So it's December and it's the release month of my first erotic romance. And I've been seriously thinking about all the hoopla surrounding erotica and erotic romance. And I've been thinking of what I look for in a good erotic romance? As a matter of fact how do we even define erotic romance? Is there a difference between porn, erotica, erotic romance and sexy romance? Well, the special interest chapter of Romance Writers of America, Passionate Ink's president Sylvia Day breaks it down this way:
"Porn: stories written for the express purpose of causing sexual titillation. Plot, character development, and romance are NOT primary to these stories. They are designed to sexually arouse the reader and nothing else."
"Erotica: stories written about the sexual journey of the characters and how this impacts them as individuals. Emotion and character growth are important facets of a true erotic story. However, erotica is NOT designed to show the development of a romantic relationship, although it's not prohibited if the author chooses to explore romance. Happily Ever Afters are NOT an intrinsic part of erotica, though they can be included."
"Erotic Romance: stories written about the development of a romantic relationship through sexual interaction. The sex is an inherent part of the story, character growth, and relationship development, and couldn’t be removed without damaging the storyline. Happily Ever After is a REQUIREMENT to be an erotic romance."
"Sexy Romance: stories written about the development of a romantic relationship that just happen to have more explicit sex. The sex is not an inherent part of the story, character growth, or relationship development, and it could easily be removed or 'toned down' without damaging the storyline. Happily Ever After is a REQUIREMENT as this is basically a standard romance with hotter sex.”
That sounds about right to me. (And that's saying a lot because usually I'm one to cringe at any attempts to define things.) But for this particular aspect of romance, I think a little definition is useful. First, it helps to have some guidelines for all those folks in the romance community that claim that erotica and erotic romance is ruining romance. The funny thing is these people never quite get that the powers that be see all of it as smut and porn for women any way. And the way to combat that kind of ignorance is not to try and stifle erotic romance or to try and define romance as only this and never that. But that's another post… The reason the Passionate Ink definitions work for me in ways that the failed Romance Writers of America attempts to define romance as a story of a relationship between and man and a woman didn't--besides the inherent homophobia in the RWA attempt--is that the Passionate Ink definitions lend themselves more readily to craft and structure. As a writer these work for me when I’m thinking about the kind of story I want to create. I know that if I can take the sex out of my story or tone down the sex in the story and still have the same story then I have not written an erotic romance. Writing erotic romance does not mean add hot sex in abundance and run with it. The sex has to be crucial to the plot and story. As a reader this is also useful, because it made me realize that I read some novels that claimed to be erotic romance when they were really just sexy romance. And I've read some erotica that is really just porn.
There have been lots of conversations about this in the romance community and I'm not sure where I fall in the debate. I do know that at the end of the day I want to read and write great stories, whether they be sweet romances or erotic romances. What do you think about it? Are romances getting a little too erotic for your taste? Too sexy? Where do you fall on the erotic romance may be the death of romance debate? Do you read spicier romances? If so, what draws you to them? If not, why?
And if you are interested in writing them, check out the special interest chapter of RWA, Passionate Ink.
http://www.passionateink.org/index.php
Happy writing and reading,
Gwyneth
Monday, December 04, 2006
Writing Erotic Romance
Posted by Gwyneth Bolton at 12:59 PM
Labels: Commentary, Writing
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17 comments:
gwyn,
i see divine destiny on amazon and will order it on there if i have to,but do you have any tips for where i might be able to find it in store?
i've checked a couple of "national" chains and didn't see them--though my sister says they may just be slow putting out the new books.
i know, i know. now it's not only your job to write and promote your works, you have to virtually deliver them to readers like me.
sorry! i just really don't want to wait for the mail.
-elle
Elle,
I have been having trouble getting the Parker Publishing books here in Syracuse too. I ended up ordering Angie Daniels A Delight Before Christmas and Vegas Bites: A Werewolf Romance Anthology with L A Banks, J M Jeffries, Serresia Glass, and Natalie Dunbar from Amazon. I'm going to order Deatri King-Bey's Beauty and the Beast either from Amazon or directly from Parker. Deatri told me that Boders is putting the books out on the end of the month. She also said that they would come quicker from Parker. Sorry you're having trouble finding it. But if you tell your book store to order a couple then they's be in the store for others... :-)
didn't mean to get your post off-topic by the way. and dang, gwyn, you are in some fierce company over that at parker. in addition to you, i saw beverly jenkins, niobia bryant, and adrianne byrd. the four of you alone are amazing.
i saw plenty of other wonderful, acclaimed authors, but i haven't read them as much. what a publisher!
