Online Erotica Writing 101 workshop Sunday, January 30

I'm late in posting this but wanted to let you know that Sunday, January 3, 2022, from 5-7 pm PT.8-10 ET, I'm teaching my online Erotica Writing 101 workshop for She Bop! All the details are over on the She Bop site and you can contact them if you have any questions. All registrants will get access to the live event, access to the video recording for one week, and two handouts, a bibliography and a list of five tips for writing sex scenes. If you're curious about how to write erotica, want to enjoy a fun and sexy pre-Valentine's Day date, or are looking to start an erotica writing career, this is a great workshop for you!

Online Erotica Writing Workshop Sunday, October 24

I'm teaching my next online erotica writing workshop for She Bop on Sunday, October 24, from noon-2 PT/3-5 ET (for those who signed up earlier, I had to change the time). I made this one two hours because last time because there were so many questions from students and I want to make sure I answer them all. Space is limited so it's recommended that you sign up early if you're interested. There's more information at She Bop's site.

In this two hour virtual workshop, Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 70 anthologies, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, develop your voice, easily find story ideas, pen sex scenes, and write from a wide range of perspectives. Through the use of writing prompts and examples from published erotica, you'll discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular publications.

Minneapolis erotica writing workshop July 28 and Lady Books Podcast!

I'm excited that on Sunday, July 28, from 7-9 pm I'm teaching my Erotica Writing 101 workshop at sex toy store The Smitten Kitten in Minneapolis (3010 Lyndale Ave S)! Attendance is only $10 and we'll be doing lots of writing exercises and going over the ins and outs of erotic writing and getting published. If you know anyone in the Minneapolis area, please let them know. Register here.



I'm moving my erotica teaching online starting this fall (stay tuned here and to my newsletter!). I'm hard at work making it my best class yet. If you have any burning questions about the genre, feel free to drop me a line at mail at rachelkramerbussel.com and I'll do my best to answer in the class. If you want personalized attention for your writing, I also offer erotica and nonfiction sex writing consulting.

I was featured in Season 2 of the Lady Books Podcast, which I am a regular listener of and highly recommend. Check it out for more of my thoughts on erotica writing, editing and the marketplace. It was a fun and interesting trip down memory lane and deep dive into the genre.

Free erotica writing workshop in Brooklyn at Sex Expo September 24

My final live erotica writing workshop will be on Sunday, September 24 from 2:10 to 3 p.m. at Sex Expo in Brooklyn (72 Noble Street, Brooklyn Expo Center), and if you use this link you can get in for free! I'm shifting almost all my teaching to the online classes I'll be launching this fall, so this will probably be my last New York class for the foreseeable future. I'll be sharing more about those classes as soon as they're available, but I can tell you that the sharing that happens in my live classes is special. I love seeing people's faces transform, as they get bolder about what they're writing and what they're willing to share with others, as they dig into their erotic imaginations. It's really the perfect environment because you're surrounded by toys and good energy. Everyone will get a handout with more resources.



I'm aware that this class is taking place during Rosh Hashanah, although I didn't know that when I booked this many months ago and forgot to check. I decided that since I rarely have the opportunity to teach live classes these days and since it's such a wonderful event filled with amazing sex toys that I want to check out, I'd go ahead and do it. But I apologize to anyone who would have liked to attend but can't due to the holiday. If I do teach any more in person classes, I'll do my best to make sure they are on dates when as many people as possible can attend. And I'm always available for consultations via my website EroticaWriting101.com.

My Los Angeles and LitReactor erotica classes are almost sold out

January 20 update: The 4-6 pm erotica writing class on January 29 is now sold out BUT The Ripped Bodice has added a waiting list for those interested in a class that day from 1 pm to 3 pm. Pre-registration is required and if enough people sign up, we will hold a second class. If they don't, you will receive a refund. Call the store at 424-603-4776 if you have any questions. Also, they will have both volumes of Best Women's Erotica of the Year in stock, along with several of my other titles, and the books I recommend in my handout for the class. Looking forward to it!

A heads up that my upcoming in-person erotica writing class at romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, California (Los Angeles) area and my 4-week online erotica writing class for LitReactor are almost sold out. As of this posting, on January 19, there is one spot left in The Ripped Bodice class (out of 20 - we can't add more due to space) and four in the LitReactor class, which is capped at 16 to make sure everyone gets the individual attention they deserve. The LitReactor class can be taken by anyone anywhere in the world, on your schedule. You log in whenever you want and read the daily posts and weekly lectures and assignments, and give and get feedback on your work. Plus you retain access to those materials forever on the site and get an invitation to my private online group for students to continue the conversation, find beta readers and stay informed of publishing news. If you've been considering these, please act fast! I won't be teaching the LitReactor class again due to changes in my schedule.

And if you don't make it into The Ripped Bodice class, feel free to ask me anything about writing, publishing and the erotic genre during the Q&A at our free, no-RSVP-required Best Women's Erotica of the Year reading on January 31 at 7:30 pm at Skylight Books in LA (Los Feliz). If you have questions about either class, email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com with "Ripped Bodice" or "LitReactor" in the subject line and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Class details:

