~ Writing Erotica vs. A Story with Sex in it ~

"If you can take the Sex out of an erotic story and still have a story
- then it's not erotica."
Edo Von Belkom - Writing Erotica

One of the biggest fights back and forth across the many writers' lists involves: What defines EROTICA?

Too many people seem to think that any story with Sex in it is Erotica.
This is far from the truth.
A story with sex in it may be Erotic - but it is not considered Genre Erotica.

Erotica is not defined by how much sex you have in the story
- but where you put the sex.

EROTICA is a story where the PLOT hinges on sexual events.
"They NEED to have sex - and they'll do anything to have it!"

In the average vampire story, the vampire's NEED for blood is the lynchpin for the entire plot. Whether or not he succeeds in getting that blood from the other characters rules every major turning point in the plot.

If the vampire has sex - then the plot is erotic.

If the vampire has to have sex to drink the blood he needs, then the story becomes Erotica.

The easiest way to build an Erotica plot line is decide on what you want for your climactic sex scene - then build a story and characters around it that makes it VITAL for the scene to happen.

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My Secret Erotica Plotlines...
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In Erotica the basic plot is always the same:
"They NEED to have sex - and they'll do anything to have it!"

However - there are many Genre variations:

Romantic Erotica: "If I fuck him will he love me forever?"
Glam Erotica: "He was rich... She was famous - they were fucking."
Mystery Erotica: "Oh my god! I've been fucked!"
Crime Erotica: "She never caught me fucking her!"
Suspense Erotica: "Am I going to be fucked?"
Humor / Satire Erotica: "You call that fucking?"
Sci-Fi Erotica: "He fucked where no one has fucked before!"
Horror Erotica: "Oh my God! It's fucking me!"
Fantasy Erotica: "They fucked - and it was Magical!"
Paranormal erotica: "What the hell am I fucking?"
Fetish Erotica: "Mmmm-mmm fuck! Mmm-mmmm!" (Ball gag.)

Literary Erotica: "They came together in a glorious explosion of glittering climax. The roses painted on the battered wallpaper of their silent room watched them in the approaching twilight, a reminder of how fragile pleasure is..."

Honestly, an Erotica plot really IS that simple.

***
by Morgan Hawke
Monster? I get that a lot..." - Alucard of Hellsing

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Ms. Hawke has been a professional writer since May 2001 and has published numerous Adult Industry related articles.
Ms. Hawke is also an author of published fiction since 1980, and an Erotica author since 1996.