Comments on: Writerly Stuff http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/ SEXY, SASSY, SMART ROMANTIC FICTION Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:16:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dyencemodcame http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-59532 Dyencemodcame Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:14:35 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-59532 Hi! Do you have any suggestions about my modest amendment Fresh joke! If a pencil and a piece of paper had a race, which would win? The pencil. (The paper would remain stationary) Hi! Do you have any suggestions about my modest amendment Fresh joke! If a pencil and a piece of paper had a race, which would win? The pencil. (The paper would remain stationary)

]]> By: Monica http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4429 Monica Mon, 19 Feb 2007 06:38:39 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4429 I *really* wish there was something like this for black writers. I'm struggling to establish IBWA, but it's so uphill, it looks like Everest. That's the best thing about RWA, the support. Since we aren't considered romance writers, the support for us is about nil and we need to build our systems. RWA is a great model. I *really* wish there was something like this for black writers. I’m struggling to establish IBWA, but it’s so uphill, it looks like Everest. That’s the best thing about RWA, the support. Since we aren’t considered romance writers, the support for us is about nil and we need to build our systems. RWA is a great model.

]]> By: Stacy ~ http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4426 Stacy ~ Mon, 19 Feb 2007 03:52:44 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4426 Oh this is becoming one of my "issues" with the corrent books out there. I love the hot stuff, I really, really do, but it's gotten to the point where I feel so de-sensitized to it that I'm spending more time re-reading old favorites, and as much as I enjoy that, I get frustrated because I love reading current books but hate that almost every new story I pick up is about the instant gratification. Where is the buildup, the sexual tension, the emotional intensity? Cindy is spot on about Brava. Your story in Viva Las Bad Boys, the one about the chef (sorry it escapes me even though I'm looking at your bookcover as I type this) is a great example of what I'm talking about as far as the above mentioned elements that make this reader happy. Your characters did not meet, have sex, then have more sex until we hear about how sore they are. There definitely has to be more of a plot than that, and you created the tension, the storyline and the attraction that kept me glued to the pages. I agree with Cindy about the title of your next book too. I didn't think it was all about oral fixation, but rather a mouthy heroine who is getting under the hero's skin - she has both a sexy mouth and a sassy attitude - and it's driving him wild. After reading your "warning", I really can't wait to read it! Oh this is becoming one of my “issues” with the corrent books out there. I love the hot stuff, I really, really do, but it’s gotten to the point where I feel so de-sensitized to it that I’m spending more time re-reading old favorites, and as much as I enjoy that, I get frustrated because I love reading current books but hate that almost every new story I pick up is about the instant gratification. Where is the buildup, the sexual tension, the emotional intensity?

Cindy is spot on about Brava. Your story in Viva Las Bad Boys, the one about the chef (sorry it escapes me even though I’m looking at your bookcover as I type this) is a great example of what I’m talking about as far as the above mentioned elements that make this reader happy. Your characters did not meet, have sex, then have more sex until we hear about how sore they are. There definitely has to be more of a plot than that, and you created the tension, the storyline and the attraction that kept me glued to the pages.

I agree with Cindy about the title of your next book too. I didn’t think it was all about oral fixation, but rather a mouthy heroine who is getting under the hero’s skin - she has both a sexy mouth and a sassy attitude - and it’s driving him wild. After reading your “warning”, I really can’t wait to read it!

]]> By: Cindy Procter-King http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4422 Cindy Procter-King Sun, 18 Feb 2007 23:59:41 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4422 Well, now I want to buy the book more than ever. Just waiting until the next time I'm allowed on Amazon. Hopefully this week! I don't think of Brava as erotic romance, so I personally think you're safe. I think of Brava as sexy romance, which is a big difference to me. The love scenes might be explicit when they occur (then again, I've read some Bravas with barely any love scenes and others with love scenes that aren't explicit at all), but they aren't so much the focus of the story like they might be in erotica or some erotic romance. I have a sexy romance novella sitting here I just don't know what to do with, because I targeted it to Brava and it didn't fly for reasons that have nothing to do with the sex or lack thereof, but it's too tame for my erotic romance publisher and, I suspect, other erotic romance and erotica novella publishers out there. Yet the story is so darn cute! And rewriting it to *have* sex by page 20, IMO, could be a major mistake. My novella WIP, I admit, in the writing I focussed on getting sex in the first three chapters. I did this as a result of editorial input from my publisher on the rejected one. So I hope I'm hitting the right balance this time. But, basically, I'm guessing. It never occurred to me that your title would mean there's a lot of oral sex in the book. I thought more in terms of sexual tension. To me, that's what the title relates. Cindy Well, now I want to buy the book more than ever. Just waiting until the next time I’m allowed on Amazon. Hopefully this week!

I don’t think of Brava as erotic romance, so I personally think you’re safe. I think of Brava as sexy romance, which is a big difference to me. The love scenes might be explicit when they occur (then again, I’ve read some Bravas with barely any love scenes and others with love scenes that aren’t explicit at all), but they aren’t so much the focus of the story like they might be in erotica or some erotic romance. I have a sexy romance novella sitting here I just don’t know what to do with, because I targeted it to Brava and it didn’t fly for reasons that have nothing to do with the sex or lack thereof, but it’s too tame for my erotic romance publisher and, I suspect, other erotic romance and erotica novella publishers out there. Yet the story is so darn cute! And rewriting it to *have* sex by page 20, IMO, could be a major mistake.

My novella WIP, I admit, in the writing I focussed on getting sex in the first three chapters. I did this as a result of editorial input from my publisher on the rejected one. So I hope I’m hitting the right balance this time. But, basically, I’m guessing.

It never occurred to me that your title would mean there’s a lot of oral sex in the book. I thought more in terms of sexual tension. To me, that’s what the title relates.

Cindy

]]> By: Sylvia Day http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4420 Sylvia Day Sun, 18 Feb 2007 21:27:10 +0000 http://helenkaydimon.com/blog/2007/02/writerly-stuff/#comment-4420 Hi! Great seeing you yesterday! :) I must not think dirty enough. When I saw "Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy", I didn't see "oral sex" at all. Until you said that in your blog post, I didn't even think of it! LOL I just thought her conversation drove him nuts! (and don't ask me why I thought it was her driving him nuts and not the reverse. No idea.) Hugs, Syl Hi!

Great seeing you yesterday! :)

I must not think dirty enough. When I saw “Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy”, I didn’t see “oral sex” at all. Until you said that in your blog post, I didn’t even think of it! LOL I just thought her conversation drove him nuts! (and don’t ask me why I thought it was her driving him nuts and not the reverse. No idea.)

Hugs,
Syl

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