Here’s your options to help them define romance:

A. The romantic relationship is between one man and one woman.

B. The romantic relationship is between two people.

Although other elements and subplots may also be components of the story line, by the book’s conclusion the romantic relationship has been resolved in an emotionally satisfying manner. (Satisfying to whom?)

You have choice A and B with no write in. And it states “Below are two versions of that definition, and we’d like your opinion on which you prefer. This is a survey only, so we ask that you include only your vote here. As always, your comments can be e-mailed to any member of the Board. We welcome them.”

There is no place to write in on the survey itself that you disagree with both options. If you don’t vote at all then it seems as if the survey results will be reported as ‘the majority feel’.

I have to say these definitions are, to me, so impossibly limiting. These rule out Paranormals with vamps/weres/ghosts/aliens, it rules out Chick Lit and MWRE. Why say ‘man’ and ‘woman’? Why not ‘male’ and ‘female’? Why only two parties? What about the wonderful romances of Emma Holly with m/m/f love stories?

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“Also we may want to stop prattling on about how ‘we just don’t get no respect’ when we allow dopey-looking hunks in ridiculous costumes advertising an erotic publisher
on our back cover. There’s a big difference between sensual romance and erotica, and I think we made a big mistake in lowering our standards to accept such a publisher.”

I get it. Some of you don’t like erotic romance. Fine. Whatever. Go ahead and complain. I don’t care. That is your right.

But here’s the deal. I don’t care. However, it appears my publishers may care and this frightens me.

First, you have Black Lace. My most recent letter from them says:

Editorial Changes: Please be aware that we want to tone down the four-letter words a bit for future compilations. We preferably want only one sex scene per story, beautifully described and perhaps more subtle than previous Black Lace writing. We are trying to get the books off the top shelf here in the UK, and out to a wider audience. For that, we need to reduce the use of ‘f’ and ‘c’ words.

There’s more, but you get the drift.

Then one of my other publishers recently turned down a collection from a friend of mine because the stories were “too erotic” for their “erotica” line.

Yesterday, a writer for still another of my publishers warned us on the loop that every ‘f’ word in her ms was cut, even when it was used as a curse and not a reference to the sexual act. When she complained she was told vitriolic reviewers had managed to change editorial policy for the publisher.

And Ghede never made it off the ground “due to the current conservative climate”.

What does this mean? Censorship. Plain and ‘f’ing simple. Publishers need to make money. Conseratives keep stirring the pot and publishers get scared. When my publishers get scared, so do I.

Is this because I can’t write any other way? Do I have to use four-letter words in my stories? Of course not. That’s not my point. My point is the option should exist for people to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of speech and let’s face it people, it’s slowly eroding away in the case of erotic romance. Rumor has it EC is prepared to move their operation outside the US if this type of bullsh!t keeps up. It’s very, very ridiculous that people who don’t like something feel that they are superior enough to demean and suppress others rather than taking their @ss and the stick that’s shoved up it elsewhere. If you don’t like erotic romance, don’t read it. It’s just that simple. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it should go away.

The publishers are feeling forced to change their guidelines due to pressure and it just isn’t right. This isn’t a case of them making changes because they want to. There should be something for everyone. There are inspirational publishers and imprints, and there are erotic publishers and imprints. Why are the erotic romance publishers facing all of this pressure? I just don’t understand it at all.

©2010 S y l v i a D a y | The Official Website - Blog. All Rights Reserved.

©2010 S y l v i a D a y | The Official Website - Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Then, allow me to reference this: http://wordworking.blogspot.com/2005/02/lipstick-on-pig.html

Quote:

The other day I was reading a writing blog; it’s one of my favorite procrastination techniques; and the writer started out telling how some family members don’t respect her because she writes Romance. I could sympathize.

Anyway, the woman went on to clarify that she write not just Romance, but she writes Romantica.

Ha! See? I’m “the woman” who writes “those books”.

Quote:

If you’re not familiar with the term, this is the latest bait-n-switch in the pornography game.

*clear throat* Excuse me?

Quote:

Yes, folks, men have long had movies, mags and The Penthouse Forum, now women have ROMANTICA.

Romantica, (why do I always roll my “r” when I say it?) sounds catchy and not seedy and trashy at all. Has a sort of soft-core porn, out-of-focus lens, smooth jazz, satin sheets sort of feel. Gone are the days of, “Come and take me, Big Boy.” Now it’s “Come here, Big Boy, I wanna take you.” I guess sexual manipulation is more virtuous when done by a woman. Mmmm.

Quote:

Sex remains one of His most awesome gifts to mankind. In the context of marriage it is the glue that makes it possible to remain faithful to an impossible ideal. Outside of that, it can still be pleasurable, but can quickly sink to depths yet unplumbed.

So when you hear the term Romantica, remember the bait-n-switch is on.

