r/eroticauthors

Amazon BSR Ranking Question

When you guys look at Amazon BSR; do you pay attention to the overall Kindle Store ranking or am I supposed to use another?

I'm new to writing and I'm in my initial research phase, using the guide from the FAQ. Also, using the browser extensions and reading newer comments, I type broad keywords in that I know have traction, then set it for the past 30 days, but I am met with lots of bad results, downright #s that tell me that the content just has no sales even.

I have to type a broad word like "BDSM" to return anything with great Kindle Store overall BSR.

What could I be doing wrong?

Edit: I am using the .com USA domain

Edit 2: So turns out the default Amazon filters they provide on their website are causing this. I used the Kindle Power Search tool and it seems the links generated there work just fine and give much better results.

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u/Longjumping_Jump317 — 1 day ago

The ethics of a scene where the participants are inebriated?

Title. I'm writing some sword lesbian erotica, medieval fantasy style, and I'm enjoying it. Over 10k words so far between two chapters, got some plot going for at least five planned chapters and vague ideas of a second arc of chapters beyond.

In the second chapter, our characters have a drunken encounter. They've known each other a long time, had their first sexual experience together in the first chapter (duh) and in this second one the less experienced of the two is exploring her new partner. They are definitely drunk, but having a conversation and consenting.

As I've been writing it, the thought of the ethics of this situation keeps nagging at me, even as I know I've had plenty of drunken encounters myself irl. This is just a for funsies thing for me anyway, but as a writer who's literally in control of this, how would y'all handle it? Like it's not even an intox kink, its just what happens sometimes. No current plans on publishing, but curious anyway. Thoughts appreciated ✌🏻

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u/Emerald_Winds — 3 days ago

[Blurbsday Thursday] - Post your blurbs here for critique!

Have a blurb that is bugging you?

Want to maximize its marketing moxie?

Post it here, either in its entirety or in part, and let your peers take a crack at whipping it into shape.

Rules:

Blurbs only, please.

Kindness is not required, but constructiveness is.

reddit.com
u/AutoModerator — 3 days ago

Not sure if this is acceptable

I have a story where one of the scenes involves parents and a sibling watching an adult they are related to have sex with someone. They are not engaging in anything sexual, just observation of their sibling’s public exhibitionism and maybe a word or two of encouragement.

I feel like this is a gray area and would like some guidance/opinions.

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u/Knox_Barrington — 3 days ago

Problems using breeding in metadata?

I'm aware that a lot of books in the breeding niche tend to get into a jam due to consent issues, but has anyone had issues using breeding terms in the metadata for non-taboo books? I'm not talking about a title along the lines of "Free Use Breeding Harem" or anything like that, but more vanilla erotica wherein the act of getting pregnant is part of the focus.

I've got a portion of my audience that seems to lean into unprotected sex/breeding kinks and I was thinking about testing the waters, I just don't want to get jammed up with content guidelines.

Am I being too cautious or not? (Sorry if this post reads like a brain fart.)

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u/idunnowhateverdudes — 3 days ago

[Daily Check-In] Wednesday Word Count and Personal Announcement Thread

Sprints are here

  1. Goals for the day? (Word count? Reading? Editing? Covers? Something else?)
  2. Rooftop yellings? Successes? Failures?
  3. What is a question you have for more experienced authors?
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u/sexnerdmxd — 4 days ago

Formatting Question. How do you effectively write internal dialogue and post for Reddit?

Hey everyone. I have written and posted quite a few chapters of stories where my characters have scenes where they are texting back and forth, or one my characters has an internal thought. I would love to use italics but this is where I have no understanding of how to effectively use the formatting in Reddit. One of my limitations is that I write and post with my phone and the effort it takes to format my stories which are sometimes over 2,500 words is very overwhelming for me, and I have trouble navigating the editor and trying to italicize characters internal dialogue. Are there any tricks or tips for making formatting easier when writing on your phone? And how do you all show text messages and or internal dialogue in your story? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

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u/PrincessLavicious — 4 days ago

Legality of taboo erotica in the UK

Hey everyone.

