My goodness, the advice here is excellent. The best advice I ever received was Mr. Wilcox advice: " show, don't tell".
When I write erotica, I use my imagination, picture what's happening in my mind, and try to describe as best I can by using images, comparisons, lots of description.
I also like to think in terms of the five senses. What do I want the reader to see? What feelings do I want to provoke? What sounds do I want the reader to hear (this works especially well with erotica *wink*)? Many people are moved by smells, scents, aromas, especially when dealing with sex. One of the sexiest men I've ever known, who taught me very much about sensuality, loved to smell of me, my lingerie, etc. At first it scared me -- I thought he was freakish, but it's really a very normal, healthy desire -- just one of those things not everyone wants to admit or talk about.
But in erotic, it feels very right and good to be so descriptive, the reader can "smell sex". That's a very nice compliment to receive.
Taste is an awesome tool to use. What does one lover taste like to another? Is the main character reminded of tastes, smells, etc.? What are they? Describe them as if it were you describing them yourself.
Another thing I love to do in order to prepare for writing erotica is read some of my favorite erotica and/or refer to many of my favorite authors -- I even take notes, and have my thesaurus & dictionary near by so I can describe a feeling another writer has evoked in me, but use my own words.
Reference material also help keeps me from being repetitive. How many was can I say lust? Passion? Desire? I'm amazed at some of the descriptions that come to my mind when I stroll through my thesaurus while writing.
Well, I've given quite a bit of advice. I'm sure I don't always live up to it, but I've only been writing erotica for about two years. When I first started writing, words flowed from me like a fountain because I had so much pent up inside. Sometimes now I really have to work at it. But I really do hope I'm becoming a writer.
Writing is all I really want to do.
I guess I should post my lastest story & see what you think. I'll go nosing around & see if I can find a place to do that.
Many erotic wishes to you, new one.
~tyme~