Don’t be stumped: Most writers do not even attempt to write erotica as they are lost as to how they would write it? What words they would use? Whether a sex scene is good or bad? How would a reader react? Previously written books may be for a previous generation. You can write something new and unique.

Sex scenes aren’t about sex only:  A good sex scene is about the exchange of emotions, not bodily fluids. There can be emotions from rage or desolation to exultation, tenderness, or surprise.

Increase your vocabulary according to your book era: If you are attempting to write contemporary sex scenes try to find current slang or words. If you are trying to write in the Georgian or Victorian era then know more about the words current at the time. You can very easily do this by googling words and finding which centuries they were used.

Show the exchange of emotions:  The best way to show exchange of emotions is by dialogue, expression or action. Dialogue is by far the most flexible and powerful tool a writer has. What people say reveals the essence of their characters. A good sex scene is usually a dialogue scene with physical details.

Use all senses: Many writers and authors use only sight and sound. You can make a vivid scene by including smell, taste, touch.

Do not use ambiguous words: Do not leave too much to imagination. Try to fill in the blanks in the mind of your reader.

Use appropriate trigger warnings : If your story includes violence, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, coercion, rape, make up sex, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, sexual fantasy, BDSM, fetish, etc put appropriate trigger warnings.

These stories need to be written and be heard rather being labelled as pornographic or too rude.

Get Feedback: If you are writing a sex scene and are unsure if it would be something your readers would like. Join a writers’ community or group who would be happy to tell you what works and what doesn’t work.

As a writer or author write your story and have a distinct voice. Tell your story!

Devika Shallivan Services: https://www.facebook.com/rgrprt/services

Resources

Wikipedia: Erotica Genre
Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin (1996) Books
Bridgerton – Julia Quinn  (2000) Books
Nymphomaniac Volume I (2013) Film
Nymphomaniac Volume II (2013) Film
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) – E L James
Sex Education (2019) TV Series

As with all articles in Frost, the opinions expressed are the contributor’s own.

Understand erotica genre: Erotica is literary or artistic work that deals with sex and physical descriptions. There is a thin line between vulgar, raunchy, sensual and sexual. There is also a thinner line between pornographic and erotica.

Erotica genre is not for everyone: The characters will be adults and young adults now. Readers would be 16+ or 18+ depending internationally on the country’s age limit. The sex will be integral to the plot and/or the development of the romance. There will be no fade to black sex scenes. The sex scenes in the book will be explicit and frequent, as in recent Netflix TV series like Sex Education and Fifty Shades of Grey. We are just starting to get used to talking about sex in an easy to understand language.

Desensitized by violence, guns, bombs, cheating, rape and sex: Many Hollywood movies we see have such high stakes which sometimes isn’t true. It makes us desensitize and make us think this all is “normal”. The difference between fantasy and reality is grave.

Be sympathetic to erotica writers: Despite erotica writers trying very hard to not offend but there are so many words that can be used for penis and vagina. Many erotica writers struggle to put the right words as they do not want to offend their readers and even books from E L James were criticized.

Be open to rude words: Some writers write to please a different audience and leave lots to imagination or use words that some regular readers of erotica may find outdated.

Erotica genre is sometimes going to trigger:  When a writer is trying to tell a story they might trigger readers, so be aware of trigger warnings where they exist. Alternatively these stories could resonate with the reader and they would be able to empathize with the writer or characters.

Writer voice shouldn’t be shushed: We live in the diverse world. Just because readers haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it becomes taboo.

Erotica genre isn’t for glamourising sad stories or to encourage bad fantasies: There are sometimes stories about violence, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, coercion, rape, make up sex, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, sexual fantasy, BDSM, fetish, etc. These stories need to be read and be heard rather than being labelled as pornographic or too rude.

Readers should be open to Erotica Genre for all the aspects of sex rather than limited written in the traditional language of romance.

Devika Shallivan Services: https://www.facebook.com/rgrprt/services

Resources

Wikipedia: Erotica Genre
Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin (1996) Books
Bridgerton – Julia Quinn  (2000) Books
Nymphomaniac Volume I (2013) Film
Nymphomaniac Volume II (2013) Film
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) – E L James
Sex Education (2019) TV Series

As with all articles in Frost, the opinions expressed are the contributor’s own.