Guest Post: DIY BDSM - a writer's guide by Josephine Myles

It's my very great pleasure to host Josephine Myles on my blog today. She's here to promote her new book Screwing the System which I will review later in the week. Today her topic is all about how to be creative with your BDSM scenes. Over to you, Jo!

Clichés abound in BDSM fiction, but the one I've found myself giggling over the most frequently is that of the millionaire Dom and his astoundingly well-equipped dungeon/club. Now don't get me wrong—I'm sure there are millionaires out there with luxurious and soundproofed "playrooms". I'm equally sure that most large cities will have a discreet and expensive club tucked away somewhere. However, for the vast majority of people into BDSM, these places are well outside of their budget and/or locality.

So what do you really need in order to practice a bit of domination and submission? Is it necessary to have an extensive collection of toys? Do you need to set aside a room of your house filled with strange looking pieces of furniture and set hooks in the walls and ceiling? Of course you don't, and the over-commercialisation of sexuality doesn't do anyone any favours (except perhaps the people manufacturing the toys and equipment). Here, then, is my little guide to experimenting with BDSM on the cheap. It's especially designed to aid writers who want to add a bit of authenticity to their writing without having to fork out for scary-looking toys they might never use again.

The fact is, with a bit of creativity and imagination, there are all kinds of household objects that can be repurposed as kinky toys. Nipple clamps are everywhere when you start looking. The humble peg is a clamp. So are various stationary items including the rather fierce bulldog clips (ouch!). Start with something that doesn't pinch too hard and work your way up if you're brave (or masochistic) enough.
Sensory deprivation is next up. I know you must have a blindfold somewhere even if it does look more like a tie or a scarf. Those same ties and scarves can also be used to make gags, and of course they'll work for bondage too. Rope isn't expensive, though, and the craft of shibari can be practised with minimal outlay. All it takes is time and skill to master... and a willing accomplice!

What about beatings and floggings? Spanking costs nothing, and if you can't find a willing friend to help you out you can always spank yourself. Okay, so the limits of human anatomy restrict where you can do this, but the sides of the thighs are accessible and if you have enough padding, make the same kind of noise as the buttocks. But don't stop there. I'm sure you have a paddle somewhere in your house. Maybe it's masquerading as a spatula or a small chopping board. You've probably got the makings of a flogger too. Jay Wiseman's book SM101 gives excellent instructions for making a mini-flogger out of bootlaces. Just make sure you remove the flugelbinders first! For the travelling kinkster: pillowcases and wire coat-hangers can also be used to dole out erotic pain, and have the benefit of looking perfectly innocent should customs officials spot them in your luggage ;)

This collection of toys features a few purpose made restraints, but most items here are repurposed or home made, and the others don't cost much. It's amazing what you can make yourself with basic woodworking, leather working or even knitting skills. I've uncovered a wealth of kinky knitting patterns out there--I even made the prize flogger using one of them!

But of course, the most important thing in any BDSM scene is the psychological interaction and power play, and that costs nothing more than a creative and kinky mind. Purpose made toys and equipment are all well and good, but when BDSM erotica focuses on them at the expense of the verbal and physical interaction between Dom and sub, I find they end up detracting from a scene's impact. This is why I decided that while my fictional Dom Alasdair might have the money to kit out a home dungeon, he really isn't interested in all that:

“My dungeon? What makes you think I have a dungeon? Sounds like something horribly medieval.”
“Okay, a playroom or whatever you want to call it. Somewhere you keep all the whips and chains and stuff. You must have a room kitted out with bits of equipment, right?”
“Nope. Never saw the need.”
Cosmo squinted at him. “Seriously?”
“You don’t need all that to have a great scene.”
“You mean you don’t actually want a dungeon?”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m not. I just… I dunno. I expected there to be a soundproofed room full of scary stuff somewhere, that’s all. You must be able to afford one.”
“To be honest, I don’t find rooms full of scary stuff to be particularly sexy.”
“No?”
“No.” Alasdair kept his eyes on the road, but Cosmo could feel his full attention on him. “It’s not about the equipment for me. It’s about the headspace. It’s about being in control without all that other stuff to help out. For instance, when we get back, I’m going to drive you out of your mind using nothing more than a couple of lengths of rope and my skill. I prefer the challenge of that, of being resourceful.”

Do you like to read about fabulously kitted out dungeons and clubs, or do you prefer the more domestic approach? Any more ideas for cheap and cheerful kinky toys?

Comment to win!

Jo is offering a choice of a book from her backlist to one lucky commenter on this post, and all commenters throughout the blog tour will also be entered into a draw for the grand prize of a handmade suede flogger, to be announced on 25^th February.

Also, watch out for the follow-up short story, Screw the Fags. To be available as a free download from Smashwords and All Romance eBooks this week!


Screwing the System

He’s nobody’s bitch. Until he gets a ride on the bitch seat.

Forced to apply for a job he doesn’t want, Cosmo Rawlins has only one aim in mind: fail the interview and get back to making music. Except his attempt to shock the older, sharp-suited Alasdair Grant doesn’t have the desired effect. Instead of getting thrown out of the office by flaunting an interest in BDSM, Cosmo finds himself on his knees, apologizing to the sexy, good-looking Top.

Alasdair has more important things on his mind than training a novice sub, especially a rebellious bad boy like Cosmo. But there’s something beneath the younger man’s defiant attitude that’s too intriguing to ignore.
As Alasdair takes Cosmo in hand—and for a wild ride on his Harley—he becomes obsessed with bending the young rocker to his will, both in and out of bed. Until he goes one demand too far, and Cosmo is gone in a cloud of dust. Forcing Alasdair to admit that earning Cosmo’s loyalty—and love—will involve the toughest challenge he’s ever faced.

Warning: This title contains an overbearing Top with a less-than-glamorous job, a rebellious brat who refuses to call him sir, and a total lack of high-end BDSM clubs or playrooms. Expect floggings over the kitchen table instead.

Screwing the System on Amazon.com

About the author:
English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

For more information about Jo’s published stories, regular blog posts and saucy free reads, visit JosephineMyles.com

Picture credits: pegs image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net<