Erotic Writing (Poetry) 101!!!

What is important when writing erotica?

Well, as with any other form or genre of writing, it is always a plus to write well. Writing well should always be your objective, especially when writing for others to read, consume, but well written work is not pinnacle of erotic writing. Perfect grammar and writing structure is not what makes and erotic piece, it is not its hallmark, be it although important. What makes an erotic piece is its subject matter and how said subject matter is presented and portrayed. The hallmark of a good erotic piece is its effect on the reader. If you're writing a torrid tale, it must have a torrid feel (to the reader) and in turn, cause a fervent reaction from and within the reader. The reader must feel the heat, within the piece. In there own minds and within their physiological bodies, they must feel the intensity, which the piece intended. Whatever it is you meant to come across, in the piece, in the end result must be what comes across. A soft and sensual piece must be soft and sensual. If it is satirical erotica, meant to be light, fun, and funny, then, that has to be what comes across. Every good/great erotic piece is able to gain its intended response from and within its intended reader. And all good erotic pieces erotic properties can clearly be seen, if not felt.

Thusly, when sitting down to write an erotic piece, one must asks him or herself:

- What is or shall be my subject?
- What is my objective?
- What am I trying to represent in the piece?
- Who is my intended audience?
- What kind of a response do I want?
- How can I best insure that response?
- What type of style (approach) and/or language would best represent the essence of the work and insure its intended objectives?

In the composition of an erotic piece there are two major points you should concern yourself with, rhythm and consistency (flow). You want your work - the poem that you're writing - to have a nice rhythm, also you want to remain congruent, consistent, as per your subject, intent, and objectives. I feel another important key - in the writing of erotica - is arousal factor, its seductive properties, for what makes something erotic is it ability to rouse the sexual part of our brain, to bring forth some form of physiological response. Erotica writer Mary Anne Mohanraj says, "Writing that is merely elegant does not make for good erotica. As a tragedy is expected to move the audience to tears, so should erotica be expected to move the audience to arousal."

I cannot stress enough the importance of rhythm and flow to the writing of a great erotic piece -- especially an erotic poem. You want to take your reader on a rhythmic ride, building their arousal, passion, as the passion in the piece/poem builds - with the rhythm of your words mimicking the rhythm of love (love making), your flow leading the reader to a most climactic crescendo, the absolute plateau of passion. When they're done reading, your reader should be left flushed, flustered, frenzied, from the fervent force of your fabricated flame, the wake, wonder, of your rousing words, the sheer ecstasy of your imagery. Use your rhythm and flow - the rhythm and flow of the piece - to take your reader to passions peak, the crest of crescendo, leaving them basking, in the ecstasy, of your most wondrous work, reveling, in the reverence, of your brilliance, the exhilaration of your erotic episode!!!

When writing erotica, it should be done with purpose. The chosen voice, tone, of the piece, should reflect and indeed heighten its underline message, objective, intent. It should be able to physiologically affect the reader, to stimulate a response, from its intended audience. If it can effectively accomplish/do these things, you have written yourself a good piece of erotica. Remember, erotic writing is writing -- written to titillate the mind. Write like you're trying to arouse or seduce someone and you'll almost never go wrong!!!

Definitions of Erotic and Erotica;

Erotic:

[Adjective]

1. Arousing, or designed to arouse, feelings of sexual desire
2. Characterized by or arising out of sexual desire

3. Marked by producing sexual desire and pleasure

4. Tending to arouse sexual desire

Erotica:

[Noun]

Art or literature intended to arouse sexual desire and produce sexual pleasure

If you have anything else to add or feel something was grossly left out, feel free to voice your opinion, add your granites of wisdom.

Good points my friend

Nice poem mike!!!

personnally i think poems are best when they dont follow any guidelines and just flow. poems would just seem quite forced otherwise. for me to write good erotic poetry I have to be horny and think of the things I wanna do to my boyfriend or what I want him to do to me or remembering things we've done in the past.

I would agree with you on the importance of flow, but sometimes you need structure to do so. Their are many unpolished poets who don't follow any guidelines and just write and it just reads flat, like it was done without thought, like they just wrote down whatever came to mind, didn't matter if it fit the flow or complimented and accentuated the piece or not. The problem with some of the erotic and other poetry I've read is the lack of analytical craftsmanship, the fact that they didn't know where they were going or what they were doing when writing and just basically wrote, their word usage seeming less than sophomoric and flow unapparent and unaesthetic, lacking any artful grace, as if, they just took a bunch of simplistic, crude and unsophisticated words and basic phrases, forming sentences from them and strummed together a poem -- dull and void of life. Poetry is not only what you want to say, but how you say it, knowing how to present that in the most appealing and effective fashion. Some have the natural skill, ability, to do as such, others have to work at it, need guidelines to follow.