Molly's BDSM Tips | How Can I Get My Kinky Stories Published?

As part of our kinky literature month, our resident BDSM advice columnist Molly returns with tips for one FET member who wants to know how to go about getting their kinky stories published. Find out what Molly says.

 
Dear Molly, I started writing kinky stories for my partner during the pandemic. At first, the stories were just for her, but then she shared them with some of our girlfriends, and their feedback and enthusiasm inspired me to write more. Over the last couple of years, I've written numerous short stories and even two novels, and I'm currently working on the third. My girlfriend insists that I get them published, but I've no idea how to do this. I know many mainstream publishers won't touch sex and kink stuff, but there are also many kink and BDSM-themed books on Amazon. Could you give me any tips on how I can go about publishing my work for a wider audience?
A Wordsmith.

Dear A Wordsmith,
It sounds like you've found your writing mojo these last two years or so, and it's fantastic that your kinky stories are popular with your small readership base. The question is, how do you build that following of fans into a larger one and maybe even make money from it while doing so?
 

Making money as a writer

I'm starting with this first, as making money writing is hard, even more so when what you write is considered adult content. Ask any author (published or not), and they'll tell you that the writing and publishing road isn't paved with gold, and if the only reason for publishing your work is to make millions, stop now, as you'll be disappointed!

The E.L James's of this world are exceedingly rare. Could you be the next big thing? Sure, but the chances are slim, and you need to have other motivations for writing to keep you going in the meantime. Still, from what you've said, motivation isn't your problem, so if you're looking to share your work with a broader audience and are not reliant on it for income, then here are some ways you can go about that.
 

Publish online

There are a few reasonably popular websites where you can publish your short stories or series online, such as the BDSM Stories & Kinky Sex Confessions forum here on Fetish.com, but there are others out there too. Simply Google 'sex stories' (or something to that effect), and you get a list of the most popular/active ones. Most sites are as simple as creating an account and uploading your work - but tagging your kinky stories with themes and genres is essential so that when people search the site, for example, 'lesbian stories' (if that is what you write), your story will appear. Many of these sites have community aspects, so commenting on other people's posts will also bring readers to your work.

The upside of these sites is you have to do very little work apart from commenting on other people's writing. Still, the downside is that you don't have much control over your work, and I know people who have had their stories stolen from such places and published elsewhere by someone claiming it as their own. However, these sites can still be valuable for building an audience to read your work, so posting a selection of pieces is a good idea.  
 

Start a kinky stories blog

Starting a blog is a crucial part of the process, especially if you're thinking of self-publishing or looking for a publisher. Creating an identity for yourself online as an erotic author is vital. You don't want someone Googling you or your work for them to find nothing. Part of the key to being a successful writer is building a following or audience who likes your writing. Publishing some of your short stories on a blog, finding other erotic author bloggers, and joining the sex blogging community will go a long way to help you build a following. If you get popular enough, this can also help you find a publisher or agent to represent you.
 

Self-publish your kinky stories

You can also self-publish your work. Simple, or is it? Well, yes and no. If this is a route you want to go down, there is a lot of help online, via platforms like Amazon and from other authors detailing their experiences and what they learned in doing it themselves. 

However, my advice is to find other self-published erotic authors to chat to because Amazon isn't the most friendly platform for sex writing. There are rules about images on covers, words in titles, and topics you can write about, so if your work is super raw and edgy when it comes to kink and fetish, Amazon may not allow you to self-publish it. It's vital to do your homework, talk to other authors who write stories like yourself, and learn from their mistakes and hurdles. 

Another key to self-publishing success is ensuring that your writing is well-written and formatted - so find someone to edit your work. There's a lot of competition, and polished writing will get you more downloads than standing out because it needs good editing.
 

Find an agent/publisher

It's possible to skip the agent part and find a publisher. But if you're struggling to find a publisher, employing an agent specializing in getting your fiction genre published can be a way to go as you are paying to access their experience, knowledge, and contacts within a new industry. 

Finding an agent who loves and believes in your work and wants to represent you is crucial. Agents can also help with finding a good editor. Again, find other published authors who write in your genre to discover who their agent and publisher are. Not many mainstream publishing houses will publish erotic fiction, especially if it's more graphic than romance, but there are smaller niche publishing houses that do. 
 

Keep on writing 

Writing because you love it is the way to success, and while getting your sex writing published can take a lot of time out of your schedule, make sure you don't let that become the goal over the writing itself. 

Set aside a certain amount of your free time to pursue your publishing dreams and stick to it. Don't let it take over completely because that is a sure-fire way to suddenly realize you spend all your time trying to get published and none of your time writing - which is the thing that initially bought you, your partner, and friends so much joy. 
Good luck!
Molly x

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Cover image : released from Shutterstock.