**should be "over there at parker"**
Elle,
Girl, I know! I love me some Niobia Bryant and Adriane Byrd. Parker got it going on. I'm just geeked that I am going to be in an anthology with Beverly Jenkins in February. Do you know how cool that is to me? Beverly Jenkins! I got the proofs for the anthology, Cuffed by Candlelight and Beverly's novella is divine and so seductive. I'm just so geeked!
I wish there were more erotic historicals out there. I've only found one, and right now I can't even remember the author of it. There are erotic regencies, but I don't really have an interest in that time period. Anybody know of any?
Very cool about the anthology, Gwen. And thank you sooooo much for an accurate definition of all the differences between the genres. I was completely clueless before, but I think for the first time that I get it now.
Great topic & commentary, Gwyn.
I agree with Passionate Ink's definintions. They are right on the money. I think RWA dropped the whole "man & woman" thing. There were a slew of Letters to the Editor in response to someone who thought "man & woman" should have been kept. ::erg::
I've read some "romantica" from an e-publisher -- not extensively, but more than a few titles. Most of it doesn't interest me. But there is a market for this type of writing out there. Otherwise, the publisher wouldn't still be in business.
That's the thing that people who want to ban sexier writing need to remember: the market is out there. Authors don't write the books for a vacuum.
I heard an interesting fact: the two fastest growing romantic genres are erotica and inspirational.
That's what I'd call food for thought.
All I know is that if I don't care about the characters by the time they jump into the sack, it's insanely boring to me no matter what the gymnastics are. I roll my eyes and toss the book.
I'm with kimber an. And I like Passionate Ink's definitions. How does the romantica that Mizm mentioned fit into the picture. Whatever you're writing, just keep up the good work!
Nancy -- I think that Susan Johnson and Emma Holly have some erotic romance historicals... but don't quote me on it. I'm a contemporary girl or futuristic reader... I don't read a whole lot of historicals.
Kari -- Thanks! I found the Passionate Ink definitions to be really useful too.
Divine Miz M -- You are so right, as usual :-). The market is there and the books are selling. I think the fact that the fastest growing markets are inspriational and erotic romance says a little something about the spilts in our country right now... very interesting...
Kimber An -- I agree with you, girlfriend. That's why I say I need a great story first and then I really don't care if it is a sweet romance or so hot it burns my hands. Make me care about those characters and I'm there until I turn the last page!
Gwyneth
Thanks, Michelle! You're right! At the end of the day, it's the story and how well you tell it.
I'm with Kari - great definitions. I never knew the difference, and I don't write it. I always figured there was some "fine line", but it's pretty straight forward. There are sooo many styles of writing out there, I think it's very easy for a reader to find just the right amount of "heat" for their tastes.
do you think if I wallpaper the cover of divine destiny on my computer, I'll get in trouble at work??? I'm sorry, but those abs just sizzle..... (yum)
Yeah, Barb, I'm thinking that the cover wouldn't be a good idea for wallpaper on the work computer... :-)
I have several blogs that I love. Blogging in Black, Monica Jackson's, yours, Angela Knights, and Morgan Hawke.
I have always used MH's definition. (And incidentally she defines herself as a smut writer...which she is. Her stuff ranges from porn to erotic romance). She essentially says to be an erotic fiction sex must drive the plot. (then she proceeds to break it down). And in a nutshell that's it.
Is the sex intrinsic to the plot? If it is not, then its not erotica or erotic romance.
As a writer these definitions are important to me. As a reader, well I don't care so much. As long as its a good story and it...um er uh "serves it purpose". I'm cool.
Kimberly,
Yep. I try to keep them firmly in mind as I write now. Because I don't want anyone to pick up my book and say hey, that's not erotic romance....
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