Why Is Sex Writing the Fastest Way for Women Writers to Get Ahead?

By Jennifer Armstrong, Sirens Magazine. Posted January 29, 2009.

My question, though: Can't sex be so much more interesting than your own string of one-night stands? Well, yes. (Little-discussed problem with one-night stands: They're kinda boring a lot of the time.) And there's plenty of great sex coverage out there. Rachel Kramer Bussel brings us a bunch in her new anthology, "Best Sex Writing 2009″. (She also happens to put out some spectacular erotica collections, but notice that she knows there's a difference between the two.) The Sexies, God bless them, recognize the best sex writing every year -- and hold the standards high. (They call writers out on "wince-inducing grisliness" and lack of depth -- all-too-common problems with any sex writing.) And over at Nerve, well, they pretty much invented quality online sex journalism -- check out their recent anthology, "Nerve: The First Ten Years" for proof.

Here's to hoping for 10 more years of great sex coverage -- without anyone having to whore themselves out, figuratively or literally.

Where do you draw the line between substantive sex writing and sleaze-that-sells?

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Jennifer Armstrong is the co-founder/editorial director of SirensMag.com.

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