Want to experiment writing in the erotica genre...

[mfarraday]

I want to experiment writing in the erotica genre, but don't really know where to start.

There is an anthology looking for gothic stories here:
http://mitziszereto.com/call-for-submissions/

I have a few ideas about this, having to do with jus prima nocte (this was a concept explored in the movie Brave Heart, but all the research I've done on it says it was a myth and that no evidence exists saying it was ever enforced. Anyway, good for a story...) I have a lot of ideas. But I'm not really sure where the line gets crossed when you're talking about sex in a gothic story, if you can get away with pantomiming it, like it was done in the strawberry picking scene in Tess of the D'urbervilles (Hardy wrote about Alec D'urberville holding a strawberry 'by the stem to her mouth, and she took it in.' -paraphrased)

I get the idea I should modernize more than this, that this should be flat out description of every physical sensation, nothing held back. I have an idea of inexperienced lovers getting their ideas/education from medieval chapbooks and quoting a lot of what they're reading and then implying that they're trying what they've read about. Do I have to be more explicit? Anyway, I don't really know where to start. Any ideas would be welcome. I keep going back and forth between my scifi ideas and this new one re: gothic kink which I'm looking at.

Thanks for any advice/ideas of what I can read to get started....I'm completely a newbie.

[Maryn]

The place to start is probably by reading erotica or erotic romance, ideally of a gothic bent.

I wish I could recommend titles, but maybe some of our other members can.

You can, of course, read the dozens (hundreds?) of non-gothic erotica book, novellas, and short stories published by our members. You can also read other Mitzi Szereto anthologies--she's got bunches--to see what qualities she seems to look for and just how graphic the sex should be.

Isn't homework fun?

Maryn, nodding

[veinglory]

If in doubt, just go for it! But make sure you get that gothic sensibility in there.

[Melanie Dawn]

Originally Posted by veinglory

If in doubt, just go for it! But make sure you get that gothic sensibility in there.

That's what I am doing... and it's been very fun.


minus the gothic.

Never wrote erotica before.

[dangerousbill]

Originally Posted by mfarraday

I have a few ideas about this, having to do with jus prima nocte (this was a concept explored in the movie Brave Heart, but all the research I've done on it says it was a myth and that no evidence exists saying it was ever enforced.

Supposedly, it persisted into French Quebec during the early colonial days, termed droit de seigneur. This would be the 18th C, long after it would have died out in Europe.

Apparently, one of its supposed social functions was that to make sure the bride was delivered to her husband already deflowered, so that any prior indiscretions on her part would be impossible to prove. This prevented feuds and other disputes between families.

Not to mention a little free nookie for the boss man.

Anyway, it's a fiction story and you have the right, perhaps the duty, to create, dismiss, or twist the legends any way you want.

[mfarraday]

I didn't know about the idea of deflowering a bride so that her previous history would remain a secret. Interesting...

Right now, I'm writing about a humble, ignorant peasant girl who is taken away on her wedding night. I'm having a little trouble with the concept of whether or not this is actually going to be against her will.

I had the idea of a nobleman who doesn't like this sort of thing but does it to keep up appearances, to look like a tough guy/taskmaster. He takes the girls away then doesn't touch them...

I also had the idea of a nobleman who falls in love with a peasant girl and then can't perform because his conscience is bothering him. I also have an idea of a nobleman who teaches a girl a lot of explicit Latin terminology...

I think I'm having trouble getting to the actual sex. LOL.

No worries, I will get there...I think the romantic build up is getting in the way a bit for me...

[Maryn]

mfarraday, remember that if you want to brainstorm with others to explore this idea, just start a thread on it.

Maryn, who lost her virginity to the slim arm of a Danish modern chair while exercising

[dangerousbill]

Originally Posted by mfarraday

I had the idea of a nobleman who doesn't like this sort of thing but does it to keep up appearances, to look like a tough guy/taskmaster. He takes the girls away then doesn't touch them...

This sounds like a workable premise to me. I've read a scenario like this, long ago, but I don't remember whether it was fiction or not.

[CaPooF]

I'm working on a story for that call. the sub guidelines say you can get pretty much as graphic as you want, sex-wise. I suggest reading the anthology she references in the call, Red Velvet and Absinthe. She says she wants the flavor of that anthology, but to take it a step further. Best of luck to you! :-)

[gingerwoman]

Originally Posted by mfarraday

I want to experiment writing in the erotica genre, but don't really know where to start.

