How to Write an Erotic Poem

Erotica, once written exclusively by authors who remained anonymous, has gone mainstream. Erotic novels, movies, videos and even poetry books are listed on Amazon.com and stocked on store shelves. While writing an erotic novel takes weeks or months, writing an erotic poem is a lot of fun and only takes minutes in most cases.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find a muse. You've got to be inspired to write an erotic poem. Your muse can be a lover, ex-lover, future lover or a celebrity. Even a photo or painting can inspire lusty writing.

2. Develop a style. Experiment in the early stages with prose poems, short poems, long poems, explicit poems and subtle poems. You'll discover your own style after writing a few fledgling poems.

3. Read all kinds of poetry. Study Ezra Pound, Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, even the work of local slam poets. Erotic poetry isn't just about "dirty words." It's all about evoking feelings, and there are many words and styles out there that can express erotic emotions.

4. Write and rewrite. Like any other writing genre, erotic poetry requires editing and thoughtful rewrites. Remember, write the first draft with passion, the second draft with logic.

5. Get published. Investigate markets via ERWA (Erotica Readers and Writers Association) and writers' magazines. Consider publishing a poetry chapbook on your own using a printer or print-on-demand publisher.

Resources

• Learn more about the Erotica Readers and Writers Association at their website.
• Find erotic poems and collections at the Amazon website.