Do erotic short stories sell?

[Retired]

Thank you, Aislynn. I'm actually working on one now that has me somewhat...errrm...compromised?

I forgot how fun these can be to write, even if we do kind of torture ourselves. I found the perfect stock for the cover as well. I just need to finish it, cool down, editing it and then see what the hubby says.

That's exactly as it should be, lol.

[TattooedWriter]

I do some editing for an erotica short story writer and she says they sell like hotcakes.

[E. S. Lark]

I tend to believe it.

On a somewhat related note...do erotic writers ever get...desensitized from their own writing? I was talking to the hubby on the phone, and I just cannot see myself doing this for 50-60,000 words. I mean, I enjoy it but geeze, I'd need a lot of breaks.

[Retired]

On a somewhat related note...do erotic writers ever get...desensitized from their own writing? I was talking to the hubby on the phone, and I just cannot see myself doing this for 50-60,000 words. I mean, I enjoy it but geeze, I'd need a lot of breaks.

It's difficult to maintain that state of mind (and body, if you're really getting into what you're writing) for a long time, yes. I certainly need breaks. And having a significant other around helps quite a bit.

[TattooedWriter]

It's difficult to maintain that state of mind (and body, if you're really getting into what you're writing) for a long time, yes. I certainly need breaks.

I guess that applies to all genres though and not just erotica?

[Retired]

I guess that applies to all genres though and not just erotica?

To some extent. I think writing erotica makes you more physically involved, though. With any genre, you can have a racing pulse, tense muscles, and what have you, but with erotica, you're also spending hours at a time in a highly aroused sexual state. I'm not saying that's not a lot of fun, mind you.

[E. S. Lark]

Sadly, the hubby is away for another 3 hours. But I am almost done the draft for the piece I began this morning. It's strange. It came to mind as I was making tea this morning, and whenever I try to close down word, another sentence or two comes to mind for it. I love when stories write themselves, even if this one is a quickie.

[TattooedWriter]

To some extent. I think writing erotica makes you more physically involved, though. With any genre, you can have a racing pulse, tense muscles, and what have you, but with erotica, you're also spending hours at a time in a highly aroused sexual state. I'm not saying that's not a lot of fun, mind you.

*considers writing in a new genre* 

[E. S. Lark]

Try it...you might just like it.

[Retired]

Sadly, the hubby is away for another 3 hours. But I am almost done the draft for the piece I began this morning. It's strange. It came to mind as I was making tea this morning, and whenever I try to close down word, another sentence or two comes to mind for it. I love when stories write themselves, even if this one is a quickie.

Those are the best sort.

*considers writing in a new genre*  

Ha-ha, welcome to the dark side!

[TattooedWriter]

Try it...you might just like it.

It's certainly something to consider. I'm going to ask my erotica writer client for some tips first.

Ha-ha, welcome to the dark side!

Why does that sound ominous? 

[Retired]

Why does that sound ominous? 

Because it makes you think of the bad guys in the Star Wars movies? Who, I'm sure, got up to all sorts of erotic high jinks. And that's another thread altogether.

[E. S. Lark]

Star Wars erotica? Heck, I'd give it a shot 

Finished the rough draft. Reading over it, it feels sucky to me, even though I felt different while writing it. I think I'm just sexually worn out Think is, my MC's parnet has no name so I'm kind of limited in what to call him.

[Retired]

Star Wars erotica? Heck, I'd give it a shot 

Finished the rough draft. Reading over it, it feels sucky to me, even though I felt different while writing it. I think I'm just sexually worn out Think is, my MC's parnet has no name so I'm kind of limited in what to call him.

Darth Vader Does Dallas? Hee-hee!.

Your MC's . . . what?

[E. S. Lark]

MC's a female who shares her services with other men. But her favorite client prefers it if she doesn't know his name or what he looks like.

[Krista D. Ball]

To some extent. I think writing erotica makes you more physically involved, though. With any genre, you can have a racing pulse, tense muscles, and what have you, but with erotica, you're also spending hours at a time in a highly aroused sexual state. I'm not saying that's not a lot of fun, mind you.

I am so writing the wrong genre...

[E. S. Lark]

Krista, I say it's good in small doses, but I think I need a few days off before I do this again I'm so bad that I get heated just from writing a passionate kissing scene between two of my characters in my fantasy novels

[RubyGoodnight]

I definitely needed to take a few breaks writing my last story. A bit of a breather now until the next one starts getting typed up.

As far as sales go - my first book has been up a week and I've sold 10 copies (7 .com's and 3 .co.uk's). From what I've heard, that's not a bad start?

[E. S. Lark]

Compared to my fantasy sales, it isn't bad at all. I know most authors on here say 4-8 sales in the first month is the norm, but I know erotica works differently. I just don't know enough about the genre to answer.

[Retired]

My other identity writes in another genre, and her sales aren't anywhere near what mine are (not that mine are through the roof, though), but in the first month, with one title out each, we were about even.

[MichMasoch]

This thread has made me so excited, I may have to whip out a WiP and let my pulse race a while.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experiences with selling erotica shorts. I have 5 or 6 stories I banged out for one of our websites, mainly as inspiration for the models and companions for photo sets, that I'm expanding and polishing up to publish before I start work on the book rattling around my head. It's certainly inspiring to know that, if all goes well, the rewards will be worth the effort. Hopefully, they can fund the time I'l spend writing the novel ... a girl can hope, at least.

 

[imogen]

Hi Everyone

Lurking on this thread inspired me to finally get off my behind and get writing! It's really great that so many of you take the time and make the effort to provide such good information and support.

It's early days for me - I've just put my first short story up on Smashwords (still waiting for Amazon to approve it for KDP), but I've had a few sales already, which is a good start.

Thanks so much, to all of you.

-- Im

[SarahSalari]

I'm doing pretty well for a gal who writes too slow. LOL.

I have seven books out. Four short stories in the 5K range. One collection in the 20K range. Then two longer stories in the 10K range.

I'm about to release my next longish short story, just under 9K long. And a second collection, around 29-30K long.

So that'll bump my titles total to nine. Hoping to get a couple more out this month after that, and one in February, at least. Plus a collection in February. Which will bring me to 13 titles, hopefully, by the end of February.

I must be doing something right, though; I am hauling in $120 so far this month, so I'm looking at my first $200 month, at worst. I hope....


Sarah

[Boris Brannigan]

I don't advertise my erotica here. Two reasons for that:
- I don't think people are going to want to buy erotic short sories from me/my pen name just because they see me posting. It's different in other genres, but the whole "trust/connection = sales" dynamic sems weird when it comes to sex. I know I certainly don't want to know who the author is when reading it.
- If it's on the internet, it stays on the internet forever. Someone at some point in the future could use it against me. As long as there are people who have a problem with erotica, it's just an unnecesary risk.

Then how do you get the word out?

Any suggestions for gay erotica?

[MichaelEgon]

Just because you write an "erotica" story doesn't mean it's going to sell. But go ahead, anyway. Indulge your hubris. Take your idea for a story and sprinkle in a bit of sex and voila, erotica, and you can get rich quick.

After all, every Tom, Dick, and hussey with a poorly selling sci fi/fantasy/vampire/paranormal/urban/zombie/mystery/romance is jumping on the erotica bandwagon, so join them.

Writing erotica is the panacea for all writing ills and you can retire in six months. Go for it.