There is an anthology looking for gothic stories here:
http://mitziszereto.com/call-for-submissions/

I have a few ideas about this, having to do with jus prima nocte (this was a concept explored in the movie Brave Heart, but all the research I've done on it says it was a myth and that no evidence exists saying it was ever enforced. Anyway, good for a story...) I have a lot of ideas. But I'm not really sure where the line gets crossed when you're talking about sex in a gothic story, if you can get away with pantomiming it, like it was done in the strawberry picking scene in Tess of the D'urbervilles (Hardy wrote about Alec D'urberville holding a strawberry 'by the stem to her mouth, and she took it in.' -paraphrased)

I get the idea I should modernize more than this, that this should be flat out description of every physical sensation, nothing held back. I have an idea of inexperienced lovers getting their ideas/education from medieval chapbooks and quoting a lot of what they're reading and then implying that they're trying what they've read about. Do I have to be more explicit? Anyway, I don't really know where to start. Any ideas would be welcome. I keep going back and forth between my scifi ideas and this new one re: gothic kink which I'm looking at.

Thanks for any advice/ideas of what I can read to get started....I'm completely a newbie.

You should read some Jaid Black.

[Filigree]

Read Jaid's excepts on Amazon before buying the whole book. Your mileage may vary from mine or Gingerwoman's.

[Ann_Mayburn]

Erotica is such a personal choice that I'd be hesitant to direct you to anyone without knowing your tastes. Know what I mean? Like I may think shifter sex is the cat's meow, but you may find it giggle worthy.

[gingerwoman]

Originally Posted by Filigree

Read Jaid's excepts on Amazon before buying the whole book. Your mileage may vary from mine or Gingerwoman's.

I said that because some of her erotic romance is gothic and she also writes Sci Fi erotic romance which the OP seems interested in. She welcome to read Lisa Whitefern if she prefers.
Actually my novella Waking the Witch is Gothic.

[Heels Down]

I'll tell you this much. I published a story on Literotica and I was shocked. I had 12000 views on day one and 21000 views by the second day.
The comments were overwhelming concerning my approach to writing the story.
Gothic erotica sounds awesome. And I think that's what people want; different. My approach used humor and people loved it.
So yes, test it. You will get alot of views and comments, almost guaranteed if it is well written. Write it well, just like a novel and the people will go for it.

[Krystal Heart]

Originally Posted by Maryn

Maryn, who lost her virginity to the slim arm of a Danish modern chair while exercising

[dangerousbill]

Those Danes. Whadda buncha guys.

Long ago, in the 1960s, they cornered the worldwide porn business when they enacted a law making the printing and distribution of porn legal. Lots of great pictures, but alas, the captions were unreadable.

[mfarraday]

Thanks for the comments. I have been trying to get some me-time. I have to shut myself away from my family while I write this stuff.

I have been writing a scifi erotic encounter since last night. It's going well. I might post an excerpt in SYW eventually...want to submit this somewhere too, saw a place I could send my work on DarkMarkets. I'd have to find a new pen name though...

I wrote the beginning of a gothic erotic romance, but have since switched gears.

[RemaCaracappa]

Originally Posted by mfarraday

I want to experiment writing in the erotica genre, but don't really know where to start.

...


Thanks for any advice/ideas of what I can read to get started....I'm completely a newbie.

I just dove into this myself a few months back (I'm still working on my first story for what it's worth!) I never really intended to write erotic, but it was out of two things- 1. I was doing some research for something else I'm working on and it pinged a mental "Huh, that's interesting" to see that in Greek myth there exists a single brief mention of an affair between Ares and Eos for which Aphrodite cursed Eos (it doesn't even survive as a full sentence) and 2. I got frustrated with trying to find stories to read that included certain elements that I was looking for- either I can't find it, or I can but only pas part of stories that are otherwise packed full of some of my biggest turnoffs.

At some point, these two things just sort of melded together in my mind, and well, it's coming along.

So my best suggestion would be to approach it not so much as "How do I start writing sexy stories" as "What is something that I would want to read about?"

What turns you on? What have you always wanted to try? What is the naughtiest thing you've ever done? What would you be afraid to try? What do you imagine when you're fantasizing about someone?

One of the websites I keep coming back to in my musings is the Circlet Press website. It's probably because they have a lot of calls for submissions, which I find interesting to read even when I'm not really interested in writing anything to that particular call, but they still give a lot of moments of "I never thought of trying something like that!" They have a wide range of anthologies on some surprisingly specific themes- pirates, chocolatiers, lesbian astronauts in space...yeah, I'm not making that up! They're pretty inexpensive too, so I've downloaded a few on my ipod just to see some ideas of how certain themes can be played out.

Just a few thoughts from someone else who's just jumped into this recently!

[elindsen]

Reading is always the best place to start. Also, take the scene slow. What turns you on? What doesn't? Also, include all the senses when describing the scene. What does the character feel, touching? Can she/he smell the sweat or candles burning. Are shivers running down to her toes? You get the idea.

Good luck!

[Roygatti]

Hi, I am keen to write erotica short stories as a hobby and have written 3 stories of about 1,200 words each, is that long enough? Who is best to read and critique the stories? Roy

[nkkingston]

Your fellow erotica writers are always a good bet for reading and critiquing When you have 50 posts you can request access from one of the mods to the erotica Share Your Work SYW forums, where you can post your stories for critique. So join us and engage in the discussions to get your post count up!