January 29, 4-6 pm
Erotica Writing 101 workshop Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 60 erotica anthologies, including Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 and 2, Begging for It: Erotic Fantasies for Women, Cheeky Spanking Stories, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Come Again: Sex Toy Erotica, The Big Book of Orgasms, Fast Girls, Gotta Have It, and more, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, experiment on the page and write from various viewpoints. You'll discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios, settings and objects as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular publications including magazines and anthologies. She'll also talk about submitting your work, selecting a pseudonym, building your author brand and keeping up with the thriving erotica market (including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites). Whether you're writing to that special someone, penning longtime fantasies, or want to earn cash for your dirty words, this workshop is for you. Please bring paper or writing implements or a laptop to use for in class writing exercises. A bibliography with erotica resources will be provided. $25/person. Limited to 20 people. Contact The Ripped Bodice at 424-603-4776 if you have any questions. Advance registration at erotica101rippedbodice.brownpapertickets.com required. $25/person
The Ripped Bodice, 3806 Main Street, Culver City, CA, 90232, 424-603-4776



Online only class limited to 16 people; attend any time, using any username you desire (you can be anonymous) and get critiqued by me and fellow students and receive guidance about publishing your work. You'll learn how to draw on your surroundings, incorporate humor and heartache, approach stories from multiple POVs and heighten the erotic tension in your work. You'll also get access to exactly what editors and publishers are currently looking for based on my research, as well as additional information on publishing short story collections, editing anthologies and self-publishing. Click through for more details about class assignments and goals. $375/person. This class is likely to sell out.

Early bird pricing for my LitReactor online erotica writing class ends Tuesday, January 10

My final LitReactor online Between the Sheets erotica writing class, which takes place entirely online from February 7-March 7, is starting soon and if you register by Tuesday, January 10th, you save $25 on the price. Starting January 11th, the price goes up to $375, so if you're planning to take the class, act fast to get the early bird price.



In this class, which you can learn more about by clicking above, I offer weekly written lectures, daily postings with more in depth material as well as exclusive to the class Q&As with erotica publishers, editors, literary agents and successful authors (both self-published and traditionally published), weekly homework assignments with line-by-line critiques (plus you will give and get critiques from fellow students) and the chance to ask all the questions you want, as well as an invitation to my private online group for alumni to continue the conversations started in class. Since it's only four weeks, we do work hard and if you want to get the most out of the class, you should be prepared to do each homework assignment and spend at least five hours a week working on it. You will retain access to the classroom materials forever. It's basically an immersion into the genre and thinking about the world around you with an erotic writing lens, as well as motivation to submit your work and guidance on how to position yourself for success when trying to get published. That's not the only reason people take the class, but it is something I strongly encourage as a way to complete work and be ready if you do want to take that step.

Why is this my last time teaching a class I developed in 2014 that has been a wonderful success? Time. I spend at least 20 hours a week, often more, on the class, which gets daily input and postings from me in addition to detailed critiques on all homework assignments. For most of the last few years, I've worked entirely from home, but now that I'm employed again, my time is more limited, and I wouldn't want to offer this class unless I could truly immerse myself in it and be available to my students the way they deserve.

I really love the camaraderie and community that has developed out of this class, with students keeping in touch, taking part in my private online group for alumni and continuing to work on their writing, submit stories, get published and grow and learn. Whether or not you take the class, I strongly encourage you to bookmark LitReactor and take advantage of all the resources and information and variety the site offers. I am honored that they asked me to teach the class and that I was able to develop my in person workshop into one that translated online.



Speaking of in person, I'll be teaching what's probably my only in person erotica writing workshop very soon, three weeks from today, on Sunday, January 29 from 4-6 pm at romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, California (they also have an extensive erotica section, which is more than most U.S. bookstores, many of which have a few or even zero copies of erotic books). It's $25 and the official description is belowIt's limited to 20 people and is such a wonderful setting for the class. You can register at erotica101rippedbodice.brownpapertickets.com. If you are nearby or know anyone who is who wants to get their 2017 in gear with their writing, please let them know.

Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 60 erotica anthologies, including Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volumes 1 and 2, Begging for It: Erotic Fantasies for Women, Cheeky Spanking Stories, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, Come Again: Sex Toy Erotica, The Big Book of Orgasms, Fast Girls, Gotta Have It, and more, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, experiment on the page and write from various viewpoints. You'll discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios, settings and objects as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular publications including magazines and anthologies. She'll also talk about submitting your work, selecting a pseudonym, building your author brand and keeping up with the thriving erotica market (including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites). Whether you're writing to that special someone, penning longtime fantasies, or want to earn cash for your dirty words, this workshop is for you. Please bring paper or writing implements or a laptop to use for in class writing exercises. A bibliography with erotica resources will be provided. $25/person. Limited to 20 people. Contact The Ripped Bodice at 424-603-4776 if you have any questions.

Lastly, if you are looking for feedback on your erotica writing or private consultation, you can visit my website Erotica Writing 101 to get more information about the service I offer.

My next and final LitReactor online erotica writing class is 10% off today only

I am excited to be teaching Between the Sheets, my four week online erotic writing class, at LitReactor again from February 7-March 7, though it's a little bittersweet that it will be my last class. I decided to do that because now that I've reentered the workforce, I won't have the time I need to devote to my students after this class, and I only want to offer classes where I can devote myself to them 100%, as I ask my students to do. Good news, though: if you register for the class today, you get 10% off the price using the code CYBER16 (and same goes for all LitReactor classes this Cyber Monday).



They only offer sales like this rarely, so if you've been considering taking this class, now's a great time to do so. I love the camaraderie that forms and hearing about all my students' success stories, and getting to keep up with them in my private online group for alumni. I'm so proud of having created this course when LitReactor asked me to several years ago, and of all the wonderful writers who've flourished from taking it. I recommend making sure you have at least five hours a week to devote to the class to get the most out of it, although you retain access to all the classroom materials forever by logging in. In addition to the weekly assignments and critiques highlighted on the site, I also offer exclusive to the class Q&As with publishers, editors, literary agents and successful authors, self-published and traditionally published, to offer personal insights from those who know the erotic publishing business best. I know the class is not cheap, so I've made sure that you get your money's worth and am available through those four weeks to answer your every question. So if this sounds like something you'd like to devote yourself to, I'll see you on February 7th!

