tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post6459483480370998961..comments2023-05-30T08:29:42.770-04:00Comments on The Erotica Readers & Writers Association Blog: That Elusive ThrillCroco Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04417265522875605547noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-14325012486968128632013-11-02T00:52:00.142-04:002013-11-02T00:52:00.142-04:00Thank you for commenting, all. This kind of feedba...Thank you for commenting, all. This kind of feedback is a great consolation prize for the unpredictable nature of 1) inspiration or ability to produce publishable work, and 2) the book biz itself.Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-3741795722683495022013-11-02T00:49:14.966-04:002013-11-02T00:49:14.966-04:00I think Sacred Exchange is a classic, and it cross...I think Sacred Exchange is a classic, and it crosses genres. The stories in it are haunting. What a shame that it hasn't sold well. I suppose all writers and editors should always be braced for disappointment.Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-77388432204778438972013-11-02T00:37:05.084-04:002013-11-02T00:37:05.084-04:005 stones! (In North American terms, this would be ...5 stones! (In North American terms, this would be 5 x 14 pounds = 70 pounds of weight.) Cyclical inspiration makes sense, esp. in a genre as visceral as erotic bdsm and esp. in connection with big physical changes.Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-42971859962268947162013-10-28T23:10:10.749-04:002013-10-28T23:10:10.749-04:00Excellent post, Jean. Thanks for mentioning CREAM....Excellent post, Jean. Thanks for mentioning CREAM. However, if you want an even more poignant example, consider the other commercial anthology I edited (with S.F. Mayfair), SACRED EXCHANGE. That book focuses on the spiritual or transcendent aspects of BDSM, and I personally think it's one of the best written and most moving collections I have ever read.<br /><br />I met S.F. Mayfair on the ERWA Storytime list. The idea for the anthology grew out of our off-list discussions about our respective BDSM experiences and their profound emotional and spiritual effects. The theme of the anthology was very personal for us both. The effort was truly "amateur" in the sense that this post posits. <br /><br />The book didn't sell at all well. At least one review suggested that it wasn't "sexy enough". I beg to differ - but different readers look for different things.<br /><br />And to respond to Donna's proposed distinction, I think that I stopped being an "amateur" (alas?) when I set myself the goal of writing about erotic encounters that didn't overtly reflect my own kinks.Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-44512674869403972782013-10-27T19:00:25.870-04:002013-10-27T19:00:25.870-04:00I think you've got it--we have to withdraw fro...I think you've got it--we have to withdraw from the restrictions of the market and get back into the zone, a place where the characters take on a life of their own. Perhaps this road to burn out is the result of an attempt to hold on to the "power" of positive attention, and we lose perspective and find ourselves in a place we don't want to be. I think we can all get back to the source of inspiration and passion, but it does involve saying no to zombies (unless that's your passion).<br /><br />Good question about amateur versus professional. There are probably as many answers as to the erotica vs. porn question. At this particular moment, though, I'd say one difference is that by the time you get to the final draft, the professional is fully aware of what she is doing with the language, plot, characters. It might not be a masterpiece, but she writes and edits with intent, whereas an amateur is more caught up in the thrill of storytelling (not that this means the result is bad).Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13615190390845433428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-6604990910196029912013-10-27T15:56:23.597-04:002013-10-27T15:56:23.597-04:00I write in multiple genres. I thought I'd burn...I write in multiple genres. I thought I'd burned out on erotica but find myself now plotting erotic bdsm agaim. Cycles, I think, but it also coincides with losing 5 stones and becoming uber fit again.Rachel Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13048590167153841615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-57352662879979222932013-10-27T12:25:14.706-04:002013-10-27T12:25:14.706-04:00I'm glad to hear you talking about pulling bac...I'm glad to hear you talking about pulling back and finding the zone where characters and story are fresh and compelling - That's where the good stuff comes from. I co-author with my husband. I think if what we're writing isn't exciting for us, that's the day we'll stop.Adrianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01628092657976031124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-24332016865229279862013-10-27T10:47:06.462-04:002013-10-27T10:47:06.462-04:00Hmm, I've been thinking about this issue for a...Hmm, I've been thinking about this issue for a while, too. Not sure I've chewed on it enough to give an answer. I was the director and choreographer of a dance company for 10 years and during that time I shied away from anything "commercial," wanting instead to to be always true to my art. And yet, I think when the art is really good, it is successful commercially. I guess you're on the right track with staying fresh an original for yourself...Renee Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414212384941364401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-68696089901508079902013-10-27T03:07:38.642-04:002013-10-27T03:07:38.642-04:00Thank you for voicing these worries. Great post. A...Thank you for voicing these worries. Great post. And I wish I had a sage response to post in this comments box ;-)Ashley Listerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11997769708965362938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-75738219972718047642013-10-26T21:01:25.745-04:002013-10-26T21:01:25.745-04:00I formerly wrote in a couple other genres and got ...I formerly wrote in a couple other genres and got very burned out very quickly. I have yet to feel burned out on erotica (though, as you say, it scares me when I see distress signals coming from those I admire). <br /><br />I have thought a lot about what the difference might be, but I'm really not sure. I do know, however, that in those other cases, I lost all interest in reading the genre as an early warning sign, quite some time before I burned out on writing. <br /><br />At this point, I feel that continuing to enthusiastically read erotica means I'm far from burnout. Of course, this may prove false over time. <br /><br />I like what you say about pulling back sometimes, also. I used to be a member, under a different name, of the National Association of Science Writers, and eventually pulled back because it was a depressing experience to read the newsletter (and not true to my experience as well). It is funny to me that being around other writers can sometimes feel extremely harmful and other times can feel extremely fulfilling, but my reactions have always split between these two. Annabeth Leonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07455191827664110878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-1507049853228114892013-10-26T19:07:36.937-04:002013-10-26T19:07:36.937-04:00Kathleen, I wonder too.Kathleen, I wonder too.Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396437919069310850.post-12029245229814876542013-10-26T16:14:37.208-04:002013-10-26T16:14:37.208-04:00I always wonder if other genres have the burn out ...I always wonder if other genres have the burn out rate we do.Kathleen Bradeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06347913255760493335noreply@blogger.com