Oh hello, my dear and gentle religious (reader/writer/?), who thinks I’m in collusion with the publishing industry to deliberately deceive the book buying public. How wrong you are. Yes, wrong. You know that smooth jazz, satin sheet sort of feel you reference? I work hard for that. Lush, evocative, lyrical–those are words often used to describe my writing. I sweat and bleed to get it that way. Why? Because I’m writing a LOVE STORY. About two people–a man and a woman. They’re always monogamous, they always fall in love, they always marry. They go on to have children and grandchildren, they have friends and lead normal lives… even in the bedroom.

Romantica means exactly what it implies, a romantic relationship of intense passion. It doesn’t mean pornography. *gritting teeth* It doesn’t mean harsh, emotionless, depraved sex. It doesn’t “sink to depths yet unplumbed”. *growl*

First and foremost, it’s about love and how that manifests itself in physical as well as emotional needs. Because I prefer to call a body part what it should be called instead of euphemisms that make me laugh like “petals”, “plump folds”, “manhood”, “love sword”, and the like, doesn’t make my writing dirty or evil. It makes it real.

Before you start questioning my character and accusing me of deliberately attempting to pull a “bait-n-switch” on anyone, read my work. In fact, send me your address and I’ll send you a copy. If you don’t like it after you read it, then feel free to say so, but until then don’t attempt to label my writing sub-genre when you don’t even know what it is.

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I e-mailed my initial request. When I didn’t hear anything back over a week later, I e-mailed her again. She responded that she was working on the spreadsheet and would get back to me in a couple of days. Then nothing.

And more nothing.

That was two weeks ago. This past weekend I e-mailed again. The critique sale ends on Friday. She wrote back yesterday morning and said she would let me know what critiques were left when she got home.

Nothing.

So I give up. Everything happens for a reason. Apparently, I’m not supposed to get a critique.

I’m out a critique and Trish is out $40. Don’t know why I’m telling you all this, other than it’s extremely frustrating to be left hanging, for whatever the reason. And it’s been happening to me a lot lately, not just the critique coordinator, but in general.

I’m always honest about whether I can meet an obligation or not. I try never to say I’m available to do something, if I’m not. And if I do say that I am available, I will set aside everything else to get it done. I gave my word, that’s important to me. If I’m not going to be able to do the task, I say so. And if I suspect I’m not going to get it done within the specified time frame, I say that too. Before I agree. Not after I’m already late.

This turned into a rant. Sorry. This isn’t just about the critique. Several people dropped the ball on me this week.

Now back to your regularly scheduled blogging.

©2010 S y l v i a D a y | The Official Website - Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The Google ads on peoples’ blogs drive me nuts!! Why the hell are they on there? Why would you add Google ads to your site? To make money? Does anyone really click on a Google ad and buy something? I don’t like them. I always feel like I am on a commercial site rather than a personal site when I see those ads on there. I think they are yucky. End rant.

I’m pleased the blog is working out for you all–loading faster and easy to use. On my end, it’s fabulous! I love it.

I’m working on the dreaded synopsis. So far, I thinks it’s going fairly well, but I’m certain my critique partners will tear it apart. That’s why I love them. They catch all the little things I pay no attention to. A big epiphany for me was this:

Kathy Carmichael – “For a romance novel synopsis, I can’t say this strongly enough: the external plot is mentioned only as it affects the emotional arc of either the hero or heroine. If it doesn’t, then you don’t need to mention it. “

And here I was, detailing everything about the plot and secondary characters. Usually, my synopsis confuses the hell out of judges. I had one judge who wrote, “My initial reaction after reading [the entry] is that I can’t wait to read more, yet the synopsis does not compel me to read the book. Part of this may be because your synopsis is only 3 pages long, with numerous named characters and a twisting plot.”

Ouch. Not good. I’m going to be honest here. (Watch out.) I’ve never paid much attention to refining my ability to write the synopsis because I knew my writing would hook the reader in, despite the glaring horribleness of the synopsis. In fact, I’ve even sometimes deliberately left the synopsis out, knowing it would hurt rather than help me. But let’s face it. I have to get over my fear and learn to write the synopsis. They are a necessary evil and I’m not much of a writer if I can’t pull one off.

Another thing I’ve been thinking about is–where am I going with my career? What am I doing to achieve my goals?

That’s it. I have one completely finished, fully critiqued ms sitting here because of the stupid “Simultaneous Submission” rule, which I’m about to break, because jees!!! How long am I supposed to freakin’ wait?

I’m not hunting for an agent. Sometimes, I think I should be.

I’m telling you right now, when (no if’s here, I’m working on being more optimistic.) I get published, I’m going to make it a crusade to help talented wannabes get ahead. Probably not through contests, but through simple recommendations to people (read agent and editor) I know. Word of mouth carries a lot of weight. Surely, it would be alright to say, “I know someone, [insert name], who has sent you a ms. I think they’re really good, maybe you will too.” (Of course, I’ll have to truly believe that writer is really good. )

Anyway, back to my contemplating. I think I should be doing more to get somewhere. But I’m not sure what more I could be doing. Perhaps I’m just getting impatient, which I hate.

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