Hot Dog!
This is the information I’ve wanted to hear, or read. I don’t care to write erotic sex, or rape scenes; I don’t read it, so...I’m happy to find out what I have today and eliminate it.
Now I like to add some love scenes, with a hint of hot stuff in it, I think I may tone that down too, and do that with the love scenes. I think I will tone down the rape and just mention the rapes in some manor. I just need to find a way to motivate Ashley Hill, the protagonist of my novel to be angry enough to kill and do the same with my readers to accept that anger and understand her motivation.
JanDarby said:
ETA: Note that I wrote this before the clarification above was posted, clarifying that the scene is not meant to titillate.
JD
Thank you Jan. You too, vrabinec. Never the less, it good to finally hear this information. I’m quite ignorant on things of such.
giftedrhonda said:
I'd have a really, really hard time reading a graphic rape scene. If it's critical to the story to show it, you need to do what's right for your manuscript, but I'd probably be hesitant to read it myself. However, your query letter sounds really interesting, and I'd probably want to read the rest to see how she handles the situation, as well as how she heals and moves on.
Thanks giftedrhonda, I don’t know how you can read a novel intended to be around 80,000 words on here. I have quite a lot of work to do now and I’m excited in finally receiving these inputs.
I’d say, once Ashley Hill, the protagonist of my novel kills, or assassinates the four bad guys, she seems to rid herself of the past and moves on. But, in getting caught with the task of a Government...hidden mole with her husband, she moves in with gusto on the assignments and is a real tiger that turns the heads of the best of them.
And, why not? She has a dang good looking, former Navy Seal husband and two attack, trained Belgian Malinois Shepherd police attack dogs. They’re seasoned street dogs who have made many arrests. They’re trained on drugs, bombs and rescue too.
Gillhoughly said:
So far all my editors in the S.F. mystery and romance markets have been female. That's for over 20 book sales.
I'm not saying their gender will influence their decision-making on your inclusion of an "erotic" rape scene. But you would have to be one bleeping fantastic writer to convince them that buying your books with such scenes will make their company money.
They are very well aware that rape is not considered the least bit erotic in the general market and likely be a turn-off to a huge chunk of readers. There is a demand for "fantasy rape" scenes in erotic markets--of which those editors are not a part.
If you can do your genre books without such scenes being erotic (if they are an absolutely necessary part of the story) you might have a chance.
Speaking as an editor, the idea of an erotic rape squicks me out. Too many of my friends have been raped for real. Consider that the editors you're sending the books to might also have such friends--or worse, personal experience.
As you can see, I’ve changed my ideas and will do it different. Thanks; you too have helped me with that decision. I sure wish I had asked about this long ago.
Shadow_Ferret, thanks. I forgot to add yours. It helps.
