The inspiration and path to an erotica script writer with the amazing Elowen Scarlet
Hello everyone, it's been a while, but I am back, and today I have a blog post with the amazing, very talented script writer Elowen Scarlet. I had the honor of interviewing her and talking about the amazing scripts she has written for so many platforms. enjoy xx
What drew Elowen to write erotica scripts specifically, rather than other forms of storytelling?
She started writing Afrikaans poetry, which is also Elowen's first language. She also wrote English fanfiction, short stories, and novellas. But for more than 20 years, she let her insecurities about writing keep her from writing, so she took an extended hiatus.
In 2024, her very supportive husband encouraged her to audition for the Emerging Author Program on the Reelshort App, and she was accepted. She then adapted the vertical drama “Uncle William, Please Say I Do!” into a novel for them. After finishing the 55,000-word manuscript, she realized she wanted to keep going with that momentum and decided not to let anything stop her from writing again (and I am so glad she didn't stop writing because she is so good at what she does 🙂)
She started looking into markets for writers and came across the audio piece, “The First” by Best Kept Secret. That discovery changed things for her; around the same time, she began to reflect on her own background. She had spent 22 years teaching Biology, focusing on the human body, reproduction, and sexual psychology. She grew up in a home where these topics were discussed openly, which made it feel natural to move into the space because she believed it could do a lot of good (and it did).
She wanted to add a little word of caution: once you hear your story come alive through a talented VA’s performance, it’s hard not to chase that feeling again and again. There’s something deeply moving and intimate about hearing your work transformed into a living, breathing emotional experience.
How did Elowen develop her voice and style as a writer in this genre?
She says her voice as a writer hasn't changed much, but a strong plot twist is always the most important to her. She even started calling herself Plot-Over-Porn Girl as a joke (very cheeky, Elowen, I love it)
Now people know what to expect from her work: stories that focus on the plot, develop slowly, and put her characters first. Her writing is shaped by psychology and emotion, and with each moment building towards a satisfying but earned ending.
She thinks her habit of connecting deeply with her characters is what draws her to long-form multiple-episode stories. She appreciates having the time to really get to know them and live with them, understanding them over weeks or months.
Are there particular themes, dynamics, or character types Elowen finds herself returning to?
Elowen often writes male leads who are both compelling and emotionally engaging. These characters are usually reserved, careful, and controlled with a strong sense of devotion. They value connection and have a quiet intensity, so when they finally show emotion, it feels meaningful and earned.
She is also interested in stories where the listener has sexual agency or learns to claim it. Elowen enjoys exploring characters who find their own voice, sexual confidence, and sense of self. For example, in “The Falconer’s Secret”, Fetch helps the widow regain her self-worth, sexual power, and even her voice after traumatic sexual experiences in her marriage.
When Elowen writes commissioned scripts, she follows the creative brief but always adds her own creative touch. Her own Elowen scarlet DNA, especially in developing character depth and emotional arcs.
What influences Elowen's work?
She uses her own experiences in her writing, but the process also changes her. As she writes more audio erotica, she finds herself becoming more curious about human sexuality, intimacy, and desire, and the different ways people connect both emotionally and physically.
Her background in biology, sexual health education, and psychology shaped how she writes about character dynamics and intimacy. She likes to research different relationship dynamics, kinks, fetishes, and emotional experiences because she wants her stories to feel real and believable.
Her favorite film of all time is “Se7en,” which inspired her to write stories with layers that build slowly and lead to a strong ending. Its plot structure, restrained storytelling, and shocking yet incredibly memorable final scene left a big impact on Elowen as a young storyteller.
How do you define good erotica writing?
Elowen says her answer is subjective, but she always preferred credibility over sexual explicitness. If she doesn't believe in the connection between the listener and the character, or if it doesn't feel meaningful or grounded in real emotional stakes, she will lose interest quickly. For her, it's never about surface-level interaction; what matters is whether the story truly earns its intimate or sexual moments.
What does Elowen's typical writing process look like from idea to a finished script?
She is definitely a planner, not a panster. She researches, overthinks, and considers every possibility. She says she even drives herself a little crazy working through plot twists and often even loses sleep over it.
