Synopses & Reviews
For aspiring erotica writers -- and authors in any genre who want to make the "good" parts great Susie Bright is the first and reigning queen of contemporary erotica. In How to Write a Dirty Story she reveals her tricks of the trade and shows you how to heat up sex scenes in everything from traditional novels and romances to science fiction and humor. Easing the aspiring writer into the creative process, she tells you how to write the steamy plots and sensual characters that publishers and readers are looking for. Bright makes it easy to:
Produce unique ideas * Master erotic language
Climax the story * Sell your work to the right place
Each chapter features practical writing exercises and suggestions for nonwriting activities that will galvanize the imagination and raze any creative or psychological hurdle. When it's time to go public, Bright draws on her own writing and publishing experiences and explains the most effective ways to find an agent, work with an editor, and grow a loyal audience.
As irreverent as it is practical, How to Write a Dirty Story is the only book an erotica author -- novice or seasoned -- needs.
Review
Laura Miller Salon Every would-be and burgeoning author should read this.
Review
Lavada Nahon Penthouse I invite anyone who wishes to get published to read How to Write a Dirty Story first! It will greatly increase your chances of seeing your words in print or online.
Review
Linda Jaivin author of Eat Me and Rock 'n' Roll Babes from Outer Space What a fabulous book! Well-written (naturally), provocative (of course), and eminently sensible. It integrates all aspects of the process.
Review
M. J. Rose author of Lip Service and In Fidelity From the exercises that Susie gives writers to the education she gives readers -- this book is a must.
About the Author
Susie Bright is the editor of The Best American Erotica series and host of the weekly audio show In Bed with Susie Bright on Audible.com. She has been a columnist for Playboy and Salon, and has been profiled in USA TODAY, Los Angeles Times, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, and Vanity Fair, among other publications. An international lecturer on sexuality and feminism, she won the 2004 Writer of the Year Award at the Erotic Awards in London. Ms. Bright lives in Santa Cruz, California.
Table of Contents
ContentsWhat You Will Learn About Sex and Writing from This Book
Part I. Thinking About Erotica
How I Ascended: Becoming an Erotic Goddess
What Is Your Story?
What You Wouldn't Expect About Erotic Writing:
Is Writing Sex Better than Having Sex?
A (Brief) History of Sex Writing in America
The Similarities Between Erotica and Pornography
Femmechismo
Sexual Authenticity
Writing Erotica for an Audience of One
Part II. Reading It
What Do You Like...and Where Do You Find It?
"What Do You Like?" Exercises
The Good Parts
Reading Aloud
Erotic Reading Exercise
The Erotic Reader's Bill of Rights
Part III. Writing It
How to Get Ideas
Fantasies Exercise
The "Favorite Writer" Exercise
How to Use the Whole (Fucking) English Language
Dirty Words Exercise
Sexual Character
Character Splits Exercise
Steamy Plots
Steamy Plot Exercise
The Cliché-Ridden Plot-Buster Exercise
Climax
The "See Yourself" Orgasm Writing Exercise
The Orgasm Memory Exercise
Sex and Violence
Violence Exercise
Experimental Writing
How to Mix Sex with Other Genres: Sci-fi, Horror, Crime, Romance
The Expanding Genres Exercise --
A Special Exercise for Couch Potatoes
What Will People Say?
Part IV. Editing It
Editors: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Finding the Perfect Editor
The Five Cardinal Rules for Editing Yourself
The Editor Search: A Few Dos and Don'ts
Copyediting and Proofreading
Part V. Publishing It
A Devil's Argument Against Publishing
Money Money Money
If You Want to Make Some Money at Writing -- but Not a Full-time Livelihood
If You Want to Make a Living at Writing -- Year In and Year Out
How to Write a #1 Bestseller -- and Never Write Again If You Don't Want To
Big-time Book Publishers
How You Can Spot an Incompetent Copyeditor
Small Press Publishers
Self-Publishing and the Internet
The Literary Agents
Why Some Writers Can't Seem to Find an Agent
Part VI. Selling It
I'm an Artist, Not a Salesman
Your Fan Club
Performing Your Work
The Book Tour
The Reviews: Meet the Press
Part VII. Doing It
What's Going to Happen to Your Sex Life
You Are a Sex Guru
The Naysayers
Sex Writer Burnout
What Are You Waiting For?
Part VIII. Appendix
How to Nominate Stories for The Best American Erotica Series
Internet Resources for Erotic Authors
Credits
References