Writing Erotica That Sells: 32 Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing With Applied Examples
Six years ago, I was broke, sitting on a backlist of stories nobody was reading, and close to walking away for good. I didn’t. Instead, I got to work: testing kinks, tracking page reads, writing what I loved, and paying close attention to what actually sold.
Writing Erotica That Sells guide is the shortcut I wish I’d had at the start.
It covers the stuff that matters to begin making a steady income:
- Structuring a short that holds attention
- Pacing heat so it lands
- Building a backlist
- Difference between a setup and story
- Writing with enough emotional authenticity that readers keep coming back… and more
Throughout, I use two spicy stories to apply the discussed concepts: His Rules, a kink-forward BDSM office short, and What She Wanted, a slow-burn best-friends-to-lovers short. Alongside these stories, I also include excerpts that explore other dynamics and kinks (multiple partners, paranormal, MM/FF etc.) to show how the same principles can apply across a wide range of heat levels and audiences. [NOTE: the excerpts are medium-heat and slightly smutty to illustrate the concepts].
Whether you’re writing your first story or your fiftieth, this is the craft foundation that separates “beer money” from a real income.
(WORKBOOK) Writing Erotica That Sells: 32 Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing With Applied Examples
The Workbook Companion to Writing Erotica That Sells takes every principle from the guide and puts it to work on the specific scenes, characters, and dynamics you’re writing right now.
The workbook is divided into four sections that mirror the guide exactly: Structure and Pacing, Authenticity and Voice, Variety and Rhythm, and Craft and Momentum. Each section contains targeted exercises that move from diagnosis to action. You’ll identify what’s working, name what isn’t, and leave each exercise with something concrete to fix or build on.
It’s designed to be worked through repeatedly, on every story you write. The draft you’re writing now has different problems than the one you’ll write in six months. The exercises are built to meet you where you are each time.
To allow for multiple use, the workbook should be completed off-page. For each new story, open a document or grab paper you can store and refer back to later.
Whether you’re writing your first story or your fiftieth, the questions in here will find the gap between what you intended and what’s actually on the page
That gap is where the work is. So pull up a chair and let’s get into it.
Requires Writing Erotica That Sells. Exercises reference the guide directly and assume you’ve read the corresponding section before working through each one.