When she writes a commissioned script, she starts with a creative brief from the VA or the creative team. She uses a structured beat sheet to ensure she meets all their requirements while writing the scripts.
For her original scripts, it usually starts with a spark. It might be an idea, a feeling, or even a quick image of a scene she pictures during a conversation. Her diary, laptop, and notes app are full of these sparks.
For “The Falconer's Secret,” that spark came from hearing the first few lines of the song “Bring Me To Life" from Evanescence (girl, that's the best song ever). She could picture her clearly in her mind, the Widow.
After that, she comes up with a few possible premises and compares them, and even mixes ideas together. Next, she builds the plot structure, then focuses on world-building, character development, and naming, which is one of her favorite parts.
The more intimate the sexual elements usually come naturally from that foundation. She doesn't build the plots around those moments; instead, they develop as the story and the characters' emotions unfold.
Does Elowen outline heavily, or does she let the store evolve as she writes?
She plans her story beats to keep the emotions and the plot moving smoothly, but she always leaves room for her character to surprise and guide the story with their own reactions as she writes.
Some of her best lines come from the moments when a character reacts in a way she didn't expect. Collaboration matters too, when a VA or a creative team adds their instincts or comments to a character, sometimes just work, and the story becomes deeper in ways he couldn't have imagined on her own.
If you only knew how many times she has giggled, cried, blushed, gushed, or winced at where her characters lead her at three in the morning.
How do you balance the plot, character development, and erotic elements?
When she writes commissioned scripts, she sometimes has to follow a set ratio like 70% story and 30% sexual content or smut. Even with these guidelines, she always sticks to her plot over porn approach.
She often compares her writing to a three-course meal. The more intimate or sexual moments are like dessert, something the listener has to earn.
The appetizer introduces the character and sets up their emotions. In the main course, the relationship changes and the tension builds. When the listener finally gets to the romantic or sexual dessert, it feels deserved, and it's backed up by everything that happened earlier.
For Elowen, it's never about hurrying to a climax or orgasm. What matters is making the journey meaningful.
What is Elowen's approach to writing believable chemistry and intimacy between characters?
She usually writes longer stories (multi-episode scripts), which help her build chemistry by slowly building tension and emotional depth.
She enjoys focusing on characters with distinct personalities and worldviews, allowing subtle tension to build between them as the story unfolds. and makes sure it includes details that make the story feel real rather than generic.
For example, in “The Third Toothbrush”, the male lead, Nate, uses American football terms and metaphors such as “smelling the shift,” “crossing the fifty,” and “full contact moments.” These references reveal his character and background.
This script is one of the few Elowen has written in which intimacy is shown through small, character-driven actions. For example, the listener borrows Nate's clothing without asking, which quietly reveals their familiarity, comfort, and emotional closeness. That's why he uses the endearments “sneak” and “klepto” for the listener.
Does Elowen write with a specific audience or performer in mind?
For commissioned scripts, she always does this. She listens carefully to the VAs' work, paying attention to their cadence, tone, pacing, and delivery style. She has also noticed the small quirks or mannerisms that make their voice stand out.
People expect a commissioned script to fit the performer's voice, and she takes that responsibility seriously.
Elowen didn't have a direct audio to reference for vertical drama actor Eric Taylor Guilmette, so she tried something else. While writing “Inks & Pollen”, she played his vertical dramas in the background to get a sense of his performance style and vocal qualities.
When Elowen writes original scripts, she starts by focusing on the character, the voice comes from their personality, how they react, and move their world. The VA can be chosen later, but the character should be fully developed on the page first.
How does Elowen approach dialogue in erotica, especially making it feel natural rather than forced?
Elowen comes from a background in narrative storytelling, mainly poetry and one novel. So she had to learn how to write for listeners. Rob, the CEO of Best Kept Secret, and Chlo, one of their script readers, helped her to make that change. They taught her to focus on real-time immersion, sensory details, and a natural, conversational style of call-and-response dialogue.
She still uses poetic metaphor-heavy language sometimes, so she makes sure to simplify and ground her dialogue for performance. Revision is key and handles much of the hard work from proofreading to editing and polishing.
What role do consent and communication play in Elowen's writing?
Clear consent and communication make stories more powerful. When conveyed through words or subtle nonverbal cues, these elements help build trust, add emotional depth, and make the story feel real to the listener.
