Comments on: Reining It In

By: Rob Graham

Rob Graham — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:21:27 +0000

I’m not at all sure I’ll ever write mainstream stuff.

My twisted mind just doesn’t work that way.

By: Amie Stuart

Amie Stuart — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:29:27 +0000

Actually I DO know an author who writes Inspy and Erotica Anyway, in my more mainstream stuff I still use all the same words but I think there’s more emotion to it bec. the focus is on two people in love not just two people in lust. I’d say it’s a little more tame but not much (no threesomes etc)

By: Nonny Morgan

Nonny Morgan — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:00:30 +0000

Some of the more “erotic” language is becoming more common in mainstream, like “cock” and “clit” as Shelli mentioned. I think, though, that it’s used a lot more often in erotic work than mainstream.

One thing to keep in mind — you don’t always have to be specific. In an erotic novel you might write: “Molly slid her hand down his jeans and squeezed his hard cock.”

But you could write: “Molly slid her hands down his jeans and squeezed.”

The effect is the same, especially if you have a line afterward about the male’s reaction ;) but it avoids the use of the “C” word. You can use “erection,” or “shaft,” or “length,” but there’s only so many times you can use a word before people start screaming at you to get a fucking thesaurus. ;)

But, really, I think if you want to use explicit language in a “mainstream” romance, you can. I see it in a lot of them these days.

Now, if you’re writing science fiction or fantasy… that’s a different story. Much less common there, though you do see it some.

By: Anna J. Evans

Anna J. Evans — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:11:27 +0000

This is a great question…whew…

In my YA stuff, the conflict is usually not sexual in nature, so it’s easier to keep the romance tame. I focus on the adventure, the girls’ coming of age story, not the nookie. Though there are tingles and hand holding and great kisses and thoughts about buying hot lingerie. I have one character who’s actually had sex before, but she’s backing away from meaningless encounters so that was pretty easy too.

As far as love scenes in non-erotic books, I don’t pull too many punches myself. I still use most of the words I would use in an erorom though maybe not as often. Sex is hot in many many romance books these days and I think most woman want to call a cock a cock. Right?

I hope so anyway….lol…

anna j evans

By: Scarlett Sanderson

Scarlett Sanderson — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:06:47 +0000

The rest of the ladies have given you some great advice. I’ve just made the cross over from
‘mainstream’ love scenes to erotic, so I cannot be a big help! However, as a reviewer, I’ve seen ‘cock’ (isn’t that a great word? ) in a lot of mainstream books over the past few months. The biggest difference I’ve picked up on, and Jenna already mentioned, is non-erotica focuses more on the emotional side.

By: Isabelle

Isabelle — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:11:11 +0000

It’s going to be weird, because you’ve been writing erotica for so long, but you know what? You’re a writer, and a good one at that, you’re going to find that a lot of it will be naturally dictated by your characters (ha, ha, dic-tated… lol, ok sorry, so corny). Even if you write it extra hot, it’s always easy to go back and tone it down. So no worries, hun. You’ll do fine!

By: April A

April A — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:10:19 +0000

I don’t write in more than one genre at this point. But I think Jenna has a point. Things will just naturally progress in accordance with the characters. Good luck!!!

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:11:05 +0000

Ah, you’ve all given me such great advice! I especially like how the dynamics of the characters can determine how hot the sex is. So true!!

Heh heh, I like using the hump graphic.

By: Antonia Pearce

Antonia Pearce — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:48:14 +0000

Funny you should mention this, Karen! I’m in the same boat. Trying to clean up my act a bit for a particular project.

Along the lines of what Deanna says, I find it much easier to write sweet or erotic, it’s really hard to figure out the in-between. Especially now that there are so many words on the no-no list! LOL

By: Eden Bradley

Eden Bradley — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:05:01 +0000

I haven’t had to rein it in for a long time, but there are creative ways you can use language without falling into the purple prose trap. There are lists of terms on Romance Divas in the Steamy section-very helpful!
You’re a talented writer, Karen-I know you can do it!