A law was recently passed in the UK that, amongst other things, bans incest porn in the country.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/step-incest-porn-banned-house-111827998.html

However I'm finding conflicting information about how it affects written erotica. Some of the articles I've read make it seem like all types of content relating to this subject are banned, while others say it's only live-action stuff with actors and another group claims it's anything "visual" but that written erotica is fine.

Does anyone have any clarity on the issue?

Incest erotica is a miniscule amount of my output but it would be nice to know if I have to remove any I've published.

Thanks!

u/obsidian_razor — 3 days ago

Annoying dungeon problem

I've recently published an erotica short and - for reasons that escape me - it ended up in the dungeon. I spoke to KDP support and they said it had sexually explicit images or title. It absolutely did not but I changed the cover and went back. They said it still had sexually explicit images or title. So I changed the cover again (now ultra conservative) and went back. Now they said it was content filtered because I've put it in the erotica category. I explained that this does not automatically put books under a content filter. They replied saying it was filtered because it was in the erotica category. At this point it feels like I'm banging my head against the wall, speaking with people who have no idea what they're doing. Is it worth carrying on, or is it better to write this one off?

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u/lolapazoola — 6 days ago

I didn't get paid yet from Draft2digital

I didn't receive any mail for my 63$ payment on draft2digital is this under their threshold or something? I usually get paid on 15-16 every month.

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u/PrideLoud1735 — 5 days ago

Well, as a pro-transgender rights, transgender erotica author, I'm now officially terrified as an American.

Trump, in an official White House statement, just declared anyone who supports transgender rights and is a "radical" leftist (I.E. anyone not bending over for the traitor) a terrorist. He said he "will find you and he will kill you."

Those are real words.

From an official White House statement.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would get this bad not even a year and a half into this traitor's presidency. His approval rating sits at 23% and will likely proceed to plummet further.

How the fuck this unhinged official message from the White House does not prompt an immediate removal from office and a trial for treason regarding this entire admin is fucking beyond me.

Well, FUCK THEM.

If these fascist pieces of Nazi shit think they're going to scare me into submission, they can think again. I will CONTINUE to be a proud vocal supporter of not only trans rights, but the rights of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. I will shout for women's rights and the rights of minorities.

And I will continue to publish smutty, sexy, transgender erotica.

If that makes me a terrorist then come at me you filthy pieces of shit. This is me turning my fear into courage during a time when it'd be easier to just do nothing.

NOT MY FUCKING PRESIDENT!

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u/IsekaiConnoisseur — 10 days ago

I am so confused about how book covers work and my head hurts

Trying to post this on my older account because it got zapped on my newer one that I made for this purpose 🥲

There is sooo much conflicting information on this sub and I'm literally getting a stress headache trying to figure out how I can make book covers without spending out the ass in amounts I may never even break even with or else getting shafted by amazon or sued. How are people making their book covers? I've seen people say that canva and other royalty free photo sites are fine to use, but looking into it further, that absolutely does not seem true. I saw someone saying amazon will ban you if you use covers from canva? I don't know if that's still the case? Legally, it's not safe at all to use the free stock photos for various reasons. Is everyone just risking a lawsuit or are they paying nearly $40 for every single book cover photo they use? I really want to make this work, but I'm hoping this will be a financial boon in some way, not a money sink I can't climb out of when I'm already struggling really badly with money ;-; Please help. I really don't know what to do.

Idk, is the issue overblown? Is it fine if you heavily edit the photos? I'm just really nervous, but presumably most people are not paying tons for photos and also don't get heavily fined. Right? Am I being an idiot?

And I know it's not likely to be something I can do for a living, I know that. I'm not looking to do that.

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u/PeculiarExcuse — 10 days ago

Has anyone published both a SFW and NSFW version of the same book?

