What happens when the stuff around the erotica becomes more interesting to the writer than the erotica itself? Because that’s what’s happening with me on the GWWA sequel. So far I’ve written 5440 words and have had only one scene of sex and spanking. And, given how things are going, it’ll probably be at least another 2000 words before I get to the next one, unless I force it in there. 

But I’m just not interested in writing the spankings and sex right now. I’m more interested in the plot around the wrestlers and how it’s going to shake out. (I mean, I know how it’s going to shake out; I’ve written the outline. But I’m really looking forward to writing the climactic match.)

In erotica, the sex is the point of the story. In other genres, sex can occur in the story but it isn’t the point of the story. In Fourth Wing, (spoiler alert) Xaden and Violet having sex is an important plot point, but it’s not the main climax of the book. Once they start fucking, they do it an awful lot through the next two books, but as important as that relationship is to the story it’s not what the book is actually about. In the first GWWA book (title to be revealed relatively soon), the climactic scene is a spanking — yes, there’s a climactic wrestling match, but I end the book on a spanking. I have it in the outline to end the second one on a spanking as well, although I’m a little concerned it may feel shoehorned in there given how important the wrestling plotline is. 

Maybe what I need to do is introduce some tension in Shannon’s personal life. I have some planned, but it’s related to wrestling; maybe she needs some relationship drama to keep things interesting. Otherwise the sex scenes might start to feel gratuitous. And nobody wants that. (Looking at you, producers of Game of Thrones.) Of course, contrived relationship drama can come across as gratuitous as well. 

I almost wish that I’d written two separate storylines in the first GWWA book — one about Shannon, and one about another wrestler (perhaps the one she battles at the end of the book). The problem is that I want Shannon to be the protagonist and hero, and Ivy Venom is a heel; I’d have had to make Shannon not as good of a person, or I’d have had to make her final opponent (a face) into kind of an asshole. That’s no fun, though; I wanted to portray women lifting each other up through friendship, and for the most part I think I did so.

I’m sure I’ll find some dramatic tension outside of the wrestling scenes. It just might take some time. We’ll see how it goes.