A! Romantica Part 2

Describe your interpretation of Romance, including what your expectations are when you read a romance novel. Do the same for Erotic fiction. Tell me how you think the two genres can be brought together, what elements need to be focused on. This need not be extensive, just enough information for us to work with over the next six weeks.

Romance: The story of an interpersonal relationship that develops between two people who fall in love. It skirts the edge of describing the physicality of intercourse while exciting the reader indirectly, stopping short of graphic language and description.

Expectations: In reading a romance I expect the writer to show the emotional, aspects of a loving relationship woven into the context of a compelling story line. I expect the writer to do everything BUT take the reader behind the closed door and describe graphically the sexual intercourse that takes place.

Erotic Fiction: I expect the above but also the boldness to go where other writers fear to tread, to walk the fine line between too little and too much.

The two can be brought together through more restrained language, metaphor, imagination and using the sublime. By the writer knowing when the intimate image is tastefully achieved and not going beyond. It is the fine line between seducing the reader with joyful physical experience and grossing them out with porn.