Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season and wishing you all the best for the New Year!
I won't be blogging again until the week of January 8th so check back with me then!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Words in Motion Conference
Announcing - WORDS IN MOTION 2008 The International Affaire for Romance Writers & Readers
Theme: Romantic Suspense
January 2nd-6th 2008
Lamplighter Conference Center Main Street Community Forumswww.cobblestone- mainstreet. com Hosted by Cobblestone Press, LLC Free to attend and participate! !!!
Words In Motion (WIM) is an annual online conference developed to offer support, marketing, and networking within the romance and erotic romance industries. Our goal is to provide affordable and convenient opportunities for authors, publishers, and other professional individuals. Authors, Publishers, Agents, and Groups such as RWA chapters, review sites, and writing groups are encouraged to attend and participate in this exciting event. The theme this year is Romantic Suspense and we are currently scheduling special guest speakers, tables for authors, publishers, groups, and agents – agents will be offered private chatroom to set up meeting with authors they meet during the conference. We are also scheduling group chat parties as well.This is going to be the largest online event for the romance industry yet and we hope you will join us to celebrate!
It's absolutely free and the best part? You can show up in your sweats and nobody has to ever know (wink).
Theme: Romantic Suspense
January 2nd-6th 2008
Lamplighter Conference Center Main Street Community Forumswww.cobblestone- mainstreet. com Hosted by Cobblestone Press, LLC Free to attend and participate! !!!
Words In Motion (WIM) is an annual online conference developed to offer support, marketing, and networking within the romance and erotic romance industries. Our goal is to provide affordable and convenient opportunities for authors, publishers, and other professional individuals. Authors, Publishers, Agents, and Groups such as RWA chapters, review sites, and writing groups are encouraged to attend and participate in this exciting event. The theme this year is Romantic Suspense and we are currently scheduling special guest speakers, tables for authors, publishers, groups, and agents – agents will be offered private chatroom to set up meeting with authors they meet during the conference. We are also scheduling group chat parties as well.This is going to be the largest online event for the romance industry yet and we hope you will join us to celebrate!
It's absolutely free and the best part? You can show up in your sweats and nobody has to ever know (wink).
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
To condomize or not to condomize!
A few days after World AIDS Day and at a time when health experts are reporting that there are a whole lot more new HIV infections than previously thought, it's probably a good time to bring up the topic of condoms.
A lot of writers worry about introducing rubbers into their stories but there’s no hard and fast rule.
Some publishing houses take the view that their books are fantasies and who would fantasize about condoms? So they don’t require it. Who wants to think about sexually transmitted infections when they're getting their groove on?
Other houses, concerned about any messages they may be sending about unsafe sex, require writers to, at least, mention that their characters are using condoms. How the writer chooses to introduce the topic is up to them. It could be a one liner where a character mentions using it or discarding it after sex or it could be something lengthier where putting it on becomes part of the sex play.
So whether you choose to condomize or not really depends on the writer and their particular publishing house. I don’t mention condoms in The Gladiator’s Woman, not because they didn’t have condoms in ancient Rome, they did, but because it being a historical I didn’t feel the pressure to do so. People just weren't as worried about those diseases back then and there was a lot more ignorance about signs and symptoms. In a contemporary, I probably would bring up condoms. In another life, I was an HIV educator and I'd feel I owed it to my readers.
What you do depends on you and on whether the publishing house you're targeting would allow it. If you're unsure, look up the guidelines, read other books they've published, or, just ask the editor.
A lot of writers worry about introducing rubbers into their stories but there’s no hard and fast rule.
Some publishing houses take the view that their books are fantasies and who would fantasize about condoms? So they don’t require it. Who wants to think about sexually transmitted infections when they're getting their groove on?
Other houses, concerned about any messages they may be sending about unsafe sex, require writers to, at least, mention that their characters are using condoms. How the writer chooses to introduce the topic is up to them. It could be a one liner where a character mentions using it or discarding it after sex or it could be something lengthier where putting it on becomes part of the sex play.
So whether you choose to condomize or not really depends on the writer and their particular publishing house. I don’t mention condoms in The Gladiator’s Woman, not because they didn’t have condoms in ancient Rome, they did, but because it being a historical I didn’t feel the pressure to do so. People just weren't as worried about those diseases back then and there was a lot more ignorance about signs and symptoms. In a contemporary, I probably would bring up condoms. In another life, I was an HIV educator and I'd feel I owed it to my readers.
What you do depends on you and on whether the publishing house you're targeting would allow it. If you're unsure, look up the guidelines, read other books they've published, or, just ask the editor.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Smell!
Whether you’re writing erotic romance or erotica, you’ve got to employ the five senses if you want to paint a picture for your readers, one that will have them gasping along with your protagonists.
One of the most important senses to convey in your work is the sense of smell – if you’re in the heroine’s viewpoint tell us how her lover smells to her or vice versa. His hair, his skin, his balls, his feet – all of these will have a smell. When you’re writing, think about your characters – what would you like to convey about a particular character in your description of the way he or she smells? Someone who smells of vanilla and milk for instance is probably going to be a softer, more gentle and innocent person than one who smells of musk and cardamom. Similarly, in readers’ minds someone who smells of the earth after a rainfall may be a better person than someone who reeks of some cheap cologne.
