Secret Pens

Under another pen name, I started writing erotica a year ago. My mum said I should write ‘dirty stories’ and it seemed I’d run out of excuses not to give it a go. At first I just posted online, on a platform where I get paid. The algorithm is guarded but it’s probably a combination of time spent reading, applause and feedback and interaction with readers.

As I built my confidence in the genre, with the brilliant support of Bella Cooper I took the leap and got some books out there. 

They were short story bundles, at first. I was dipping my toe in to the huge steamy pool of naughtiness that sits often behind paywalls. Sex sells. It will come as no surprise that it is well received on most major platforms. You just have to know where to look.

Output

I’m on 25 books, which I hadn’t noticed to be honest. They are mostly short stories and bundles, with a couple of longer steamy romances thrown in. There are now two series in the mix. People like sexy reads, but they know what they like and it usually falls into very specific niches. If someone has a kink, there will be an author who specialises in it. It therefore helps to focus on one or two niches. At the start, I threw it all in. It was to build a reader base but also, importantly, to learn the trade.

Judgment

Sex work of any kind, writing included, is sometimes belittled or looked down on with a judgmental, often censorial view. Trolls can emerge, but you might be surprised by how supportive the entire community is too. Your books can even end up in the mysterious online store ‘dungeon’ where no one can even find it without the actual internet URL, hidden from search engines. A whole dark web hidden in the public world of online stores.

Others sometimes see erotica as ‘just’ writing sex scenes. No one accuses crime writers of just writing murder scenes. Somehow it is seen as less important than a spy novel, space adventure or crime thriller. No judgment, all books are important and the reader deserves the best no matter what they enjoy reading.

Platforms

I published ‘wide’ via Smashwords. I’d heard Draft2digital, their major competitor, was more strict in their ‘censorship.’ Now these two companies are merging erotica writers are watching the space carefully. See my previous post about the merger HERE. 

I may go truly wide and place my books on the various platforms and my website, but the admin time takes away from my writing time. I want to support the small presses and independent platforms, but I need to build a reputation and audience, so it’s got to be worth the extra admin commitment. Swings and roundabouts.

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription model where loyal fans can download and read ‘for free’ and the writer, i.e. me, gets paid on what they call ‘page reads.’ This can be highly profitable. Authors can make six figures publishing this way. You can tackle that in different ways, across all genres, a few thick books with loads of pages, or many smaller books published regularly. I’ve heard of writers putting out a book a day. I try for one a week in the erotic pen name, with an extra two novel/las if possible each month. Deadlines and spreadsheets are my friend, and I try not to beat myself up too much if I fail one week.

I put my work into KU for at least 90 days, then go wide, but I’m monitoring Thus. Recently I took some books back from ‘wide’ into KU for another 90. ‘Going wide’ publishing across multiple platforms instead of just focussing on the wonderful Amazon, is a long game, no quick fixes, you need to build a loyal customer base, but I need to eat. 

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Income

I make more money on Medium with my short stories, than I do on Amazon. This is not anywhere near enough to sustain a full fridge-freezer and printer full of ink, let alone sustain a lifestyle, yet. Each month builds on the last. My audience is growing and I’m niching down to a small but growing happy readership. 

My income shot up when Medium paid some bonuses last summer, but since then has taken a nosedive. It’s frustrating, but I’m in this for the long haul. Don’t believe the hype about anyone making a fortune writing erotica in just a few weeks. You don’t ‘just write a book and publish it’ and that applies as much in erotica as any other genre. That said you know I think everyone should write, so why not erotica. 

I make more on Kindle Unlimited than any other book platform by a mile. It’s a shame because I want to reach readers on their nooks, e-readers and phones. Not everyone is on Kindle. Apple is first reserve and coming up on the outside. 

Backlist Building

One of my series is going to be 26+ books, one a week, and I will leave those in KU until the end so I can bundle them into box sets. 

I use Bookfunnel where I give away a free book in exchange for email addresses. I will soon write a new niche freebie/s and put it on there, as I want a bigger list. My page reads boost after my newsletter features one of my books or stories. I hear over 40 books is a sweet spot and I hope that’s true although I’m not sure what length of book that relates to. My heart is wide, my wallet is KU, not sure which will win! 

Marketing

This is not easy. In fact, sometimes it’s downright difficult, but not impossible. OK, in some places it is, almost. You can’t do Amazon ads. Facebook ads content must be very ‘vanilla.’ Some platforms like Medium are huge supporters of the space, but if that closes, you need eggs and baskets. You know I feel strongly about eggs and baskets, as discussed in this post about the merger of two independent writer platforms. [ Is The Merger of D2D and Smashwords a Good Thing For Independent Writers? ]

There are a few specialised advertising platforms, which are truly impactful, but ads cost money, and it’s helpful in the long term, if you can build a faithful list of fans.

How to Succeed

Write more books. Simple. If only. You need to find your people. Everyone has a kink, even if you don’t think if it that way. There are niches within niches and kinks within kinks. Getting to know your readers and their needs and requirements is key. People buy from those they know like and trust and that is just as relevant in erotica writing as any other.

Give your fans a one stop shop, like a website. Talk to them in your newsletters. Give them a tip jar so they can donate if they like your work. 

Privacy

Some writers are afraid of being known for erotica. You can write behind a pen name and avatar as I and many others do. Why not give it a go? You don’t have to churn out a book a day. You might go into ghost writing. Many romance writers are reluctant to write the sex scenes in their work, so it’s another potential lucrative option and another income stream. As with everything out-sourced, you may be up against competitive prices in the global market, so don’t undersell yourself. Build a solid reputation and serve your clients well.

Maybe you don’t want to earn a fortune and just like sex, write it, enjoy it and share the love. Be warned, it’s fun, escapist, pure, unadulterated, passionate, fun storytelling, and it’s addictive.