Reining It In
I have been writing strictly erotic romance for over a year now. As time goes on I’ve discovered that when I write, I really go for it. What I once thought was taboo or something I would never write about, well, that idea has been tossed out the window. Not that I’m writing a bunch of kinky, outrageous stuff but I AM writing about things or using words I never thought I would (but I’m not using mons so don’t worry Shelli).
(I don’t think this couple want to rein it in - do you?)
So now I have two upcoming projects that aren’t erotic romance. They’re still romance and they can have sizzling hot sex but not erotic sex. I’m going to have to rein it in. After months and months of essentially letting it all hang out, I have to restrain myself. Maybe even (aaah!) use euphemisms to describe certain parts of the sexual act! By the way, I had to look up spelling euphemisms…lol.
I’m a little nervous. I want to have fun with both of these projects, I believe my story ideas are decent but I don’t want to fall into a purple prose trap. Turgid manhoods aren’t my style. I’m just going to have to be really careful not to use any flowery descriptive words. I think I’ll need to heavily rely on critique partners for this one.
Not that I’m a flowery type of writer but I think you know what I mean. I’m not going to the opposite end of the writing spectrum for myself but I am diverting from erotic romance. I want to make sure and do it right.
I know my fellow authors out there write in other genres. Tell me how you do it - share your tips and advice. How do you go from blazing hot sex to inspirational? Well I don’t think I know any authors who write in both of those genres but I know of a couple of you who write ER and YA…
July 25th, 2007 at 11:45 am
I don’t write erotica but great sex enhances any book doesn’t it? (and no I’m not talking about YA)
July 25th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I think using “erection” (very proper) or “hard-on” (a little grittier) are perfectly acceptable substitutes for “cock” (gawd I love that word - cockity cock cock).
I can handle “sex” being used to reference “down there” - but don’t use “down there.”
July 25th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
For me…the kind of lovemaking in the book comes from the characters…so you actually don’t pull back as much as you think. You’ll see. You write natural scenes rather than forced ones, so it won’t be as hard as you fear.
Another trick…instead of playing in from the character having the better time as you would in erotica, you play it from the character with the most to lose from the encounter…makes it more emotional rather than overtly sexual.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Agree with Jenna, it does come from the characters, and it depends on whether your talking category or not. I write for Blaze, but I’m also proposing to Supers, and I have a ST paranormal in process. The paranormal will have love scenes on the order of Blaze, but the Super, while probably being sexier than the average Super, will still have to adhere to the needs of that line. I’ve actually read some very sexy scenes in Supers, and no “turgid manhoods” anywhere to be seen — I really think that stuff is in the past, and it’s more about how the scene is focused than the words. I’d feel perfectly comfortable, for instance, using erection or cock in a Super, though the entire slant of the love scene would probably be far more emotional, and there might not be as many of them as in a Blaze or in erotica.
Sam
July 25th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I think cock and clit are becoming almost okay now everywhere. I see them in regular ST books left and right. The P and C words not so much. You see the occassional P in a Blaze, but the only time I see the C is in erotic romance.
I’m doing the same right now, Karen. Toning down the love scenes. A little. Because bottom line is, hotter is selling better. Whether it’s your average romance (non erotic) or not. Amp up those luuurve scenes.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I dont know-I’m still feeling my way around hehe
But I think you’ve gotten good advice here. So far-three books in-I’m realizing each couple has a different intensity, a different style of lovemaking. Some fun and lighthearted, some hard and raunchy. And that definitely effects the language.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I can’t imagine toning my stories down, which is probably a good thing since I write for EC!
The book I’m writing for NY is about sex, but it’s very gritty and raw, and not always sexy.
And I’m with Shelli. Mainstream fiction is becoming much hotter, and I wonder if you really have to worry about it, Karen. Just don’t use mons.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I tried to write a “main stream” sex scene and was so proud of myself– until I went back to read and realized that I’d used all the words I normally use anyways… I don’t think I can write non-erotic sex… at least not without an intervention. So maybe one day (if I were to go Main Stream), I just won’t put sex in my books at all… lol.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Deanna, for real! I almost prefer no sex to watered down sex scenes.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I don’t think I can add to what everyone else has said lol. Shelli made a good point. Mainstream romance is getting much sexier. I see a lot of people using cock and clit, some of the p and c words, but not much and the scenes overall seem much more explicit than they were a few years ago.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I am working on a main stream type novel and some steamy ones as well and the thing I noticed is details. For my main stream sex scenes I uses only enough (not overly graphic) details that lets the reader know what is going on. Like when Lisa walks in and catches Gary with Samantha. I have the bare details of what they are doing but I have more of what is going on in their minds. Like how Lisa embrrased by what she is seeing and shocked when she realizes that she wants him to do that to her before she flees the scene.
I find main stream is more about the deatils of the whys, whats and hows instead of the touch, feel, scent if you know what I mean.
Ps - Love the blog girls - good work!!!
July 25th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
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!
July 25th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
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
July 25th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
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.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:10 am
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!!!
July 26th, 2007 at 1:11 am
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!
July 26th, 2007 at 3:06 am
The rest of the ladies have given you some great advice. I’ve just made the cross over from
) 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.
‘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?
July 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am
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
July 26th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
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.
July 27th, 2007 at 11:29 am
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)
July 28th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I’m not at all sure I’ll ever write mainstream stuff.
My twisted mind just doesn’t work that way.