I’ve been on this tear, lately, about trying to get the word out about books that don’t sizzle.
Wait. Let me step back. These books can sizzle. There is often enough sexual tension to melt candles in some of the books I’ve read. What makes them different, what makes them sadly (in my opinion) overlooked, is that when it comes down to the sex, it’s not explicit. It’s not graphic. There are no fluids exchanged in detail, there are no “naughty” words for genitalia. Sex may be on the page, or sex may happen behind closed doors, but compared to the erotic romance that’s prevelant today and seemingly everywhere, these books are tame.
Which means that in the current marketplace it’s hard to get the word out about them. Reviewers don’t pick these books up from their site offerings. Readers may not buy them because the blurbs don’t sizzle. Promotion on mailing lists and in chatrooms may not catch the eye or the attention because the excerpts aren’t sexy enough.
And I wonder why. Before erotic romance became all the rage, was this the case? Has the audience for “standard” romance suddenly disappeared? Is closing the door a death sentence for a book these days?
I have to say that I hope not. I’d rather not have to up the heat in what I’m writing just to get someone to sit up and pay attention. I prefer to write what the story calls for and in most cases, my stories don’t call for an explicit focus on sex. I still want reader feedback and reviews, of course. I’d still like to hear my praises sung on high and to make bestseller lists. Is that becoming an impossibility these days?
What do you think?
August 30th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Apparently you’re not the only one. There’s a group starting called Sweeter Romantic Notions that focuses on the non-erotic romance. I thought of you immediately (btw, you’ve got mail).
I don’t know why it seems that erotic romance is getting all the attention.
I like it all, so I think there’s a place for everything.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
I think in ebooks, erotica is what’s being grabbed up first. I’m not sure why that is, maybe because people want to read that stuff online.
I think in print, the sex doesn’t have to be as hot. I think the medium heat levels would still sell really well if the book was well written.
I always wrote hot, a notch below erotic. And when erotic romance took off, I jumped the bandwagon and upped my heat level. I don’t plan on always being there, but I admit to making that small shift to find my books a home.
August 31st, 2006 at 5:29 am
I’ve always written hot too, and pretty explicit. I was very happy when erotic romance took off. But I read other stuff too and some of my favorite writers don’t write particularly hot. As long as there is no purple, it’s cool with me.
August 31st, 2006 at 11:25 am
I think this is only truly the case in e-publishing. While erotic romance is “hot” in New York, there are still plenty of books that get noticed that don’t have tons of sex.
Personally, my problem with some of the erotic romance I see put out by places like Ellora’s Cave is that there’s so much sex, plot is pushed aside. And really, if I’m beating my head against the desk about the sorry excuse for a plot, then it’s going to be awfully hard for me to enjoy the sex. /rant
I’m somewhat in the same boat, myself, because unless sex ties into the plot in some way, I’m not going to insert gratuitous scenes. There aren’t very many sex scenes in The Twilight Deception, though I’ve been told the scenes in there are definitely hot enough. I’d rather go for quality over quantity, thanks.
August 31st, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Hands On is hotter than either of my 2 ebooks, whereas the proposal I’m sending my agent today probably won’t be as hot as any of them and the ebook I’m trying to finish up is as hot as Hands On.
FWIW I don’t really read sweet/traditional romance but I don’t read a lot of erotic romance either–I tend to stick to rom. suspense and women’s fic. w/a little romance thrown in for balance. I also consume quite a bit of YA books–call it balance I guess.
September 1st, 2006 at 1:58 am
I don’t think you’re in the minority Sara. My mother still reads sweet romances. Don’t worry yourself about it…the market is still there. Write what you want to write.
September 1st, 2006 at 3:20 pm
I believe the market is still there. Erotic romance is hot - I believe it’s extremely hot in epub cos it’s easy to obtain and the buyers don’t have to “admit” to anyone they’re reading it.
I read a variety. I like it steamy hot, I like it mild hot and I like it semi-sweet. Just don’t close the door on me all the way. Of course, if it’s rife with sexual tension, I’ll forgive the closed door…