Sensual or Erotic?

[Afinerosesheis]

Dumb question...maybe :)

If I understand correctly, erotica is quite naughtier than sensual. But sensual can have intense love scenes with naughty stuff, too.

In erotica the language is cruder than sensual. Do I have this right?

**BLUSH** :)

[Popeyesays]

I think one must go the the philosophy of hermetic magic for the answer. What constitutes black or white magic? Symbolism and intent. You can't use an evil symbol to do good, and you can't mask evil intent with symbols of good.

In erotica the sex scenes are the purpose of the writing. The surroundings might make for good story and characters, but the sex is the magic, so to speak.

At what point does Laurel K. Hamilton or Anne Rice become erotica?

I just sold an erotic paranormal thriller, and the language is occasionally graphic, but it's about other things than the sex--gender identification. good vs. evil, a character finding his/her best qualities, but unwilling to be measured by social standards.

I think the symbolism and intent are good, even if sex toys are mentioned from time to time.

Regards,
Scott

[Stacia Kane]

The best thing to do is read widely and see where your work seems to fit in best, rather than worrying about definitions right up front. :)

[Jersey Chick]

I think of erotica as more graphic where language and description is concerned, but the main differences are that erotic romance has the prerequisite HEA ending and the hero and heroine aren't with anyone other than each other.

Just my two cents :)

[Stacia Kane]

I think of erotica as more graphic where language and description is concerned, but the main differences are that erotic romance has the prerequisite HEA ending and the hero and heroine aren't with anyone other than each other.

Just my two cents :)

I agree, but the OP is asking the difference between erotica and "sensual", which I don't really understand as a genre. So I thought the question was about heat ratings. :)

[veinglory]

Generally 'sensual' is used to mean the milder end with less naming of specific body parts. But this is relative to the publishers overall position--so 'sensual' at one publisher might be more hard-core than 'erotic' at another.

[Jersey Chick]

I agree, but the OP is asking the difference between erotica and "sensual", which I don't really understand as a genre. So I thought the question was about heat ratings. :)


I don't understand it as a genre either - I thought it was a case of erotica vs erotic romance... I need to read these posts after I've had coffee :D

[The_Grand_Duchess]

At what point does Anne Rice become erotica?

Regards,
Scott

I think she hit that mark with the Sleeping Beauty books. :)

[Afinerosesheis]

I don't think sensual is a genre either, just more of a style, I guess. You have answered my question. There obviously is some grey area where erotica is concerned, and probably up to the publisher reviewing your work. Then they will decide the heat ratings if accepted.

Sounds good to me.

Thank you!!

Hope you all are having a wonderful day. We are having beautiful weather here in the Midwest~ :):Clap:


:gone:

[Jersey Chick]

Take a look at what publisher you're targeting. Ellora's Cave has a heat index - that'll give you some idea of how graphic to be, or what direction you're heading in.

Yup - gorgeous here in Jersey as well - just a wee bit breezy (ok - the wind actually slammed the car door into me as I was putting the Boy in his car seat before, but it's sunny, so I won't complain :))

[Afinerosesheis]

I feel for ya, girl. One time the wind slammed my hatchback down on my head as I was loading the stroller. I saw the stars that day!

I'd say my story will follow along the lines of Robin Schone and/or Thea Devine. So I guess it is erotica. I've just never written such before so I am on the inside trying to look in.

And I'm ~blushing~ because I have never written such before. Yet, the erotic scenes come so easily to me that I have little trouble writing them.

Guess I am passionate.

Don't tell anyone...Shhhh! ;)

[akiwiguy]

I think one must go the the philosophy of hermetic magic for the answer. What constitutes black or white magic? Symbolism and intent. You can't use an evil symbol to do good, and you can't mask evil intent with symbols of good.

In erotica the sex scenes are the purpose of the writing. The surroundings might make for good story and characters, but the sex is the magic, so to speak.

At what point does Laurel K. Hamilton or Anne Rice become erotica?

I just sold an erotic paranormal thriller, and the language is occasionally graphic, but it's about other things than the sex--gender identification. good vs. evil, a character finding his/her best qualities, but unwilling to be measured by social standards.

I think the symbolism and intent are good, even if sex toys are mentioned from time to time.

Regards,
Scott

Thanks for that, there was much food for thought in it.

I'm in the very initial stages of planning my current work (really I've always just dabbled, and involvement on this board is motivating me to get into something substantial).

It's what I would call an "erotic thriller", something that just won't go away in my mind, veering towards the "psychological thriller". And I've been toying around with ideas as to how to convey a very erotic aspect the two MCs' relationship. The more I do so, the more I realise I want to convey it by subtle behaviours rather than a lot of explict sex. It is really a dom/sub relationship, but psychological in nature rather than say extreme BDSM. Though it is certainly sexual also. And it is not there for gratuitous reasons, it actually becomes the basis for, and makes credible all else that follows.

