The Basics of Erotic Writing

The Breakdown —

The Basics of Erotic Writing - Lesson 1

Lesson #1
~The Breakdown
Understanding the distinct features of Erotica, Romance, and Pornography is crucial for aspiring writers. Let's delve into the overview of these genres.


Erotica ~ Literature or art intended to arouse sexual desire.


A character's sexual discovery is what drives Erotica. Erotica is a romance. Don't let that thought escape you for a moment. Sex is the common link between Erotica and Romance, but the outcome of the story can be completely different. Erotica can easily leave the door open for the characters to stay together or go their separate ways, while in romance, the couple is expected to come together by the end of the book. All Romances have a hero and heroine who strive to be together no matter what; the reader expects to root for both and to have a happy conclusion. What set Romance and Erotica apart are the details in the sex scenes itself.


Pornography ~ Creative activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire.

The plot isn't required in Pornography, nor is the emotional connection between the main characters. The characters usually don't grow emotionally, stay together, or even, in some instances, like one another. Readers of porn want to read about sex, plain and simple. Pornography's concentration lies in the physical activity between the characters. You won't find a happily-ever-after here, but do expect a wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. Don't assume the word choices will be nice or sensual, either. They won't be. They can get rather crude, distasteful, and cringe-worthy, which all depends on your preference of what you want and prefer


Romance ~ Romance or romantic love is a feeling of love for, or a strong attraction towards, another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken by an individual to express those overall feelings and resultant emotions.

While it used to be that Romance novels required that your couple end up together at the end, things have changed over time, and so has this way of looking at Romance stories. Focus is on the plot, the devices that separate and drive each character, and, above all else, the romance between the two main characters. Sex isn't necessarily a device used in this genre, though this has changed some through the years as readers want more of their happy couple.


Often, a writer will begin with one genre, for instance, Erotica, and before too long, they've crossed over into Pornography. When the reader sits down to read, there is a specific expectation. If the strictly romantic selection suddenly turns into steamy Erotica midway through, the reader might be offended.

The task of the writer is to stay consistent throughout the entire story. This is true for the genre you select, the characters, and the plot.

Between the three, which do you wish to write? Something that has no value, just to get someone off, or would you rather spend your time creating something of taste that will leave a lasting impression but go deeper than an ordinary romance novel?


To jump-start your vocabulary and get you comfortable with erotic terminology, please check out:

"HSP Working Erotic Thesaurus" by (1,004) Author Icon

Don't let the words scare you. Say them aloud. How do you feel when you hear them? Do you get hot, cringe, or even laugh? Cringing or laughing would not be good since our focus will be to intertwine Erotica and romance. If you are uncomfortable saying them aloud, then don't use them. You don't have to like them all or even use most of them in your writing, but you must comprise a list of words that work for you that you are comfortable with, which will easily hit the screen when you write your story.

One thing to remember, though, is that your characters define themselves, so it's possible that some words you have difficulty with now could come in handy later on.

For our first venture, we are going to focus on your characters. I encourage you to give them some thought. Think about their wants and needs, what drives them, how their past has made them who they are today, what goals they have, and what type of partner will challenge them and ignite a fire deep within. Remember, the more you invest in your characters, the more your readers will too.


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Assignment #1
Create an established couple to work with for the next six weeks. They do not have to be married, but they must be a couple with baggage we can work with. You have 1,000 words to play with for this assignment. Write from one character point of view ONLY, no head-hopping. Here's your setup: One character has had a rough day at work and wants to unwind with their partner. Focus on TOUCH for this assignment. We are not taking them to bed yet but instead using the intimacy of hugging, kissing, holding hands, etc, what the slightest touch can do to a person, how it affects them, and changes their mood, thinking, etc. Please avoid using the word FEEL as much as possible. If you start to write it, close your eyes, imagine it happening, and write what the sensation feels like instead of using the word itself.