by Selena Blake
I saw a question go by on twitter the other day and it got me thinking. I know, that can be dangerous and twitter is time consuming and what am I doing on twitter when I owe you wonderful readers a new story?
The question: what’s the difference between erotic romance and mainstream romance?
The question asker followed that up by saying that she feels mainstream romance has pretty hot sex as it is.
My thought on the two (and my response on twitter) is this. Erotic romance and mainstream romance may contain the same level of detail in a love scene but to me, erotic romance uses different language. The F, P, C, & C words will show up in erotic romance whereas they probably won’t, at least not as much, in mainstream romance.
Also, erotic romance tends to be centered more about the sexual journey of the characters. The sex is a central element of the plot whereas in mainstream, the plot is often bigger, beefier and the sexual relationship is secondary in “screen time” and importance.
The type of story also separates these two subgenres. Erotic romance tends to be built around a sexy premise. Example: the main characters of an erotic romance might be visiting an island that specializes in sex themed vacations for paranormals (like in my Mystic Isle series) whereas in a mainstream, the island may cater to singles or couples or just residents.
In erotic romance the sexual tension must be a key element from start to finish. In other words, sex on the brain. Many publishers of erotic romance require a certain number of loves scenes or even that the first love scene appear by a certain page. Mainstream romance is wide open to the steamy factor, how many love scenes are included, if any at all.
Lately these lines seem to me more blurred than in the past, but that’s my take. What do you think?
BY SELENA BLAKE
About the Author
When she’s not writing you can find her by the pool soaking up some sun, day dreaming about new characters, and watching the cabana boy (aka her muse), Derek. Fan mail keeps her going when the diet soda wears off so write to her at selenablake@gmail.com.
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My fav genre of romance is erotic paranormal!!! 😉 Awesome giveaway!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
I’m not entering, I’ve already been lucky enough to win a copy from another one of Selena’s giveaways. 🙂
However, I wished to chime in.
Great post, I think that’s a good question–and one that many readers are probably curious to find out the answer to, though there is no simple answer. It’s like you said, the lines do seem to blur a bit, and it depends on the pubisher, on the author–heck, even on what the reader considers “erotica”! To some readers, any love scene that goes into details at all might be something they consider erotica, while for others, like me, that’s not even luke-warm mainstream romance. It just depends.
I’ve read some “mainstream” that are obviously pretty hot–but like you said, their main plot is not centered around the sex, like it *usually* is with erotica.
Either way, as long as it is interested, well written, and yes, steamy, I’m happy with both erotica and mainstream! 🙂
Enjoy,
TBQ
TBQ’s Book Palace
My favorite genre of romance is paranormal.
Great explanation of the distinction between erotic and mainstream romance. Both have their place in the fiction world, and I enjoy reading both. (I, for one, am tickled pink that mainstream romances are getting hotter.) 🙂
My favourite is Paranormal Romance the hotter the better 🙂
I do read some erotic and some merely sweet and I enjoy them when I’m in the mood, but usually give me hot vampires,werewolves or demons and I’m happy.
Irene Jackson on the rafflecopter thingy.
Paranormal romance. I’m with Irene on the hotter the better, but it is nice every once in a while to have a less graphic read, gotta switch things up.
Thanks for the great post and giveaway! I don’t really have a “favorite” branch of romance but I do find myself reading more PNR, followed by historical and then contemporary. I guess I’m drawn more to PNR b/c the stories are more exciting and I run across more new authors that I really must try 🙂
The line is so confusing for both writers and readers. Even with my mainstream paranormal romances, I’ll tag them as erotic as a warning to any reader who might be offended by the explicit scenes. I don’t know how else to fend off a potentially pissed-off reader.
I have never considered myself a fan of romantic literature, that is until I read my first paranormal romance!
Thanks for the giveaway!! This series sounds amazing!
I love paranormal romance and it really doesn’t matter if it’s historical paranormal or contemporary… I love it no matter what:)
yadkny@hotmail.com
I like humorous romance, but I still like Westerns – I stray and then get roped back in (bad pun, but I couldn’t resist).
historical
Lately I have been reading more historicals again. But I am starting to drift into bdsm also. hmmm no similarity at all there..lol
musicalfrog at comcast.net
My favorite subgenre of romance is paranormal erotica. Grr!
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com
My favorite is paranormal erotica. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Great post and answer! I’m a complete sucker for erotic paranormal romance and bdsm! 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway.
bimmergrlmd at gmail dot com
I enjoy paranormal romance the most, but will read anything.
Thank you for the giveawaY!
ceeenndee at gmail dot com
I like paranormal romance and erotic romance. But paranormal erotic is my favorite. Thanks for the post and giveway! I’ve been wanting to read these!