Are there "beats" in erotica?

[RonEhrs]

In regular fiction writing, there's a lot of discussion of "beats" in various genres – i.e. core plot points along the way. In romance, there is the "meet cute" where the main characters first meet – one option is that they hate each other, or the plot revolves around them changing their minds, or they like each other but don't get a chance to exchange names or numbers and don't know how to find the other again. There are various other points involving reversals etc. there are different bears for different genres, such as detective, thrillers, horror, etc. I was just wondering if there's anything of this sort for erotica stories.

 

[AwkwardMD]

In regular fiction writing, there's a lot of discussion of "beats" in various genres – i.e. core plot points along the way. In romance, there is the "meet cute" where the main characters first meet – one option is that they hate each other, on the plot revolves around them changing their minds, or, they like each other but don't get a chance to exchange names or numbers and don't know how to find the other again. There are various other points involving reversals etc. there are different beads for different genres, such as detective, thrillers, horror, etc. I was just wondering if there's anything of this sort for erotica stories.

Sure. Depending on the story and the author, you can find this sorta thing all over.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sure, I think so. There are innumerable ways it could go, but I could see something like this:

Beat 1: Character is introduced
Beat 2: Character 1 meets character 2
Beat 3: An event happens that induces affection/desire between characters
Beat 4: Something happens that gets in the way of desire coming to fruition
Beat 5: Character 1 does something to overcome the obstacle, but
Beat 6: At a crucial point there's a reversal of fortune, another complication
Beat 7: The complication is overcome
Beat 8: Sex

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Erotica is full of various tropes, cliches, whatever term you want to use.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Beats me.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Sure. For instance:

• They meet
• The POV character first feels attraction to Other Character
• They voice that attraction
• Other Character indicates that they're attracted too...but maybe they're not going to do anything about it, because reasons.
• The moment where the POV character knows that, yes, they're going to Do It.
• They Do It.
• The morning after.

Plenty more that could fit in there, especially if the story isn't just about that sexual encounter, but that's a starter.

 

[Britva415]

I was just wondering if there's anything of this sort for erotica stories.

Some erotica has it, some doesn't.

But no list of beats should be taken as definitive or even necessarily desirable. Stories can go a lot of different ways. One can apply a formula in an original way, or one can be original by eschewing the formulas entirely. Or one can consciously be unoriginal, use conventional beats, and still make a decent story. It's not the use of the beats which makes it good or poor.

 

[ronde]

Read the Wikipedia article about "Plot (narrative) and you'll soon see that there are many "beats" authors use.

The "beats" used in most grocery store romance novels are dictated by the publishers because that's what the people who buy their books want to read. They follow some definitive steps.

1. The introduction of the characters
2. The characters meet
3. The characters decide they love each other, but don't say anything
4. Something drives the characters apart
5. The characters meet again because they're miserable without each other
6. They resolve the situation that drove them apart
7. They live happily ever after.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I don't worry about defining this shit, I just write.

 

[SyleusSnow]

I've seen a few beat sheets for erotica. Here's one for a 5K short (Not mine and apologies to whoever wrote this... I can't remember where I got it from):

Intro/snapshot (Around 250 words): This is where you show your protagonist and their daily life, touching a bit on their desires or their boredom or their sexual frustration for their coworker or whatever.

Inciting incident (Around 250 words): This is them being put in a situation that requires them to be around the person they're gonna get sexual with, say a business trip with their coworker or a late night at the office where they bump into their boss who is also working late

Build-up (Around 1,000 words): Ramp up the sexual tension, display that they want each other, go into the protagonist's mind and let the reader know that they're curious, wanting, and maybe a little hesitant.

Erotic Scene: Self explanatory, someone makes the move and they end up getting it on. (2,500-3,000 words minimum)

Wrap-up: This is in contrast to the intro, showing your protagonist as satisfied and fulfilled, perhaps wanting to do it again. You don't really need to spend too much time here, it can range from them going their separate ways to agreeing to do it again sometime, it all depends what kink you're in and that stuff. (Approximately 500 words)

 

[NotWise]

Erotica isn't entirely distinct from other genres. Erotic stories can be romances, mysteries, thrillers, horror, drama, and so on. Any characteristic of those genres could be found in erotica.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Probably more so in the BDSM or fetish categories than a lot of others. Oh wait, your talking about literary beats...

 

[StillStunned]

When I write erotica, I specifically deactivate beats. I go into it with a "beat off" mindset.

 

[OffNSFW]

The sex act itself is a tidy little unit of narrative. It has an inciting incident, developments, complications, a payoff, a cooling off period. Or a setup, refrain, and payoff, or verse, chorus, bridge, out-chorus, or a pledge, turn, prestige... whichever paradigm you like.

 

[Pabiporffor]

Write to beat the meat not meet the beat.

 

[SimonDoom]

Probably more so in the BDSM or fetish categories than a lot of others. Oh wait, your talking about literary beats...

I was thinking "Toys and Masturbation" but I can see your point as well.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I write out a basic plot and then a beat sheet. I let each beat be its own mini-story, getting me from one beat to the next. The beats in the middle of the story are often just writing from the opening beast to the end beats as my words move the plot along. But each beat is a series of what happens here to get you there.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't worry about defining this shit, I just write.

And you're the better for that attitude.

Just do it.