Sitting in a car with a photographer heading towards a sunset field, I shared the story of how I became a writer. After explaining what a copywriter is, he decided to share his own writing dreams in erotic literature.
Maybe he’d researched E. L. James’ 50 Shades success. Proudly he read a snippet of his work, his friends he declared, have told him he’s talented. Here is a rough summary of his novel: “A girl was wearing a dress with thin straps and no bra. She ordered a taxi. The taxi arrived, and suddenly it started to rain. And then the girl’s dress got soaked. Her nipples were showing and the taxi driver could see…”
His cliché simplicity would offend even novice erotica novelists.
The benefits of erotic literature
Countless websites offer ‘sex stories’ often crafted by hobbyists who either appreciate written erotica, want to brag about their escapades or pretend certain stories are true. Yes, Ben, 10 women did fight for you during a trip – it’s totally plausible each looked like a Playboy model with huge breasts and tiny waists.
The billion-dollar p*rn industry caters to visual stimulation – every physical fetish and fantasy on show. Confusion remains on whether men prefer sexual imagery more than women. A Guardian piece last year reported on a recent study suggesting both sexes can get equally aroused to p*rnography. Some studies also show men like reading erotica as much as women. An article on Bustle says “a woman’s most powerful sexual organ is her brain.”
Most females need foreplay to get turned on without faking or wandering to imagination. The build-up, suspense: kissing, touching, descriptive words etc., can lead to more pleasure. Typical p*rn skips flirtation and jumps to action. Reported on nowtolove.com, women have 74% more sex with their partners when they read romance or erotic novels.
Erotic literature stigma
After 50 Shades of Grey, newspapers went wild publishing statistics on women buying sex toys and experimenting with whips. The book’s phenomenon imploded on sexual embarrassment. It was confidently read on trains, in office canteens, cafes. What other erotic literature has had this open freedom? Could you imagine walking on a train and seeing aisles of women holding graphic sex books?
Many best-selling erotica: Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Venus in Furs, Tropic of Capricorn, are classics from a bygone era. The style of book has a ‘Fabio’ association: Muscular, handsome men who shower their lovers with rose petals before playing the flute, reciting poetry until gently ‘making love’. But today, probably in part thanks to 50 Shades, there’s a variety of erotic novels depicting BDSM and other sexual practices.
Healthline discusses the myths surrounding erotic literature, noting how some think erotica can harm relationships and lead to re-enactment. As the publication confirms, erotica can actually increase a woman’s desire to have sex with her partner. Plus, similar to p*rn, a person can read steamy fiction and craft fantasy, with no wish to replicate a scenario in real-life.
There is often an aggression towards women in online sexual videos. This has partly made p*rn off-putting for some. P*rn tells you how to fantasise: This woman, that man, this location; erotic literature lets a woman delve deeper in her mind and design her interpretations. Books can provide a wider market than p*rn in catering to various turn-ons.
Who and what to read?
I’m currently watching a Sky Arts documentary on Anais Nin, writer of short stories and erotica. Her career took decades to succeed – a woman writing about sex during the 30’s and 40’s, detailing adultery, didn’t fair well at the time. Her most famous work, her diary entries, intimately detail the private thoughts Anais had during her marriage with a wealthy man as she embarked on affair with an unpublished writer, married to a woman whose beauty mesmerised her. Thanks to her iconic book quotes: “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are”, Anais has gained millennial’s admiration.
For something more modern, audio p*rn is the latest erotica trend. Sites like Dipsea and Quin cater to people looking for a change from p*rn or those who would rather create their own imagery. As well as helping people with visual impairments, audio p*rn encourages women to explore their sexuality and body confidence. There’s no size, racial or hair standards to compare.
Another digital option is Girl on the Net which features audio, books and images. Earlier this month, Marie Claire listed erotic novels to read because there’s only so much Mr. Grey and Anastasia to handle.
Read: When Sex Fantasies Go Against Your Beliefs
Sexually explicit content
The other day, a friend described to me how society is becoming ‘PG’ – we’re more controlled by what we can see that’s sexually explicit. Examples include Instagram’s female nipple ban, the ban on adverts that show women ‘overly sexualised’, and the parade of online criticism that follows when a female celebrity shows skin. On The X Factor, males have performed with their shirts off, as did Maroon 5’s Adam Levine at the Super Bowl, but the Pussycat Dolls performing scantily-clad caused offense, as did J.LO at this year’s Super Bowl.
Both sexes can dislike when women show no qualms about flaunting their figures and posting provocative images. Society in general seems to dislike putting women’s sexuality out there like how we do for men. Maybe in getting women to embrace their sexual feelings and feel good naked, erotic literature can be an empowering move forward.
Leave a Reply