Here's what a few students have said about the class:

"I will apply what I learned in 'Between the Sheets' to create stories that arouse and connect. With Rachel’s detailed ‘how to’ writing instructions, I completed six stories. My final product is tailored to a specific call for submission and ready to go. Rachel eased this newbie erotic writer into her world providing a comfortable environment to explore sexual ideas creatively. She gave me what I wanted even when I did not know what that was. I’m headed down a new path. Take her, it’s worth it." Donna Jennings

"Rachel's critiques provided me a better understanding of how to write erotica and where my own work was falling short. Her critiques on my first several stories enabled me to move within a matter of just weeks from a complete novice to a writer whose stories were accepted by two publishers. Her suggestions were just what I needed to make the transition. I found her extremely easy to work with and her observations to be right on target. If you are looking to move from unpublished to published, you can't do yourself a better favor than submitting your work to Rachel before approaching a publisher. Her skills as an editor are the best--I couldn't have made a better investment in myself and my writing than to hire her as my personal editor." CeCe Marsh

More by me about the class:

"Why I Encourage My Erotica Writing Students to Submit Their Work"

"How journalism helps me teach my erotica writing classes"

"I love the first day of (erotica writing) school"

Early bird discount for my February-March 2017 LitReactor online erotica writing class

I'm thrilled to share the news that I'm teaching my next LitReactor online Between the Sheets erotica writing class from February 7-March 7, 2017. I had to bow out of teaching this fall to focus on other work and I've missed having a class of students and the close attention we all share for a month as they focus on making their words as sexy and polished as they can be. Registration is open now for $350; the price goes up to $375 on December 2. The class is limited to 16 people in order to make sure everyone gets the attention they deserve and thorough and prompt critiques.



What happens during the class? I provide weekly written lectures and writing assignments; when you complete each homework assignment, provided you do so by the deadline, I offer a thorough line by line written critique and content and marketing suggestions, and your fellow students also offer feedback. Additionally, I have conducted over a dozen interviews with erotica publishing professionals, including literary agents, editors and successful authors, both traditionally published and self-published, such as Sommer Marsden, Tiffany Reisz, Cecilia Tan and others, that I share exclusively in the class. While no one is obligated to submit their work for publication, this class is definitely geared toward those interested in having their work published, as we focus on both writing and what publishers are looking for and how to optimize your chances of having your work accepted. Many of my former students have gone on to be published. Here are two examples of student publication success stories.

I update these with each class to keep it current and add new information. At the end of class, I also invite you to my private online group to continue the conversations, camaraderie and support of the class; that group is a great place to keep current on what's happening in the erotica world, find beta readers and generally ask questions of me and your peers. I know the class is a big commitment, and I would only suggest taking it if you have at least five hours per week to devote to it in order to get the most out of it. That being said, you will have access to the classroom materials, including all lectures, assignments and additional interviews and postings, forever (well, as long as LitReactor is online, which I don't see changing anytime in the near future). This means that if there's one week you can't keep up with all the items I post, since I add daily information on everything from pseudonyms to branding and marketing to agents and more, you can always go back to it later.

Here's what some of my previous students have said (click on the LitReactor image above for more student quotes):

"I will apply what I learned in 'Between the Sheets' to create stories that arouse and connect. With Rachel’s detailed ‘how to’ writing instructions, I completed six stories. My final product is tailored to a specific call for submission and ready to go. Rachel eased this newbie erotic writer into her world providing a comfortable environment to explore sexual ideas creatively. She gave me what I wanted even when I did not know what that was. I’m headed down a new path. Take her, it’s worth it." Donna Jennings

and

"I gained the confidence to just be fearless on the page." Z

and

"Rachel has been incredibly generous in giving us students insights into the world of erotica writing with tons of useful information and helping us hone our writing abilities through her homework assignments and on point corrections for them." Ruby McLovelin

Prefer an in person class? I'm teaching a two-hour erotica writing workshop on Sunday, January 29 from 4-6 pm at The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, California (Los Angeles area). This live class is limited to 20 people.

3 spots left in my LitReactor online eerotica writing class - no prior writing experience necessary!

So tomorrow, May 17th, is the start of my final LitReactor online Between the Sheets erotica writing class of 2016. I love teaching for LitReactor but my workload will be too heavy in the second half of the year to devote to it, so this is the last one for the year. There are 3 spots (of 16) left right now, and I can't wait to dive in again. (And no, we can't add any extra people if it sells out; one of the great things about LitReacdor is that the classes are small enough that everyone gets attention and can get answers to their questions, and you can truly get to know your fellow classmates.) I wanted to let you know in case you were thinking about taking the class, and if you have any questions about it, email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail dot com with "LitReactor" in the subject line.



I can tell you that in the previous six classes I've taught for them, we've had students from around the world who've brought vastly different life experiences. There's a real camaraderie that forms amongst classmates as we get to know each other over four weeks. You can use a pseudonym and share as little or much about yourself as you'd like. What I wanted to emphasize is that there's no prior erotica or writing experience necessary. Something I've appreciated is that many who've taken the class have come into it completely new to erotica. I encourage that because I had no erotica or even fiction experience when I started down this path with my very first erotica story, "Monica and Me," which got published in two anthologies, Starf*cker and Best Lesbian Erotica 2001. You are not required to send out your work, but I do strongly encourage students who've completed stories to send their work out, even if they don't come into the class intending to submit their writing, both because I believe it's a valuable process to go through and because I know that so many publishers and editors need and want new voices.

