By ALISON DOBELLE
So, you think you can write an erotic fiction book…? Well, you probably can!
If you’re reading this, you might already have a kernel of an idea. Maybe even two main characters (whichever combination of genders float your boat) and a bit of a clue as to where your story is headed and what could happen to those characters of yours along the way.
Now comes the hard bit. How to turn that basic idea into a novel of at least 55,000 words. How do you get from writing The Start, to those much more difficult words – The End? There’s no denying it’s a tough road and that, at times, even folding the laundry will look like a preferable task to sitting down and writing. However, hopefully the following ten tips will help you along your way:
1. Let’s start by working up your basic pitch. One of the simplest ways to do this is to ask yourself the following questions about your story: who, what, when, where and why. Can you answer all of these questions about your story? If not, you may need a little more time developing your idea before moving on to step 2.
2. Ask yourself the following question: ‘What’s my story about?’. But, wait. Before you answer, what’s it really about? On the surface, your story might be about a female lifesaver’s sexual conquests at a new lifesaving club. But, underneath her sensual romp, your story’s really about female equality and your character’s struggle to work out her true place in a predominantly male environment.
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11. Never use the word "panties".
I saw the title of this post and was prepared to get my dander up, as I often do these days when people start pontificating about how ‘easy’ it is to do what erotica writers do, how Mummy Porn (the cringe factor of this term is off the charts, by the way) is turning the minds of women everywhere to mush, as though women can’t tell the difference between healthy fantasy and reality. Instead I found an honest article with some helpful tips. Good on you Mamamia and Alison Dobell.
However, I would add one thing for hopefuls. EL James is what is known in statistical terms as an ‘outlier’. Most writers of erotica and erotic romance (like myself), do it for the love of it and aren’t paying off their home loans with the proceeds. It’s not a get rich quick scheme. It’s writing, and writing is hard. If you don’t love it, don’t do it.
But if you love it? Go for it. Writing erotic fiction could be the best fun you’ll ever have in your life :).