Smut writers, how do you do it?

[RepresentingCaution]

Use condom

 

[minacia]

Well there are different kinds of smut. If you're doing porn without plot, then nothing really matters because the readers aren't really using their brains either so you can literally do anything and it would be okay.

If you're doing more plot, then my suggestion would be either to (A) don't make the smut the focus of the story or (B) delay the gratification as long as possible so that you don't reach the climax of the narrative too quickly. There should always be room for more escalation or more conflict and more stuff so that there's actually some kind of development to the story. You're allowed to tease the reader, and if anything I recommend holding back your strongest hand and keep it in reserve until it's the right time.

 

[RedMuffin]

Use condom

Eh...?

 

[AnonUnlimited]

You just don't worry abotu quality.

 

[Iamnotabot]

No seriously, how?!

Been an avid smut lover, and since I wanted something to jog up my writing while not being a serious work, I decided to try my hand at smut.

Well. I deleted the story two chapters in.

Setting the tone, creating the atmosphere, it was going well, until it was about time to get down and dirty, and suddenly my finger joints turned stiff and creaky(if that's a word) like I hadn't oiled them years.

At first it was the shame that there was an invisible gaze watching me from high above. And when I resolved that by watching a few YouTube videos on how to get comfortable, it was suddenly about the fact that I was just cringing, and found myself wandering off because it was literally just two people wanting to fuck, no emotions, no proper build-up, nothing.

Then I suddenly realized how hard it was to write smut, and how much harder it was for it to be brainless smut. I don't know if it's a me thing though, that's why I want to hear your opinions.

If you write smut, accept my dogeza, senior.?

And if you write brainless smut? 9 kowtows for you Ancestor!?????????

The trick is to imagine the scene, read alot of smut or just have a first hand expirience doing it.

I can do all three.

Use condom

For a second i thought you'll say the other thibg you usually say.

 

[dukerino]

One thing people can mistake about when they write smut is assuming that because it's horny it doesn't need to function in any other way. But there's a lot of well-written smut out there, and—making things even more tricky—there's this thing called porn that kinda has the written word beat for pure titillation. What you want to focus on, when writing smut, is what smut does better than porn or hentai or whatever else you're competing with.

One big place that writing beats out visuals is in the interiority and in the richness of characterization you can delve into using it. Character carries story, especially in genre fiction where without it things can get cookie-cutter. Getting down and dirty doesn't change its importance. All too often you'll get to a sex scene in a story and suddenly the characters will transform from the interesting people you've been reading about to porn stars, going from fleshed-out to just, well, flesh. You can't turn a corner on the internet without running face-first into sex. What I'm here for, if I'm reading your story, is specifically these two (or three, or however many) characters having sex. Their imperfections and flaws and uniqueness should stick around. You don't want to sacrifice those things in the name of sexiness. Sexiness is easy.

Treat a smut scene with the same eye for characterization that you would any other scene in a story. What do both characters hope to get out of the scene (besides just busting a nut)? What is it about them, physically but also psychologically, that makes this sex scene different and special compared to a generic one? What does it mean for them? What does the scene reveal to the reader about their character? How do they or their relationship change over the course of the scene?

Oh also, this is just a personal thing, but the fewer all-caps onomatopoeic squishing noises and typed out OOOoooOOOhs, etc, the better. Too much and it just ends up comical imo. I find it's good to focus on sensation and emotion over that stuff--another spot where the medium has its advantages over purely visual sex scenes.

 

[Justhetip...]

Use condom

Ain't ready for kids yet, so definitely.

Well there are different kinds of smut. If you're doing porn without plot, then nothing really matters because the readers aren't really using their brains either so you can literally do anything and it would be okay.

If you're doing more plot, then my suggestion would be either to (A) don't make the smut the focus of the story or (B) delay the gratification as long as possible so that you don't reach the climax of the narrative too quickly. There should always be room for more escalation or more conflict and more stuff so that there's actually some kind of development to the story. You're allowed to tease the reader, and if anything I recommend holding back your strongest hand and keep it in reserve until it's the right time.