Whether you're looking to simply try a new type of writing or want to get published and sell your writing and create a name (or pen name) for yourself, this is a wonderful place to ask all the questions you'd like, write weekly short stories and get feedback from me and your fellow students and really dig into modern erotica writing.

Can't take the class but have erotic writing you want feedback on or interested in private learning? I also offer individual consulting with writers that can cover plot feedback and line edits, advice on pitching publishers, pseudonym and social media suggestions and more. My rates are listed at my site eroticawriting101.com and you can always email me at rachelkramerbussel at gmail.com with "Consulting" in the subject line.

More information:

"What my LitReactor students are saying about my erotica writing class"

"Why I Encourage My Erotica Writing Students to Submit Their Work"

My last 2016 LitReactor online erotica writing class starts May 17th; early bird discount through April 15th

I'm teaching my next LitReactor four-week online erotica writing class from May 17-June 14.



It will be my last one for 2016 as I focus on other projects, so if you're interested, registration is now open and, as always, limited to 16 people. There's an early bird discount if you register by April 15th; after that, the price goes up by $25. You can read about the weekly lectures here and why I emphasize submitting your erotica here (and here's a student who sold a story started in class). You can take the class from anywhere in the world and log in at any time, 24 hours a day. In the past seven times I've taught it, there have always been students in the United States and outside of it. You can be anonymous (you pick your username) and you will have access to the classroom materials forever, although the weekly assignments do have deadlines.

I recommend only taking the class if you have at least five hours a week to devote to it, since there are weekly writing assignments that are then critiqued by your peers (in groups of four), and you will be asked to critique as well, and I of course critique everyone's assignments. That is the heart of the class, but there are also daily posts by me which include exclusive interviews with erotica publishers, editors, literary agents and successful authors, the chance to ask me anything about the writing and publishing process and after class ends you'll be invited to join my private online group for alumni to continue forming community, getting erotica news and asking questions of me and your peers. If you have any questions about whether the class is right for you, feel free to email me at rachelkb at gmail.com with "LitReactor" in the subject line.

Want to learn more? Here's a Q&A with me at LitReactor and testimonials by my former students.

LitReactor student success story: new fiction in Lit Select food erotica anthology Love Slave: Sizzle

Few things make me happier than to hear that my students have enjoyed my classes, save for when they tell me that work they created in my class is now published, and that that came about because of me. It feels like coming full circle and a wonderful validation of all their hard work and the community that's formed in my LitReactor classes. So yesterday when writer LN Bey announced that their story "Just Desserts" was published in the new food erotica anthology Love Slave: Sizzle from publisher Lit Select, I was thrilled. In LN's words from a recent blog post:

This is a food-themed erotica collection; I wrote this story as an assignment in Rachel Kramer Bussel’s online erotica writing class via LitReactor and I’ve been saving it for just such an anthology. I am especially happy about the acceptance because I mentioned it in my last blog post as an example of how I sometimes enjoy playing with the tropes of erotica in my stories, and now I look much more knowledgable since the story will be in print (or online, anyway)!

It's also wonderful to see that Lit Select has several calls for submissions posted on such wide-ranging topics ranging from "what went wrong?" to sports to enchanted forests to second chances. When I say that erotica is a democratic genre always in need of new writers, this is precisely what I mean. You don't need to have studied it, in my classes or anywhere else. You don't need intense research, unless you're writing about some specific aspect of sex like rope bondage, in which you'd want to make sure you're being accurate. You really just need imagination and dedication. Of course, we go over lots more than that in my classes, but I want to shatter the myth that to get published you need to somehow work your way up. You need to write the best work you can and make it as unique and polished and exciting as you can, but that is something I truly believe more people are capable of than they realize. I think many new writers shy away from submitting their work because they are nervous about it, and I always tell them the worst that can happen is it gets rejected. My work has been rejected umpteen times, but that doesn't stop me from continuing to submit it. In fact, those rejections have served me especially well in the last four and a half years of working for myself, because rejection is something I face daily and I know that my livelihood depends on continuing to persevere on the projects I am proud of and believe are worthy. Believing in your work, being passionate enough about it to pursue it in the face of rejection, researching markets and finding the right fit, is part of being a writer, and those are values I try to instill in my students. Again, I never pressure anyone to submit their work, but I do encourage my LitReactor and other students to get used to the submission process because it's a wonderful feeling to have worked hard and been rewarded for that.

I've written before about why I put a focus on my erotica students submitting their work, and I stand by it. Of course, not everyone wants to send out their work, but I want them to know what markets are available and what the possibilities are. Especially if, like LN, they have a novel coming out, whether self-publishing, as in LN's case, or traditionally publishing, getting your work seen by an audience beforehand has a great impact in terms of name recognition. This is all the more so if you're talking about an anthology, where, I believe based on editing over 60 of them, the final product is far greater than the sum of its parts, because you have so many people's combined talent and creativity in one package. You will undoubtedly be tapping in to an audience that may overlap with yours but that will also be different, because the publisher and your fellow authors will have wider networks than you alone do.

I don't share every student victory here, but since this book is out now and I think food erotica is a fun theme and something I often teach, I wanted to share it. Also, there's an early bird discount for my next LitReactor class, which will run May 17-June 14 and will likely be my final one for the year as I focus on other projects; sign up by April 15th to take advantage of it. Those classes are limited to 16 people and it's likely to sell out, based on past experience. It'll be my seventh time teaching the class and, having just wrapped up my sixth, I'm looking forward to working with another dedicated, enthusiastic group.



