Why Every Romance Writer Should Be Watching Showtime’s The Affair
The dear wonderful hubby and I are watching Showtime’s The Affair, a TV show following an affair between a New York City schoolteacher/novelist and a young waitress. What makes this show unique (and writer gold) is that the story is told from both Noah’s point of view (the hero’s) and Alison’s point of view (the heroine’s). The same period of time is shown twice.
This is a terrific exercise for romance writers as many romances are told from both the heroine’s and the hero’s points of view. We often have a good handle on how the character we most closely relate to sees the world (I’m female so I’m more likely to know how a female character/the heroine might think). Seeing the world from the other character’s point of view can be more challenging.
I Wore WHAT?
I love spotting the differences in clothing on The Affair. The story is told in the past with the hero and the heroine remembering the details. The hero almost always remembers the heroine as being dressed in a seductive way. In last week’s episode, he remembered her wearing a very short, flirty skirt. The heroine, when she tells the same story, remembers that she wore jeans and a conservative top. The colors are different. The hero might remember a blue shirt. The heroine remembers a particular shade of blue.
Talk This Way
The differences in dialogue are enlightening. The hero remembers grittier, to-the-point, cruder dialogue. He’s a man. Rrrr… He’s also super slick. Boyfriend says all of the right words, wooing the heroine. The heroine remembers more emotional dialogue. The hero isn’t perfect. He bungles a bit. They talk about feelings. Some of the poetry flowing out of the hero’s mouth a man is unlikely to say (and haven’t we all read romance novels in which the heroes didn’t sound like men?).
Shit Gets Done
The hero’s memories are often clustered around actions. He’s getting shit done. He’s not lying in bed having long chats with his (oblivious) wife. He’s researching his book, going to a town hall meeting, attending a party.
The heroine’s memories involve talking, so MUCH talking. She’s sitting beside the hero in the library (while he remembered them meeting in the stacks, both of them standing). She’s sitting beside her neighbors at the town hall meeting (while he remembers not sitting).
Have you been watching The Affair? What differences have you spotted?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Why Every Romance Writer Should Be Watching Showtime’s The Affair
Sinful Rewards – Haunted Chicago
Sinful Rewards is set in Chicago which makes this Halloween even more exciting for me. Chicago, with its deadly history (The Great Fire, Al Capone), is one of the most haunted cities in America.
The Congress Plaza Hotel is a must-visit for ghost hunters. It was built to host visitors during Chicago’s World Fair and was a hangout for Al Capone and other gangsters.
Some of the ghosts include a little boy in the north tower. His mother threw him off the roof before she took her own life. There’s a female ghost in the banquet room. She whispers in the ear of any visitor who enters the space alone. The most haunted room in the hotel is 441. A shadowy outline of a woman frequently appears there.
Another must-see is the Inez Clark Statue in Graceland Cemetery. Inez was a 6 year old girl who was struck by lightning and killed in 1880. Inez’s parents commissioned a statue in the likeness of their beloved daughter. This was placed on her grave, in a glass box to protect it from the elements (apt, considering how she died). Cemetery employees and visitors have often found the box empty or the statue moved, especially during thunderstorms. Yes. I felt chills also.
The Lady In Red haunting the Drake Hotel is one of the most famous Chicago ghosts. When the Drake Hotel opened on New Year’s Eve in 1920, a wealthy venture capitalist and his fiancé attended the gala held in the Gold Coast Room. The venture capitalist excused himself, leaving his fiancé in the ballroom, and didn’t return for hours. The green-eyed, black-haired beauty dressed in crimson went looking for him. She found the love of her life in the arms of another woman. Devastated, she climbed to the roof and jumped. She has been seen searching the ballroom, standing in the room where she found him cheating and on the roof.
