Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nevea Lane on September 21, 2010 at 7:52am

I do agree, but I do think that it is about how long the story is. There are some short stories that you will read where, in order for it to be called Erotica, they jump to the sex first, then they get to why the sexual tesnsion is there. I guess there are some that are strictly romances and some that are deemed more erotica than romances, so it is all about the category that you picked it out of.
Simply stated though, sex sells. There are many authors that get a nasty-gram from some of there readers wondering where the heck is the sex? There are others who prefer a little romance to go with the romp. I think it is all about discovering those books that focus purely on romance or finding those that focus on erotic romance. They aren't all about the sex, but sex without a plot in erotica is just simply porn.

Permalink Reply by Kimberly Golden Malmgren on September 21, 2010 at 8:34am

Nevea, I totally get your point. I just wonder if the only way we can get "mainstream" readers to consider IR novels and romances is to lure them with sex. I guess I want a "meet cute" before I get to the nitty gritty and sometimes it seems like the only thing holding two characters together in some IR novels is sex.

Permalink Reply by LeTeisha Newton on July 17, 2012 at 9:15am

I do so agree on sex without a plot is just porn. Now, Erotica does not have to have sex up front but as writers there is the option to have it if you'd like. Lena Matthews is good at using that sometimes and others not. I've done it myself in some of my work. It just truly depends. But there is a continued thin line between Erotica and Romance with a lot of authors nowadays and that can cause some of the issue.

 

Now, sex sales, that is very true but it doesn't make up for bad writing. I have seen someone throw in some amazingly written love scenes in a novel of sub-par writing and I realized that is what they did to help them...Sad sad sad.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Stacy-Deanne on October 20, 2010 at 3:40pm

I too think that IR Erotica outnumbers IR books in other genres. I am getting mail from folks who say they can't wait for my mystery and crime series to start coming out (first book April 2011) because it's so refreshing to have IR in a different type of setting. Not many if any IR writers write crime and mysteries and I love bringing that to the table.

I have nothing against Erotica but I do feel that other IR writers who do not write Erotica are getting lumped in with the Erotica IR books. Also, there's a lot of IR writers up and coming who feel like I do and are trying to make a mark in other genres. We need to show that IR doesn't just have to be Erotica. There is nothing wrong with Erotica but I welcome more variety. I love IR and Multicultural fiction but it definitely needs to grow.

Also some authors don't know the difference between romance and sex. There is a big difference. Romance is more than just sex, it's the process of the couple growing and falling in love. A lot of Erotica IR books don't take time to draw out the romance. Just because a book is Erotica doesn't mean it can't be romantic.

Nevea, that's interesting what you said about people telling authors they want more sex. I see the opposite happening in IR. I see IR readers complaining about too much sex and erotica and not enough "clean" IR or IR in other genres. They want variety and as an IR writer and reader I agree. We need to have more in this genre. It's cool to have Erotica but we wanna show that IR can be known for more than just books about sex.

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

Permalink Reply by Nevea Lane on October 21, 2010 at 9:25am

Stacy,

I completely agree that the opposite is 'beginning' to happen in IR. More and more people are requesting IR authors branch out and try something different besides Erotica. I know this because along with you, Stacy, the group we belong to on GoodReads have asked, where is the Romance in the Romance?
I suppose that I should clarify by saying that some authors have stated in their various groups that they have gotten emails from long time readers wondering why didn't they write a sex scene in a particular book. So I was just saying it was about reader preference, there are some readers that want more variety and there are other readers who don't want variety, they want the formula boy meets girl, girl and boy get it on...

It also depends on the publisher. There are some publishers that will only sell what is deemed Erotica. I say this because I have two styles of writing, but the ones that I have sold the most of happens to be erotica, although there is only one actual love scene in the book. But, do your research, and you will find which authors and publishers do more erotica vs. romance/mystery/action...

Permalink Reply by Mercedes Keyes on June 23, 2012 at 3:19pm

Wow... am I seriously late to this one. I am totally and completely with you on this one. It seems, that there are some authors who write sex scenes and then build a shallow story about it. One such story almost cost me my new Kindle, I caught myself just in the nick of time as I was seconds away from turning it lose on a hurl against the wall. Believe me, quite a few paperbacks suffered that fate, but no no on the Kindles... hahaha.

And it is because of this type of IR writing, that I cannot stop writing until my inherited Alzheimers kicks in... I pray it passes me by, but... hmmm, anyway, I digress.

I remember my history, English and communications teachers all saying, that stories, fiction - should have a "MORAL" a reason for being. A lesson to learn - a depth to explore - an adventure to travel - characters to know, to love, to hate - and a tale for which your reader can relate. 

I THOUGHT that was and should be the foundation of all stories. But of late... no no noooo - somebody is not listening to that instruction for a foundation. I mean come one, let's face it... sex is sex. There is only so many ways in which one can describe the act. Yes I know, the NEW trend seems to be going into the extreme, that ULTRA nasty - deviant sex all the way.  The moment I see that the story is going that way... I'm done reading. I won't waste my time. Because I'm 49 years old, and I've had sex aplenty and enjoyed the majority of it - I don't need, nor desire going off into reading about things I wouldn't even consider... because I love ME too much to ever even consider in my wildest fantasies of letting any one, or two men use me that way! Therefore reading it happening to another - is out of the question.

I love my sista's... let us rise... let us rise - and if we put a word out in a story, can we say something to help our sisters rise? I'm just saying, let me stop... I always get in trouble with this notion, because few now days wanna hear it.

http://amberswann.com/

Permalink Reply by LeTeisha Newton on July 17, 2012 at 9:09am

Very well put! I am an erotic and romance author, though it loathes me to have to separate that. However my novel Assassin's Call was IR paranomal romance that had a good deal of sex but the book was centered AROUND them finding out who was trying to kill them and get him first. The story and the characters are who you fall in love with. the sex is inly a bonus if you have an investment in the characters!

 

Here here, let our sistas rise

Permalink Reply by Candace Mumford on June 24, 2012 at 6:09pm

I agree with you. I also agree with others who say it depends on the length. In all my shorter works I only have one sex scene and I generally always reserve them for the end . There will be no after page 2 screwing from me LOL. Longer works that I have in progress will have no more than two. ( That I know of! )

Permalink Reply by LeTeisha Newton on July 17, 2012 at 9:12am

I do control my sex scenes by length, but as an erotica author I do have the option of openning with a sex scene if I wanted...however it does upset me when these stories I read end up being more basically written porn with some other words sprinkling in. It is why I do not always like having the erotica moniker on my name when I'm also a PR writer, and, if you've ever read something by Emma Holly!!, there is a thin line between PR and erotica also :)

Permalink Reply by Vivi Dumas on July 22, 2012 at 2:10pm

Hi. I'm new to the site and the group. I thought this question was interesting.

I truly believe it depends on the genre you are reading. If I pick up an erotica novel or short story, I expect a lot of sex. The whole basis of erotic is the story is propelled forward by the sexual connection between the character. Now...that does not mean it doesn't have to have a storyline.

I writer sexy paranormal romance and erotica short stories. My novels have sex but that is not the catalyst of the story structure. It's just what happens.  

I don't expect to pick up a Toni Morrison book and have characters having sex everywhere. But she writes literary fiction. There is also the Sweet Romance and Inspirational Romance genres which you will find no sex at all.

That's the best thing about reading. There is something for everyone out there. We just have to shop in the right isle.