If you prefer in person erotica writing workshops, my next one will be a three-hour class Friday, April 1st from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Chicago (actually, Rosemont, Illinois). It's being organized by the wonderful conference CatalystCon but you do not have to attend CatalystCon to take my workshop. Full details are at the CatalystCon site and you can register here. Hearing fellow students read their work aloud and having that space and time to focus on expanding your writing boundaries is a wonderful way to kickstart your writing and you should go home full of story starts and prompts that will keep you writing for a long time to come. Official details:

April 1, 2016, 9:15 am - 12:15 pm
Erotica 101 workshop, CatalystCon
In this three hour workshop Rachel Kramer Bussel, professional erotica author and editor of over 50 erotica anthologies, such as The Big Book of Orgasms, Cheeky Spanking Stories and Serving Him: Sexy Stories of Submission, will take you through the ins and outs of modern erotic writing. Learn how to get started, find your voice, and write against type. You’ll discover how to incorporate everyday scenarios as well as outlandish fantasies into your writing, and make them fit for particular magazines and anthologies. The class will also cover branding yourself as a writer, using and selecting a good pseudonym, and using social media to promote your work and do outreach. She’ll also talk about submitting your work and keeping up with the thriving erotica market, including anthologies, ebooks, magazines and websites. Please bring paper and writing implements or a laptop to use for in class writing exercises. A bibliography with erotica resources will be provided.

This class will take place on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the CatalystConhost hotel. You must purchase a ticket to this workshop separately from CatalystCon on the registration page and do not have to attend CatalystCon to take the workshop. $45/person.. Register here.

Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018

I love the first day of (erotica writing) school

Today is the official start of my sixth LitReactor erotica writing class, and I'm thrilled to be back. While it's a major immersion in the genre for my students, for me it's an immersion in doing something I love that is a wonderful complement to the loneliness of writing: working with other people. I am first and foremost a people person, and my erotica work has always involved working with others. From the very first short story I published, I didn't want the words to just live between the pages of a book, but to come alive in the air, so I organized a reading at New York's Bluestockings back in, I believe, 2001, for Best Lesbian Erotica 2001.

What's great about teaching online is that I am not limited to working with people in a specific geographic location. Students from around the world have taken my LitReactor class and shared knowledge of how sexuality works where they live that has helped inform others' stories. It's a space where camaraderie rules and people get intimate on the page in ways, I'm pretty sure, they didn't expect to.

I think back to the first online class I taught, which was only in 2014, but I admit I was incredibly nervous. I wasn't sure how what I had taught in person dozens of times would translate online. What I found was that I actually love the process of teaching online because there's more time to connect, think, experiment, write and learn. Students aren't stuck with only a few minutes to write the first thing that pops into their mind (which is a process that has value in itself). They can allow their imaginations to take flight, work on recurring characters if they choose, get detailed feedback not just on a few minutes' or writing but on completed stories, and spend quality time with their work. It's now my preferred method of teaching and where I will be focusing my efforts this year and beyond, because I believe I can offer the best of the knowledge I have in that form. That's not to diminish the work I do in live workshops, but I'm convinced that for me, online teaching is where I can have the most impact, connect with the most students from the widest range of places, and provide the most steady encouragement, support and tools to help writers go deeper and flesh out their erotica.

I'm at work on a website that will expand on my offerings as a writing coach and teacher, informed by what I've learned in these classes and working with private clients. It's a leap for me to focus on that arena, but since just this morning I got an email from a student who sold an erotica story, it feels like the right leap. For the next four weeks, I'll be devoted to my LitReactor class, but stay tuned here, in my newsletter and on my Facebook page, where I'll be sharing relevant advice, links and helpful hints for writers. I admit this year has been off to a somewhat rocky start for me in a lot of ways, with much upheaval and it's taken me a while to get my bearings, but today, I feel like I'm very clear on where I want to go and what I want to be doing.

7 spots left in my LitReactor erotica writing class starting February 11th

I wanted to let you know there are 7 spots (of 16) left in my next LitReactor online erotica writing class, which runs February 11-March 10. Registration closes either February 10 or when it sells out, whichever happens soonest.



You can read about the weekly lectures and assignments at LitReactor, but I wanted to share some details that aren't on there (though I really should add them).

In addition to the weekly lectures and writing assignments, which you can read more about at LitReactor, I also offer daily posts about relevant topics, such as social media presence, choosing a pseudonym and exclusive to the class interviews with publishers, editors, literary agents and authors. This will be my sixth time teaching Between the Sheets, and each time I strive to improve it and make it as up to date as possible. For this class, I've been researching the market and interviewing new agents and publishers and reading extensively in the genre to bring you the most up to date information possible.

You can also ask me and the class anything on LitReactor's message boards and if I don't know the answer, I will research it for you and find out. I definitely encourage students to bring questions and ask as much as you want during the class. You'll also be able to access the materials indefinitely once the class ends, but you'll get the most out of it if you participate as it's happening. You'll be invited to join my private online group for alumni of my online and offline classes to continue the conversations from class and ask further questions, and that's where I share calls for submissions and news related to erotica.

I put a heavy emphasis in the class on preparing your writing to submit to publishers, in part because I think it's a good lesson in going from start to finish and crafting your words to meet a given call for submission, and because I believe it's a wonderful learning process. I've had numerous students report back on their progress and will also share their perspective on what the submission and publication process is like. I aim for this class to be a place where students from around the world (we tend to have a mix of students from various countries) can learn from me and from each other, delve into what they want to write about and craft completed stories that they can either submit as is or continue expanding upon.

Questions about the class? Email me at rachelkb at gmail dot com with "LitReactor" in the subject line. I'm also hoping to host a webinar next week for those with questions and am just sorting out the technical details and should have that information soon.

