Thursday Thirteen 18th Edition
Dec. 13th, 2007 02:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xakaraHello Kittens,
This Thursday is a bit more adult in nature so feel free to pass on by if necessary, I don't mind. Most of you know that I write and that I have a novella coming out on February 26th that is classified as an Erotic Romance as it's a Poly-Romance featuring three people. Why Erotic Romance? Because sex fascinates me and I can only explore it the way I wish under the title of Erotic Romance.
Since my inclination for Poly-Romance, (which ends in the Happily-Ever-After of Polyfidelity), qualifies me as an Erotic writer despite my mild language and such, I decided to look at the other things on the list with me and weigh in on them. It took me a bit to fully feel comfortable with the title of "Erotic Romance Writer/Romantica Writer" because I didn't want readers to expect explicitness that simply isn't there. But I've come to accept that there's no other label and I want my audience prepared rather than shocked when they read my work. So peace has been made with it.
And in the celebration of peace, I bring you 13 Kinks That Make Your Work Erotic Romance. Now I don't mean that the entire work need center around these elements, (though some should), but that introducing them into the overall plot arc will definitely land you as an erotic writer.
Enjoy.
13 Kinks That Make Your Work Erotic Romance
1. Explicitly Languaged and Detailed Vanilla Sex ~ Naughty language is technically a kink and a staple of Erotica. You don't have to be swinging from the chandeliers or covered in leather and lace; frank, explicit language is enough for the erotic label if it's giving all the down and dirty.
2. Menage a trois ~ Or more, no one says you have to stop at three, but anything more than two in a bed, (on the floor, across the table or under a waterfall as in my last scene), and you are now an erotic writer. I think Polyfidelity is just as legit as a regular het romance, and I know there are many who practice it who'd like to see themselves represented in fiction as something more than nymphos, man-sluts and kept men/women. Most of the works out there do use the explicit language and detailed acts of #1, but not all, so it's the number, not the way you describe them.
3. Same-Sex Love Scenes ~ I have many issues here. I don't know why a romance with two men or two women needs a warning or safety label like erotic if not explicit and written on par with sexy contemporary romance. I do however admit, that many of the romances that deal with same-sex love scenes do so in an explicit manner which does qualify it as erotic. But matching genitalia shouldn't "auto-qualify" simply because that's where readers are used to finding it. I'm happy to say that this isn't as prevalent as it once was and many publishers now have a dedicated LGBT section.
4. Spanking ~ You like it, I love it for you. But if someone called themselves spanking me I'd knock them into next week. Just not wired that way. Despite being found on the Sadomasochistic spectrum, spanking is a separate fetish that does not require a BDSM setting.
5. Bondage ~ I understand why this attracts some people and I get what it is they derive from it. I can't stand to be bound however, so again, not wired this way to be the one tied. But I'm sympathetic enough to be able to tie someone else if they needed.
6. Domination/Submission ~ On most sites this is lumped under BDSM, but these are not all one thing. It is in fact a spectrum, like sexuality itself, and many things qualify as D/s that don't fall under sadomasochism. I understand certain aspects of the D/s dynamic, and I see the attraction for those in it.
7. SadoMasochism ~ I don't get it. I understand it. But I don't get. I also don't judge it. I understand how pleasure and pain can overlap in the way the body and brain signal each other. I also understand the endorphins involved and the body stress necessary to achieve them such as what happens in running. I respect the intimacy and trust of the situation and the depth of the bond that can form. I don't get the idea of receiving pleasure by causing someone else pain and no one has been able to explain it to me.
The one issue I have with this category of Erotica and Erotic Romance, is the same issue I have with D/s; the topic is used for titillation without delving into the psychology of it. So I don't come away educated and therefor don't return. Too few in the lifestyle write fiction so there aren't enough viewpoints to give this, among other alternate lifestyles, the blush of truth in fiction that makes it truly gripping to an outsider like myself.
8. Voyeurism ~ What's not to love about voyeurism? Assuming it's done in a non-creepy, non-stalker, no-restraining-order-necessary kind of way, voyeurism is an art and it's always great to find it well written and involving, (because voyeurism is involved, don't be fooled).
9. Gender-bending ~ I haven't read enough of this to know if it's done well out there in fictionland. I do know of the complaints and feelings of disregard for those who genderbend, so I'm guessing there aren't a lot of options for those reading in this genre. I have a novella that bends gender but haven't gotten feedback on it to know how a Pub House like Samhain views it.
10. Fetish Play A ~ Objects: Shoes, stockings, lingerie, rope, cuffs, leather, anything that in and of itself is sexualized but doesn't have to do with sex on its own. I've come across very few examples but with so many options I'm convinced someone is turning out great fetish fiction somewhere. If you have a favorite and are brave enough to share, let me know.