Thanks for the advice! I did dive into the smut itself without establishing the story itself.

You just don't worry abotu quality.

I guess the problem is the fact that I'm worrying.

The trick is to imagine the scene, read alot of smut or just have a first hand expirience doing it.

I can do all three.

For a second i thought you'll say the other thibg you usually say.

Carefully...?

 

[AnonUnlimited]

I guess the problem is the fact that I'm worrying.

Remember 2 things.
Smut readers love cringey stuff as long as it suits their fetish.

 

[Justhetip...]

One thing people can mistake about when they write smut is assuming that because it's horny it doesn't need to function in any other way. But there's a lot of well-written smut out there, and—making things even more tricky—there's this thing called porn that kinda has the written word beat for pure titillation. What you want to focus on, when writing smut, is what smut does better than porn or hentai or whatever else you're competing with.

One big place that writing beats out visuals is in the interiority and in the richness of characterization you can delve into using it. Character carries story, especially in genre fiction where without it things can get cookie-cutter. Getting down and dirty doesn't change its importance. All too often you'll get to a sex scene in a story and suddenly the characters will transform from the interesting people you've been reading about to porn stars, going from fleshed-out to just, well, flesh. You can't turn a corner on the internet without running face-first into sex. What I'm here for, if I'm reading your story, is specifically these two (or three, or however many) characters having sex. Their imperfections and flaws and uniqueness should stick around. You don't want to sacrifice those things in the name of sexiness. Sexiness is easy.

Treat a smut scene with the same eye for characterization that you would any other scene in a story. What do both characters hope to get out of the scene (besides just busting a nut)? What is it about them, physically but also psychologically, that makes this sex scene different and special compared to a generic one? What does it mean for them? What does the scene reveal to the reader about their character? How do they or their relationship change over the course of the scene?

Oh also, this is just a personal thing, but the fewer all-caps onomatopoeic squishing noises and typed out OOOoooOOOhs, etc, the better. Too much and it just ends up comical imo. I find it's good to focus on sensation and emotion over that stuff--another spot where the medium has its advantages over purely visual sex scenes.

Very guilty at the onomatopoeia part. Wrote, deleted, rewrote, and deleted several times lol.

The thing is, I actually planned to write brainless smut at the beginning, since for me I just wanted to flex my writing muscle and nothing more, but when it was time for it, I just couldn't immerse myself in the way it felt flavourless and I just stopped and gave up.

And you know the funny part? I'm a sucker for brainless, Plot-what-plot kinda smut.

Remember 2 things.
Smut readers love cringey stuff as long as it suits their fetish.

Understandable, from one fellow man of culture to another.

I think it quite hypocritical in my part. I have no problems reading it, and I even encourage it, but when it becomes mine to write, I just can't do it like that.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Very guilty at the onomatopoeia part. Wrote, deleted, rewrote, and deleted several times lol.

The thing is, I actually planned to write brainless smut at the beginning, since for me I just wanted to flex my writing muscle and nothing more, but when it was time for it, I just couldn't immerse myself in the way it felt flavourless and I just stopped and gave up.

And you know the funny part? I'm a sucker for brainless, Plot-what-plot kinda smut.

Understandable, from one fellow man of culture to another.

I think it quite hypocritical in my part. I have no problems reading it, and I even encourage it, but when it becomes mine to write, I just can't do it like that.

I have not posted it anywhere yet - not sure I will - but I have a "smut story" that I've been working on. The actual sex doesn't happen until chapter four I think, and the next scene will be three chapters later, then two or three (the first straight sex one)... but I keep getting obsessed over the story for two or three days, and then don't want to touch it again for a week... Have to be in the right frame of mind for that stuff, unless it's just a quick short story, IME.
And the trick for me is that it is something that drives the plot but not the plot (I have trouble with porn because, if there isn't a story, I find it boring, but if there IS a story, I tend to get caught up in the story, only to have a sex scene hit like a speed bump ... and then, just when I get caught up in the mood of the sex scene, the story pokes its head in and disrupts everything, every freaking time...).