Have you ever seen a ghost or been in a haunted house?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards – Haunted Chicago
Writing Erotic Romance – How To Start (Or Why Blank Screens Are Evil)
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
Saturday is the official start of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, the annual craziness many sickass writers (including myself) voluntarily sign up for. We’re challenged to write 50,000 words (200 pages) in 30 sleepless, Nutella-fueled days. (My handle is http://nanowrimo.org/participants/cynthia-sax if you’d like to Friend me) These might be Alice In Wonderful fucked up beyond belief words but hey, they’re on the screen and that’s a great thing.
Why?
Because blank screens are the epitome of evil. They’re a writer’s kryptonite, representing many of our insecurities. Can I write this new story? Is this idea any good? Do I have another story in me? Oh my God. Will the words ever come?
First Draft Shit Vs Submission Draft Magic
Much of this blank screen insanity is self-inflicted. Writers are told over and over again – the first line, paragraph, page is key. If these first words aren’t gripping, no one will buy or read our story, our precious. This will disrupt the erotic romance-literary balance. The world will tilt, be knocked off its axis and spin into the sun. Yes, the future of mankind depends on this first page. No pressure!
Save this nutbar thinking for your second draft. For your first draft, you have permission to write a totally sucktastic first page. Don’t believe me? Listen to our favorite hard drinking, gun toting, kind of resembles Santa Claus, now dead writer Ernest Hemingway. “The first draft of anything is shit.”
Don’t worry about hooks or selling your story or perfection. Get that shit written.
What should you write first? This depends on you, on how your fickle bitch of a muse works. I’ll give you some suggestions. You can take one of these gems (grins) or find your own twisted path to erotic romance writing greatness. There are no rules.
The Scene That Inspired This Story
I usually have one scene, often early in the story (as I’m a linear writer – preferring to write the story in order from beginning to end), that I’m super stoked about. This is the scene that woke me up in the middle of the night, screaming “Write me now, you lazy word slut!” I then rushed to the bathroom, as to not disturb my wage-earning sugar daddy (aka the dear wonderful hubby), and I jotted the bare bones of the scene into the notebook I have stashed there.
The first thing I do is transfer these bare bones onto the screen. Bam! I no longer have the dreaded blank screen of death. I have the outline of a scene. By the time I flesh out this scene, I’m in the groove and I continue to write. I might go back and add previous scenes or I might barrel forward, gleefully yelling over my shoulder “Fuck you, writer’s block. You can’t get me.” (This yelling is yet another reason why I don’t write at Starbucks.)
Your POV Character’s Everyday World
Some writers like to start with a glimpse into their point of view character’s everyday world. This grounds them (and readers – not that we care about readers during this first draft word vomiting but still…) in who this character is. We know this everyday world won’t last because…well…the everyday world is as boring as hell. Plus for a character to change, becoming a person capable of lasting love, her/his world also has to change.
But it gives us a base. This is a great scene to make us care about this character. What makes her/him special, potentially deserving of love, worthy of writing about? YOU know this. Write that shit down. There. No more blank screen.
Fuckfest Documented
We’re erotic romance writers. Many of us love writing sex scenes. If you’re stuck, write a headboard banging scene between your hero and heroine (or more). You’ll fill that blank screen, reassure yourself that your characters have chemistry (which is rarer and more important than non-writers think), and the words will never be wasted. Even if you don’t end up keeping this scene, you can offer it as a bonus for blog readers. They’ll love you forever.
The Ending
Yes, I heard some writers gasp, but I know writers who always start their stories by writing the ending first. We’re writing erotic romance. The ending isn’t much of a stretch. The couple or more get together, have their happy for now or happy ever after.
These ass backward writers tell me it is like setting up a target. They know where they’re aiming and they write toward that point. It works for them. That’s all that matters!
The Talky Talky
Some writers start with dialogue (or description or action or whatever turns their cranks). One of my buddies has a first draft that resembles a movie script. There’s dialogue, minimal stage direction and that’s it. She then goes back with the second draft and fills the scenes in.
Which scene do you write first?