Scientists tell us that pheromones, our scent markers, can determine if we like or dislike someone. Think about that the next time you’re dreaming up your characters and, if like me, you’re one of those people who do a detailed description of your characters before then be sure to include how they smell too.
One of the most important senses to convey in your work is the sense of smell – if you’re in the heroine’s viewpoint tell us how her lover smells to her or vice versa. His hair, his skin, his balls, his feet – all of these will have a smell. When you’re writing, think about your characters – what would you like to convey about a particular character in your description of the way he or she smells? Someone who smells of vanilla and milk for instance is probably going to be a softer, more gentle and innocent person than one who smells of musk and cardamom. Similarly, in readers’ minds someone who smells of the earth after a rainfall may be a better person than someone who reeks of some cheap cologne.
Scientists tell us that pheromones, our scent markers, can determine if we like or dislike someone. Think about that the next time you’re dreaming up your characters and, if like me, you’re one of those people who do a detailed description of your characters before then be sure to include how they smell too.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Not just philosophy and great architecture!
The Romans built great bridges, roads and public buildings. Their philosophers are still read and re-read. What is less known is that they were a randy lot who had no problem paying for it!
In pleasure-loving ancient Rome, brothels were perfectly legal. Known as lupanars or whorehouses, some were quite grand with gardens and fountains while others were little more than places to flop down on a mattress and have at it.
Most had paintings on the wall designed for the inspiration of patrons. The variety of positions suggested included woman on top, doggy-style and one requiring some athletic prowess with the man standing and holding on to the woman’s butt while she held herself up off the bed by the arms, her legs draped over the man’s shoulders. Guess they weren’t into vanilla sex!
In pleasure-loving ancient Rome, brothels were perfectly legal. Known as lupanars or whorehouses, some were quite grand with gardens and fountains while others were little more than places to flop down on a mattress and have at it.
Most had paintings on the wall designed for the inspiration of patrons. The variety of positions suggested included woman on top, doggy-style and one requiring some athletic prowess with the man standing and holding on to the woman’s butt while she held herself up off the bed by the arms, her legs draped over the man’s shoulders. Guess they weren’t into vanilla sex!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Ten Kegels a day!
I’ve read a few erotic romances and my fair share of erotica but I don’t remember reading any where the woman knew about Kegels and practiced them several times a day. Pity because ten Kegels a day may not keep the doctor away but they’ll sure keep those orgasms coming. If you don't know what I'm talking about, keep reading!
To find the right muscles, the next time you’re peeing, try stopping the flow. Those are the muscles you want to strengthen. (As a bonus, it’ll stop those annoying squirts when you laugh too hard!)
The next time you’re sitting at a stop light or standing in a long line, squeeze your Kegels for ten counts. Do ten sets of ten. Then do a quick set of pulses – ten will do to start with but as your muscle gets stronger you can go up to fifty or even a hundred.
You'll notice the heightened sensation when you’re with your guy or enjoying a bout of solitary lovemaking. Just squeeze your muscles and enjoy the thrills!
(One more tip – several online sex shops sell Kegel exercisers you might want to check out.)
To find the right muscles, the next time you’re peeing, try stopping the flow. Those are the muscles you want to strengthen. (As a bonus, it’ll stop those annoying squirts when you laugh too hard!)
The next time you’re sitting at a stop light or standing in a long line, squeeze your Kegels for ten counts. Do ten sets of ten. Then do a quick set of pulses – ten will do to start with but as your muscle gets stronger you can go up to fifty or even a hundred.
You'll notice the heightened sensation when you’re with your guy or enjoying a bout of solitary lovemaking. Just squeeze your muscles and enjoy the thrills!
(One more tip – several online sex shops sell Kegel exercisers you might want to check out.)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Three sexy jobs for your characters
Are you plotting a new contemporary and having trouble coming up with a hot occupation for your hero or heroine? Below are three you might want to consider.
1.) Car designer. They give a car that look, the one that says to you, "buy me," "buy me." They're usually paid well, they drive hot cars, and they're smart - what's not to love?
3.) Freelance photographer. They travel all over the world on assignment for all kinds of magazines so they are never at a loss for conversation and they always know the best places to go on vacation.
3.) Stunt double. The guys and gals who do a lot of the real work in action-adventure films - they're usually in top shape, good-looking and unafraid of danger.
1.) Car designer. They give a car that look, the one that says to you, "buy me," "buy me." They're usually paid well, they drive hot cars, and they're smart - what's not to love?
3.) Freelance photographer. They travel all over the world on assignment for all kinds of magazines so they are never at a loss for conversation and they always know the best places to go on vacation.
3.) Stunt double. The guys and gals who do a lot of the real work in action-adventure films - they're usually in top shape, good-looking and unafraid of danger.
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