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Getting started with publishing/submitting erotica - tips?

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izenrann

Experienced
Joined
Mar 27, 2017
Posts
37
Hello all, this is my first post here, so be gentle...but not too gentle. :)

I've been coming to Literotica for quite a few years but never had the guts to write or post anything. But over the last two years my life has gone through massive upheavals (long story...VERY long story) and one of the things that I've decided to do write erotica - which is something I've wanted to do for a very long time indeed.

So I took the plunge and I must say it's been interesting! I've gotten mostly positive feedback from my stories (which are not up here yet because they need to go through vetting) and I'm confident enough that I would like to start sharing them with the world.

Thing is...where to start? In the modern world of 2017 there are like a million ways to do this, so I thought that asking the kind folks here wouldn't be a bad place to begin.

My questions, in no particular order :

1) Would you recommend posting to multiple sites? Currently all my work is at the Erotic Mind Control Story Archive, but I have been trying to branch out to other sites as well, including this one. I figure that more sites means more exposure which means more readers, and which writer doesn't want more readers?

I'm currently considering this shortlist :

EMCSA
ASSTR
The Overflowing Bra
The Process Forums

Does anyone know of any other good ones that I may have missed?

2) What are your thoughts on using a blog or something else to self-promote? I'm not sure I would have the time to maintain it (I'd rather be writing more smut) but I've heard that it could be useful.

3) How about Patreon and self-publishing? I've seen some authors here get a lot of mileage out of that. Would you need to have a dedicated readership first?

4) My first book and the second are written in wildly disparate styles...the only thing they have in common is that they are both erotica. Should I use different pennames for them?

I know this could seem kind of premature for someone who doesn't even have his first story up yet, but the thing is I do have a lot of content, just unpublished at present (one book, another in progress, another book of poetry) I figured I would let my muse run free and just write it all out first before thinking of publishing.

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
izenrann said:
Hello all, this is my first post here, so be gentle...but not too gentle. :)

I've been coming to Literotica for quite a few years but never had the guts to write or post anything. But over the last two years my life has gone through massive upheavals (long story...VERY long story) and one of the things that I've decided to do write erotica - which is something I've wanted to do for a very long time indeed.

So I took the plunge and I must say it's been interesting! I've gotten mostly positive feedback from my stories (which are not up here yet because they need to go through vetting) and I'm confident enough that I would like to start sharing them with the world.

Thing is...where to start? In the modern world of 2017 there are like a million ways to do this, so I thought that asking the kind folks here wouldn't be a bad place to begin.

My questions, in no particular order :

1) Would you recommend posting to multiple sites? Currently all my work is at the Erotic Mind Control Story Archive, but I have been trying to branch out to other sites as well, including this one. I figure that more sites means more exposure which means more readers, and which writer doesn't want more readers?

I'm currently considering this shortlist :

EMCSA
ASSTR
The Overflowing Bra
The Process Forums

Does anyone know of any other good ones that I may have missed?

2) What are your thoughts on using a blog or something else to self-promote? I'm not sure I would have the time to maintain it (I'd rather be writing more smut) but I've heard that it could be useful.

3) How about Patreon and self-publishing? I've seen some authors here get a lot of mileage out of that. Would you need to have a dedicated readership first?

4) My first book and the second are written in wildly disparate styles...the only thing they have in common is that they are both erotica. Should I use different pennames for them?

I know this could seem kind of premature for someone who doesn't even have his first story up yet, but the thing is I do have a lot of content, just unpublished at present (one book, another in progress, another book of poetry) I figured I would let my muse run free and just write it all out first before thinking of publishing.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Click to expand...

As one of the most prolific writers on the site, I only post at Literotica.

What I suggest you do is to start your own site and post to Literotica as well.

Forget about writing e-Books, there's no money in it. Instead I write custom, creative stories for fans for a small fee.

Being that I've been here so long, 10 years, and write under so many different names, 15, I seldom have to solicit anyone for stories. They solicit me.

I've never self-published. I consider self-publishing as getting off looking in the mirror. If you're writing is any good, they'll come to you. Trust me. You just need to be able to tell the good offers from the scams.

Good luck with your writing,
 
I post to multiple sites and have no problem--I get responses from all of the sites, including queries on where they can buy my e-books. I have some 200 e-book titles out and I make money on them--they have tended to stay alive as paying out longer than my mainstream print books have done. I think the key to e-booking is to keep them coming.

I use publishers because I don't want to do all of the production, distribution, and accounting work, and I still make money off of them. I don't think blogs justify the time required for them--nor does setting up your own Web site with distribution services on it. My publishers have put up and maintain Web sites in my pen names, both in erotica and mainstream works.
 
Thanks so much for the responses! They differed wildly from each other but they both helped all the same!

So basically, keep writing and keep posting? Sounds good to me!

This is a long shot, but...would either of you be interested in mentoring me? :)
 
izenrann said:
Thanks so much for the responses! They differed wildly from each other but they both helped all the same!

So basically, keep writing and keep posting? Sounds good to me!