More information:

Interview with me at LitReactor

What my most recent LitReactor students have said

What previous LitReactor students have said

How The Art of Asking led to me talking about Tampa by Alissa Nutting, Morrissey's novel and the Bad Sex in Fiction Awards on LitReactor's Unprintable podcast

I'm back home from California, enjoying being back in my own bed, in my chilly in certain spots but lovely new home, and catching up on blog posts and writing. I had meant to share a fun interview I did recently, and a little backstory on how it happened, and now I am.

This podcast interview was a huge honor, because it's with a podcast and company I greatly admire, and a lesson in Amanda Palmer's book title The Art of Asking, one I've previously put into action as well. It's probably the #1 business/creativity book in my life in terms of the profound effect it's had (close second, or in the running for #1, is Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert). I'm not saying I'm in any other way like Amanda Palmer, who I don't even know that much about beyond reading the book, but I am saying the principles of her approach to asking have stayed with me ever since I read it and I try to remember them when I'm going after something I want, or I'm nervous about making a request, even though it feels utterly right in my heart.

I will save my "why I believe in DIY author self-promotion" rant for another day, but suffice it to say, while I used to wait for opportunities to magically appear in front of me, now I go after opportunities. I feel I owe it to myself and my business, and I believe in my message enough, and my offerings (like my upcoming LitReactor online erotica class, hint hint!) to want to share them with the world, and by "the world," I mean the world beyond people who might already know who I am (like you, my wonderful, patient with my meanderings blog readers). Especially when I become a fan of a podcast, which often feels more intimate to me than reading, because I'm hearing someone's voice, I'm hearing how they ask questions, how they pause and phrase things, how they laugh, I tend to think about what it would be like to be a guest. In many cases, that wouldn't make sense, because it's not about what I do, but when it is, I let that image linger a little longer and if that image like it would make sense, I let myself envision it happening, which makes the ask a lot easier.

Gaining that perspective, that I'm coming from a place of passion about my work and belief in its power and importance and in the case of my teaching, effectiveness, changed my sense of asking for things from being rude and pushy to simply being one creative businesswoman asking someone else to share in a mutually beneficial arrangement, while knowing full well they may say no. I don't invest my ego or my sense of self-worth in the answer; I simply see it as one small step toward following my dreams.

Plus, in 2015 podcasts sort of took over my life. I devoured so many new ones and woke up eager to listen to whatever was on tap that day. I haven't been listening as much in 2016 mainly because I was busy moving and have had lots of deadlines and I can't seem to both write and listen to podcasts. I can listen to music, but podcasts require another level of concentration. So when it came to thinking about promoting my new book and my upcoming class, being interviewed on podcasts seems like a fitting next step. Oh, and I got on Girl Boner podcast by asking too. I'm proof that it works.

TL:DR I got over my qualms about sounding pompous or overly entitled and asked politely if I could be interviewed on LitReactor's Unprintable podcast, which I only recently found out existed but quickly became fascinated by (as a book lover, how could I not enjoy hearing what the hosts are reading each episode, told in a manner that conveys of course we're reading, we're always reading).



They said yes and here's our episode (yes, that's me and Morrissey pictured above, and we talk about and laugh at a snippet from his novel Bad Sex in Fiction award winning List of the Lost, definitely not something teen me would have thought I'd ever do when I saw him in concert).

Not only did they say yes, they put me on with co-hosts Cath Murphy, who also is one half of the must-listen Domestic Hell podcast (their current episode is on "Granny Vajazzling," which should really tell you whether you're immediately intrigued or not), and whose accent I adore, and LitReactor class facilitator and writer Renee Asher Pickup, for the first all-female Unprintable show. It was so much fun, and while at the top it was suggested we go for 30 minutes, we babbled on for an hour and 15 minutes, and I know I could have kept on talking with these wonderful women for way longer.

It was a sprawling, sometimes hilarious, thoughtful discussion, about sexism in book criticism and mansplaining, Morrissey's purple prose, how Tampa by Alissa Nutting was treated by the media, whether the Bad Sex in Fiction Awards are good for writing, the use of pseudonyms, tattoos, and more. For me, it felt like talking to two old friends, even though I'd never spoken to them before save for a very quick Skype call to go over things a few weeks prior.

Again, in case you missed it the first time: It would never have happened if I hadn't asked. Am I saying you'll get everything you ask for just by asking? No, but I am saying that asking is the first step. Being prepared for rejection is part and parcel of asking, and I'll revisit that topic, but for now, I definitely recommend tuning in and you can subscribe to the Unprintable podcast in iTunes. If you like books and reading, I'm pretty sure you'll like it.

So now I will apply the magic of asking again: if you know anyone who might be interested in my upcoming LitReactor 4-week online Between the Sheets erotica writing class, please pass on the info! This will be my sixth time teaching it, and right now I'm preparing for it by researching and interviewing new literary agents, publishers, editors and authors because I aim to make each class even more informative than the next. In addition to all the stated weekly lectures and assignments, I bring students over a dozen exclusive interviews with erotica publishing insiders designed to help you get published and get your publishing questions answered. Plus I've learned so much about what's happening in my industry that I wouldn't have known otherwise, and found great books to read, like Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe, which I'm reading now on the recommendation of the agent who sold it, who I interview for the class.

Speaking of which: I love when students come in with questions! But I also appreciate that four weeks is a good amount of time to develop even more, and that's part of the joy of this class: you can figure out what you want to know as you go along. Plus after it's over, you'll get an invitation to my private online group for erotica writing student alumni where I share writing news and resources, and students ask questions and continue the community that's often formed in the classes. The class is limited to 16 people so everyone can receive as much attention and feedback as they deserve. Questions about the class? Email rachelkb at gmail.com with "LitReactor" in the subject line.

