Elements of Arousal: How to Write and Sell Gay Men's Erotica (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

The best lessons in getting lucid prose onto paper since Strunk and White. -- Louise Weiss, Co-executive, Editorial Freelancers Association

From the Publisher

Acclaimed gay writer Lars Eighner develops a guide for success in one of publishing's best kept secrets: the novice-friendly field of gay erotic writing. Introduction by Richard Manton.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Masquerade Books; 1 edition (June 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563332302
• ISBN-13: 978-1563332302
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,635,660 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent "how to" book for all fiction writers, not just erotica writers, January 1, 2006

By	Jules Jones "sf and romance author" - See all my reviews

The title is in some ways misleading, as "Elements of Arousal" is one of the best books on writing fiction I've ever read, regardless of genre. Yes, it's an excellent "how to" for writing gay men's erotica, but it's also a superb course on both the craft and business of fiction writing in general. It won't suit everyone, as the writing examples used are very explicit erotica, but on the other hand the examples used are certainly memorable, and Eighner uses them to great effect in teaching various aspects of the craft of writing.

Even this revised edition is now over a decade old, and some parts of the section about the business side of writing are now seriously outdated, but it's still a useful guide to practical aspects of selling one's work. The book is currently out of print, but is readily available second-hand and in an a web version, and is well worth tracking down.