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Connie_briscoe
Regular Poster
Username: Connie_briscoe
Post Number: 15
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 08:46 am: | 
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Thought I'd let you all know that an interview with Lee McDonald, who handled book marketing at Karibu Books before it closed down, appears on my blog today. She talks about what it takes to market books and what's on the horizon for her.
www.conniebriscoe.com/lee-mcdonald-karibu |
Zane
Regular Poster
Username: Zane
Post Number: 84
Registered: 11-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 02:43 pm: |
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Great interview. Thanks for sharing. |
Connie_briscoe
Regular Poster
Username: Connie_briscoe
Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 11:31 am: |
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Thanks Zane. Lee is building up a stellar list of clients and I'm happy for her.
www.conniebriscoe.com |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2208
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008 - 12:08 pm: |
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Connie,
How do you select the authors that you interview on your blog? |
Connie_briscoe
Regular Poster
Username: Connie_briscoe
Post Number: 21
Registered: 01-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 01:00 pm: |
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A_womon, it varies. I pick and some are referred to me by publicists and others. The main criteria is that the author's book(s) be very well written, as I feel I'm making a recommendation even though it's not a book review. Sex scenes are OK as long as they are not too frequent or raw, and I would make exceptions to that for certain circumstances. Yeah, I know "frequent" and "raw" are subjective, but I reserve the right to decide.
http://conniebriscoe.com/victoria-rowell-women-who-raised-me-review |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2209
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 05:41 pm: |
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Thanks for the information, Connie. I have been reading your interviews and enjoyed them all. I particularly enjoyed the ones on Kim Roby and Lolita Files.
I thought about the question you asked Kim Roby about whether or not she felt pressure to include more detailed descriptions in the sex scenes she writes.
This is something I struggle with in my writing. I will admit, I have written some pretty detailed scenes in the bedroom, that have left me feeling rather ambivelent. While I feel that a story involving adults who are in love, or in a relationship has to include sex in order for the relationship to ring true, I'm still unsure where the line should be drawn when it comes to descriptive sex.
I do feel that there is a higher demand these days for steamier sex scenes, though.
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Connie_briscoe
Regular Poster
Username: Connie_briscoe
Post Number: 22
Registered: 01-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 08:53 am: |
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A_womon, I'll be talking about this in more depth on my blog tomorrow (Tuesday). So stop by.
But long story short--if it makes you uneasy you have probably gone too far. You should be comfortable with it or your readers may sense that you're not. You don't have to HAVE to have sex scenes, depends on what you want and the audience you're trying to reach.
www.conniebriscoe.com |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2210
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 04:28 pm: |
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Thanks for the invite, Connie. I'll definitely check it out! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11947
Registered: 01-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 01:03 pm: |
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From one Connie B. to another Connie B., I read with interest your advice on composing sex scenes. Why, I don't know since my days of writing them are probably over.
But, when I was writing them, I always tried to temper vulgarity with metaphor. An excerpt from one of my novels, read: ...welcomed into the brace of her thighs, the fuel of his desire drove him inside of her, the probe of his need exciting the folds of her want... Another one read: ...muffling her moans with the smother of his kisses, he was carried away by the pull of her inner succulence. Buoyed by his need, engulfed by her want, he began to stroke, deep, hard, steady... 
Obviously a writer also have to be careful not to turn "horniness" into "corniness". 
OK, break's over. Back to discussing those 2 lovebirds, Hillary and Barak.  |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 156
Registered: 02-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 04:23 pm: |
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**Obviously a writer also have to be careful not to turn "horniness" into "corniness".**
Preach!
I enjoy writing sex scenes. I try to remember that most of my readers probably have had sex before, and so just writing about sex for sex's sake makes no literary sense--you're telling the reader something she already knows. The sex scenes, just like the non-sex scenes, should reveal character and move the story forward. Anything else is probably gratuitous and, er, masturbatory, on the part of the writer. ;-) |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2211
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 05:23 pm: |
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"Anything else is probably gratuitous and, er, masturbatory, on the part of the writer"
That's a very broad statement and pure conjecture. IMO How could anyone know what writers of erotica are thinking or feeling as they write unless the person writes in this genre? And even then the writer could only speak from their own experience.
In subjective matters there is no definitive answer. What is too much for some could be not enough for others.