 

[Lysander_Works]

I think one element is to just not think too hard about what you are putting down. At least half of it will probably be cringe, but that is often an entertainment perk for the rest of us. I am quite bad at writing smut. Could be that the immersion is hard to maintain when the blood calls attention to somewhere else. Could be lots of things. Point is, I don't put too much time into it.

 

[Justhetip...]

I have not posted it anywhere yet - not sure I will - but I have a "smut story" that I've been working on. The actual sex doesn't happen until chapter four I think, and the next scene will be three chapters later, then two or three (the first straight sex one)... but I keep getting obsessed over the story for two or three days, and then don't want to touch it again for a week... Have to be in the right frame of mind for that stuff, unless it's just a quick short story, IME.
And the trick for me is that it is something that drives the plot but not the plot (I have trouble with porn because, if there isn't a story, I find it boring, but if there IS a story, I tend to get caught up in the story, only to have a sex scene hit like a speed bump ... and then, just when I get caught up in the mood of the sex scene, the story pokes its head in and disrupts everything, every freaking time...).

I get what you mean. When it comes to the sex scenes, it's supposed to have a valid why, or at least in one way or the other, be of use to the plot progression.

But in your case, if the story is strong enough to disrupt the sex scene, I think it becomes a scenario where you describe what emotions the characters are feeling, the turmoil, delight, or maybe guilt, depending on their dynamics. Then you make the actual scene itself fade-to-black

I think one element is to just not think too hard about what you are putting down. At least half of it will probably be cringe, but that is often an entertainment perk for the rest of us. I am quite bad at writing smut. Could be that the immersion is hard to maintain when the blood calls attention to somewhere else. Could be lots of things. Point is, I don't put too much time into it.

Yeah, others have told me this too, I was indeed thinking too much about it. And as for the cringe, this is why I suddenly have respect for those who write smut without plot.

Another reason I just finally deleted the stuff was that it started feeling like a pain in the ass to write, and that wasn't good.

 

[Dark_Phoenix_Zaetyk]

I'm the smut ancestor around here ayo.

 

[Justhetip...]

View attachment 36782
I'm the smut ancestor around here ayo.

Nine kowtows to you, Ancestor.?????????

 

[Tsuru]

I do imagine, but it's putting down the words that was the problem.

Simple.
Im gonna be real serious when i say this advice.
AND it works for normal works.

Read more.
Bc writing is like drawing. Do it more more more more until you succeed. (like sleeping is faking it until you do it for real)
Drawing is basically copying from predecessors, like any knowledge (ex:math)


PS : It also depends on talent & imagination
PPS : It also depends on your first language and personality. Lets be honest, reason JP and more recently CN are better at writing this stuff, is bc of "lust" but also bc their culture is a lot more "poetic" in some cases.
And IQ. Asians have lot of IQ. Which is indeed a big buff. That helps for writing.

 

[RedMuffin]

Nine kowtows to you, Ancestor.?????????

Gullible

 

[Tsuru]

I get what you mean. When it comes to the sex scenes, it's supposed to have a valid why, or at least in one way or the other, be of use to the plot progression.

But in your case, if the story is strong enough to disrupt the sex scene, I think it becomes a scenario where you describe what emotions the characters are feeling, the turmoil, delight, or maybe guilt, depending on their dynamics. Then you make the actual scene itself fade-to-black

Yeah, others have told me this too, I was indeed thinking too much about it. And as for the cringe, this is why I suddenly have respect for those who write smut without plot.

Another reason I just finally deleted the stuff was that it started feeling like a pain in the ass to write, and that wasn't good.

