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Erotica for Guys?

Thread starter Clair Dickson
Start date Oct 10, 2008

Clair Dickson

A dark core to every cloud

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Oct 10, 2008

#1

Okay, I might be completely off my rocker. I'm pretty new to the whole erotica thing in general. But do guys read erotica? Or is this pretty much a female-dominated genre?

The reason I ask is because I wonder if part of the problem with my novel is that I've written a character that appeals to guys (because of her use of sex appeal and sex acts) but scared them away because she's an ass-kicking woman.

And I'm pretty sure I've scared off most of the girls because my character is willing to use her sex appeal to get what she wants.

Did I just screw up with my novel or is there some shred of hope here?

(If anyone isn't put off by the female MC who performs sex acts to get what she wants, I would LOVE to have more beta readers. See sig for link.=)

veinglory

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Oct 10, 2008

#2

Erotica is about half for guys. Erotic romance is mainly for women.

I once mentioned femdom on an amazon forum, and a year later I stil get email about it--so I think some guys like that sort of thing. Also some women, like--for example--me.

ELMontague

Oct 10, 2008

#3

I'm a guy. I read both.

Phoebe H

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Oct 10, 2008

#4

So you think that your target audience is gynephilic submissives?

Not to worry; there are plenty of us out there.

Samantha's_Song

At least I don't need backing-up

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Oct 11, 2008

#5

Women using sex to get what they want certainly doesn't put me off; Why should a woman, using her sex appeal, frighten off other women unless they have no sex appeal themselves?

I don't see anything wrong with a strong and ass-kicking woman, that's much better for us females than those who scream at the sight of a mouse. Those kinds of wimps make me want to puke and are an embarrassment to the rest of us women.

Clair Dickson said:
The reason I ask is because I wonder if part of the problem with my novel is that I've written a character that appeals to guys (because of her use of sex appeal and sex acts) but scared them away because she's an ass-kicking woman.

And I'm pretty sure I've scared off most of the girls because my character is willing to use her sex appeal to get what she wants.

Did I just screw up with my novel or is there some shred of hope here?

(If anyone isn't put off by the female MC who performs sex acts to get what she wants, I would LOVE to have more beta readers. See sig for link.=)

Disa

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Oct 11, 2008

#6

I dunno. I thought just women read it, but last night I was discussing fiction with one of my online friends- he doesn't particularly like fiction so doesn't want to read my work-he says to me, now if you write something dirty I'll read that. So, I layed it on him. One brief "dirty" paragraph that I wrote years ago. Uh huh, he read it. I was stunned at his response afterward, so-erm they read it and like it apparently, and it wasn't really all that good- haha.

Oh, as far as screaming at the sight of a mouse, well- I figure, just pick it up and feed it to my snake. Saves me a couple a bucks for snake food. I've said it before, we need more ass-kicking women in the world.

Last edited: Oct 11, 2008

Maryn

I Tried

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Oct 11, 2008

#7

In my experience, the kind of erotica that appeals to men (both gay and straight) is different that what appeals to women. While there's certainly no generalization that applies to all men, what I've seen is

It's more about Tab A/Slot B than the relationship between the characters.
The thoughts and feelings of the POV character are barely present, except as they relate to the sexual action.
The sexual acts are rougher, not partners making love with plenty of foreplay.
Penetration without any foreplay at all is common.
The penetrating partner causing initial pain is common, too.
Force or semi-force is a frequent theme, usually accompanied by a no-that-turns-into-yes, often an enthusiastic yes at that.
Unequal relationships are common, with one partner's will dominating the other's, whether it's femdom, gay lovers, or plain-vanilla hetero.
The writing tends to be quite visual, more about what the POV character sees than all other senses combined, including touch.
The sex is "larger than life," with crazy-huge cocks, super-buff men and Barbie-built women, ridiculously long intercourse, the ability to go again sooner than is likely for real humans, etc.

So while there is written erotica for guys, some of it good, it seems to be a different mindset which may not come naturally to writers whose market has been mostly female.

Maryn

Shadow Paetz

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Oct 11, 2008

#8

Just my two cents here -- men tend to like visual work (which is why pics are hugely a part of the male oriented porn industry). Writing erotic work in a very visual context might appeal more to them than anything more 'emotional'.

However, that's a generalization. It's not a rule.

Women tend to like more relationship with the sex. Again, not a rule, but a generalization. My personal preference is a high amount of all -- visual, sensual, and emotional.

I don't think you kill your story by having a strong woman, as long as she's likeable. Her motivations should be more on the 'less greedy' side of it, I'd think. If she's a bitch, then you might want to give her adequate reason to be one.

damiriji

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Oct 11, 2008

#9

I bet it has nothing to do with your writing or your story. It could just be who you are submitting it to. Check out other books with similar strong female characters and see who pubbed them. Don't forget the synopsis has to be just as good as the novel. If it's not some editors won't even look at your first chapter.

Tuna aka damiriji

jennontheisland

the world is at my command

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Oct 11, 2008

#10

For the most part I agree with Maryn's list, but this one

Maryn said:
The sex is "larger than life," with crazy-huge cocks, super-buff men and Barbie-built women, ridiculously long intercourse, the ability to go again sooner than is likely for real humans, etc.

I've seen in erotica/erotic romance for women. Perfect heroes, gorgeous heroines and lots and lots of long lasting sex with the biggest cock in the world.

Actually quite boring to read.

Clair Dickson

A dark core to every cloud

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Oct 11, 2008

#11

Thanks for all the input. This is encouraging.

I totally need to learn more about the erotica genre. =)

Diana W.

