Your heartbeat races. Your face flushes hot. Your breath quickens. Your muscles tense and twitch. You feel light-headed. The world suddenly seems both exciting and scary. These are all signs of sexual arousal, and this feeling slowly creeps over you and makes a home in your brain and certain parts of your body.
There are a lot of ways of inducing these, one of the most popular routes is watching porn but hey, there’s another means to this end one that is often super underrated- Erotic Literature or Erotica. We have all gone through a phase where we empty our evenings, kick back, and go all smutty. But, do we know what this sensual art means?
But, What Is Erotica?
The word “eroticism” finds its roots in Eros, the Greek god of love and desire. Eros was known for his wild, untamed energy and boundless sensuality. Eroticism isn’t just about sex, it’s about yearning, beauty, pleasure, and connection. Erotica, born from this idea, is a literary form that celebrates all things intimate and primal.
Unlike pornography, which often centres on graphic depictions of sex, erotica leans into subtlety, anticipation, and imagination. It invites the reader into a story where the sensual tension is as compelling as the act itself. Erotica may or may not be explicit, but it always aims to captivate through language. It can be a beautiful experience that helps you express your sexual desires in one of the most sophisticated and sensual ways.
Why Is Erotica So Much Better Than Porn?
Pornography is a money-making venture, the very word ‘Porn’ almost invariably connotes certain exploitation porn can also provoke viewers to feel stressed, confused or tempted to compare their bodies to the actors on screen thereby, building up to eating disorders, mental disorders and self-image issues.
Porn is also addictive and causes over-masturbation in teenagers- about 58% of teenagers between the ages of 14 to 17 deal with this. It is also important to note that porn works by objectifying women and raising unattainable expectations for men. This is precisely how it reduces people to sex objects. Porn dares to tell us the tales of women who primarily exist to satisfy a man's libidinous needs, and that is absolute trash.
On the other hand, erotica powers the minds of all sexes and feeds their creativity equally (inclusive). The key element here is to praise the subject, create something to take pleasure in, build intimacy, celebrate, exalt, and glorify with words. It’s about how a person moves across the floor, their clothing, words, and hand gestures. It describes a need, a wanting to devour somebody with such intent. It’s a descriptive yet sophisticated approach to everything primal.
How to Write Erotica?
Now, one of the best things about erotica is the fact that it is accessible and can easily be written to meet your and your partners’ needs and elevate intimacy. Writing erotica can be a beautiful experience in itself, giving sexual health another great outlet. But, how to get started?
1. Pick a Scenario:
Writing erotica is all about what we might crave. So, it’s time to decide what you want to write about. Is it sex? Is it bondage? Is it a kink? Using sex toys like vibrators? Pick one or make a combination of these themes. It’s all about whatever works for you.
2. Who are Your Characters?
The second step is the characterisation. Sometimes the characters are in a loving relationship, sometimes they have a flirty rapport, other times they’re just characters we already know and love put into fiction, find what you wish to showcase.
3. Find Your Voice:
Thirdly, think hard, do you want dialogues or just descriptions? Decide on that! This helps your story process more smoothly. Once you find your voice, you will very easily be able to proceed through the story.
4. Clichés are a Big No:
Erotica is supposed to be special and unique- Drop the cliches, don’t say ‘He pounded her like a jackhammer’, Use something you haven’t heard before, maybe something personal to you.
5. All Senses Matter:
Remember to describe all 5 senses- The curve of a hip. The scent of leather. The taste of boot polish. The sound of rain on the roof. A compelling fantasy deserves a touch of magic and immediacy.
6. Enjoy the Process:
Lastly, remember to have a good time. This experience is supposed to be a pure delight. Who said writing has to be a boring experience? You are trying to realise all your desires with your writing skills, and that is fiery.
So grab your notebook, laptop, or even the notes app on your phone. Wherever your thoughts feel most free, begin there. Don’t overthink your first piece. Let it be messy, raw, and honest. The more you write, the more confident you’ll feel. Your desires have a voice. Let them speak, you've got this!
