10-02-2011, 02:01 AM | #16 |
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crich70: Totally agree. A 2-star review of the first in my series said the sex was awkward. The book's about an 18-year-old man, of COURSE the sex is awkward!
Steven: Re: the warning--I don't think it's necessary. If the seamy underworld theme is played up in the blurb, it's pretty clear it's not suitable for children. I don't have a warning on mine (apart from checking the appropriate boxes at Smashwords and B&N). But there are three half-naked people on the cover, two of whom are ID'ed in the blurb as avatars of the gods of sex and love, and the title's "Lovers and Beloveds." That pretty much gives people the idea what they'll find in the book, even though it's not 100% or even 50% erotica. |
10-02-2011, 01:27 PM | #17 |
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As far as the warning goes, so long as the description is clear about what could be in the book, and its tag (where tagging applies) you do not need it. But if you cannot tell by cover/description, then yea... I would edit the description to make it clear, or add the warning just to help those looking for something to read to have a better idea before they get into it.
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10-03-2011, 10:09 AM | #18 | ||
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I can also redo the blurb, which originally read: Quote:
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10-04-2011, 07:43 PM | #19 |
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I think it depends on your intended market. Sex scenes of almost any type do restrict your market. I think we each have to decide if maximizing sales mean more than telling your story exactly how you want to say it. I rarely criticize someone for deciding that food and shelter come before artistic needs.
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10-04-2011, 09:05 PM | #20 | |
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I'll also be changing the blurb, probably to emphasize the sexy aspects of the story, but not to emphasize bondage... which is closer to the aspects of the story anyway. |
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10-04-2011, 10:43 PM | #21 | |
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I dont believe that. Its an often repeated line, but sales do not seem to fit that. For example, G rated movies typically out sell any other rating.
Now if you play a line where you have some small amount of sex, you probably restrict your market more then if you just put it all in, because you loose the people that dont like to read that, but you do not really pick up the people that do because its not enough for them. I think you need to be in one camp or the other and not try to play to both. Quote:
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10-05-2011, 01:39 AM | #22 | ||
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I'm a good deal more likely to venture out of my normal reading range if I know the author doesn't shy away from sex. It's a powerful force in human interactions, and I'm tired of seeing it considered the one topic that can only be mentioned, not depicted. I've seen a lot of books where sex was important to the story--and the writing gets disjointed before & after the spot that obviously should've held a sex scene, that either the writer didn't feel comfortable writing or an editor demanded to be cut out. I'm aware it's not everyone's cuppa, and some people flat-out won't try anything they think might have an erotic scene. I can understand that; there's content I flinch away from, won't read if I know it's included, and sometimes drop a book I'm otherwise enjoying if I run across it. But that's personal tastes, not literary trends... the open market says there's plenty of interest in books of all genres with sex in them, and finding that audience is no more work than finding any other targeted group of readers. |
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10-05-2011, 01:57 AM | #23 | |
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10-05-2011, 07:25 AM | #24 | |
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True. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 10-05-2011 at 09:27 AM. |
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10-06-2011, 04:31 AM | #25 | |
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Bob emerged from under the sheets, face slick from her love. "You won't believe this, Mary, but while I was down there I found a CLUE!" |
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10-06-2011, 05:04 AM | #26 | |
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genius! i would read that book lol. Last edited by xg4bx; 10-06-2011 at 05:08 AM. |
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10-06-2011, 06:57 AM | #27 |
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10-06-2011, 08:44 AM | #28 |
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On a more serious note (yes, I must): In a sex scene, how well (or badly) the sexual moment works out can color the character's views of each other and impact their interactions in the future. You could just say it afterward ("I thought you were nice... but you just got off on hurting me! Never touch me again!" "I'm sorry, Paul..."), but describing that moment can have more impact.
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10-06-2011, 05:31 PM | #29 | |
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Actual plot: other than the case of one character noticing something important about the other ("I see you're missing a patch of hair on the back of your head, where the victim grabbed you!"), it can matter to later plot developments. One character could later be distracted, or paying extra attention to how jackets fit, or aware of how crowded a room would be with three people in it, or thinking about jewelry, because of the events in a sexual encounter. It's no more or less likely to affect plot than "main character took detour to supermarket; noticed quite a few green Subarus in this neighborhood, later realized where the killer escaped to." Some people come out of sex confused and muddled. Some come out of it refocused and sharp. Either of those details can be relevant to the plot. A marathon session that leaves the main character tired and hungry might lead to a trip across town to the only diner open at that hour, where they might catch a view of the person they're chasing. Or they might be so caught up in sex they miss a crucial appointment. And so on. Sex-as-plot-device is just as reasonable a concept as job-as-plot-device or kids-as-plot-device or news-story-as-plot device. |
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10-07-2011, 06:24 AM | #30 | |
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Which is not to say I object to sex scenes - although they do nothing for me. I like proper porn - I just think it's a complete lie that anyone is using them to advance the plot. |
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acceptable, porn, sex |
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