Help an aspiring author ...

[ecchi_rebirth]

OK ... so, 2 of my stories have been accepted here to Literotica, and seem to have been accepted well by the reading audience.



Truth be told, I enjoy writing erotica. I enjoy knowing that things that have come from my imagination, those who read them, get off on them.

My g/f is encouraging me to pursue this as a possible career. I'm not sure yet (I'm of the belief trying to turn a hobby into a career will ruin it as a hobby), but ... she believes in me, and has never steered me wrong before.

But where do I start? How do I find places that will publish my work, or even find it acceptable? I know my work is typically well written and error free, but the content I write tends to vary greatly.

Any help/pointers would be immensely appreciated ....

 

[Alessia Brio]

Go here: http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/G/Call_For_Submissions.htm

Read everything posted there. Choose a publisher or three. Submit. (Follow the submission guidelines TO THE LETTER.)


Welcome to the AH.

 

[CopyCarver]

OK ... so, 2 of my stories have been accepted here to Literotica, and seem to have been accepted well by the reading audience.



Truth be told, I enjoy writing erotica. I enjoy knowing that things that have come from my imagination, those who read them, get off on them.

My g/f is encouraging me to pursue this as a possible career. I'm not sure yet (I'm of the belief trying to turn a hobby into a career will ruin it as a hobby), but ... she believes in me, and has never steered me wrong before.

But where do I start? How do I find places that will publish my work, or even find it acceptable? I know my work is typically well written and error free, but the content I write tends to vary greatly.

Any help/pointers would be immensely appreciated ....

If you're interested in print media, the bible is Writer's Market 2007. It's available at most libraries if you're reluctant to spend $50.

The market listings are always accurate and usually up-to-date but a beginner will need to learn the terminology and how to read between the lines.

In general, the market for erotica has somewhat limited and rather poor paying for the past few years, probably because of competition from the Net. You'd probably have a better chance of making a few bucks with book-length than with short stories.

 

[ungenderless]

Go here: http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/G/Call_For_Submissions.htm

Read everything posted there. Choose a publisher or three. Submit. (Follow the submission guidelines TO THE LETTER.)


Welcome to the AH.

Cool, thanks for the link! I was looking for something like this.

 

[bronzeage]

Always keep in mind, its difficult to sell what so many people give away.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

In general, the market for erotica has somewhat limited and rather poor paying for the past few years, probably because of competition from the Net. You'd probably have a better chance of making a few bucks with book-length than with short stories.

That's an understatement. The paying market for erotic short stories is pitifully small and the competition fierce, especially now that name mainstream authors are getting into the field and the quality's so good.

Your best chance of getting published by far is with a novel.

Either that, or look for the odd niche market. You might find a site that's looking for stories about Giant Cigarette-Smoking Dommes, for example, or Gay Oriental Rubber Fetishists.

 

[CopyCarver]

Either that, or look for the odd niche market. You might find a site that's looking for stories about Giant Cigarette-Smoking Dommes, for example, or Gay Oriental Rubber Fetishists.

Or even one about Dr. Johnny Fever's favorite topics: "Gays for the Metric System" or psychics who work for the water utility.

About three ice ages ago, a friend of mine collected a $3,000 check from Playboy for a short story about--I kid you not--"flat-tail specials." Ah, but that was another era.

 

[ecchi_rebirth]

Well ... reality isn't always pleasant I guess.

Novel length writing is simply not a skill of mine. I can't take an idea and stretch it that far without stretching it too thin. Heck, I don't even know of a work of mine that's crossed 20 pages.

Hmmm ... well, I guess I should stick to having fun with what I write. Thank you.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Well ... reality isn't always pleasant I guess.

Novel length writing is simply not a skill of mine. I can't take an idea and stretch it that far without stretching it too thin. Heck, I don't even know of a work of mine that's crossed 20 pages.

Hmmm ... well, I guess I should stick to having fun with what I write. Thank you.

No, no! Don't give up. We're not talking about writing Gravity's Rainbow here. These erotic novels don't have to be anything more than a string of episodes involving the same character or characters. In fact, I think the most famous erotic novels use that very format, a kind of "erotic adventures of..."

The way I wrote my novels was as stand-alone stories and published them one episode at a time here. That way you get feedback and encouragement as you go along, and in 6-7 chapters, you've got your 30,000 words or so and you're set.

 

[rgraham666]

The way I wrote my novels was as stand-alone stories and published them one episode at a time here. That way you get feedback and encouragement as you go along, and in 6-7 chapters, you've got your 30,000 words or so and you're set.

That's what I'm going to do with my Georges Belleveau stories. If I can get off my lazy ass and finish the last one.