  Romance/Love
This week: Love and ... Erotica? Edited by: StephBee  
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Disclaimer: This newsletter discusses how erotica fits into romance. The interview is "E" for everyone.
May I just say !!Ouch!! Last issue I talked about "heat" levels in romance writing. This is what I said about Erotica: Erotic or Erotica is considered it's own genre. Physical intimacy is explored, no holds barred. It is graphic and rarely tasteful. Erotic writing rarely allows the couple to make a deep, emotional connection. Instead, the focus of the story is on the act and not the emotions involved.
Well, I got an earful from a bunch of you. I was describing porn, not erotica.  Since I was "off" about my description, I sought out another fellow moderator, Crys-not really here  to help give me perspective as to how erotica fits into the Romance genre. Enjoy this Q&A.
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STEPH: - Can you give me a good, solid defination of erotica?
CRYS: It's difficult to define erotica because different readers find different things erotic. To me, and to many who write erotica, erotica goes beyond the physical. It's about stimulating the reader's brains and hearts as well.
STEPH: - Is there a fine line difference between erotica, romantica and porn?
CRYS: There are very fine lines. The biggest difference between erotica and porn is that erotica has a storyline, whereas porn is usually only about graphic physical intimacy. The best erotica goes beyond the physical and explores the mental and romantic realms as well. Whereas porn tends to be degrading, erotica is about the power in a relationship, the sharing of intimate moments together. Yes, erotica can be graphic. It's certainly not for everyone. Romantica is not a term that I'm too familiar with. STEPH: I found the term while researching. It is a romance story with heavy erotic elements.
STEPH: - Have you written erotica? How long have you written erotica?
CRYS: I've written erotica since I was about eighteen. It was always something that I had fun doing, but over the years I've started taking it more seriously.
STEPH: - For you, what about erotica makes it romantic?
CRYS: Erotica isn't always romantic, but some of my favorite erotica is. It's important to me as a reader and writer that my characters have a real relationship. Depending on the storyline, a story can have romantic elements. Seduction can certainly be romantic, given the right characters and situation.
STEPH: - Do you have any tips or thoughts for those who want to try erotic writing?
CRYS: First of all, don't be scared. Secondly, you should think of it as if you were writing any other short story. Why shouldn't your characters deserve names, background stories, and real relationships? Why shouldn't your story have a plot? Would you want to read a story that doesn't have one?
STEPH: - What is one of the biggest myths you'd like to dispel about erotic writing?
CRYS: There are so many myths I'd like to address. One of them is that erotica is not a serious genre. Most erotica writers are very serious about their craft. They love the feeling of putting together a storyline, building a world, and bringing characters to life. It takes hard work to write an erotic story that will be seen as a piece of literature, not just smut. It's also challenging to include intimate scenes in a story without them feeling forced.
Erotica also transcends genre. It can be paired with fantasy, sci-fi, historical. . . pretty much anything you can think of.
STEPH: - Is there a writer or a book you like to recommend that shows off well written
erotica?
CRYS: I recommend reading Nefarious Ballerina online. I rarely read Erotica offline, but for those interested in doing so, check out the "The Best of Best American Erotica 2008." There are a ton of erotica books out there, some of them fantastic and some of them lousy.
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Briar Rose 
Another good newsletter! :)
On Doug Rainbow's comment: what about a couple like Elizabeth and Darcy? There's a pretty strong antipathy at first but that is the obstacle they have to overcome. Maybe you're saying the same thing just in a different way, though?
Anyway, love your newsletter. :)
You know, I haven't read "Pride and Prejudice." I did download for my ebook reader. (I have a Kindle) and I hope to tackle it this summer. I did see the movie with Kiera Knightly which I thought was well done. I did sense a strong antipathy, but for me, it born out of a misunderstanding, and once that misunderstanding, the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth really takes off like it should. I'm looking forward to reading the book.
Jeff 
Great NL, Steph! Everyone should know what their preferred level of "heat" is, to make sure they don't read anything that makes them too uncomfortable.
I did have an issue with the depiction of erotica as "rarely tasteful" and "rarely allowing a deep emotional connection," though. While I agree emphasis is placed on depiction of the physical act, many of us who write erotica find it important to differentiate our writing from pornography (a more accurate definition of sexual works focusing on arousal over characterization). While everyone's definitions vary, and one person's erotica is another person's pornography, I think it's important to note that many erotic works do focus on the emotional needs of the characters, and use physical description to enhance the narrative, rather than simply to titillate. There is some amazing erotica on WDC, some of which can and has moved readers to tears with its emotional impact. Just offering my $0.02. Keep up the great work! 
Thanks so much for these comments. I have found in the romance department that it's very important for readers to look for works that are in their comfort level. And thank you for calling me out on erotica. I hope my interview with Crys helped.
sarahreed
Everything that was written in the "Romance/Love Newsletter (June 2, 2010)" about erotica is indicative of the stereotypes - what I consider bad erotica.
For an example of good erotica, I point out Laurell K. Hamilton who writes engaging stories and characters that are erotic. Another exception would be the active participants of the "Unofficial Erotica Newsletter Group" run by Jeff ~ 2k reviews done! (252) . It is our mission to write erotica that contains all the elements of good writing. It is an uphill battle to educate others that erotica is a valid form of writing. It really hurts to see such negativity in an official newsletter. It makes me feel like WdC endorses the idea that erotica is not real writing. I'd link to a story to show that many writers here write erotica stories, but I don't think you'd be allowed to link to it. So if anyone is curious as to what erotica writing can be - emotions & characters & all - feel free to email me and I'll point people in the right direction.
I hope my interview has helped to educate others as well.
Annette 
Hallo Steph, I enjoyed your definitions of the degrees of heat. As somebody who writes and reads erotica, I feel that there was a final distinction missing. That between erotica and porn, which seem to have fallen into one here. I agree that erotica will put a heavy emphasis on physical events to a point where an erotica story has most of its narrative taken up by the act. To me, erotica has an emotional component that is as strong as that of romance, but with the difference that the sensuality is rarely confined by any limitations as long as they are legal and consensual. As in all things creative, not everybody agrees, and this may be one of the toughest area to draw distinct lines as we all have different sensibilities in this highly personal genre.
You're right - there is an emotional element in erotica and I failed to acknowledge in my last newsletter. Thanks for writing in.
JACE 
I really enjoyed your newsletter this month, Miss Steph ... to a point. Under the Erotica paragraph you wrote, It is graphic and rarely tasteful. ... focus of the story is on the act and not the emotions involved Yes, erotica can be graphic, but rarely tasteful? Never! What you describe is porn, not erotica.
Good erotic contains plot, conflict, good characters, and of course, passionate, even intense sex. Erotica is engaging. It is sensual. And it is tasteful. The other is not.
All the levels you describe above have their place in a romance story, though I think the lines are a bit more blurred than stated. Passion, sensuality and intensity are all hallmarks of erotica; the use of vulgar, tasteless and crass slang terms designed to shock a reader is porn. There is a difference between these two styles, and may they be forever separate.
StephBee is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. Her paranormal romance, "The Hungarian" was published by Desert Breeze Publishing in May 2010. The Hungarian started out of a prompt here at WDC: Write a story about a werewolf that falls in love.
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Romance/Love: June 30, 2010 Issue [#3809]
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