How to Write a Dirty Story: Reading, Writing, and Publishing Erotica

by Susie Bright

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.

Genres: Writing, Erotica, Nonfiction, Reference, Sexuality, How To, Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2001

About the author

Susannah "Susie" Bright (also known as Susie Sexpert) is a writer, speaker, teacher, audio-show host, performer, all on the subject of sexuality. She is one of the first writers/activists referred to as a sex-positive feminist.

Reviews

[Steelwhisper · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a hot mess!

He says it best:

https://web.archive.org/web/201612242...

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read Susie Bright's guide to erotic writing. This time I'm trying to stay ahead of my two writing students, picking up tips and tricks to make them good fetish writers. If you're going to steal, steal from the best.

No other author encourages erotic expression and excites potential writers as intensely, and readers can easily kindle to Bright's persona: a constantly improvising, super-informed, street-wise firebrand for the cause of sexual expression. Fetishists who take the chance to express their desires artistically could have no better role model.

What's important about this book is that it not only calls people to embrace the desires they often are compelled to hide, but it tempers that enthusiasm with accounts of the realities of the publishing world. The sobering advice that comprises the second half of Bright's book is just as important as the provocative first half. The reader learns a great deal about the process and the business of writing: great advice for any prospective author, and then leaves them with a choice. At the end I wasn't sure that I could become a professional author, or even if I wanted to.

No time to worry about that: my students won't wait. I lovingly place How to Write a Dirty Story back on my shelf until it'll be needed again, and it will be needed again. It's one of the best books about writing I've ever read and I'd never give it up. I only wonder how long it'll take before I memorize the whole volume.

[Cornelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually with books on writing, I only find some information in it I can use. I was able to pull some things from this book that I found very helpful in improving love scenes in my writing. Love scenes for the romance genre are probably the most difficult scenes for any writer to write well. You have to include really good conflict, you have to write sensations and feelings in a very strong and unique way and of course the loves scenes have to move the plot forward. I found the characters splits exercise in the chapter on sexual characters very helpful to my writing and also I found the climax chapter helpful.

[Myk Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decided it was well past time to give this brilliant book a reread and was not dissapointed.
Susie is a pleasure to spend time with, her enthusiasm for life, and groinal shenanigans is infectious.
(yes I realise that infectious is a poor word choice given the topic)
Susie if you're reading this, thank you for your insight and if I ever get the chance, I would love to buy you a few drinks to say thank you.
I recommend this book often, and to everyone who is writing ANYTHING - sex is a integral part of what makes us human, binds us together (literally), and drives us ahead in our lives. It deserves more honest portrayals in fiction/media/schools/yadda yadda yadda
*climbs off soapbox*

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was pretty good, DEFINETLY worth trying out if you're into getting more eros out of your prose! Great suggestions on reading, but some things are tricky to find. over all pretty good!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexual writing is no longer the shocker it once was (although always there will be those who denigrate such writing as “smut”, bless their little repressed hearts) but it can still have the power to titillate. Ms. Bright knows this and she is keen to inspire the next generation to bring their erotic fantasies, stories, novels, poems, etc. to the attention of the public. However, she realizes that publishing is not for everyone, that some people wish to keep their readership to a select few (think fanfiction) and she respects that, too.

Ms. Bright has been in the business for a very long time. She knows how to write, how to recognize good writing and what it takes to produce great writing and to bring it to the attention of those who matter. In this book, she goes into thorough detail about what constitutes “dirty” writing, why the arguments about distinctions between “porn” and “erotica” are just so much needless minutiae, how to find and recognize good editors (and how to run like hell from the bad ones) and more tips that the aspiring writer should know, et al. There is plenty of great advice here on how to thrive and survive in the writing business and that makes it a must-have for erotica writers who yearn to get noticed.

So whether you wish to write your own erotica for publication or simply understand what makes that crumpled book someone else is reading such a great thrill, this book definitely shows you what to expect. It spares no punches about the horrors of publishing (they don’t “love” you, no matter what they say) but it also dazzles with the promises of what awaits the truly devoted and fanatical writer, the one who’s determined to succeed no matter what. Thank you, Ms. Bright.

[Cameron James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be an enjoyable read, but the title felt a little misleading.

As far as a writing book goes, this one has a lot going for it. Number one is that it’s easy to read. A lot of those writing books are dry and clunky; it’s hard to write about writing effectively. However, Bright does just that. I whizzed through this book pretty quickly. The second main strength of this book is its empowering nature. The key message repeatedly emphasized is that absolutely anyone can write a dirty story and they should feel proud about doing so. You don’t have to be a sexual god or goddess — you could even be a virgin — there are no qualifications that need to be met. Moreover, it’s not just that anyone can write it, but anyone who can write it should take pride in their work. Erotica and sex writing is often seen as dirty, terrible literature, or a blight on the book industry. But erotic fiction continues to sell and can sometimes feature stellar writing (such as in the lesbian anthology I read recently).