This is a long shot, but...would either of you be interested in mentoring me? :)
Click to expand...

You might check out who has actually published a lot of e-books and who hasn't to help you determine who has the experience to talk about the profitability of them.

Sorry, but I'm too busy publishing e-books to be able to mentor anyone. If you get hooked up with "Susan," be aware that he's a middle-aged man named Freddie (for real).
 
sr71plt said:
You might check out who has actually published a lot of e-books and who hasn't to help you determine who has the experience to talk about the profitability of them.

Sorry, but I'm too busy publishing e-books to be able to mentor anyone. If you get hooked up with "Susan," be aware that he's a middle-aged man named Freddie (for real).
Click to expand...

Looks like you wasted your time. The guy is now in 'guest' status meaning he asked to have his account deleted or was banned for some reason.
 
I cant imagine any LIT writer agreeing with THIS observation, but the FIRST step is LEARN TO WRITE. Learn what males a good story.

10 years ago I created and sold funny epigrams for the puzzle page of newspapers. The puzzle quote must be funny. Know what funny is. If its funny enough readers will buy it borrow it and steal it. Ditto good porn. I never heard PILETTE complain how people steal his stuff.
 
NOIRTRASH said:
I cant imagine any LIT writer agreeing with THIS observation, but the FIRST step is LEARN TO WRITE. Learn what males a good story.

10 years ago I created and sold funny epigrams for the puzzle page of newspapers. The puzzle quote must be funny. Know what funny is. If its funny enough readers will buy it borrow it and steal it. Ditto good porn. I never heard PILETTE complain how people steal his stuff.
Click to expand...

What you are talking about is Formula Writing. Researching what's funny, researching the proper story flow, proper characterization and stuff like that.

It's a valid way to write.

But most really popular writers don't do that. They just know what's funny, they don't need to study humor to make a joke. They know, innately, how to drive the reader on, how to make an interesting plot or an engaging scene.
They don't learn it, they just do. They develop a sense of good style and narration through reading, observation, experience - not "learning how to write".

The rest - is practicing, because writing is a skill, not a science. You can know all the tricks and arts, but still be a shitty writer all the same.

Suggesting everyone to do formula writing is like suggesting all artists to go to drawing schools first. Sure, you will learn to draw professionally. But learning it like a trade and not a skill, learning from others and following formulas - you will never be great.

In my opinion - formula writing is for losers. For people who are not confident in their own imagination and art. It makes money, but it doesn't make you a good writer. It's the difference between an inventor and an engineer. Both can construct things, but only an inventor can really shake and impress people with his creations.
A creation of an artful writer may follow the same rules and formulas - but not because he consciously and meticulously constructed his novel following them, but because those formulas describe common sense that he has innately.

I say - don't learn formula writing. Don't learn "what's funny" before you make a joke. Just write. If you find you suck at it - THEN follow the formulas. Otherwise you won't even have a chance to find out if you have a unique writing talent or not - you will just suppress it behind your studying and research of "writer's skill".
 
Last edited:
lovecraft68 said:
Looks like you wasted your time. The guy is now in 'guest' status meaning he asked to have his account deleted or was banned for some reason.
Click to expand...

I think you're referring to a different thread (I saw an op with guest status and still responded as the question seemed useful). This OP still has open status--and probably is off have Freddie spin a web of deceit around her. :rolleyes:
 
Not sure about who is in guest status or not, but totally agree about writing. It's an art more than a science. I don't think my story is up yet, if not I would invite others to read it and comment!

Interesting discussion we are having here. Please continue! :)
 
sr71plt said:
I think you're referring to a different thread (I saw an op with guest status and still responded as the question seemed useful). This OP still has open status--and probably is off have Freddie spin a web of deceit around her. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yes, I you're right. Might have been one of those times I had a half dozen browsers open and lit on two of them :rolleyes:
 
No more responses? Say it ain't so Joe?

I admit to being a bit confused as to what is happening above though...
 
izenrann said:
No more responses? Say it ain't so Joe?

I admit to being a bit confused as to what is happening above though...
Click to expand...

Above is me accidentally responding to the wrong thread. As Pilot said there is a similar thread, but that person closed their account. I was jumping back and forth and ended up in this one and thought it was that one.

Turn your Private messages on and I'll be happy to answer some of your questions. I find when it comes to this subject its easier to do it that as it doesn't turn into arguing over right and wrong ways, which way is better etc...

I'll add I'm not saying what I'll say is the only right way or best way to do things, but you can have my advice to compare to other advice you'll get here as well.

To turn on messages go to the user cp in the upper left hand corner and look through the options and you'll find the one to make that feature active.
 
Done! Thanks very much for your kind offer and instructions. Looking forwards to hearing from you!
 
I wonder if that was the same dude who posted a topic about other websites. It mysteriously dissapeared.
 
I got a blog site and I do post some of my writings on there (mostly short stories) but I keep the longer stories. I'm hoping to put them together and have a short stories series but for now I love sharing what's on my mind. <3
 
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