With New York
houses racing to get erotic books on the book shelves and into
customer hands, there's a lot of talk about what Erotic Romance
and Erotica are. In fact, most of the time anything that has the
word sexy connected to it winds up being labeled Erotica. Well,
the truth of the matter is, they're two different animals. Also
critical to the discussion is the fact that both have literary
value. With each of them being different, it's important to note
why they're different. This isn't just about the fact that they
have explicit sex scenes. Story arcs, characterization, plot,
internal and external conflict —
all of the components that go into any fictional work are
required in both erotic romance and erotica works.
So what are the differences? For
those who don't understand the nature of the beast,
here's Monica’s definition of Erotic Romance and Erotica that
I've been touting for some time now. This is my personal
definition, but it's pretty close to what the majority of other
erotic romance and erotica writers believe is the definition.
Erotic Romance/Erotica Defined
Erotic romance
contains intense sexual scenes between two individuals who are
falling in love or are in love. It MUST have a happy
ending and love is the ultimate focus of the relationship and
the work. This can include different types of sex styles, such
as increased "foul" language, acts that aren't usually found in
sensual romances such as anal sex, bondage, ménage a trois,
interspecies sex, voyeurism, etc. If it's between consenting
adults, it advances the character development, and the love and
happily ever after are there, then it's erotic romance.
Erotica is
where the sex in the story is based on emotion and NOT a
relationship. The emotion can be anger, hate, love (and not
necessarily love in the sense of a monogamous relationship),
greed, etc. Erotica is about the emotion that motivates the
instances of sex, not necessarily the relationship, although
relationships may or may not evolve in these types of works.
Additionally, the work doesn't have to have a happy ending,
unlike erotic romance, where a happy ending is essential.
So Why A Definition
Not all erotic
romance/erotica writers are going to agree on the above
definitions. Some question why we even need a definition. There
are a number of reason why it's important to define a genre.
People like to categorize things. Publishers need to know how to
market a particular book. Booksellers need to know what section
of their store a book belongs in. Definitions help writers
educate others on what erotic romance and erotica are. Since the
seventies, when the much loathed
label-that-shall-not-be-spoken-here was created by the media,
romance books have been hung in more ways than one. The media
and a large segment of the population seem to believe that a
romance book is little more than a lightweight piece of fluff.
The fact is, that's not a true image of a romance, and thus the
need to define the different genres so that the public can
understand that yes there's sex in this book, but the sex is
there for the development of the character. There is rhyme and
reason for sex in an erotic romance or erotica book. It's not
there for titillation, it's not thrown in simply for the sake of
adding words. It's there to connect the hero and heroine.
Connect them in the most intimate fashion possible, and you
cannot get any more intimate than sex.
Romantica™
There are a
number of entities that refer to all erotic romance and erotica
as Romantica™. This is a
misuse of the word. Romantica is a trademark of Ellora's Cave
(EC). It is a trademark they guard well. Unless one is an EC
author, using the label on a website or on any promotional
material is a violation of their trademark, and they do contact
violators with a firm request to cease and desist.
Have a question
about Erotic Romance and Erotica that you'd like answered? Send
me an
email.
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