Where this book stumbles is in its practical advice...

Read the rest on my blog!
http://camerondjames.wordpress.com/20...

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of erotic literature myself, thought Susie Bright's advice on how to write a good dirty story makes me wonder what I'm missing. As an author, I'm interesting in honing my craft. Bright's approach to capturing authentic, human emotion on the page compels me to apply her techniques to my own work. She writes to help us pour our own vitality into our work. Whether you're a fiend or a prude or something off the scale, reading this book as an author invites excitement and inspiration.

[Tara Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not planning on writing erotica, but I bought a couple of books about writing erotic stories in the hope that they would give me an idea how to fit sex into mainstream stories, and how to create the same level of intensity an erotic story has even if the story isn't necessarily sexual. I enjoyed this book a lot, mainly because of Susie Bright's writing style. She was just as friendly and inspiring in this book as she was in the other book of hers that I've read.

[Tyra Masters-heinrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Even loaned it out to a couple writer friends who then went and bought it. Kind of says it all. I have filled my copy with highlights, and those plastic tabs.
I really recommend this book not just for those of you who want to write erotica, but for any writer trying to spice up their writing or who is approaching a difficult (for you) subject. The book has great advice, good humour and takes a serious look at the craft.

Take a look.

[Rhonda Gilmour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just for a lark, I decided to try my hand at writing a steamy romance. Susie Bright's book provides oodles of valuable advice; she also gives the reader one of the best discussions I've seen on the publishing industry, including various types of publishing, agents, contracts, interacting with fans, and more. This book is an excellent resource for writers of erotica, but also for any writer who's looking to include some spicy love scenes.

[Tai Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outside of some great guidance on how to write erotica, I found this to be a fantastic guide on how to write well and navigate the publishing industry in general. Written in a very personable and straightforward style, in a manner that feels like a one-on-one meeting with the author, I found this to be an insightful and incredibly valuable resource for anyone wanting to get into writing erotica, or even seasoned writers who want a few extra tips and tricks.

[Demascus03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insightful look at not only the mechanics of writing in general but how to take an honest look at ourselves during the writing process. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to reevaluate their outlook on the social dynamics that continue to shape the writing industry and touch on the one subject that truly touches all of our lives.

[Melanie Neale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this--I feel like it helped me with both "dirty" and "regular" writing, since there really ought not to be a difference anyway. But it's very real and very practical, and offers great exercises and tips not only for writing, but for marketing and publishing and what comes after the writing is over...the stuff that you don't learn about in school. Highly recommend!

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an entertaining and informative reference for both writing and the history of sexual politics in the United States. Easily my first five-star book of 2012. I bought three other books based on the novel/anthology references in this book, and I scribbled down a few others too.

[Amirul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already know how to write a dirty story. (Hi, everybody!) But this is more than just that — Susie Bright gives broad sweeps to what makes smut capture minds, both individuals' and society's, and gives a compelling history on modern day erotica.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book that had some really useful information. Easy, smooth read.

[Stephen Heverin]

How to Read/Write a Dirty Story by Susie Bright (2001)

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT book for anyone interested in writing, erotica or not. I absolutely loved it and recommend it to all.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm totally going to do it... and its gonna be AWESOME!!!!!... teeheehee

[Kelli]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12140778

[Angie on Books]

Inspiration for me to keep writing and publish my own erotica.

[Bill Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and insightful history and discussion of writing dirty stories in America.

[Paul Manytravels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read, full of interesting ideas and tips on how to become a writer of erotica, including tips on each aspect of moving from having a story idea to publishing and promoting the work. It is useful, inspire of having been written 17 years ago, but more recent changes in technology and in publishing, including in self-publishing, probably mean an updated version of the book would be more useful than the old, 2001, version I read and am commenting upon here.

[Louise Lagris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me the confidence to set out on my own erotica-writing journey! It's an incredibly helpful guide to exploring your fantasies on paper — for yourself, for your lovers, or for publication.

[Angel Ackerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book as I have a more modern version of it, written by a male, on my desk at my publishing company. If it weren’t 20-years-old I might have given it four stars.

What fascinates me is this— although the book focuses on erotic writing, it’s actually a humorous and effective, accessible how-to primer for the practice of writing and publishing in general.

Susie is thorough in every way and one can replace the lessons on erotica and mentally rewrite them into exercises for any genre, making it a wonderful guide to any writing career.

[Braden Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve listened to this book three times. Susie Bright’s lengthy career in erotica makes her an expert on the subject. She combines humility and humor with her literary experience to create an accessible game plan for erotica authors. After reading this book, I had a greater understanding of this genre. Bright’s respect for the craft has inspired me to not just write erotica, but to write erotica well.

[Abilio Pacheco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good advice on the subject

[Cassandra Corrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun book! Listening to this made me wish that I was able to take some of Susie's courses.

[Martha Garvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book about writing, period.