"Erotic Love Letter Writing"

Photograph: Stacie Joy

Let’s face it: Most of us aren’t Shakespeare. Hell, most of us aren’t even Barry White—and when it comes to composing a steamy-hot missive, we need all the help we can get. We asked erotica expert Rachel Kramer Bussel—editor of the Best Sex Writing series as well as anthologies like Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica, and a sometime TONY contributor—to break down the fine art of lascivious letter writing, just like she’ll do at Thursday 12’s 92YTribeca workshop.

When I teach Erotica 101, I talk about different types of erotica and getting published. Since this is geared around Valentine’s Day, we’ll probably do some real-life things, like write to the person you have a crush on, or write about something you’d like to do that you’ve never done. I might say, ‘You have five minutes—write erotica that involves a chair.’ On the surface it’s not this sexy thing, but when you think about it, it could be a barstool, someone could be tied to the chair—it could be anything. There are definitely techniques that can make your writing better, but everyone has sexual fantasies—even if you’re a virgin—and that’s the kind of thing I want to bring out. I want people to know that no one has to see their writing, or they can publish under a pseudonym. Once you take away that fear, people are a lot freer with what they write.”—As told to Amy Plitt

GET TURNED ON! “Erotic Love Letter Writing”: 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson St between Canal and Desbrosses Sts (212-415-5500, 92ytribeca.org). Thu 12 at 7pm; $12, $17 (includes one cocktail).

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