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The Professional Sex Writer

Written by Katy Terrega

Tuesday, 12 July 2005

Sex writers fall into two basic categories. Some enjoy
writing erotic tales for a mate (or for virtual strangers)
and are perfectly satisfied turning themselves (and those
lucky others) on in that way. Others, however, want more.
While these writers certainly enjoy the effect their stories
have on readers, they want to take things a step or two
farther; they want to make a buck writing smut.

If you're one of the former, by all means, enjoy yourself.
You can rest assured that you are providing a welcome
service for your readers and there are no (or at least
very few) rules governing what you can do or say for your
own (and others') pleasure.

If you're in the latter group of sex writers, however, if
you're one of those industrious individuals that hopes to
take your porn writing to a new (and financially more
secure) level, there are some rules. And first and foremost
among them is to Be Professional!

What exactly does that entail, you ask?

Well, although there is no official "guidebook," no "Chicago
Manual of Style for Sex Writers," there are a few basics
that you need to remember.

And the very first is...

Skip the Sex
No, no, I don't mean you should skip the sex in the story.
Obviously your porn story should be packed full of sex;
incredibly vivid, detailed, mind-blowing sex.

But that action is and should be reserved for your reader;
when dealing with an editor (meaning the person who might or
might not sign that check that you so desperately want)
there is simply no room for sex.

Let me put it this way; I've been writing about sex for many
years now and I've dealt with countless paying editors. Not
one of them has ever, and I mean ever, said anything that
could be construed as "sexual" to me. No double entendres,
no veiled or overt references to either my own sexuality or
theirs, no flirting, no nothing. Oh sure, we talk about sex;
for example, we'll chat about how many sex scenes to put in
a particular story, or how titillating to make the quotes in
an article, but it's never personal.

On the other hand, as an editor myself, I deal with many
wannabe writers who make the erroneous assumption that I
want to hear about their sex lives. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge
and all that. They like to talk about how their story will
likely turn me on (hehehe) or how we sex writers must surely
share an enhanced libido.

I have one word for people who subject an editor to this:

Yuck!

Or, in the words of my son: Overshare!

Bottom line? Keep the sex in the story where it belongs.

First Drafts Suck
I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude.

But a first draft is just that, a "first" effort, and I
don't care how good or experienced you are, a first draft is
rarely (read: never) good enough for publication.

After years of practice I can sometimes put together a
presentable manuscript on the second draft, but that's only
when I'm on an inspired roll. Most stories and articles
take more revision than that, lots more revision. Say,
between five and fifteen drafts worth of revision.

Never, ever assume your first draft is somehow different.
It's not. It's full of grammatical errors and run-ons and
silly phrasings and repetitive words; mistakes you'll only
catch after you put the damn thing to bed for awhile and
come at it with a fresh eye the next morning...day...week.

You (and I) are human, and perfection does not roll off the
tips of our tongue (or our fingertips.) Trust me on this
one. Work and rework your manuscript until there are no
rough spots, until it flows seamlessly from one sentence to
another. Then, and only then, is it ready to submit.

Don't Get Personal
Yes, it's true; when it comes to rating the ultimate human
emotions and activities, sex is right up there, matter of
fact, having sex is probably just about as "personal" as it
gets. And it should follow, of course, that writing about
sex would come a close second.

But that's simply not so; as a professional sex writer, the
last thing that you want to do is mix your personal life
with your professional life.

The professionally written porn story - the one that sells,
I mean, and for more than just a pittance - is not about
you. It is about your reader, your targeted audience. He or
she has very specific predilections and it is never in your
best interests to let your own whims and desires get in the
way of those readers' very real needs.

While it's perfectly acceptable to crib settings,
characters, fantasies and anecdotes from your own life,
you need to be very careful to not let these bits of
personal preference intrude upon your story. To do so is,
to paraphrase Paul Copperwaite of Nexus' book fame, to
betray your own prurience, and that's a big no-no if you
want to sell your work.

Always stay in "character" - whether you're writing as a
nineteen-year-old nymp-hette, an older gay stud or a buxom
and warm-hearted waitress - and keep your "real self" in the
background where he/she belongs.

And that's it; the art of being professional encapsulated in
just these three simple rules. Commit them to memory, follow
them religiously, and you'll be well on your way to becoming
a Professional Sex Writer.

Your readers (and those paying editors) will thank you.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

About The Author:

Katy Terrega is a successful freelancer and she edits a free newsletter and a paid subscriber site, Sex-Writer.com, for sex writers. Both feature articles, market
listings, reviews, calls for submission and more, all geared toward fledgling as well as professional sex-writers.

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