If you liked this post, you might like
Writing Erotic Romance – Balancing Sex And Plot
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Every Sex Scene Different
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Sex Sexy
or
Writing Erotic Romance – The Basics Of A Sex Scene
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Word Choice
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Writing Erotic Romance – How To Start (Or Why Blank Screens Are Evil)
Second Excerpt For Sinful Rewards 5
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
Here is an excerpt for Sinful Rewards 5 with Hawke, our bad boy biker.
“Bee Carter,” I answer my phone, trying for breezy and casual, achieving high and squeaky.
“I’ll be there in two minutes.” Hawke’s deep baritone curls my bare toes. He’s not asking for my permission. He’s coming over and there’s nothing I can do to stop him.
“You’re angry.” I sigh, hearing the dark dominance in his voice.
“I am angry, but not with you, never with you.” Hawke breathes heavily as though he’s running to see me, this possibility thrilling me. “You’re loyal, love, and you don’t switch allegiances quickly. I understand that.”
He understands me. . .too damn well. “I shouldn’t switch allegiances at all.” I pace the length of the main room, dreading, craving, anticipating his arrival. “And you shouldn’t come over. Lona sent me more scripts to memorize. I have to choose my clothes for the lunch, fix my hair and makeup, and—”
“I’m not stopping you from doing any of those things.” Hawke brushes my excuses aside, determined to meet with me. “I’m staying with you until you leave for your lunch.”
The lunch, oh God, the lunch. “Okay,” I reluctantly agree because I don’t want to be alone. This lunch has my stomach twisted into knots. “I’m going to mess this up. You know I can’t lie, and my acting abilities aren’t much better.” I boot up my laptop. “It’ll be a disaster.”
“It won’t be a disaster,” Hawke’s voice echoes.
“Are you in a tunnel?” I ask.
He chuckles, the sound low and sexy. “I’m in the stairwell, sweetheart. The elevators in these buildings are too slow.”
He’s running up the stairs, that’s how much of a rush he is in to see me. Warmth spreads across my chest. “Lona is counting on me.” This scares the shit out of me.
“If one lunch can destroy their relationship, Jacques doesn’t deserve her.” The echoing stops and my body hums with excitement. “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
My former marine would fight for the woman he loves. I hear this in his voice, know this in my soul. I open the door, tilt my head back, and gaze upward at Hawke. His chest rises and falls. His scent engulfs me. There’s a gleam of intent in his pale blue eyes.
He wants me and I want him. If I allow him inside, we’ll kiss, touch, do things we shouldn’t. Nicolas deserves my loyalty. I should tell Hawke to go away. I should—
Hawke captures my lips with his, the force of his embrace driving me backward. I reach for him, clasp his broad shoulders. He hooks his arms around me, securing me to him, as he kicks the door shut. Our tongues tangle and twist, dancing to the rhythm of our hearts, his stubble teasing my chin, leaving a sensual trail on my skin.
He tastes of black coffee and man. His body radiates heat, a thin layer of moisture covering his big form. Everything about him, even his no-name T-shirt and seen-better-days jeans, appeals to me. I cling to him, losing myself in his kiss.
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Nicolas Rainer, Chicago’s most sought-after billionaire bachelor, has finally decided what he wants, and that’s Bee Carter in his arms, forever. He shows up unannounced on her doorstep and kisses her until her toes curl and her body burns.
Nicolas wasn’t the sexy man Bee expected to see this morning. Hawke Masters, her tattooed former marine, is riding his customized chopper toward the condo building, anticipating an equally mind-meltingly erotic encounter.
Both men want her with a thrilling intensity. Neither her billionaire nor her biker wishes to share her affections. Is today the day Bee is forced to choose?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00IMHU7FG
Avon: http://www.avonromance.com/book/cynthia-sax-sinful-rewards-5
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-5-cynthia-sax/1119919838
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_5?id=nFaYAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-5/id828414457
Topics: Coming Soon | Comments Off on Second Excerpt For Sinful Rewards 5
Sinful Rewards – Goodreads Extras
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
One of the fun things about writing a serial is I can tell other characters’ stories at the same time. On the Goodreads group (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/list_group/139616-a-year-of-sizzling-hot-sax-read-along ), I’m telling Cyndi’s story (the best friend’s story).
Here is a steaming hot snippet from her point of view.
I don’t want to get a room. Hell no to delayed gratification and all that other shit. I want to fuck Cole now.
He pulls me out a side door into a shockingly clean, well-lit alley. Even the garbage can beside the metal door is spotless, not a dent on the exterior.
My movie star goes all sexy He-man on me, pushing my body against the brick wall and capturing my mouth. I surrender to him, grasping his shoulders, drawing him closer, and he holds me, his hands bracketing my face, as though he’s afraid I’ll escape him.
That ain’t happening. Although I’m disappointed that I’ll be just another back alley fuck for my hero, I’m not going anywhere. I’m a slut, this is all I deserve, and I’ve wanted Cole far too much for far too long.
Our tongues tangle, twine. The man knows how to kiss, his lips firm, his mouth hot. He runs his palms over my cheeks, neck, shoulders, going for the grand prize. I arch my back, sticking out my tits. He cups my curves, the pressure just right. Oh mamma. I wiggle, brushing my hips against his, teasing that huge ridge in his black jeans.
He squeezes and releases, squeezes and releases, playing with my breasts. My nipples tighten against the green silk of my corset. I rake my fingernails over his T-shirt covered chest and he shudders.
“Cyndi,” he murmurs against my lips.
He knows my name. I smile. “Touch my tits, Cole.” I yank down my corset, the underwire pushing my breasts upward, the cool night air puckering my skin. “Suck on them.”
“Yes.” He dips his head and covers my right nipple with his lips. God. I writhe. That feels good. He draws my sensitive flesh into his mouth, tugging, laving me with his tongue.
I clasp the back of his neck, hold him to my breast, rocking against him, trying to prolong this, my one encounter with the man of my dreams.
“Beautiful.” He switches breasts, the pull of his mouth felt down to my pussy. Cole is more than a pretty face. He has skills, adoring my ta-tas with his lips, tongue, hands.
Skills like his can only be honed by numerous past fuckfests. Warmth spreads across my chest. We’re fellow sluts, Cole and I. I thread my fingers through his ink black hair, savoring the softness, the connection. We both know our way around the human body.
“Cyndi?” He gazes up at me, his eyes brilliant blue, his cheeks flushed.
He’s horny as hell, yet still a gentleman, wanting to know if I’m game for a quickie against the wall. I smile. He’s so sweet. “Fuck me, Cole.” I pull my black mini-skirt up and my green G-string down, revealing my cleanly-shaven mons, the calling card of hoes everywhere. “Fill me with your cock.”
“God, yes.” He fumbles in the front pocket of his jeans, removes a condom package, clutching it between his teeth as he unbuckles his belt, unzips his jeans, pushing the denim to his knees.
Holy fuck. I gaze at his long hard shaft with open admiration. That ridge hadn’t lied. “Need help?” I stroke my pussy lips up and down, up and down, ensuring I’m nice and slick for him.
“Any help from you and we won’t need the condom.” He laughs shakily, sheathing himself quickly. “I’ll come before I touch you. I want you so badly.”
His confession charms me. “My breasts tend to do that to men.” I grin.
“It wasn’t only your breasts.” Cole presses his body against mine, his latex-covered cock hard along my stomach. “It’s you, your beauty, your confidence.” He kisses my chin. “The way you challenge me.” He sprinkles kisses over my cheeks. “Push me. That’s so hot.”
Oh God. I blink back tears, emotion welling inside me. If he says this mush to his back alley fucks, what would he relay to a woman he cared about? “Fuck me, Cole.” I spread my legs wider. “I need you inside me now.”
Read the rest on the Goodreads Group
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/list_group/139616-a-year-of-sizzling-hot-sax-read-along
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards – Goodreads Extras
Sinful Rewards 4 – A Unique Story Line
Reese’s Reviews has reviewed Sinful Rewards 4!
