What do you do when you have used "Lover" to refer to one partner during a sex scene and its WAY overused. Can you stagger it out? is it lame to have it even once during the scene? What to do...what to do....
When you have used "Lover" one too many times...
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I don't think I ever have used that word during a sex scene. All but one of my books is written in first person, so I fall back on the person's name or s/he.
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I occasionally use the term lover, but more commonly I use pronouns, names, and 'heroic epithets' which are descriptive phrases like "the older man", "the blond", "the nobleman", "the brawny blacksmith". That mainly is for third person - if I write in first person it's more just "I" vs. "he/character's name".
Oh wow.
I've read some stuff that has "Lover" every other time that character is mentioned.
I usually read same sex stuff, well, I won't use it then. I've always thought it was a little too...."purple prose" - so to say - and so I don't actually like to use it. I have a couple of times for lack of anything better and when the Character's name kinda clashes with what I all ready had.
Which probably meant that I should re-write the piece.
I've read some stuff that has "Lover" every other time that character is mentioned.
I usually read same sex stuff, well, I won't use it then. I've always thought it was a little too...."purple prose" - so to say - and so I don't actually like to use it. I have a couple of times for lack of anything better and when the Character's name kinda clashes with what I all ready had.
Which probably meant that I should re-write the piece.
Actually....
I read a lot of fan fiction, because its free.
I am looking at Scarletpeaches book, "By the Book" - I have no idea what its about but whenever I see her avatar it makes me want to find it and read the back to see the summary.
I do need to read more in the genre. Though, would it be wrong to attempt anything?
When I write I don't usually read stuff in the genre because I don't want to be overly influenced by accident. If that makes any sense.
And....what is Literary Erotica? I've never heard of that.
I read a lot of fan fiction, because its free.
I am looking at Scarletpeaches book, "By the Book" - I have no idea what its about but whenever I see her avatar it makes me want to find it and read the back to see the summary.
I do need to read more in the genre. Though, would it be wrong to attempt anything?
When I write I don't usually read stuff in the genre because I don't want to be overly influenced by accident. If that makes any sense.
And....what is Literary Erotica? I've never heard of that.
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With respect to fan fic writers, reading fan fiction is a tad limiting and isn't representative of genre fiction as a whole. Libraries are also free and the variety on offer is substantially richer.
Literotica is a web site with lots of online stories, the quality of which can be a little below par.
*is tactful*
Literotica is a web site with lots of online stories, the quality of which can be a little below par.
*is tactful*
99% of Literotica is shite, is what firedrake is far too polite to say.
I, however, don't give two hoots about offending people.
('Cause put it this way, if it was worth paying for, it would be with a paying publisher).
PS: Except, if you're thinking of buying any of my books, I retract everything I just said - By the Book will be available from Loose Id, LLC from January 4th, 2011. Thanks for watching.
I, however, don't give two hoots about offending people.
('Cause put it this way, if it was worth paying for, it would be with a paying publisher).
PS: Except, if you're thinking of buying any of my books, I retract everything I just said - By the Book will be available from Loose Id, LLC from January 4th, 2011. Thanks for watching.
It makes little sense if you want to actually know what genre you're writing.
Read. Then write.
But for fucks sake, read something better than what you have been. Libraries are free and will order books for you if they don't have them at your branch.
In a slight defence of fan fiction...
I am following a Death Note fan fic story which is on its fourth book. It has great character archs, plot and sex. The writting is awesome.
Onto other things.
Ya'll are right. I just need to get to a library first. I don't have a car so I can't drive. But I'll find someway to get some books.
I am following a Death Note fan fic story which is on its fourth book. It has great character archs, plot and sex.
The writting is awesome. Onto other things.
Ya'll are right. I just need to get to a library first. I don't have a car so I can't drive. But I'll find someway to get some books.
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Fanfic is less concerned in many cased with feminising the perpsective of the male. IMHO 'lover' feels a but 'soft' for many of my characters who are more focussed on who is doing what. YMMV.
Oh yes, I totally agree. That's why I was asking.
I wasn't sure if it was meant to be a "darling" sort of nick-name or a way to make the character less...masculine...because I readm/m fiction.