These elements help the connection feel genuine and safe. This is what draws the listener in and helps them connect with the story's emotions.
How does Elowen handle boundaries, both hers and those of her audience?
She has her own set of personal boundaries, and she understands that each listener's is shaped by their upbringing, experiences, culture, and beliefs.
For that reason, she puts a lot of thought into how she tags her scripts, including format, audience, genre, character dynamics, emotional themes, and intimacy or sexual descriptors. Elowen's goal is to be transparent and give listeners the choice to decide what they want to hear.
Each platform, such as Quinn, Best Kept Secret, and Magicwave Audios, has its own guidelines, and she makes sure to follow them closely.
What techniques does Elowen use to build tension and anticipation?
Banter is really important. Elowen loves sharp, playful exchanges that make you laugh, reveal the characters, and keep things lively with humor.
She also enjoys slow-burn techniques to reveal the plot bit by bit, wait for the characters to admit their feelings or attraction, and use silence or pauses to add extra meaning.
Elowen is a big fan of the Turkish dizi; these shows are masterful at maintaining high tension through moments that are almost said or almost done, keeping viewers hooked for hundreds of episodes.
Are there any common mistakes you see in amateur erotica scripts?
Here are three mistakes she has noticed, just from her own perspective.
Using generic, explicit language that feels “porny.”
Jumping straight into the sex scene (except if tagged [in medias res])
Letting characters act inconsistently from scene to scene
She loses interest when the dialogue uses generic, explicit language that adds nothing to the story or emotion. She also has trouble enjoying stories that skip the build-up and jump right to the sex scene, especially if it doesn’t feel real or well-paced.
It’s just as important to keep characters consistent, especially when writing long-form or multi-episode series. Elowen uses a planning board to track them through each part of the story. Every decision, reaction, and change should feel intentional and true to who they are.
Do you write scripts intended for audio, video, or reading, or all three?
So far, my scripts have been adapted for audio only.
I’ve also started exploring vertical drama scriptwriting, and two of my light pitches are currently under consideration for production.
How does Elowen's writing change depending on the format (e.g., audio vs. written)?
When Elowen was writing her novel, she made sure to describe every detail in each scene. That's a very important part of narrative writing.
Now that she writes ASMR erotica scripts, she tries to make the experience feel real and direct for listeners, almost like a call and response to help create this immersive effect.
Has Elowen collaborated with voice actors? And what was the process like?
Yes, she has worked with many VAs and other creators, adjusting her approach for each project.
She believes in being transparent throughout a project and prefers using shared Google Docs for collaboration and feedback. After many rounds of revision, she is used to seeing many comments in her inbox; she sees this as a chance to learn.
For larger projects like Best Kept Secret or Magicwave Audio's original series, a creative team usually serves as a liaison between the scriptwriter and the VAs, so there's not much direct contact, except for a few interactions after release.
With private commissions, the process is much more hands-on. She works closely with the VA to shape the script. She has done the same in her recent work with Quinn, always valuing the VA’s judgment and experience.
She encourages performances that really connect with the script and bring out its feeling, not just reciting the lines. When someone adds thoughtful ad-libs, it can improve a scene in ways I didn’t expect, and Elowen really appreciates that creative instinct. She is not overly attached to every word she writes.
Atlas’s performance in "The Accidental Plus-One” is a great example of this.
She originally wrote the line, “You’re not a rulebook.”
He added, “You’re not a rulebook, Miss Etiquette Coach,” which enhanced the moment and elevated the whole scene.
At their best, VAs have a special instinct and skill with inhabiting a character that can feel almost magical.
How much direction does Elowen include in her scripts for performers?
If you want to know more about how much direction she includes, please check her Script Fill Policy
Elowen states that [SFX] sound cues and acting directions are meant to guide the VA, not to be followed as strict rules.
She encourages interpretation and ad-libbing, as long as the script’s emotional integrity remains intact.
How do you think audience expectations for erotica have evolved?
As the audience for erotica has changed, especially with more women listening to audio erotica, there has been a clear move toward emotional realism, agency, consent, and open communication. Strong storytelling has also become more important.
Deep down, we value depth and meaning more than just surface instincts, and the genre is starting to show that.
