about his ability to control what’s happening with his partner and/or what happens when he loses control. As a reader, you thus get an especially intense version of Lucas, and that in itself is way hot.