Speaking of trends within the publishing industry, the latest is erotica. Thanks to the overwhelming success of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey, editors and agents are scrambling to obtain the next big erotica title. Whether this results in a long standing trend or not, erotica is hot right now and therefore it is in hot demand.
Being an agent, part of my job is being sensitive to the markets’ trends. Although, I am not opposed to acquiring erotica for my list, my literary tastes are definitely not in sync with the Fifty Shades of Grey particular form of erotic fiction. Writers such as Anais Nin and Anne Desclos are more my cup of tea.
So without further ado, it would appear as though I am jumping on the erotica bandwagon. Erotica writers, please send me your queries! Keep in mind, besides the work containing the necessary level of smuttiness and accessibility, I do require the writing to be of the literary style. On another note: I would love to see an erotica novel that strays from the standard format of the male dominant + female submissive. Surprise me.
It is late last night the dog was speaking of you 
I knew this was coming. I’m in several writer’s groups and they are all talking about erotica. I’m not totally averse to it, but being a non-fiction writer, it’s not my cup of genre. But I’m wondering with erotica getting the rush…and vampires, werewolves, and YA…just where does that leave non-fiction writers?
Non-fiction still plays a pivotal role within the publishing industry. I met with nearly as many non-fiction editors as I did fiction editors, and there is definitely still a market for non-fiction titles. There will always be an audience for memoirs. Stick with the craft that suits you best, and do not worry about the ever changing trends within the industry.
Thanks, Drea. This is good to know.
There does indeed appear to be a lot of talk about sex in literature as of late. Outside of the proper ‘Erotica’ genre, it seems writers are being asked to do a better job with describing sex itself (I’ve heard Tamara Faith Berger’s Maidenhead has brilliant bedroom scenes), and at where the human mind wanders before, during, and after (The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright has smart mental snapshots that follow some awfully lusty moments, according to Q).
Fiction writers are on the right track, but it seems memoirists still have some work to do. In my memoir, in which I crawl into bed with a Thai lampseller and a few others before meeting my future husband, I tried my best to be honest about those odd details and the thoughts that still stick out to me. In creative non-fiction, it’s almost more important (and more of a feat) to write sex well. Women don’t want to read about women who aren’t having sex. That’s just boring. And not very authentic.
I write it. I have for a long time at Cleansheets and also at ERWA. I just uploaded a little collection into Amazon. xxoo! As Valentine Bonnaire. Stories from my time at Cleansheets and on the list at Erotica Readers and Writers.com. “Gardenias” — I write heterosexual.
May I contact you regarding my book? JBRB
Yes, you can submit a query anytime.
Hi there, I have been writing erotic fiction for a while now, as a ghostwriter for other people. I’ve been recently considering having a go under my own steam, as it were, but have no idea where to start or anything! Would I be able to send over a sample of my work to you, and also, do you have any tips on how to go about it?
Many thanks
Hello Lucy,
Of course. Please contact me at my work email and I will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have!
I am three chapters in to writing my book entitled “The Blind Florist”, where the main character is a female florist, blinded in her youth. Her name is Nydia. She is based on the “blind floral girl” character in Charlie Chaplin’s movie “City Lights”. Nydia is a maestro who conducts the senses of her lovers, starting with an adagio tempo, working towards prestissimo. Would you be interested in a read?
Hello Michael,
Certainly! Just drop me a line at my work email.
Thank you, I will.
Hie, i was just wondering, do you deal with erotic short stories too?
Hello Peter,
Typically, I do not deal in short stories of any kind. But feel free to query me at my work email. Depending on the quality, I could be swayed.
Cheers,
Drea