Saturday, June 12, 2010

What Do You Think?

While I was in Cincy, I was part of a lively discussion about erotica and romance novels. The arguement was the pacing by which the characters have sex.

I want to know what you think.

Some said this: Erotica should get to the fooling around right away and we should have a good idea that the Hero/Heroine will be together at the end. The reader should know that when they are fooling around the H/H are in love with each other. No love means you're reading porn.

Others said this: The sex and love should come later. We need a chance to really get to know the characters before they get horizontal. The story needs the time to develop and grow.

Still others said this: I want sex right away, but I want them to fall in love later in the story. If they say they're in love too early then I know the ending and its a loss.

What do you think?

My opinion?

It depends on the story. Some are nice when they get right at it, but I'm not keen on screwing just to screw. IMHO it makes the characters look desperate. Then again, sometimes, the right now approach works well.

I also like when the characters are in love earlier on, because there can be times when things can be elusive and then a bad thing happens to threaten the love. Plus, if you're reading romance, don't get me wrong, but come on...the hero and heroine are SUPPOSED to get together at the end and fall in love. (No, I'm not a fan of the happy for now endings and don't get me started on my irritation with hero or heroine dying at the end...)

Then again, I like erotica where there is a plot along with the sex. Sex is fine, it's why I read raunchy stuff, but, I want a plot, you know, a reason for them to have sex beyond for sex's sake.

So what do you think?

5 comments:

J.A. Saare / Aline Hunter said...

I think that like life -- you never know how quickly people will jump into a sexual relationship and it varies for everyone. For that reason, it doesn't bother me when two people just into the sack so long as there is a story there and some kind of progression afterward.

I think it's kind of funny in a way, that people place limitations and labels on what is "erotic" and what is "romance". Personally, I enjoy a mixture of both. :)

J.A. Saare / Aline Hunter said...

And *just* should be *jump* That's what I get for pressing send without reading what I've written. Doh!

Mysti Holiday said...

I really prefer that they H/H at least LIKE each other before jumping in the sack. I've read some erotic romance where there's no spark, no real reason why it happens, where it doesn't even feel like it matters.

If I'm reading erotic ROMANCE, I'd like some romance with my erotic. But I don't care so much about the timing...

Wendi Zwaduk and Megan Slayer said...

I send lots of things without reading properly. Gets me into trouble all the time. Oh well, shows you're human.

IMHO, the sex should fall when it's supposed to in the story. That doesn't mean it has to be within the first three pages or fifty pages in. Actually it irritates me when the characters are forced into sex too early as much as sweet romances full of angst aggrivate me. Sex is a normal part of life--it happens. Let it happen. There's no crime in letting characters have some free reign.

And yes, they'd better like each other and I really don't see the issue with falling in love quickly. Why? Because real people do it all the time.

Kaye Manro said...

Good points here Wendi, and Jaime too. I tend to agree. I like the sex to be early if it fits the story and characters. But love has to be there somewhere. Again, I don't like those sweet books that draw out the scenes and the sex may come at the end. Not to my liking.

Interesting topic.