Not sure if any of that makes sense, but I really got a lot out of what you discussed there Popeyesays. I'm pretty much a beginner and it's great the little tid-bits one discovers on this site.

[Afinerosesheis]

If this is something that will not go away, definitely go with your gut on it! The best ideas (in my opinion) come from feelings such as this.

Let it stew and then write it. You can always work out the kinks later~ :)

[veinglory]

(of course this is one area where kinks are good) ;)

[Afinerosesheis]

Darn! I wish I had thought to point that pun out~~;)

[Jersey Chick]

Actually, you might want to work in the kinks ;)

[Writer2011]

I like working the kinks in :)

[Popeyesays]

I've always been glad mine doesn't have a lot of kinks, it's harder to put it to work when it's in knots.

Regards,
Scott

[TsukiRyoko]

The best thing to do is read widely and see where your work seems to fit in best, rather than worrying about definitions right up front. :)
Very good point. Sometimes the mold that your story fits isn't always definable by genre-related terms.

[dub]

I looked at literotica.com and tried to write a few pieces for their online contests - guess I am not graphic enough.

[veinglory]

Erotica markets cover the range but the moderate end runs highly to romance and paranormal in one direction and literary in the other. I think it is one area where it is actually I good idea to know your market and adapt your story--rather than just write and worry about it later.

[akiwiguy]

Erotica markets cover the range but the moderate end runs highly to romance and paranormal in one direction and literary in the other. I think it is one area where it is actually I good idea to know your market and adapt your story--rather than just write and worry about it later.

OK, erotic thrillers... anyone have any good examples please? I'm curious where successful writers have pitched the sexual content, and I guess that could vary a lot. And whether you think your examples would be aimed more at readers of thrillers in general, or more definitely at an erotic market.

[veinglory]

I don't have specific knowledge but suspect you should just target thriller markets. I see erotic thriller and suspense as a cross-over genre under romance or with epublishers--but not much with the large presses which seem to focus on the thriller aspect only?

[akiwiguy]

I don't have specific knowledge but suspect you should just target thriller markets. I see erotic thriller and suspense as a cross-over genre under romance or with epublishers--but not much with the large presses which seem to focus on the thriller aspect only?

Thanks veinglory. I'm at the point that my WIP is simply something I'm going to write anyway, and my outline if anything is more well-defined than is normally the case for me. I think for me it's a case of, damn it I'm writing it anyway and if I'm the only person who ever reads it that's cool. If I like it and want to have a shot at marketing, perhaps I'll need to think about tweaking later.

The odd thing is that the story is two intertwined threads, one will be the source of MC's conflict/resolution etc., the other is an unusual and definitely highly erotic relationship of the MC, a relationship that I guess defines the psychology of the MC. But what's interesting for me, once I thought closely about why I wanted to tell the story, there are themes that I want to explore that I woud say definitely would be targetted at an erotica audience. And the actual content is almost 50/50 between thriller and erotica.

Wheeew, that sounds like the rubics cube doesn't it LOL? Believe it or not I think I know what I'm on about. :D

[veinglory]

If the story has a spark to it, just write!

[akiwiguy]

If the story has a spark to it, just write!

Aye aye, will do!

[JanDarby]

For erotic thriller marketing, check out MJ Rose's blog on marketing. Her books are described as erotic thrillers, at least some of the time, and she writes about marketing. SHe has two blogs, actually, and you want the one that's called something like Buzz, Balls & Hype.

JD

[akiwiguy]

For erotic thriller marketing, check out MJ Rose's blog on marketing. Her books are described as erotic thrillers, at least some of the time, and she writes about marketing. SHe has two blogs, actually, and you want the one that's called something like Buzz, Balls & Hype.

JD

Thanks JD. That's odd, my reputation pop-up thingey won't work. Here's an RP.

[akiwiguy]

For erotic thriller marketing, check out MJ Rose's blog on marketing. Her books are described as erotic thrillers, at least some of the time, and she writes about marketing. SHe has two blogs, actually, and you want the one that's called something like Buzz, Balls & Hype.

JD

Actually, the 'backstory' link there is also fascinating.... writers sharing the odds and ends of critical moments that sparked their fiction. Very interesting. Thanks again.

[Tkibler]

This is an interesting topic.
I dabbled with erotica - or rather, I tried my hand at erotica with so-so results. And I think what happened was this conscious awareness or intent. This should be erotic. As opposed to being oneself, writing as oneself, and finding a sensual way of saying something, whether or not any actual sex is involved. Similar to humor. I've written stuff that's reportedly made people laugh to varied degrees, but if I was to sit down and say, I'm going to write something funny, I'll guess it would just lay there, or come off forced if not seriously ill.
In summation I think it has to do with being natural versus being somewhat contrived.
Just my opinion.
I prefer the sensual, with or without sex.
On the other hand, sometimes there's nothing like reading a heavy-duty sexcapade.