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Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 157
Registered: 02-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 05:44 pm: |
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**That's a very broad statement and pure conjecture. **
And this differs from an opinion--which is all any of us can give--how?
**How could anyone know what writers of erotica are thinking or feeling as they write unless the person writes in this genre?**
Writers who don't write erotica write sex scenes all the time. I don't profess to know what any writer is feeling or thinking, but as a reader I certainly can deem something I read as gratuitous and masturbatory *to me*. The *to me* goes without saying.
This is not only my standard as reader, but as a writer. Over the years, I've developed a pretty good gauge of what is gratuitous and masturbatory in my own writing, sexual or non-sexual. And, thankfully, I have astute writer friends who offer the gift of critique and point out places that I miss. This is my standard. Other writers' standards may vary. *shrug*
I wasn't putting forth any How to Write Sex Rules for writers. But if a writer asks my opinion (and they have) this is what I would say. They, and anyone else, are free to disagree with what I'm saying, but I'm not obligated to temper or excessively caveat my opinions.
**And even then the writer could only speak from their own experience. **
When did I say I was doing anything but this?
**In subjective matters there is no definitive answer.**
When did I say I was offering one?
**What is too much for some could be not enough for others.**
Which is why writers shouldn't worry much about if it's going to be "too much" for the reader, and why the should reject any opinion or rule or advice that doesn't work for them. But of course there are those writers who feel like none of the rules apply to them, lol, God bless 'em!
The question, IMO (do we really have to write that in every post?), is does the sex scene ring true to the writer's ear and eye as she is the first judge of her own work. After that, all future readers will judge for him or herself, the author's intent bedamned. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2212
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 06:05 pm: |
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Yes you most definitely are entitled to your opinion as am I. And in my opinion your statement was too broad. If one person reads a given erotic passage and it causes them to reminisce about a past love, and another reads it and feels masturabatory, I say to each his/her own. Each is entitled to feel whatever about what they have read.
To me your statement seemed to read as all inclusive. And if that wasn't your intent, then so be it. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2213
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 06:22 pm: |
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And FK, you know there is a difference between, an opinion and pure conjecture, though the two may share some similarities... |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 158
Registered: 02-2008
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 06:24 pm: |
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So now you're in my head, after preaching about how no one can be in a writer's head? Wow. Pure comedy. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2214
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 06:27 pm: |
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What. Ever. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11950
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 07:20 pm: |
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To me, FK's statement was referring to the effect a sex scene has on the reader, not what was on the writer's mind when she wrote such a scene. A writer presumably crafts a sex scene to titillate the reader, not to to satisfy herself. So writing a sex scene is an exercise in objectivity. Reading one is when the subjectivity comes into question. And the writer, of course, has the responsibility of censoring herself. IMO |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2215
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 07:29 pm: |
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You missed a few! AHAHAHHAHAHAA! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11951
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 07:44 pm: |
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Obviously your responses shifted from the original statment you made which was:
"How could anyone know what writers of erotica are thinking or feeling as they write unless the person writes in this genre? And even then the writer could only speak from their own experience. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2216
Registered: 05-2004
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 07:46 pm: |
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*snicker* |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11952
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 07:48 pm: |
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Connie_briscoe
Regular Poster
Username: Connie_briscoe
Post Number: 23
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 09:08 pm: |
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Hey, everyone.
"And the writer, of course, has the responsibility of censoring herself...."
This, I think, can be the key to avoid being vulgar or gross when you write a sex scene and staying on the safe side of mainstream--if that is your intent.
www.conniebriscoe.com/sex-and-the-author |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 159
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 10:01 pm: |
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Cynique, that was indeed what I was referring to.
You raise an important point about the writer writing to titillate the reader. A gratuitous scene is one that titillates but does nothing else. That's part of what I meant by the scene needing to serve another purpose as well, such as characterization or moving the story forward. Good erotica titillates *and* offers up good characters and engaging stories. That's how I differentiate between erotica and straight up porn, not necessarily the particularly sex acts involved or the kind of language used.
A story I really liked from "Black Silk: A Collection of African-American Erotica" was Breena Clark's "Fucking the Fat Man". I also enjoyed Brian Egelston's "Wall Banging" in "After Hours: A Collection of Erotic Writing by Black Men". I was kinda disappointed in the ending but the story itself was a fun ride. ;-) I recommend both these collections, even though the quality of the stories is uneven at times. |
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