3 days left to get the early bird price for my LitReactor online erotica writing class running February 11-March 10

I wanted to remind you that if you're thinking of taking my next LitReactor Between the Sheets erotica writing class (which happens online at LitReactor.com from February 11-March 10), there's an early bird discount price of $350 through December 31st.



It will go up to $375 on January 1. All the material is written, so there's no set time that you have to be online; you take the class on your schedule, with access 24/7. I check in multiple times per day to respond to student questions. I'm pretty sure there've been students from various countries in each of my classes, and the variety has added a wonderful breadth of experience and information. You use whatever username you select, which means you can be completely anonymous if you choose to, or share whatever information you'd like to about yourself. That's up to you.

This will be my sixth time teaching the class, and I believe it gets better each time, due to my having fielded so many prior questions, learned even more about the marketplace for erotica and incorporated past topics students have asked about into the curriculum. I would only recommend taking the class if you can commit to at least five hours a week to writing and critiquing, if you want to get the most out of it. Students work hard each of the four weeks to hone their craft and learn from the comments they give and get. Also feel free to enter the class with a full list of questions; I will answer them, or find someone who can answer them using my journalism background (such as with my Q&As all about self-publishing from authors who've done it quite successfully).

In addition to the lectures (you can find a week by week breakdown at LitReactor), I will also offer daily posts about related subjects, such as selecting a pseudonym, author branding, social media, erotica community, literary agents, plus exclusive to the class Q&As with erotica publishing professionals, from publishers and editors to agents and authors, among them Tiffany Reisz, Charlotte Stein, Cecilia Tan and Rebekah Weatherspoon.

Yes, it's a lot of information, but you don't have to absorb it all in four weeks; one of the best things about how LitReactor runs their classes, in my opinion, is that you have access to the classroom materials forever, plus you'll get invited to my private online group for alumni where you can find beta readers, share bylines, ask questions of me and your peers, and further form community. The class is limited to 16 people to make sure everyone gets the individual attention they deserve. Questions? Email me at rachelkb at gmail.com with "LitReactor" in the subject line.

You can also read what prior students have said about the class here and here, and whether you take my class or not, I encourage you to follow my students on social media to see what great things they're writing!

How journalism helps me teach my erotica writing classes

I have to admit that when I first started teaching erotica writing classes about 6 or 7 years ago (I wish I knew when I taught my first one!), I didn't know what I was doing. I had a bit of impostor syndrome going on because I felt outclassed, yet simultaneously compelled to do this thing that felt new and risky and uncertain. Part of it was a natural outgrowth of my belief in forming community around writing.

Ever since my very first short story, "Monica and Me," was published in the anthology Best Lesbian Erotica 2001 and I organized a reading at Bluestockings Bookstore in Manhattan, and later went on to organize numerous others as well as run a five-year erotic reading series, community has been vital to my spirit and to my sense of what erotica writing is all about.

I started out writing erotica on a whim, at the tail end of law school, not knowing what I was doing but wanting to try it anyway. That first story led to writing more stories, which led to co-editing an anthology, which led to today, when I've got my 61st anthology, Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 coming out. Just as I learned by doing both how to write erotica, how to organize readings, how to make book trailers, and all the attendant work of crafting erotica and putting out anthologies, so too have I learned how to teach my writing classes.

One skill that's helped me is my journalism background. No, not the journalism school I didn't go to, but the school of real life, where I've been freelance writing since around 2000, when I had various full-time jobs, and through the last four years of working for myself full-time. I've had to learn how to call up strangers, how to investigate online and off (though mainly online).

What I didn't expect was my journalism background to aid me in teaching erotica writing. I considered them two different types of writing: journalism was nonfiction and serious, erotica was fiction and less serious. But what I've found is that teaching erotica writing is an interesting hybrid of all my skills. Especially when I teach online at LitReactor for my 4-week Between the Sheets erotica writing class, I have time to dig deep into the topics I'm covering, and research answers to students' questions. That's been wonderfully educational for me, because it's broadened the scope of the class. Because a student early on asked a question about literary agents, I now have a list of literary agents who accept erotica and erotic romance, complete with details on what they are and aren't looking for, to provide to my students, and I'm constantly on the lookout to add to that list.

Same with topics like self-publishing, author branding, social media, taglines, incorporating multiple partners, and so on. Having the freedom to have that time to investigate, and having the confidence that comes with asking questions on behalf of my students, has meant that my original vision for my LitReactor class has been dwarfed by what it's become. It means that it's a constantly evolving project that changes each time I teach it, because different students have different questions.

I don't tend to think of the world as "right brain" and "left brain," but it's undeniable that I have a very artistic, creative, freeform side, and a more diligent, detailed, research-oriented side. Both of those converge perfectly for me when I teach, and are, I believe, part of what my students appreciate. It's not that I know the answer to every single question they may ask, but that I'm able to find out answers and provide resources to the questions I can't answer from personal experience. It's made me fearless in contacting major players in the erotic publishing world, and to my delight, almost all of them have responded to my queries and passed on valuable information.

So if you want to pick my brain for a month about erotica (and actually, longer than that, because all students get invited to my private online group of alumni to continue the discussions, questions and camaraderie), I recommend my LitReactor class, ideally if you have at least five hours a week to devote to it. That's what I consider the minimum input to get the most out of the class. With my February 11-March 10 class, LitReactor is offering an early bird price if you register by December 31st. The price will go up by $25 on January 1st. In the meantime, I'm contacting more publishers, editors, literary agents and authors to interview for this class to enhance it even further.

