4 Things I Learned From My First Year in Erotica
It’s been just about a year since my entry into the world of writing erotica and for sure it’s been one of the most adventurous and fun-filled years of my life. I have learned so much about writing, self-publishing, and promoting, and about the world of erotica literature in general. As I was perusing back over this past year several notable lessons came to mind.
There is a very rich history of erotica
Anaïs Nin. Henry Miller. Pauline Réage. Ann Rice. Just a few of the names of writers who have made immeasurable contributions to the field of written erotica. Countless others wrote anonymously in the Victorian era and into the twentieth century, unable to pen their names to their works due to societal norms and indecency laws. In recent years erotica has enjoyed a much better reputation as a sub-genre of romance due in no small way to the writers who have gone before us. I love reading the old classics of erotica and studying the history of the genre and how it has changed through the decades.
Erotica is a self-publishing field … unless your name is Sylvia Day
I love self-publishing and that’s good because if you write erotica that’s pretty much what you’re expected to do. It’s a genre of Indie writers and there’s something cool about being a part of a tribe that likes to go it alone. We write the stories. We edit the stories. We choose our covers. We do the formatting. We do the promotional stuff, too. Frankly, I think it’s a lot of fun to do it all. I like the variety. I like the control. Kinda reminds me of how I like my sex!
Erotica writers are the most supportive people in the world
I should add that writers of erotica are an independent bunch that rely on and encourage each other. I’ve never seen anything like it. Right from the start I’ve had authors volunteering great advice, offering to write blurbs, helping me edit, and encouraging me. The camaraderie among the authors has been truly my biggest surprise. And I would also mention here that the support I’ve gotten from the group Passionate Ink has been amazing. If you’re not a part of PI then I would highly recommend it!
The research and development are half the fun
Little did I know when I began this journey how much “fun” research would be involved. For THE SIMPLE ART OF LUST, I bought an art kit, and a friend and I made art with our bodies. We were hoping the body paint would wash off and it did. For THE STORY OF Q, I had a wonderful evening sharing a tantrica with a friend. A bondage chair was needed when writing THE SOMMELIER’S DIRTY LITTLE BOOK OF MILE-HIGH SECRETS. We are still researching with that chair. And when it came time to write INDIGO CUMMING’S LAST EROTIC MYSTERY, well of course it meant I had to take a trip to Austin and visit Hippie Hollow. Beginning the next Laci and Capri mystery is exciting in part because it means I get to research something new and fun and very sexy.
I love being a part of the history and genre of erotica. It’s been a fun-filled year and I am looking forward to growing and expanding as a writer as Laci and Capri continue their many mysterious and very erotic adventures together.