What kind of feedback from readers or listeners has influenced Elowen's work the most?
The feedback that has shaped Elowen's work the most comes from VAs and audio producers. She has learned so much from them.
But listeners' feedback is what really matters. It's the good mojo or boost that somehow makes those eighty-seven pending edits feel a bit easier and much more worthwhile.
The best reward is knowing that something she writes made someone laugh, feel moved, or pause to reflect.
Are there topics or tropes Elowen consciously avoids or tries to challenge?
If you want to know more about my TEN hard limits (e.g., rape or sexual assault, minors and ageplay, etc.), please check her Script Commission Form.
Elowen likes to take familiar topics or tropes and look at them from a new emotional or narrative angle.
For example, in "The Third Toothbrush," the story begins with the male lead, Nate, coming home from a blind date. Usually, the listener, stuck at home, would feel jealous of his evening out, but I turned the jealousy around. Instead, Nate feels jealous when he sees a third toothbrush, which does not belong to either him or the listener, in their shared en-suite bathroom. That moment pushes him to face feelings for the listener he hadn’t noticed before.
How does Elowen navigate publishing or sharing her work in this space?
She shares open script offers for her original work on Instagram and Discord. She also sends them to her Writer Coordinator, Rika, at MagicWave Audios for consideration as MagicWave Audio Exclusives.
When someone commissions a script, the license goes directly to the VA or platform. She usually gives them full audio rights, but they request that she keep the publishing rights in case Elowen wants to turn one of her audios into a novel later.
I’ve just started trying out my hand at collaborative scriptwriting, and she is still learning. But she is excited to share more about it as she gets more experience.
What advice would Elowen give to someone just starting out in erotica writing?
Listen to high-quality audio stories on Quinn, Best Kept Secret, MagicWave Audios, Dipsea, and Bloom Stories. Check out scripts from top scriptwriters like Jeenbean21 and Living Venus on Reddit. Learn to read your own work out loud as you write, every time.
Audio storytelling is meant to be heard, so it should sound like a real conversation you are having with your listener.
Take time to learn how to use a good writing and editing tool, such as Grammarly.
But the most important thing is to finish your script. Even a rough, imperfect script will teach you more than leaving ten drafts unfinished. Being consistent is better than waiting for inspiration or perfection. The more you write, revise, and share your work, the better your instincts will get.
Are there skills outside of writing (e.g., marketing, community building) that are important in this field?
Working in this field is a lot like running your own small business. You have to manage deadlines, stay organized, check in with VAs, handle invoices, and make sure your taxes are in order.
Building a network and using social media well are both really important.
Being adaptable matters just as much. Sometimes, creative direction changes in the middle of a project, so it’s helpful to take feedback from VAs or the creative team in a positive way.
Research skills are important too, especially if you want your scripts to sound realistic and believable.
You’ll also need to get used to feedback. Try not to take it personally, and see it as a chance to improve your work.
Above all, you need some chutzpah. Putting yourself out there, meeting new creators and creatives, taking risks, and dealing with rejection are all part of the journey.
Where does Elowen see the genre heading in the next few years?
She thinks we’re moving toward long-form audio that feels as polished as cinema, with better production, richer stories, and more emotional depth.
Best Kept Secret has helped shape this trend and continues to lead the way.
Audios like “Saga of the North Seas” show how much the medium can achieve.
What kinds of stories or themes is Elowen excited to explore next?
She is excited to try multi-character audio dramas, such as MagicWave Audios’ Audio Dramas or Dipsea’s Full Cast Audio Dramas. There are also three tropes I still want to explore: mafia, arranged marriage, and pure noir or classic noir.
Referenced Sources:
Uncle William, Please Say I Do! Reelshort Original Story Novel
Best Kept Secret Audio: The First
Best Kept Secret Audio: The Falconer's Secret
MagicWave Audios Audio: The Third Toothbrush
MagicWave Audios Audio: Inks & Pollen Series
Quinn Audio: The Accidental Plus-One
Best Kept Secret Audio: Saga of the North Seas
Elowen Scarlet Script Commission Request Form
Elowen Scarlet Script Fill Policy
aVA's Desires Reddit Audio: Noise-Free Tonight
