I'm writing a sci-fi novel and I realized I wrote 4 scenes with sexual content and I'm about half way through the story. I'm wondering if I could be marketing it as a erotic novel at this point. What are the advantage of marketing a book as erotica versus sci-fi? Which category has a bigger market? I can't really market it as a sci-fi romance because it doesn't have a happy ever after (HEA) ending. Should I approach agent with a sci-fi background or an erotica background? Ideally I would like one with both but I don't know anyone who have both expertises. The sex scenes are very mainstream with no particular fetishes.
Sexy cyberpunk/sci-fi
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Four sex scenes in a novel length work doesn't read like erotica, probably straight sci-fi with sex included. Erotica v. SciFi is a marketing thing, especially when you consider that Erotica is a bigger category that Sci-Fi in that Erotica has Sci-Fi, horror, romance, mystery, modern, historical, etc... Who do you want reading the novel?
I am not sure who my reader will be. Since my MC is a 24 yo woman, I imagine the reader will be a woman in her 20 or 30. I mostly read sci-fi romance and urban fantasy. Do you know any recommendation of good Erotica Sci-fi? Something more mainstream.
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Mass fiction? I'd call out Laurel K. Hamilton, she loves a little nookie and sells a ton of paper. Stacia Kane a former (maybe current) denizen of this forum also wrote under the name December Quinn, and that was all erotica. Our esteemed moderator Veinglory spins a good tale, a little outside my taste profile, but good none the less.
As for who reads heroines, you'll find that like video games, men love a strong female lead. Although 25 to 35 year old women are a big market to shoot for, but don't get lost in that. Write a good story and then find your market. Once you have your market, well, let me know when you do.
As for who reads heroines, you'll find that like video games, men love a strong female lead. Although 25 to 35 year old women are a big market to shoot for, but don't get lost in that. Write a good story and then find your market. Once you have your market, well, let me know when you do.
Thank you for the recommendations!! Yes, I would definitely prefer to appeal to a mass market than a nich audience. My MC loves sci-fi and makes comments about Star Wars and Back to the future (both are considered like Classic literature in my novel set in 2090 
. So your right, it might appeal to guys too!
. So your right, it might appeal to guys too!So as long as the plot isn't sex driven, a sci-fi novel wouldn't be considered erotica even if they have multiple sex scenes? I'm aiming toward upmarket fiction and I would like to avoid being too niche. I wonder if I should tone it down to appeal to a wider audience.
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Sci fi quite often has sex in it. Just treat it as sci fi and only avoid venues that specifically say they are sex-negative, which is going to be uncommon for your genre. (More common in genres that often cross over with religiosity like romance and saga).
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Sex scenes are mainstream with no fetishes, in a sci-fi? How boring.
Jokes aside, I think this will largely depend on how long these sex "scenes" are. Are you defining "scenes" as "chapters"? Four quick "scenes" of sex doesn't seem all that excessive, unless those four scenes take up a bulk of the work. From what I am reading in this thread, I feel like you'll be okay.
Jokes aside, I think this will largely depend on how long these sex "scenes" are. Are you defining "scenes" as "chapters"? Four quick "scenes" of sex doesn't seem all that excessive, unless those four scenes take up a bulk of the work. From what I am reading in this thread, I feel like you'll be okay.
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ConnorMuldowney, that sounds like a challenge. I'd wager a number of people on this forum can write an absolutely filthy sex scene in two paragraphs that would make another genre's three page climax feel positively evangelical.
BTW - would love to have you drop by E-SYW, if you are so inclined, to see a little bit of that.
BTW - would love to have you drop by E-SYW, if you are so inclined, to see a little bit of that.
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How long are the paragraphs in this two-paragraph sex scene? Sign me up!
Maryn, remembering a long-ago challenged involving 200 words
Maryn, remembering a long-ago challenged involving 200 words