I write erotic fiction and I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I have a story I’m telling which actually works without the explicit content… the tension, the psychology, the emotional complexity all still land. The sex scenes are honest but they’re not the whole story.
So I’m considering releasing two versions. One that goes all in and one that pulls back just enough to sit on mainstream platforms without getting flagged. Does anyone have thoughts on this strategy or done this??

reddit.com
u/Yasmin_The_Fox — 10 days ago

[Blurbsday Thursday] - Post your blurbs here for critique!

Have a blurb that is bugging you?

Want to maximize its marketing moxie?

Post it here, either in its entirety or in part, and let your peers take a crack at whipping it into shape.

Rules:

Blurbs only, please.

Kindness is not required, but constructiveness is.

reddit.com
u/AutoModerator — 10 days ago

Writers who earn $100 or more a month: do you pay yearly or quarterly in taxes?

Hi all. I’m just curious as to what other authors do once they start making more money. I’m a little scared of paying quarterly taxes, as I am intimidated by it, but I just wanted to have some clarity.

If you do pay quarterly taxes, what tax filer (HR block, TurboTax, etc) do you use and would you say it’s more complicated or just something you have to keep up with?

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u/its_snowing_tonight — 10 days ago

Approach to Featuring Kinks that go against personal morals

I usually write in the more extreme side of smut, and have been recently dabbling with a story in a fantasy setting, where the protagonist is a woman abducted by monsters and forced to serve them, both with labor with sex. The plot overarching that action is really interesting to me (the protagonist and a few other captive women trying to plan their escape and outwit the monsters), as well as the characters, but the thing I struggle with is writing scenes that are non-consensual when that is a major appeal. Making art that appeals to fantasies that would be truly horrible in reality is, morally, something I've been struggling with how to approach.

The strategy I'm leaning towards is to heighten the fantasy elements significantly regarding the sexual scenes, to make the delineation between the story and reality more 'in your face'. For example, making the creatures clearly sapient (not beasts) but very distinctly not human (claws, scaly skin, different habits and behaviors, etc), or emphasizing the use of magic spells or elixirs that make the captives insatiably aroused. But it's not a perfect solution and the dilemma continues to stay my enthusiasm somewhat.

So I'm curious to hear from any other authors who have come across this sort of situation, and to know how you approached/thought about it. I'm also interested in ideas for solutions if people have any of those.

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u/Patroclus49 — 12 days ago

Feeling Overwhelmed.

I write a lot of genres, but enjoy penning 'sexy' stories - always have. The few readers I have managed to find, sound positive in their feedback, and who doesn't love a compliment! - but writers want to be read. So I'm looking for a place to publish my work, somewhere with a potential audience.

'Reddits the place for you' was a internet comment. The forums might give you the answer. So here I am. It all seems pretty intense, but perhaps that's first impressions! I've spent hours now looking. Sadly there is no post which says if you want to find readers who might like your 'naughty' stuff GO HERE >>>

Here is a list of virgin enquires/statement's for comment/advice if you have time please - everyone loves a list - right?

  1. Popular erotica sites - seem to think good writing, properly punctuated must be AI.

  2. Every writer wants to write a book apparently. I don't. Short stories, sharp posts/essays/blogs are my style. The novella remains an ambition.

  3. Transgressive tales - that me. How can I connect with an audience for this?

Above all, keep it short when you post in a Reddit forum - they said.

END

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u/Fun-Invite5376 — 14 days ago

[Critique Monday] - Post your books here for feedback!

Cover concerning you?

Title tribulations?

Need feedback on formatting?

Post your books here so the community can offer constructive criticism.

Rules:

Kindness is not required, but constructiveness is.

reddit.com
u/AutoModerator — 13 days ago

[Daily Check-In] Tuesday Word Count and Personal Announcement Thread

Sprints are here

  1. Goals for the day? (Word count? Reading? Editing? Covers? Something else?)
  2. Rooftop yellings? Successes? Failures?
  3. Tell us about your current favs? Book, music, app, movie, tv show, etc? What are you feeling passionate about?
reddit.com
u/sexnerdmxd — 12 days ago