The HEA Cafe

In the last year, the RWR (Romance Writers Report) has published letters to the editor with complaints of romance books having too much sex and foul language. Critics have said they don’t want to see beyond the bedroom door, and they consider authors who use foul language as being challenged individuals when it comes to finding words that better convey emotions.

For those individuals who prefer a more sedate book, please note that the market drives the demand for certain types of books. To make a living one MUST make accommodations based on what’s driving sales. Instead of sniping at fellow authors, sit thee down and write the good book as my friend Claire says. The same to protesters of foul language.

Writing romance isn’t something we can do in a vacuum. We need to either incorporate our reality into a book, or at least present an accurate picture of the past. We need to write what readers believe is realistic, and there are many romance readers who believe that sex, foul language and/or both is a vital component of a romance. With all that in mind, I do think some of the protesters have a valid point. There can be too much sex and too much foul language. Now before you tackle me on that, please note that I write erotic romance. I write carnal sex scenes in my romance works. I also use “foul” language. But here’s what some writers and readers don’t understand. Too much of something is a bad thing.

When writing sex, the writer needs to understand that it’s the sexual tension the reader wants. They want build up or at the very least a really good reason for the culmination of sex. Readers on the other hand need to understand that what they see as “too much sex in romance” is really a sign of poorly developed sexual tension and/or characterization. So instead of ranting about there’s too much sex in romance, start ranting about the lack of characterization or sexual tension. There is a big difference. In this humble writer’s opinion, it’s not that there’s too much sex in romance, it’s that the sex in a lot of romance is simply underdeveloped sexual tension and/or character development.

I applaud sex and foul language in romance when used appropriately and not repeatedly. And I believe that’s the biggest part of the problem. I think it’s the repetitiveness in so many romances that irritates readers. They just don’t realize it. The issue of foul language can be viewed the same way. For a character or scene the use of “foul” language can be quite appropriate, but too much makes for repetition and the words lose their impact. There’s nothing more powerful than the F-word used at a point in the story where that’s the only word that will do. But using it every other line reduces the word’s impact. The same goes for using words like clit, clitoris, penis, etc. These throw me out of the read. (I’m continuously asking myself if the majority of women really use those words when they’re making love to their significant others? Maybe some do, but I’m willing to bet a lot of women don’t. In fact, they’re more apt to be a little more base. *grin*) For me those words don’t ring true. They don’t sound realistic in the context they’re placed..

And that’s what this post is really about. Realism. Is the sex realistic, appropriate and written into the story at the right point in time for the characters drawn on the page? Is the language used appropriate for the specific moment in the story? Has the writer avoided the issue of repetitiveness with both the sex and the foul words. Sex and foul language are integral to many good books. But when it’s overdone, it’s like overcooked beef — it’s dry and far from tasty.

Monica Burns is a multi-published erotic romance author. Her current release, Mirage, is receiving rave reviews, including a Top Pick from Romantic Times BOOKreviews and a “scorching” review from Sylvia Day.

Monica’s next release is Dangerous, a paranormal from Samhain Publishing. Visit her website for more information. http://www.monicaburns.com/BookshelfDangerous.htm

Promoting it, of course! 

As a recently-published debut author, I’ve spend as much, or more, time on my website, building up my Myspace page, blogging, and posting on various loops to get my name out than I did on writing the book in the first place! 

I’m published by a small, print publisher who sends all of their titles to various review sites. They have a full-time marketing person who helps with promotion, and other authors who give advice on websites, banners and the like. But other published authors, even those on the NYT list, have said they work hard to keep their readers informed of their upcoming books through author-specific Yahoo groups and updated websites. 

Wait! You mean Sherrilyn Kenyon, Suzanne Brockmann, Janet Evanovich and even La Nora spend precious writing time on promotion? 

Well, probably not with websites and such (some have fan clubs and paid staff to take care of some things,) but they certainly do spend time pressing the flesh and talking with their reader fans at conventions and book signings. I know, because I’m one of those writer/readers who stand in long lines to get my scant 30-60 seconds of meet and greet with my favorite authors. 

Patience, they say. It takes time to build a following. But in the meantime, there are four things authors can take heed of from watching our heroines (NYT bestsellers, of course!) in action: 

1. Be gracious and friendly in public, even when your feet are killing you and the migraine that’s been stalking you for days has finally taken over. You never know who’s watching, and that person you just snarled at could be a bookseller assigned to stock books for all the B&Ns in the Southeast. 

2. Treat other writers as equals. No one in New York understands what makes one talented writer a bestselling author and an equally-talented writer a one-shot wonder. Just because you’re on top today doesn’t mean you’ll be on top tomorrow (ask Sherrilyn Kenyon.) Guess what? We’re not in competition with one another. As romance writers, our job is to write engaging books that will keep and expand the reader base for romance. It doesn’t matter whether they’re more comfortable reading a print or e-book. What matters is that they read…a lot…and keep coming back for more! 

3. Write a great book. And then another…and another. Keep pushing to make each subsequent book better than the last. There is nothing that will make a romance reader an ex-reader quicker than reading her favorite author, only to become disappointed with the results. 

