Recommendations/sources for good erotic writing?

March 1, 2008 10:11 AM

Recommendations/sources for good erotic writing?

My girlfriend recently revealed to me that she is/used to be into erotic stories, and I'd like to learn more about this topic, to liven up and deepen our sex life. I'd like to improve my dirty talk and my ability to talk about her and my fantasies. I don't know much about erotic fiction, so I guess I'm looking for some direction.

So, please share with me your favorite stories, books, collections, websites, etc. Any academic/critical/analytical writings about this topic are welcomed as well. Also of interest is advice about talking about and sort of creating fantasies before and during sex.

Also, I'm a man, if that information is useful.

posted by anonymous to human relations (16 answers total)

There used to be a good discussion of this type of things on alt.sex.stories.m (the m stands for moderated). I would go back into the archives there, from around 1996-1998, and look at some of the reviews of stories. There is a HUGE variety of stories and kinks, so make sure that you learn the codes so you don't end up reading something that turns you off. Read some with your gf so you can get a better idea what she likes.
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:21 AM on March 1, 2008

Oddly enough, there's a post related to this on the blue right now.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:26 AM on March 1, 2008

Nifty.org has a ton of everything. At the very least, it's at least a good place to figure out what you like and don't like.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 10:31 AM on March 1, 2008

asstr.org
posted by Brian James at 10:40 AM on March 1, 2008

Literotica
posted by primalux at 10:45 AM on March 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Story of O is a classic erotic novel. (I haven't read it yet.)
posted by philomathoholic at 10:54 AM on March 1, 2008

I think sex blogs probably have (or link to) more of what you're looking for than old asstr stories, honestly. Sites like Debachette, Reverse Cowgirl, or Violet Blue (who has published several compilations of sex writing) is where I'd start.
posted by Jairus at 11:14 AM on March 1, 2008

Read Fanny Hill. If you get past the eighteenth-century-isms, it's very erotic, and often well-written.

I bid him come towards me and give me his letter, at the same time throwing down, carelessly, a book I had in my hands. He colour'd, and came within reach of delivering me the letter, which he held out, awkwardly enough, for me to take, with his eyes riveted on my bosom, which was, through the design'd disorder of my handkerchief, sufficiently bare, and rather shaded than hid.

I, smiling in his face, took the letter, and immediately catching gently hold of his shirt sleeve, drew him towards me, blushing, and almost trembling; for surely his extreme bashfulness, and utter inexperience, call'd for, at least, all the advances to encourage him: his body was now conveniently inclin'd towards me, and just softly chucking his smooth beardless chin, I asked him if he was afraid of a lady? . . .

posted by nasreddin at 11:22 AM on March 1, 2008

http://www.asstr.org/

(alt.sex.stories text repository)

I recommend browsing the "Collections" section to find a theme you like and then reading those stories.
posted by Jacqueline at 12:03 PM on March 1, 2008

Coco De Mer do some good mailorder books. NSFW clickery here.
posted by brautigan at 12:11 PM on March 1, 2008

Here are a couple of older threads. (One from the 17th.)
posted by loiseau at 12:33 PM on March 1, 2008

I used to write custom, personalized erotic stories for a website entitled customerotica.com, but the website is now defunct. Literotica is not bad.
posted by misha at 3:00 PM on March 1, 2008

www.erotica-readers.com

Books: Best Women's Erotica series, and anything edited by Alison Tyler.
posted by Savannah at 3:22 PM on March 1, 2008

cleansheets.com -- Classy, as these things go, usually well-written, and something for everyone.

James Joyce's letters to his wife are pretty remarkable. Short excerpts here, google around for more.
posted by hippugeek at 4:44 PM on March 1, 2008

i'm surprised no one mentioned anais nin - delta of venus and little birds are both classic, classy erotica that are hard to put down once started. i found them much easier to read than fanny hill, in part because they're all short stories, but also the writing (from the 1920's i believe) reads pretty much like any other modern author (though anais nin writes better than most, especially in these books)

as you mention wanting to explore this stuff to help make a connection with your girlfriend - for what it's worth, i always thought that, being by a woman author, reading these books kinda gives a bit of insight into the erotic minds of women, without being all ya-ya sisterhood and stuff (it's genuinely erotic stuff that will make you horny)
posted by messiahwannabe at 8:21 PM on March 1, 2008

I like Nancy Friday's books about sexual fantasy - My Secret Garden, Forbidden Flowers, and Women On Top are collections of women's fantasies, and Men In Love is a collection of male fantasies.

I will also second asstr.org. The Kristen Collection is a good place to start there.
posted by SisterHavana at 7:29 PM on March 3, 2008