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I thought I'd chime in with my own perspective. I'm not a huge erotica reader, nor am I a huge erotica writer. I've only read a small number of erotica novels (though they have been almost entirely from AWers, so I guess I'm reading the good stuff?) and I've only attempted to write erotica once, culminating in a 40k novella.
But for me...
I don't see a real problem with using the word lover. It might be because I wrote a lesbian love story in 3rd person, so I welcomed the word openly. But I still used it once or twice in sex scenes - the sort of sex scenes that weren't focussed primarily on sex, but rather being with someone you love. I guess in that respect it went closer to steamy romance than to erotica... (Maybe... I'm a little iffy on definitions... don't sue me!)
But what I'm trying to say is - I don't see a problem with using the word "lover" when your 2 characters know they are in love (and FWIW, a conspicuous absence of that word, once you've set the precedent of using it liberally, though hopefully not excessively, IMO can help signal trouble in the relationship). Also, I don't see a problem with using it in sex scenes that are about love more than sex.
Take this with a grain of salt though. Like I said, I haven't read a whole lot of erotica, and I've only written about 7 sex scenes in my entire life... no, make that 8. 1 long one found its way into my recent Urban Fantasy.
But for me...
I don't see a real problem with using the word lover. It might be because I wrote a lesbian love story in 3rd person, so I welcomed the word openly. But I still used it once or twice in sex scenes - the sort of sex scenes that weren't focussed primarily on sex, but rather being with someone you love. I guess in that respect it went closer to steamy romance than to erotica... (Maybe... I'm a little iffy on definitions... don't sue me!)
But what I'm trying to say is - I don't see a problem with using the word "lover" when your 2 characters know they are in love (and FWIW, a conspicuous absence of that word, once you've set the precedent of using it liberally, though hopefully not excessively, IMO can help signal trouble in the relationship). Also, I don't see a problem with using it in sex scenes that are about love more than sex.
Take this with a grain of salt though. Like I said, I haven't read a whole lot of erotica, and I've only written about 7 sex scenes in my entire life... no, make that 8. 1 long one found its way into my recent Urban Fantasy.
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I should have mentioned that I also write m/m (or masculine herms). When I use the word lover it's usually because I want to emphasize that one character feels possessive of the other.
There’s nothing wrong with the word lover in itself. I’ve used it in my fiction. I just don’t think it (or epitets in general) should be used as a substitute for pronoun/name because more often than not it will draw unwanted attention to itself. A bit like a visible panty line in that respect.
I don't mind reading it in a scene but whoever is writting it has to be good otherwise I find myself pulled out of the story. It mostly happens when the writer is in the middle of a hard-core BDSM scene, that is concensual, and then the Dom is "Lover" and I am all yelling "you ruined it!" at the character. *hangs head*
I think I'd use it in those "Love is more important here than the sex" scenes if I get to write any. I mean, sometimes having something gentle is just as hot and steamy as anything else, right?
I think I'd use it in those "Love is more important here than the sex" scenes if I get to write any. I mean, sometimes having something gentle is just as hot and steamy as anything else, right?
Well, concidering my earlier post....
Than I suppose its more what one perfers. I'm not sure if I prefer to use it unless I'm trying to make a point. Or, even if I want to make a point.
Quoted for sheer win.
Firstly, it's spelled writing. One T.
And when it comes to BDSM, it's not exactly vanilla, so maybe the sub likes to be called 'lover'. Or maybe the dom likes to use that word. Me, personally? I would laugh. I prefer to be called whore or slut, but there you go...
If it were used in a more tender scene...I'd still laugh.
I would use the word in the sense of 'his lover' or 'her lover', but as a nickname? Nah. It falls flat for me.
If you want to read better m/m than what's free online, and the library's distant, there's AW's Share Your Work - Erotica board as well.
I've never called a person I'm having sex with "lover." Ever. Totally too cheesy, right up there with "darling." Feels false and forced, coming from me. However, if your character would use it as a love name, let him.
Maryn, who tends to use "babe" and "baby" (even though they're all adults, honest!)
I've never called a person I'm having sex with "lover." Ever. Totally too cheesy, right up there with "darling." Feels false and forced, coming from me. However, if your character would use it as a love name, let him.
Maryn, who tends to use "babe" and "baby" (even though they're all adults, honest!)