How to Write Great Smut in Ten Easy Steps? – Part 1
I. Introduction
So you want to learn how to write intense erotic scenes that advance the plot and enhance the characterisation of your protagonists in masterful prose? In ten easy steps? You know what? So do I! Sadly, I haven’t been able to discover an easy, fool-proof method like that so far. If you ever find it, please let me know. But if I can’t offer you the ultimate manual for how to write great smut, what the heck is this all about—and why should you bother and continue reading?
Helpful questions and links, maybe at least some useful tricks and techniques…
Well, what I can give you is a structured compilation of questions, problems, links, and at least some tips, tricks, and techniques that may help you get more comfortable writing sex scenes and—with practice!—hopefully improve your writing of such scenes. The contents of this essay are based on two workshops for writing erotic scenes at the online writers’ workshop for fan fiction and original fiction ‘There and Back Again’, as well as more than four years of reading, writing, and researching creative writing techniques both offline and online.
The scope of this essay
Naturally, the scope of this essay is limited. I am more concerned with erotic love scenes within longer narratives than with, for example, porn in PWP ‘porn without plot’ pieces or negative/abusive sexual situations (which can make up crucial scenes in stories!). Additionally—since the majority of participants of the workshop are fanfic writers—I will place a special emphasis on smut in fan fiction, including slash fic.
How to use this essay
This is not a fail-safe recipe or the ultimate manual. There is no such thing where creative writing is concerned. When and how you (per-)use this essay depends on your style of writing and working. I guess that it may be interesting to read it just like that because it contains quite a lot of information about the elements and aspects of sex scenes. I hope that at least parts of it might come in handy when you get around to revising your story.