Lucy Felthouse – Freelance Author of Contemporary Fiction, Erotica and Fantasy

Now this one IS offensive. I personally don’t see why erotica is looked down upon by people. Even if they do not approve of the subject matter, which is their prerogative, it doesn’t give them the right to dismiss the genre as not being ‘real’ writing.

I, for one, am not a huge fan of science fiction. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s a ‘crap’ genre, or somehow beneath others. It just means that it’s not to my personal taste.

Erotica writers don’t “have it easy.” We face the same challenges that those specialising in other genres do. There are various reasons why writers choose to produce work in certain genres, and some even writer across a variety of genres. It certainly isn’t because we’re less talented writers! Far from it, in fact. Many of my favourite books are erotic ones, and I read them because I genuinely want to, not just because it’s my “thing.”

My personal reason for writing erotica is that I’ve found it much easier to get my work in front of an appreciative audience. For me, writing is most enjoyable when you know people are reading and liking your work. And it would appear that they’re liking my smutty stories. Therefore, I’m going to carry on writing them, regardless of whether narrow-minded people think they’re “proper” or not.

So there you have it. Five impossibly annoying questions, complete with answers. I’d love to hear what you think of them, whether you’re a reader, writer, or both – regardless of genre!

Previous page:  4. Do you get turned on writing your stories?

Writing, contrary to the beliefs of certain people, is a job. A fun and exciting one, but nevertheless, a job. Which means it’s something that a person takes seriously and does to the best of their ability.

Now, if someone was writing a crime novel, do you suppose they cringe or shed a tear every time someone dies? Of course not. They’re too busy ensuring that they’re maintaining the pace, keeping the characters and situations interesting and constructing something people WANT to read. Then they’ve got to go through and correct typos, grammar, tweak dialogue and remove or change unnecessary or weak words.

It’s no different for an erotic writer. We want to get our characters from A to B using the most high-impact words we can. So engrossed are we in checking for inconsistencies, repetitions and dull descriptions that we don’t have chance to become ‘involved’ in the text the same way we would if we were simply reading something. It’s a constant amending and polishing process until the story is complete. And in my opinion, by then, the writer is so familiar with it that they can’t possibly derive any enjoyment from it. After all, they know exactly what’s going to happen, and why, where and when. Talk about a spoiler!

Previous page: 3. Are your characters real people?¦Next page: 5. Are you ever going to do some proper writing?

This is always a fun one to answer. Not least because some people are always going to think you’re writing about them. And as much as I advocate fantasies, I can’t agree with this one. Many people aren’t interesting enough to write about, myself included. Maybe you’ll take bits and pieces from various people – their personality quirks, their looks, job, or whatever, but it’s unlikely that a person will be literally taken as they are and written into a story or book. This goes for vanilla writing as well as erotica.

Of course there will be exceptions to the rule. Perhaps the supermarket delivery guy is a sex god. But unless you have in fact slept with him, how do you know how he kisses, what he looks like naked or if he’s any good in the sack? There’s always going to be an element of fiction. After all, why write about a one-night stand who was totally hot, but had a tiny dick and no idea what to do with it? Not going to happen. You’d make him into a stud with an impressive cock, wouldn’t you?

So in short, no. None of my characters are real. They may bear similarities to real people, but since everyone has their good and bad points, it’s the fun part of fiction to embellish and delete as appropriate. Hence the term fiction.

Previous page: 2. Are your stories based on experience?¦Next page: 4. Do you get turned on writing your stories?

I guess this is a varied version of question 1, but altogether more insulting. Luckily I’m not easily offended and therefore the question merely makes me laugh and/or roll my eyes. You see, I’ve written a lot of stories. Nowhere near as many as my writer buddies Portia Da Costa, Janine Ashbless and Saskia Walker, but still – a fair few.

Now, realistically speaking, how would I possibly have the time to do all these things I write about? If I had in fact done the deed on an army base; tackled not one, but two hunky builders at once and had a sex change in order to have sex with my female teacher, do you think I’d have the time to write about it all? No, I didn’t think so.

So, in answer to the question, no they’re not. It may be that I like a man in uniform and so develop a story around a character I created, but that’s as far as it goes. It’s all fantasy, whether it be my fantasies or those of other people. As long as people are enjoying reading my stories, who cares where the ideas come from?

Previous page: 1. Where do you get your ideas from?¦Next page: 3. Are your characters real people?

I often wonder if this is just a polite version of ‘So, have you really shagged on an army base then?’ But let’s imagine it’s not. This question is actually quite difficult to answer. Personally, I get my ideas from a multitude of places; conversations with friends, an attractive film star, books… the list is endless. It often only takes the tiniest idea for me to turn it into a story. For example, in Fantasy Assignment, a short story published in Xcite Books’ Seriously Sexy 3, the main character has sex with an army guy in a truck on his base. That idea stemmed from me liking men in uniform, and also knowing that it’s a common female fantasy. All I need is a little seed of an idea, and a story will grow.

Having written erotica for six years now, I’ve come across a variety of reactions to this piece of information. Some are only a little surprised and fascinated to know more. Others find it amusing at first, then move on. Still more giggle like schoolchildren, adopt an expression of wide-eyed wonder and secretly think I must be some kind of sex-obsessed tart. Along the way, many people have asked questions. I’ve also talked to lots of other erotic writers who have been subjected to similar lines of questioning. So I’ve decided to sum them up to serve as a warning to non-writers and to give fellow writers a good laugh. Enjoy.

In the next few posts I’ll be answering the following questions: