Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

I'm sort of at a stalemate at the moment. I'm still waiting to hear from two publishers on whether or not they want my work and still waiting to hear about the publication date from the other.

I did manage to get a lot of writing done last week which is good since I don't think circumstances will let me get much done this week. I finished the shapeshifter erotica but need to edit through it and get it out pronto. I finished a chapter for my writer's group where I'm working on a previous nano, a YA werewolf/seer novel (now if only i could get my critiques done)

So let's talk a little bit about writing my current subgenre, erotica. Lately through investigating the subgenre and reading other's thoughts on it, I've seen a lot of professional (as opposed to fanfic, not to say it was better since often it was not) erotica in the last few weeks. Here are some rules (or should be rules if you ask me)

Suggestion #1 - So NOT use silly euphemisms for body parts. I know there has been a lot of argument about this. One friend a while back rather argued for the opposite of my stance. I'll grant you penis and vagina are a bit clinical but I'm not arguing against cock or shaft or pussy or folds. I'm talking stupid stuff that yanks you out of the story, giant loverocket, hungry one eyed trouser snake, cum hole (and yes these are all things I've seen recently). This just makes me think a teenager is writing it and being all smug at how naughty he is. It most certainly doesn't suggestion the erotic to me

Suggestion #2 - while we're at it, let's not anthropomorphize our body parts. Your dick doesn't have thoughts of how excited it is to be doing something and your breasts are not holding a conversation. It's just headshakingly bad and makes me want to never buy another story from you and makes me want to turn you into weepingcock.

writing exercise for the week - Using Senses to set a scene

This came up both in one of the above mentioned erotica talks and in Writers' Digest this month. There is a tendency (and I'm very guilty of this) of being overly visual with scene settings. The challenge here is to set a scene using all five senses, or at least as many as you can (leaving sight for last).

114624 / 175000 words. 65% done!

Comments

Re: body part names

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Now you've given me a plot bunny ... humor porn.

Re: body part names

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hey go nuts. I'm pretty sure circlet press or one of the erotica ones I look at HAD that as an anthology theme

Re: body part names

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

I know I can do the humor -- don't know about the porn!

Re: body part names

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i could do the porn, the humor less so

Re: body part names

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

We all have our talents!