“No other author has ever had me wanting so much and kept me so riveted for so few pages than Cynthia Sax. The Sinful Rewards Series is passionate and excited with characters and a unique story line that will leave you craving more.”
http://reesesreviews.blogspot.ca/2014/10/blog-tour-sinful-rewards-4-by-cynthia.html
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards 4 – A Unique Story Line
Sinful Rewards 4 – I Love This One
Jennifer’s Taking A Break has reviewed Sinful Rewards 4!
“This portion of the story was as amazing to read as the others. However I loved this one more than the first three so far. In this portion of the story, we see how Hawke is with Bee, how affectionate, caring, and yet passionate for her.”
http://jennifers-taking-a-break.blogspot.ca/2014/10/sinful-rewards-billionaires-and-bikers.html
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards 4 – I Love This One
Sinful Rewards 4 – This Terrific Series Gets Steamier!
Fresh Fiction has reviewed Sinful Rewards 4!
“SINFUL REWARDS 4 is intense, deeply satisfying; simply wonderful. This might well be the best instalment so far in this brilliant series, and that is saying a lot.”
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=47845
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards 4 – This Terrific Series Gets Steamier!
Writing Erotic Romance – Balancing Sex And Plot
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
One of the most common misconceptions about erotic romances is that the stories are a series of sex scenes strung together. Yep, kind of like very bad porn. The pizza guy arrives and, oh noes, our heroine doesn’t have money to pay him. “In lieu of payment,” our big breasted heroine pleads. “Can I strip off your clothes and ride your huge pepperoni?” (insert more bad pizza jokes here)
Some days, when I’m completely brain dead, strung out on Nutella and strawberry licorice whips, I wish it were that simple. But no, readers expect a plot (thankfully, too much sex makes stories a very dull read). They expect the same level of plotting they find in traditional romances except they also want a sensual tone.
There are some great posts by other writers on crafting awesome plots. I’ll be covering some of the issues specific to erotic romance in my post.
Sex To Plot Ratio
How much of the sexy, sexy versus how much plot should your story have?
It really depends on your story. Yeah, that’s a sucktastic answer, isn’t it? But you are the goddess of your own storytelling. You make these calls.
Every scene should reveal character or push the plot forward or change the romantic relationship in an erotic romance. This includes sensual scenes. If a sensual scene can be removed and the story doesn’t change, remove it.
Many erotic romance writers think of the sex as an additional plot. I like the sexual journey to be fully integrated into my erotic romances. Sex changes the plot and the relationship. The plot changes the sex. The relationship changes the sex.
I also like to have my sensual scenes no more than a chapter (3,000 words or 12 pages) apart. There’s no need to hyperventilate. By a sensual scene, I don’t necessarily mean sex. Your hero and heroine eyefucking the hell out of each other qualifies as a sensual scene. Your heroine pressing her breasts against your biker hero’s back, feeling the ripple of muscles under his cotton T-shirt, as they speed away from the baddies can qualify as a sensual scene.
One long sensual scene is often more satisfying than a dozen short scenes. If I can go big, I do. If I can’t, I’ll sneak in a quickie, a great handholding scene or maybe a hot fantasy.
Starting Sexy
I always try to insert a sensual scene as close to the beginning of my erotic romances as possible. Again, this doesn’t have to be sex. It could be the night breeze skimming over the heroine’s bare legs, a thousand ghostly fingers caressing her skin. It could be the feel of quality card stock under her palms, the press of the raised font against her fingertips.
Why do this?
Because I want readers to know that this is an erotic romance. This is a spicy story. They should expect a sizzling heat level. This ensures my readers aren’t surprised when my heroine strips off her clothes and rides the hero like the prized stud he is.
It is also the big dick syndrome. If I tell you to watch for big dicks, you’ll see them everywhere, thinking big dicks are as common as carrots (I wish – grins). If I tell readers this is a hot story, they’ll notice the hot scenes.