4. Give back. Give back to your readers and to the organizations and people that helped you get here. Donate your time to judge writing contests. And when you do, remember to be gentle and give positive, constructive criticism, if it’s called for. Remember, there’s a flesh-and-blood person at the other end of that partial manuscript who had the guts to submit their baby for your eyes. 

Attend other author’s booksignings and BUY their books. And if you happen to spot that author who has the unfortunate bad luck of being assigned the seat next to a bestselling author at a convention, make your way to her table stocked high with unsigned books. Look her in the eye, shake her hand, and ask for a personalized autograph. Remember, but for the grace of God, go I! And you just may be shaking hands with the next Nora Roberts! 

What about you? Do you have a personal favorite? What about your own experiences? Do you have some words of wisdom for this author? 

Ana Aragón is a recently published author with The Wild Rose Press. Her road to publication has been long and arduous, but along the way she’s made some great friends and learned a thing or two (or three…or fifty!) from the authors she’s had the pleasure of meeting. 

Her next book, Strike Three…You’re Mine! will be available in 2008 from The Wild Rose Press. 

www.anaaragon.com 

www.myspace.com/anaaragonwrites 

Or: Everything I needed to know, I learned from George Costanza

I’ve always loved to read, so it was no surprise to anyone when I eventually decided to write a book of my own. When I did, I attacked it head on. I planned, I worked, I outlined more than any woman should. The end result? I wrote three mysteries that didn’t sell.

I don’t know how many of you watch Seinfeld, but there is a time in George’s life where he decides what he’s been doing hasn’t been working, so he decides to do the opposite. That’s what I did with my books. I’d been writing serious mysteries, with lots of science and research involved. They’d generated some interest, enough to almost, almost sell. But nothing quite happened.

To take my mind off the latest mystery making the rounds with agents, I decided to write something completely different, a funny paranormal romance where I could build my own world and make up my own rules. I fell in love with the idea of a preschool teacher who is forced to run off with a gang of geriatric biker witches and THE ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER was born.

Instead of a 20-page plot outline, I had a 5-page list of ideas, one of which included “but little did they know, all the Shoney’s are run by werewolves.” Instead of following the rules, I broke a few. Instead of painstakingly writing over the course of a year, I giggled my way through the book and had a complete manuscript in five months.

The opening chapters did well in contests and caught the eye of an editor, who asked to see the whole thing. That same editor bought the book less than a week after I finished it.

I still can’t believe THE ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER will be an August 2008 release. And just this afternoon, I was working on the sequel, laughing with the characters and having more fun than I should.

While I’m not sure Seinfeld is the best place to go for life lessons, I really do think there’s something to be said for following your instincts – in writing and in everything else. Can you think of a time you’ve taken a different path? Broken out of a pattern and started something new?

. . . the tough get off the internet.

That’s my challenge for myself this weekend. I have a lot of writing to do. I’ve been slowly eking out the rest of my book, but the writing has been very slow. Too slow.

When I examine what’s going on, the answer is very clear. I stop too many times along the writing road. I check my email here. I check my favorite blogs there. I massage what’s in my Amazon cart. In other words, I never fully get into the zone because I come up for air too often.

So, this weekend, I’ve challenged myself to stay off the net and get some quality writing in. I don’t have a set goal of words, but I do know that I can’t get this manuscript finished, polished, and into the hands of prospective agents if I don’t finish it.

Now that’s motivation.

I recently saw a survey online (Live Journal, November 2007) about what influenced readers to buy a book.  Of course, as an author, this interested me very much.  I don’t have much money to spend on publicity, yet I worry that if I don’t advertise or climb on the latest gimmick bandwagon (book trailers, bookmarks, My Space page, etc.), no one will buy my books. 

So here are the results of the Live Journal poll:

Question: Which of the following promotional tools has (even once) led you to purchase a book (Check as many as apply.):

1. Previous familiarity with author’s other work - 99.1%

2. Recommendation of friend - 91.1%

3. Reading about book on another person’s blog or website - 80%

4. Reading first chapter of book online or in store - 63.2%

5. Cover art - 63%

6. Cover or flap blurbs (promotional quotes) - 58.2%

7. Published (print or electronic) book review - 56.2%

8. Attending a reading or signing event with author (including a convention) - 51%

9. Bookseller or librarian recommendation - 41.8%

10. Other - 7.8%

11. Contest sponsored by author or publisher - 7.2%

12. Receiving promotional email from author - 6.3%

13. Receiving postcard in mail from author - 3.9%

14. Receiving toys or other promotional gimmicks from author - 3.5%

I have no idea how many people were polled in this survey, but I tend to agree with these results simply because they fit my own book buying profile.  Number one is absolutely true.  If I read a book and love it, I will definitely look for another book by that author.  I also agree with the lower results.  While receiving a pen or bookmark might increase my recognition of a writer’s name, I have never once bought a book because of one.

So as May approaches, and with it comes the launch of my new miniseries with Silhouette, I’m leaning towards forgetting the postcards and other promotional gimmicks, and trying to network with booksellers instead.

So what do you think?  Do you agree with these poll results?  What influences you to buy a book?