11. Fetish Play B ~ Bodyparts: Breasts, thighs, shapely bottoms, male chests, genitalia, and any part that is sexualized separate from the person as a whole. Any woman who has had someone talk to her chest, or felt them staring eye-prints into her backside as she walked away, realizes the prevalance of this fetish.
Interestingly enough, it is the fetish that appears most in mainstream romance but goes unrecognized because although emphasized, the psychology behind it isn't explored in enough depth to name it fetish within the pages of the work. However, I'm sure someone, somewhere has explored this in depth, but it is still not something I hear done often.
12. Fantasy Roleplaying A ~ Person Based Sexual Fantasies: Pirate and Bar wench, Boss and Secretary, Fiery Frontierswoman and Passionate Noble Captor, Duke and Orphan, whatever flips your switch. In the context of the romance, it's usally the exploration of a modern woman at some club/spa/island, able to indulge in a sexual awakening through scripted fantasies.
Most often one of the men who end up fulfilling the fantasy is someone she knows and doesn't want to admit she's fantasized about. You romance readers recognize the plot. I've seen a large amount of these but only read a few. I find them interesting but again, there's often something left out that I just can't quite put my finger on. The psychology behind pursuing such an awakening seems important to me but it's often glossed over or skipped altogether.
13. Fantasy Roleplaying B ~ Humans as Non-humans: Pony-Play, Furry games, Furniture play; there are so many things under this that I couldn't begin to cover them all, nor am I qualified to try. Despite the growing number of these types of fantasies, I have yet to come across a single book that covers it, that isn't non-fiction. But I'm told it's out there and it definitely falls under erotic.
Kink Ramble Done
~X
Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Please SIGN and Leave Your Link in your comment so that others can find you and so that I can place you below.
1. Moon Chylde, 2. No Nonsense Girl, 3. Tempest Knight, 4. Darla, 5. Rian, 6. Frigga, 7. Vixen, 8. Denise, 9. Pussreboots, 10. Jehara, 11. Susan Helen Gottfried, 12. Moondancer Drake, 13. Carrie Lofty, 14. Nicolas, 15. Samantha K, 16. Joely Sue, 17. WhytRaven, 18. Nicole Austin,
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
This Thursday is a bit more adult in nature so feel free to pass on by if necessary, I don't mind. Most of you know that I write and that I have a novella coming out on February 26th that is classified as an Erotic Romance as it's a Poly-Romance featuring three people. Why Erotic Romance? Because sex fascinates me and I can only explore it the way I wish under the title of Erotic Romance.
Since my inclination for Poly-Romance, (which ends in the Happily-Ever-After of Polyfidelity), qualifies me as an Erotic writer despite my mild language and such, I decided to look at the other things on the list with me and weigh in on them. It took me a bit to fully feel comfortable with the title of "Erotic Romance Writer/Romantica Writer" because I didn't want readers to expect explicitness that simply isn't there. But I've come to accept that there's no other label and I want my audience prepared rather than shocked when they read my work. So peace has been made with it.
And in the celebration of peace, I bring you 13 Kinks That Make Your Work Erotic Romance. Now I don't mean that the entire work need center around these elements, (though some should), but that introducing them into the overall plot arc will definitely land you as an erotic writer.
Enjoy.
1. Explicitly Languaged and Detailed Vanilla Sex ~ Naughty language is technically a kink and a staple of Erotica. You don't have to be swinging from the chandeliers or covered in leather and lace; frank, explicit language is enough for the erotic label if it's giving all the down and dirty.
2. Menage a trois ~ Or more, no one says you have to stop at three, but anything more than two in a bed, (on the floor, across the table or under a waterfall as in my last scene), and you are now an erotic writer. I think Polyfidelity is just as legit as a regular het romance, and I know there are many who practice it who'd like to see themselves represented in fiction as something more than nymphos, man-sluts and kept men/women. Most of the works out there do use the explicit language and detailed acts of #1, but not all, so it's the number, not the way you describe them.
3. Same-Sex Love Scenes ~ I have many issues here. I don't know why a romance with two men or two women needs a warning or safety label like erotic if not explicit and written on par with sexy contemporary romance. I do however admit, that many of the romances that deal with same-sex love scenes do so in an explicit manner which does qualify it as erotic. But matching genitalia shouldn't "auto-qualify" simply because that's where readers are used to finding it. I'm happy to say that this isn't as prevalent as it once was and many publishers now have a dedicated LGBT section.
4. Spanking ~ You like it, I love it for you. But if someone called themselves spanking me I'd knock them into next week. Just not wired that way. Despite being found on the Sadomasochistic spectrum, spanking is a separate fetish that does not require a BDSM setting.
