Meet Berlin-based erotic writer: Pimenta Cítrica

Could you introduce yourself and what you do?

I am Pimenta Cítrica – aka Ana Ornelas. I’m an erotic writer and pleasure activist from Brazil. Currently I am based in Berlin, where I work creating sex-positive content for a multitude of platforms, focusing on an inclusive and feminist perspective.

What was your journey into this world?

That’s a hard one! It’s been developing over many years.

How would describe your approach to erotic writing?

For me personally erotica is my favorite medium to express human emotion. I usually say feelings are the feedstock of my work. I think sex is an intimate, vulnerable thing, and combining it with art can express and bare the human soul in colorful, beautiful ways.

Do you have a mission?

I’d like to think my mission is to help people have more pleasure in their everyday lives. Whether it is through reading something that spices up their afternoon, or learning something through a soundbite about their anatomy that helps them achieve their next orgasm. That is my goal at the end of the day.

Favourite piece of erotic writing that you have written?

Right now my favorite is the latest uncommissioned story I wrote, which is going to come out soon. The name is Brausepulver. These days I write mostly commissioned stories, which I absolutely love, but I really enjoyed writing this piece because it is very personal.

It’s a story about a special turning point in my life, finding myself and finding joy in life again while I was traveling through Colombia and I think I managed to translate these feelings to the page. I can’t wait to see it out!

What is interesting about the medium of writing for erotica?

Erotica is a very interesting medium because it makes your imagination work along with the piece. While video porn, for instance, provides with you everything you need to know – so it’s basically only consumption of information – erotica has a lot of gaps. And those gaps can help you find out things about yourself. For instance – if I read a bed has nice sheets, for me they could be lilac satin sheets, but for someone
else they can be white cotton. It’s a simple thing but it can help you understand what you want and don’t want.

What’s your favourite part of the writing process?

There’s something that happens sometimes once you’ve spent a while building the universe you’re creating. It comes to a point where you don’t need to think anymore to come up with the way things work, because the universe starts creating itself. It stops being just an idea, but it is a living thing.

Those moments are rare, and they require work and dedication, but to be honest, those are the moments that I live for. It’s completely magical.

Top tip for writing a sexy erotic scene?

Create a structure beforehand. A good sex scene still has to be a good scene – meaning it’s not enough to just have sex. You need to have a beginning, middle, and an end.

Also, focus on words that evoke sensations. Think about adjectives connected to the five sentences, so the reader can really feel the scene while reading it.

And last thing – read a lot of smut. This will expand your vocabulary and have you constantly inspired.

Who are your erotica inspirations?

One of my biggest inspirations is Brazilian playwright and author Nelson Rodrigues. He was a misogynistic and conservative asshole, but a genius when it came to writing. He wrote about sex with refreshing candor and rawness, it really resonates with me and it deeply influences my work.

I’m also proud to have worked with incredibly talented contemporary authors – names like Ida J., Brad Beau Cohen, and Sophie Iremonger are a great source of inspiration for me.

Learn more about erotic literature on Sensuali.

Do you think about an audience when you write?

It depends. With commissioned work, I cater to the clients’ needs and I love to see what I can create based on other people’s prompts (I play with this with my audience sometimes as well and it’s super fun). But I have my own style and also stick with it. I feel like it needs to be authentic for people to connect with it.

Advice for aspiring erotic writers?

Take up space. Don’t be afraid to go to Spoken Word Nights and readings, and bring smut. Also let people find your work! Chances are there is someone out there looking for what you want to offer. Don’t let your writings collect dust in the drawer.

Social media is a great tool to help you find the audience even with the censorship we experience. And remember to get in touch with other erotica writers. Having a sense of community will make you feel much more accepted and connected to your purpose.