A Writer's Guide: A Description of Adult and Erotic Fiction

What is erotic fiction? 

Explicit sex-based romance novels for an 18+ audience. 

What does erotic romance include? 

Erotic romance can have many different tropes and plot fixings which can have sweet hallmark-movie like romances, dramatic romance, and dark romances. 

In this book, we will focus more on dark romances when it comes to ideas and tropes. 

What is the age range in characters in erotic romance? 

The age range in erotic romances are 18+. Many erotic romances have the "new adult fiction" audience, which means that the characters' ages range from 18 – 30.  

It is highly advised by publishers and book marketplaces that you do not sexualize minors (your erotic scenes having characters under the age of eighteen), and definitely demise pedophilia and romanticizing it.  

Many erotic romances do have past traumas of pedophilia, but this should not be romanticized. Publishers will be less likely to take on your book. 

Do erotic romances have sex in them? 

Yes. Definitely. 

The entire definition of "erotic" means smut, basically. So, yes. 

How careful do I have to be with explicit scenes? 

There's a wide range of smut and wording. 

Adult romances are different than erotic romances... if you're writing an "adult" romance, then you should avoid using crude words, but erotic romances? Go all out. 

Explain the scene in full detail, how the characters feel, dirty talking, anything. 

What's the differences in wording with adult romances compared to erotic romances? 

In adult romances (in a smut scene), you can use words that describe the body parts without basically saying it. For example, many authors use the word "member", or "rod", or sometimes even just the word "penis" when they talk about male parts. With female parts they can describe it as "velvet", or "core", or "heat". 

In erotic romances (in a smut scene), you use any word you want (to describe the body part being touched), cuss word or not. This can range from, "clit", "vagina", and "penis", to "cock", "pussy", "cunt", etc. 

Do erotic romances have magic in them? 

Yes, they can. Many do, honestly. Erotic novels can include vampires, werewolves, demons, fallen angels, archangels, Faes, or even just realism.