In 2025, the Not Quite Write podcast received over 500 entries and nearly half a million words of smut from writers around the world in response to their erotic Flesh Fiction competition which was sponsored by Adult Match Maker.

After reading and judging these stories, we noticed some patterns. Some left us biting our lips and eagerly turning pages. Others fizzled.

Here’s what the experience taught us about writing erotica that truly sizzles…

Set the scene

Before the fun begins, invite your readers into the room. What can your lead character see, smell, hear, or touch?

Zoom in on the detail. The creak of a leather chair, the glow of neon, or the faint scent of stale beer can immerse readers far more than a generic description of a bar.

At the same time, introduce your lead character through a small, revealing action that shows who they are and what they most want or need in this moment. Your readers need to know what they’ll be cheering for at the end.

Build tension

Like any strong piece of fiction, erotica thrives on escalating conflict and tension.

Conflict doesn’t have to mean an argument. Think of conflict as anything that delays the character getting what they want. It might look like teasing and withholding, an interruption at the worst possible moment, the risk of being caught, or a character wrestling with their own nerves, guilt, or self-doubt. (If you want an example of intense conflict in action, you can look no further than Jacob Tierney’s Heated Rivalry.)

Let your character overcome obstacles one by one. The more they yearn and struggle, the hotter the payoff.

Show real emotion

For a story to draw readers in, it needs to feel real. Start by asking yourself if your characters’ actions make sense. Would people really act this way? Would they talk like this? If the answer is no, readers will sense something is off and disconnect.

Consider what your character is feeling, both emotionally and physically, and why this moment matters to them. Sexy isn’t just about what happens, but also why it matters to the person it’s happening to. A touch becomes charged because of the history, the longing, the risk, or the vulnerability behind it.

Keep it natural

Erotica has a long and proud history of colourful euphemisms, but be careful. Drop the wrong metaphor at the wrong moment and a steamy scene can tip into accidental comedy. Overly clinical or biological terms can just as quickly kill the mood.

A good rule of thumb is this: would it feel natural and sexy if your partner whispered it in the heat of the moment? If in doubt, keep it simple.

Avoid clichés

Cliché phrases like ‘time seemed to stand still’ or ‘eyes as blue as the ocean’ are tempting because everybody knows what they mean. The problem is they tell us nothing new.

Erotica works best when it feels specific and personal. Try to describe sensations, reactions, and moments in a way that feels true to your character and their view of the world. This helps to create intimacy.

Engage the senses

Sex is a full-body experience. Your writing should be too. Think about touch, sound, smell and taste, as well as sight. Let the reader feel a brush of fabric, the quickening of a heartbeat, the whiff of sweat, or the taste of something unexpected.

Choose details your character would notice and focus on, and use them to draw the reader into the heat of the moment.

Don’t name the feeling. Show it.

Instead of telling us a character is aroused, show us how it manifests in their body, and in their reactions and racing thoughts. They might shiver at a brush of skin or clutch a sheet as tension coils inside them.

Showing the way a character’s body and mind react can pull readers in and seduce us into feeling the sensations with them.

Provide closure

A satisfying erotic story answers the question it set up at the start: does the lead character get what they want? If yes, is it everything they imagined, or something more tantalising? If not, what does that denial reveal about them? Sometimes the juiciest endings are those that surprise both character and reader.

Closure isn’t just about physical release. Emotional fulfillment matters too. Has the character learned something, claimed something, or seen themself in a new light? Let your readers linger in the afterglow, experiencing contentment, vulnerability, regret or ecstasy alongside the lead character.

Remember: A powerful climax will leave your characters and your readers totally and unmistakably satisfied.

Likes & Comments

---

1 Like

Like Comment

No comments yet