5. Bondage ~ I understand why this attracts some people and I get what it is they derive from it. I can't stand to be bound however, so again, not wired this way to be the one tied. But I'm sympathetic enough to be able to tie someone else if they needed.
6. Domination/Submission ~ On most sites this is lumped under BDSM, but these are not all one thing. It is in fact a spectrum, like sexuality itself, and many things qualify as D/s that don't fall under sadomasochism. I understand certain aspects of the D/s dynamic, and I see the attraction for those in it.
7. SadoMasochism ~ I don't get it. I understand it. But I don't get. I also don't judge it. I understand how pleasure and pain can overlap in the way the body and brain signal each other. I also understand the endorphins involved and the body stress necessary to achieve them such as what happens in running. I respect the intimacy and trust of the situation and the depth of the bond that can form. I don't get the idea of receiving pleasure by causing someone else pain and no one has been able to explain it to me.
The one issue I have with this category of Erotica and Erotic Romance, is the same issue I have with D/s; the topic is used for titillation without delving into the psychology of it. So I don't come away educated and therefor don't return. Too few in the lifestyle write fiction so there aren't enough viewpoints to give this, among other alternate lifestyles, the blush of truth in fiction that makes it truly gripping to an outsider like myself.
8. Voyeurism ~ What's not to love about voyeurism? Assuming it's done in a non-creepy, non-stalker, no-restraining-order-necessary kind of way, voyeurism is an art and it's always great to find it well written and involving, (because voyeurism is involved, don't be fooled).
9. Gender-bending ~ I haven't read enough of this to know if it's done well out there in fictionland. I do know of the complaints and feelings of disregard for those who genderbend, so I'm guessing there aren't a lot of options for those reading in this genre. I have a novella that bends gender but haven't gotten feedback on it to know how a Pub House like Samhain views it.
10. Fetish Play A ~ Objects: Shoes, stockings, lingerie, rope, cuffs, leather, anything that in and of itself is sexualized but doesn't have to do with sex on its own. I've come across very few examples but with so many options I'm convinced someone is turning out great fetish fiction somewhere. If you have a favorite and are brave enough to share, let me know.
11. Fetish Play B ~ Bodyparts: Breasts, thighs, shapely bottoms, male chests, genitalia, and any part that is sexualized separate from the person as a whole. Any woman who has had someone talk to her chest, or felt them staring eye-prints into her backside as she walked away, realizes the prevalance of this fetish.
Interestingly enough, it is the fetish that appears most in mainstream romance but goes unrecognized because although emphasized, the psychology behind it isn't explored in enough depth to name it fetish within the pages of the work. However, I'm sure someone, somewhere has explored this in depth, but it is still not something I hear done often.
12. Fantasy Roleplaying A ~ Person Based Sexual Fantasies: Pirate and Bar wench, Boss and Secretary, Fiery Frontierswoman and Passionate Noble Captor, Duke and Orphan, whatever flips your switch. In the context of the romance, it's usally the exploration of a modern woman at some club/spa/island, able to indulge in a sexual awakening through scripted fantasies.
Most often one of the men who end up fulfilling the fantasy is someone she knows and doesn't want to admit she's fantasized about. You romance readers recognize the plot. I've seen a large amount of these but only read a few. I find them interesting but again, there's often something left out that I just can't quite put my finger on. The psychology behind pursuing such an awakening seems important to me but it's often glossed over or skipped altogether.
13. Fantasy Roleplaying B ~ Humans as Non-humans: Pony-Play, Furry games, Furniture play; there are so many things under this that I couldn't begin to cover them all, nor am I qualified to try. Despite the growing number of these types of fantasies, I have yet to come across a single book that covers it, that isn't non-fiction. But I'm told it's out there and it definitely falls under erotic.
Kink Ramble Done
~X
Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Please SIGN and Leave Your Link in your comment so that others can find you and so that I can place you below.
1. Moon Chylde, 2. No Nonsense Girl, 3. Tempest Knight, 4. Darla, 5. Rian, 6. Frigga, 7. Vixen, 8. Denise, 9. Pussreboots, 10. Jehara, 11. Susan Helen Gottfried, 12. Moondancer Drake, 13. Carrie Lofty, 14. Nicolas, 15. Samantha K, 16. Joely Sue, 17. WhytRaven, 18. Nicole Austin,
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
no subject
Date: 2007-12-13 12:18 pm (UTC)Hmm... I wonder if Oprah's "va-jay-jay" word would ever make it into stories. Hehehe!
- Tempest Knight
http://midnightmooncafe.blogspot.com/
no subject
Date: 2007-12-14 02:19 am (UTC)Thanks for coming by, Tempest. It's always appreciated it.
~X