Plots To Die For
I’ve seen every subgenre in erotic romance – thriller erotic romance (From Russia With Hot Nasty Lickable Love), inspirational erotic romance (the heroine praising the Almighty both in and out of bed), horror erotic romance (fun with chainsaws), zombie erotic romance (giving a new meaning to a hero losing his shit). You name it. It’s been done. You’re only limited by your sick ass imagination.
A great erotic romance writer can make almost any scene into a panty-wetting delight. Almost every scene. There are some types of scenes that shouldn’t be pumped full of sensuality.
Kiddies
Any scene with kiddies is challenging to make sexy without raising the ick level through the roof. Even in lactation fetish erotic romances, the baby is usually out of the room when the hero and heroine get down and dirty.
It’s tough to go directly from cutsie to sexy. These are two very different tones. Not many people switch from ‘What a cute baby’ to ‘Oh my God, I’m so horny’ in one sentence. There’s often a transition scene to ease into the sexy.
Action Scenes
Action scenes also aren’t great times to have sexy moments. If baddies are shooting at the hero, he isn’t thinking of boning the heroine. He’s concentrating on keeping his tight ass out of the line of fire. When he passes the heroine a gun in the middle of a heated battle, he isn’t contemplating how soft and slender her fingers are, how he’d like them to be wrapped around his cock instead of the phaser. He’s passing her the damn gun, hoping to hell she knows how to use it.
The good news is your characters will likely be pumped up after the shoot out. They will be grateful to be alive and extremely horny, ready to jump each other. This type of passion can flow into hot and heavy, against the wall, drywall cracking sex.
Note: Many publishers will not allow weapons (knives, guns, etc) to be used in sex scenes. You have to be true to your characters and to your story but you should be aware that this might make your story more difficult to sell.
Ending Sexy
I always end my erotic romances with sex. I start with a sensual scene and end with one. It is the last ‘loose end’ I tie up (in the case of BDSM stories, literally – grins). The final scene is usually a glimpse into the couple’s sexual future. It might be tender, extremely loving or it could be even more extreme, showing readers that the couple (or more) will continue to push their boundaries.
This last scene is key. It often decides whether or not your reader feels the couple will have their romantic happy ever after or happy for now (the only requirement for erotic romance). All of the sex scenes in an erotic romance are important but this one is critical.
What tricks have you learned to combine plot and sex?
If you liked this post, you might like
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Every Sex Scene Different
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Sex Sexy
or
Writing Erotic Romance – The Basics Of A Sex Scene
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Word Choice
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Writing Tips | 4 Comments »
Sinful Rewards And Being Small Town Infamous
I spent my teenage years in a small town (population: 4,500). When my family moved into the town, my big brother tried out for the hockey team, THE sports team in this town. He was their star defenseman.
I became known as his little sister.
It didn’t matter what I did or said or became. I was a figure skater, starring in a couple of town productions. I was a newspaper reporter, covering school activities for the local weekly paper and town activities for the regional daily paper. I won awards and earned a full four year scholarship to the university of my choice.
To this day, I’m known as my brother’s little sister. I question sometimes that local residents know my name because this is how they always refer to me.
I was lucky. I could live with my label. Some of my friends weren’t as fortunate. One of my buddies had a crazy wild weekend, earning her the town slut label. She’s now happily married with three kids, hasn’t lived in town for over two decades. When she returns to town, folks still whisper behind her back, referring to her as the town slut.
In Sinful Rewards, this is the label Bee’s mom is given. She had ONE wild night, unfortunately conceiving Bee during that encounter, and she became known as the wild woman of Happydale (population: 2,900). She’s been a model resident since that night but nothing she does changes how she’s perceived. I doubt anything will.
This drives Bee crazy. She wants to protect her mom, wants her to have the respect she deserves, yet she’s also terrified she’ll take her mom’s place, becoming the new wild woman of Happydale.
Have you ever been small town famous (or infamous)?
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards And Being Small Town Infamous