Another thing is that you write it for the sake of writing. Which is not good. (important, not screaming or criticizing, just stating facts)

And your drive seems like a temporary one. Like someone picking guitar and putting it down 1day later forever.
Not blaming its human. And ton of people do that. Even eastern writers got hundreds of series (sfw) popping up at this current moment and dying at ch2 or 5 (uukanshu raw website when it was still alive and i browsed, gosh i was annoyed when browsing the secret webpage of "new series")


I mean, im pretty defender of the logic of : Its more likely to be success when its a hobby / not expecting popularity
but it also depends on "skills"


To give big example.
EVANGELION
Sure they didnt expect it to be SO BIG (popularity). The anime studio was basically gonna close down/bankrupt and its also why the last episode had a gigantic blank (its bc they didnt have money anymore. Not kidding). So the series is kinda a "fk it, lets do what we like" and why it succeeded like ONEPUNCH-MAN (also another example).
But here is the premise though : The people behind EVANGELION had the skills to back it up.
Of course not trying to "gate" new writers, but just that having 0 experience is likely to flop.

And lot of successes are created from a mountain of "failures" (their own)

 

[Justhetip...]

Simple.
Im gonna be real serious when i say this advice.
AND it works for normal works.

Read more.
Bc writing is like drawing. Do it more more more more until you succeed. (like sleeping is faking it until you do it for real)
Drawing is basically copying from predecessors, like any knowledge (ex:math)


PS : It also depends on talent & imagination
PPS : It also depends on your first language and personality. Lets be honest, reason JP and more recently CN are better at writing this stuff, is bc of "lust" but also bc their culture is a lot more "poetic" in some cases.
And IQ. Asians have lot of IQ. Which is indeed a big buff. That helps for writing.

Aye aye, Cap'n.

Another thing is that you write it for the sake of writing. Which is not good. (important, not screaming or criticizing, just stating facts)

I'm very much aware of that.

And your drive seems like a temporary one. Like someone picking guitar and putting it down 1day later forever.
Not blaming its human. And ton of people do that. Even eastern writers got hundreds of series (sfw) popping up at this current moment and dying at ch2 or 5 (uukanshu raw website when it was still alive and i browsed, gosh i was annoyed when browsing the secret webpage of "new series")


I mean, im pretty defender of the logic of : Its more likely to be success when its a hobby / not expecting popularity
but it also depends on "skills"


To give big example.
EVANGELION
Sure they didnt expect it to be SO BIG (popularity). The anime studio was basically gonna close down/bankrupt and its also why the last episode had a gigantic blank (its bc they didnt have money anymore. Not kidding). So the series is kinda a "fk it, lets do what we like" and why it succeeded like ONEPUNCH-MAN (also another example).
But here is the premise though : The people behind EVANGELION had the skills to back it up.
Of course not trying to "gate" new writers, but just that having 0 experience is likely to flop.

And lot of successes are created from a mountain of "failures" (their own)

True. The pressure to make your work the next best thing isn't always necessarily good. And the reason a lot of authors dropped their works is because they went in with expectations which didn't later match the results they got from the readers.

Gullible

View attachment 36783

Sigh. I've been too trusting.

 

[DireBadger]

I spent years roleplaying on tapestries, a heavily smut-inspired furry telnet-based text multi-user interspace. Heck, I actually met my wife of thirty years there.

I left because the furries from the 2000s became entirely different from the ones in the 1990s—they got entirely too twisted for me. They used to be about sex, writing, adventures, and role-playing, and then they became about politics and trolls trying to catfish. Everyone loves a hentai catgirl. But giant herm centaurs are an acquired taste. Like two girls, one cup acquired.

It might still be a good source, though.

 

[NotaNuffian]

If most smut writers(especially AO3 folks) actually had irl partners, then I think the amount of unrealistic, hentai-physics levels of smut would actually be lower than they are.

Nah, more like having a RL partner but can't bend in fantastic ways makes more hentai.

Remember,