Questions about the class? Email me at rachelkb at gmail dot com with "LitReactor" in the subject line.

What my most recent students from my LitReactor erotica writing class said about it

Updated December 14th
I'm excited about my next LitReactor erotica writing class, which will run from February 11th to March 10th, 2016, because each class provides new opportunities for growth and learning, my own and my students'. Teaching it requires me to keep up with what editors, publishers and agents are looking for right now, which in turn has led me to wonderful authors and opportunities I wouldn't have known about otherwise. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the class (just email me at rachelkb at gmail dot com with "LitReactor" in the subject line), but I also think it's valuable to hear from actual students. I can tell you that in addition to the weekly written lectures (detailed here) and weekly writing assignments and critiques, I also offer over a dozen exclusive to the class Q&As with publishers, editors, literary agents and authors, as well as additional resources related to pseudonyms, author branding, finding your voice, joining the erotica writing community, incorporating sex in the news and more. There are some blurbs on the LitReactor website and in this older blog post. Additionally, here are two things students from my most recent LitReactor class, which ended this month, said:

"I will apply what I learned in 'Between the Sheets' to create stories that arouse and connect. With Rachel’s detailed ‘how to’ writing instructions, I completed six stories. My final product is tailored to a specific call for submission and ready to go. Rachel eased this newbie erotic writer into her world providing a comfortable environment to explore sexual ideas creatively. She gave me what I wanted even when I did not know what that was. I’m headed down a new path. Take her, it’s worth it." Donna Jennings

and

"I gained the confidence to just be fearless on the page." Z

and

"Rachel has been incredibly generous in giving us students insights into the world of erotica writing with tons of useful information and helping us hone our writing abilities through her homework assignments and on point corrections for them." Ruby McLovelin

I do strongly encourage my students to send their work out to publishers, not only because I want them to see their words published, but also because I believe it's a good process to go through, to craft a full story specifically catered toward a given call, but with their own unique spin on it. I'm spending the weeks until February 11th adding to the class's offerings to make it as timely and relevant as I can. Reminder: the registration price will go up on January 1st by $25, so if you are interested in the class, save money and register in 2015.

Just announced: my next LitReactor erotica writing class starts February 11; register by December 31 to save $25

Want to learn how to write erotica, and how to market your work and get it published? You're in luck!



My next LitReactor 4-week online erotica writing class will start February 11th. And for the first time, they're offering an early bird discount! Register by December 31st and pay $350; register January 1 or later and the price will be $375. This will be my sixth time teaching the class, and each time I refine and learn more about how to best serve my students.

You can take the class from anywhere in the world, in any time zone, on your own schedule. You read the weekly lectures and assignments when you want to, and can participate in weekly homework assignments. I would say the people who will get the most out of the class will be able to dedicate at least 5 hours a week to it. I also encourage questions and enjoy researching the answers for my students. You will also be invited after class ends to join my secret Facebook group for my erotica writing alumni to continue to the conversation.

On the LitReactor site, you'll see a breakdown of the weekly lectures and assignments, plus quotes from former students. In addition to what's listed there, I also offer extra material, including over a dozen Q&As exclusive to the class with erotica professionals such as publishers, editors, agents as well as authors, including Tiffany Reisz, Elizabeth SaFleur, Charlotte Stein, Cecilia Tan, Rebekah Weatherspoon and others.

Have a question about the class? Email me at rachelkb at gmail dot com with "LitReactor" in the subject line and I'll get right back to you!

Hello from your "erotic fairy grandmother"

A few awesome things converged around my recent Washington, DC erotica writing workshop. One is that I learned just how much a store like Lotus Blooms appreciates its teachers. I got a small bonus for all the promotional posts I did about it, which felt awesome. I've been reading and listening to podcasts all about using your strengths, talents and passions to further your creative career. That's what I do; I'm a sharer—some would obviously say an oversharer. But I don't apologize for it, and to be financially rewarded for it felt like my career and my passions and my life were all in alignment.

I was also thrilled that Lotus Blooms booked the upstairs of the bar across the street, The Black Squirrel. It was a wonderful little area, complete with bartender. We were a relatively small group, I think about 12 or so, but the perfect size for the setting and for those who wanted to share to be able to.

One of the places I did my outreach to was the website Brightest Young Things, and their writer Kaylee did a fabulous review of my erotica writing class. I love that she called me "our erotic fairy godmother for the evening" and you should read her piece to get her take on the workshop. Key words: "A Freddy Vs Jason love story."



Speaking of teaching, I'm just about halfway through my latest LitReactor Between the Sheets class and am looking ahead to 2016. I'll be announcing a new event soon, and will teach both erotica writing and nonfiction sex writing workshops on April 1st for CatalystCon in Chicago (though you don't have to attend CatalystCon to attend my workshops). Beyond that, nothing is finalized, but I am working on launching new events and classes, so stay tuned by reading this blog, @raquelita on Twitter and/or subscribing to my monthly newsletter at rachelkramerbussel.com.

Save $10 on my Washington, DC erotica writing workshop this Sunday at Lotus Blooms

Exciting news: Use the code BloomsBigO to register at Eventbrite for Sunday's erotica writing workshop at Lotus Blooms in Washington, DC! Their address is 2408 18th Street NW (Adams Morgan neighborhood). That means if you register by Saturday, November 7th, the normally $25 fee will be $15 and if you register on the day of the event, the $30 fee will be $20. Hence, I would recommend signing up by the 7th. We'll be doing writing exercises for two hours, along with learning about the current erotica marketplace and you'll get two handouts. Questions? Email info at lotusblooms.com or call the store at 202-836-4474. See you there!