I'm evolving

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Oct 14, 2008

#12

Speaking as a guy, I have to say we are more visual. And yes often we do want to get down to the sex.
I don't think it's fair comment though that we want to read about men being overly physical with the girls though. That does nothing for me at all. I wouldn't want to read about rape or women being forced into sex acts. Maybe that's just me but I can't believe all men want to read about such things.
Just my two cents.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

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Oct 14, 2008

#13

All I can say is that in my erotic novel collection most material before 1970 and about half afterwards is targeted at male readers--and it covers pretty much every kind of material.

chroniclemaster1

Seeking Undercover Angel

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Oct 14, 2008

#14

Clair Dickson said:
Thanks for all the input. This is encouraging.

I totally need to learn more about the erotica genre. =)

Well, study hard!

I'd echo that we are much more visual than women. Maryn's point that visual words outweigh all other combined doesn't surprise me.

That's undoubtedly why the dirty magazines circulate much more widely among men than women.

Giles English

Eroticist for hire

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Oct 20, 2008

#15

There do, however, seem to be very few publishers focused on male-orientated erotica.

Ken

Banned

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Oct 20, 2008

#16

yer book sounds similar to many Barbara (heart, heart) Stanwyck movies, which guys devoured ;-)

veinglory

volitare nequeo

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Oct 20, 2008

#17

Giles English said:
There do, however, seem to be very few publishers focused on male-orientated erotica.

I disagree, they just generally do it on an offline, paper imprint way. All the major commercial publishers do some erotica with male or cross-gender appeal and there are still porn print outfits.

There are an awful lot of small erotic romance presses right now but the sales all added together would fit in HarperCollins pocket and leave room for a hankie.

Breaking into male erotica is a little harder because it is traditional in set up--large presses and no websites.

Clair Dickson

A dark core to every cloud

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Oct 20, 2008

#18

Veinglory-- then would it best to go the agent route for male erotica?

That's what I'd been doing, though I didn't really think about my book being an erotic mystery. I'm thinking that it very likely is. I was trying to sell it as a regular mystery, though I was thinking of changing my query to sell it as an erotic mystery.

veinglory

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Oct 20, 2008

#19

If it is cross genre you best sales are in going with it as a mystery (but better).

Male erotica strikes me as still being more about 'who you know'. Most of the work never seems to see an open call.

thetigerking83

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Nov 14, 2008

#20

I'm new here, but my 2 cents has been inserted below in red text.

Clair Dickson said:
Okay, I might be completely off my rocker. I'm pretty new to the whole erotica thing in general. But do guys read erotica? Or is this pretty much a female-dominated genre?

Actually, I can't speak for others, but the story I'm working on contains a scene of erotica. I'm a guy so I can say that there's interest. It was very hard for me to write it in a tasteful and emotion filled way, as this was rather new to me, so it was quite a stretch of my creative muscles but I think I pulled it off.

The reason I ask is because I wonder if part of the problem with my novel is that I've written a character that appeals to guys (because of her use of sex appeal and sex acts) but scared them away because she's an ass-kicking woman.

I doubt you scared them away by making her kick-ass. Look at several popular characters out there right now. One of the first female characters to come to mind (not sure about naming names) is the brunette with the ponytail and dual pistols from the video games. Even made it into comics and movies aswell. A great deal of the fan base for that character is guys. Granted they didn't make her do any sexual acts, but several of her games and even parts of the movies emphasize her sexual appeal, and if you look on the web many of the fans have.... um improvised to add the rest.

And I'm pretty sure I've scared off most of the girls because my character is willing to use her sex appeal to get what she wants.

Can't really say much on this, I guess it would depend on the reader themselves more than their gender. Some people are easily offended by this. Particularly in regards to sexism.

Did I just screw up with my novel or is there some shred of hope here?

I don't really think so but there's always hope, if it helps research the topic some. If you feel the need make some changes. At least provided it's not a finished book already on the market, and even then you may be able to make revisions.

(If anyone isn't put off by the female MC who performs sex acts to get what she wants, I would LOVE to have more beta readers. See sig for link.=)

I'll look into it. No promises though, I have attention deficit, and it's only through extreme stubbornness that I managed to finish book one of my own story. I'm in the same boat though myself, looking for beta readers can be tough. Lots of people looking for feedback and not often as many willing to take time out to give it.

Good luck though.

Samantha's_Song

At least I don't need backing-up

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Nov 16, 2008

#21

Tigerkind, I have never played a video game in my lfe, never will, but the woman in the film of said video game is beautiful and sexy, and I'm not even into women. the films are great because of Angelina

cooeedownunder

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Nov 20, 2008

#22

I think todays women are much more liberised and a female MC who enjoys sex and uses it to get what she wants would have female readers and men. 'Addicted' is a very good book with female MC is who is everything, many women and men fear. She thinks and behaves very much the way people percieve men. But obviously there are many more women out there that are just as bold. It would give those who are not liberated within themselves a look at those who are.

cooeedownunder

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Nov 20, 2008

#23

MrWrite said:
Speaking as a guy, I have to say we are more visual. And yes often we do want to get down to the sex..

I find it interesting what you mean by get down to the sex. Intercourse? Or do you mean foreplay then intercourse?

I find it interesting that yeah, you can met someone, have a quick kiss, and if the attraction is there, have great sex - but that would be rarer than the couple who meet and engage each other emotionally one way or another prior to having sex. Personally, I think great sex comes from a connection, regardless of how long you have known each other for. But it needs to be physical or mental (preferably both) for that sex to be great.

A guy who just wanted to get down to sex, if he meant intercourse, would bore me. Intercourse would be over possibly before it started, but foreplay can go on for hours, (not that it often goes on for that long lolol) and highten intercourse.

Last edited: Nov 20, 2008

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