If You Can’t Write About Sex, You Can’t Write

A Master Class in Intimate Writing

Some of you have asked me for the nitty-gritty details of my upcoming May writing class:

The Intimate Memoir is a class:

- Taught by Susie Bright about mastering the craft of sex in writing and the artistic demands of sexuality in character and plot.

It’s an asynchronous online course that runs May 1 - 30.

You will study how sex scenes of all kinds drive a novel or memoir, and the sexual motives of your characters. You will glean the best authors’ intelligence in memorable love stories—and love/hate stories, too.

Sex, as we know, is not one thing, or one quality. Our class will address sex and all its manifestations in human comedy and drama.

Mastering the “sex scene” in English literature is like an actor mastering the death scene on stage. It is the mark of a mature artist, to handle intimacy and human catharsis with grace and style. It can be ecstasy, it can be tragedy. You have to be up for it.

If an author can’t write a moving sex scene or convincing erotic character element, you’re missing a key to great writing, period.

I will share and teach what I’ve learned working with the best writers who’ve approached the sexual intimate terrain, as well as the art of memoir at its most candid. I’ve published and/or edited with some of the best:

Dorothy Allison, Margaret Atwood, Nicholson Baker, Francesca Lia Block, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Octavia Butler, Alexander Chee, Greta Christina, Dennis Cooper, Chip Delaney, Diane Di Prima, Brett Easton Ellis, Roxane Gay, Mary Gaitskill, Sera Gamble, Nelson George, William Harrison, Nalo Hopkinson, Bernice McFadden, Marianne Mohanraj, Chris Offutt, Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Perrotta, Marge Piercy, John Preston, Anne Rice, Dani Shapiro, Jane Smiley, Steven Saylor/Aaron Travis, Joey Soloway, Jerry Stahl, James Strouse, Cecilia Tan, Michelle Tea, Touré, Danielle Willis, John Updike, Molly Weatherfield, Matt Weiner, Zane.

Timing

Our class is a combination of once-weekly online writing and Sunday meeting on Zoom.

(4) Sundays in May, you’ll be given a short assignment of under 1,000 words. (There is no minimum). You have a week to complete each one.

You’ll post your response on a private online board, just for our class. You can post your work or comments ant any time, (it’s asynchronous). Susie and other students will respond within the week.

Susie will open up the private class site on May 1, inviting introductions and giving you your first quick writing prompt.

It won’t take you more than a half hour to begin!

Then, each Sunday: May 7, 14, 21, and 28, Susie will gather the class together on Zoom, to give themes, direction, and advice, feedback on the course work, and prepare you for the next assignment.

The Zoom Sunday seminars will start at Noon 12:00pm Pacific. (2pm Central Time, 3pm Eastern).

She’ll take all your questions about the best writing and author guidance on the subject, common dilemmas, and the publishing terrain ahead.

Each Zoom seminar is 90 minutes.

If you miss one, you’ll be able to watch the archived video later, before the class is through.

Students will have a week to respond to each writing prompt/assignment. There’s no minimum, 1,000 words max. If a student misses an assignment, they’ll pick up with the next one!

Most writers will spend 20-60 minutes thinking about the prompt, and responding to each weekly question.

Over our 30-day seminar, we’ll enjoy writing and reading each week, we’ll survey all the classic erotic genres, (literary fiction, memoir, romance, S/F/F, mystery) and complete four draft short pieces. We’ll also discuss the market and travails of erotic publishing.

Workshop size is limited, so please sign up early.

Tuition is $450 for the 30-day class. A $100 deposit saves your spot.

FAQ

I’ve gotten two main questions: One is, “But I don’t want to study sex in writing, i want to do regular writing classes with you!”

I understand. I will probably do other writing classes later.

But you know what? NO ONE of any experienced editorial talent is offering a class like this. I have 40 years experience and I always wanted to do this, and I never had a chance. So I will at least do it once! Frankly, it would be great for other editors and publishers who work in the field.

Second point, and this is the ironic one: Intimate writing is a mark of mastery. It’s like taking fencing or chess. If you can do this, you are at a higher level of the craft. Intimate writing, be it sex, birth, death, blood or spit, secrets, fighting, communion, enlightenment — I mean, these are the parts you can’t be ham-fisted with.

So as far as I’m concerned, intimate writing should be part of EVERY writing class!

The other more practical question is: “Do I have enough time to do this?”

Fair question! You’ll likely spend an hour or so on each of (4) writing assignments I give you. You’ll also spend a little time reading the online board where the class work is posted.

It’s asynchronous, which means you can post your work and read others at any time, day or night.

The Zoom meetings with me are on the Sunday early afternoons in May. You don’t have to attend them, but I think you’ll want to! You can watch them later if you like, or if you miss one.

Tuition is $450 for the 30-day class. A $100 deposit saves your spot.

See you, soon!

P.S.

One of our supporters has prompted me to start a scholarship fund. She says she can’t attend the class, but wants to help someone else to! That is wonderful. If you’d like to contribute to the scholarship fund, email me! (office at susiebright dot com). I’ll post more details to come.