The Erotic Literary Salon
A Verbal Sanctuary for Sexual Expression

The Erotic Literary Salon was a safe space to witness, accept, and support people as they shared uncensored fiction and non-fiction works—ranging from playful innuendo to extremely edgy pieces. Writers shared deeply personal stories, thoughtful critiques, and creative pieces that often pushed boundaries and sparked meaningful conversations.

Then COVID hit. After celebrating our 12th anniversary on Zoom in May 2020, I decided it was time to close the chapter on the in-person Salon. Twelve years felt like a good run.

But the story didn’t end there. Weekly emails and street encounters with people asking, “When will the Salon return?” got me thinking. Platforms like Substack, Medium, and Bluesky along with my professional website, seemed like the perfect places for the Salon to evolve.

I’m committed to creating this virtual Salon with the same intent as the in-person gatherings: to explore what’s often left unsaid in a world where even words are sometimes policed. This is a space that focuses on banishing sexual shame by allowing people to write uncensored.

And so, I’m excited to introduce this digital revival, which builds on the legacy of the original gathering. While the new Salon exists digitally rather than in person, it remains a “verbal sanctuary” for exploring the intimate and the unspoken. Whether you’re a longtime Salon attendee or discovering it for the first time, this newsletter marks the start of a new chapter.

What’s Inside the Monthly Newsletter

Note: For now, it will be an abbreviated version.

  • ELS: A Writing Prompt to Ignite Your Creativity
    • The Unexpected Encounter: Write about a chance discovery of a mysterious place that awakens your character’s senses, leading to an intimate connection with a stranger, a memory, or even the space itself.  
    • The Body as a Map: Explore the body as a map of emotions and memories, where each touch, scar, or freckle reveals hidden stories of desire, healing, or self-discovery.  
    • A Letter They’ll Never Read: Write an intimate letter to someone unreachable—be it a forbidden love, a lost partner, or yourself—filled with raw desire, confessions, or a single unforgettable moment.
    • visit https://susanamayer.com/submission-guidelines/

Sketch is an Exquisite Corpse drawing by Salvatore Dali, Gala Dali (his wife), Valentin Hugo and André Breton, circa 1930. 

  • A Salon Favorite: The Exquisite Corpse 
    • The exquisite corpse is a collaborative creative exercise where participants sequentially add to a drawing or piece of writing, each contributing without seeing the entirety of what others have created, resulting in a surprising and unified work.
    • A favorite from the in-person Salon, The Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative poetry activity where attendees submit single evocative words. These words will be woven into a poem to be shared in a future newsletter. Submissions may range from innuendo to over-the-top explicit.
  • Adult Sex Education Q&A

How to Subscribe to The Erotic Literary Salon Newsletter (Virtual Edition)

Joining The Erotic Literary Salon Newsletter (Virtual Edition) is quick and easy!

  1. Click the Link: Subscribe to The Erotic Literary Salon (Virtual Edition)
  2. Enter your email address to ensure the newsletter is delivered directly to your inbox.
  3. That’s it! You’re subscribed and ready to receive regular updates, writing prompts, book excerpts, and more—all at no cost.

Note: You do not need a Substack account to subscribe or access the newsletter. You can subscribe using just your email address, and the newsletter will be delivered directly to your inbox.