SIA Showcase for Readers and Writers discussion

I've been needing a little place like this. Nice.. very nice, first things first..



Home. :)

I'm Alexis and I write erotic and contemporary romance. You can find out more here: www.authoralexiswills.com. I will use this thread to discuss whatever is on my mind at the moment, hoping that you'll join in. In the future, I hope to showcase my books as well.

P.S. Don't worry, I'll keep this thread completely [bleep]ing PG 13. Although a scene from one of my books might make it through the cracks once and a while.

Hi Alexis! No need to bleep, unless you want to, of course. ;)

Yay, another erotic author. Welcome!

Ha! We'll just point and call you potty mouth, and since it's your own thread you can tell us to go bleeping bleep bleep.

December something, 2016

This book is driving me insane. Insane. INSANE.

It's my heroine, she's so complex and challenging to write. I had an enemies to lovers story arc in mind but for that to work she has to be very mean and rude and cold. Atleast in the start of the book. But nope, the woman just refuses to stay in the box I drew for her. She's just so.. vulnerable.

And her family life, Lord help me. I can't say much more because, you know, spoilers, but the girl is damaged.

And to think this started off as a rom com.
Sigh.

Christina wrote: "Hi Alexis! No need to bleep, unless you want to, of course. ;)"

Total freedom, yes. :D

Nat wrote: "Yay, another erotic author. Welcome!

Ha! We'll just point and call you potty mouth, and since it's your own thread you can tell us to go bleeping bleep bleep."

Hi Nat, I was just making my way over to your thread to say "hello". Writer's block still being a pain?

Alexis wrote: "the woman just refuses to stay in the box I drew for her. She's just so.. vulnerable."

Sounds like a heroine worth reading ^_~

And helloooo! *waves*

Yes it is, actually! I had to switch over from my bleeping battle scene to edit someone else's work for a little bit because I'm getting nowhere. Staring at blank screen being petulant! I need to pull my head out of my bleep so I can move on. Deadlines!

I think, maybe, I just don't like writing big battle scenes. Which is not good, since I write fantasy. ha!

Wow! Another f*****g erotica author! :D
That is great news!

Hi!

I love all the bleeping going on! And your heroine sounds like a challenge. Challenges rock! And I just realized as I wrote that, that you said she's a challenge. *smacks head*

C.B. wrote: "Wow! Another f*****g erotica author! :D
That is great news!

Hi!"

The smut squad! :p Yes, I'll never bleeping type that again lol!
Thanks for the welcome everyone. I will make my way to your threads to check out your spots.

Life without the occasional dab of smut and sleaze. Meh...

Jane wrote: "Life without the occasional dab of smut and sleaze. Meh..."

My thoughts exactly Jane, my thoughts exactly

Everything I write lately is pure shit, so I've been designing for others and myself. This week: promo banners for myself.
I have no idea when I'll be releasing but I have my banners ready lol.

https://authoralexiswills.files.wordp...

Thank you Carole, wherever you are, for the starbucks gift card idea. :D

Hi Alexis! Great looking promo banners! :)

Alexis wrote: "The smut squad! :p Yes, I'll never bleeping type that again lol!"

You sure? Because that sounds like a book title you could use...Like 'The Mod Squad'...only sexier?

Marie Silk wrote: "Hi Alexis! Great looking promo banners! :)"

Thank you!

Thomas wrote: "Alexis wrote: "The smut squad! :p Yes, I'll never bleeping type that again lol!"

You sure? Because that sounds like a book title you could use...Like 'The Mod Squad'...only sexier?"

Ah but can anything with "Squad" in it be sexed up?

Alexis wrote: "The smut squad! :p

I love it! Can we have t-shirts?

Alexis wrote: "Everything I write lately is pure shit, so I've been designing for others and myself. This week: promo banners for myself.
I have no idea when I'll be releasing but I have my banners ready lol.

ht..."

Love your promo banners! You do just wonderful work. *shakes your hand*

Alexis wrote: "The smut squad! :p Yes, I'll never bleeping type that again lol!"

But can you type it again? It was awesome!

C.B. wrote: "Alexis wrote: "The smut squad! :p Yes, I'll never bleeping type that again lol!"

But can you type it again? It was awesome!"

I refuse!




Thesmutsquad. :D


-
OK, time for my first serious post in this here, my thread. Do my fellow smut writers ever feel like some other authors look down on erotic fiction? Writing an erotic romance is just as hard as writing any other book, I feel. Unless you're writing about rocket science or something like that, of course. It takes skill to write any captivating story. Doesn't matter whether it has steamy scenes or not.

I write rocket scientist erotic fiction, and let me tell you...

Actually, honestly time. Yes. This does happen. The amount of blogs, review sits, reviewers, book fesitvals, and all sorts of other things that allow erotica submissions is lower than most other kinds of fiction. I understand though, it is not family friendly and not everyone wants to read it!

However, as an author I personally have never been snubbed by other authors specifically because of my genre.

Most of my author interaction experience comes from SIA though, and they are particularly lovely!

#TheSmutSquad

Alexis wrote: "It's my heroine, she's so complex and challenging to write. "

Don't let her be a challenge. Let her take the reigns and show you where she wants to go.

C.B. wrote: "I write rocket scientist erotic fiction, and let me tell you...

Actually, honestly time. Yes. This does happen. The amount of blogs, review sits, reviewers, book fesitvals, and all sorts of other ..."

I write rocket scientist erotic fiction, and let me tell you...


Lmao, how do you come up with these things?

-

Oh yes, I forgot all about reviewing blogs and such. That can be a huge pain too, I suppose, but more understandable. I only get annoyed when some people pretend it's easier to write than any other type of book lol.

Alexis wrote: "Writing an erotic romance is just as hard as writing any other book, I feel. Unless you're writing about rocket science or something like that, of course."

Alexis, I write about rocket science. I also write about speculative relativistic physics, and any number of other things. And in my view that is quite bit easier than writing erotic romance. Far from looking down on erotic romance writers, my hat's off to them.

Go forth and conquer!

Owen wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Writing an erotic romance is just as hard as writing any other book, I feel. Unless you're writing about rocket science or something like that, of course."

Alexis, I write about ro..."

I knew that about your career already because I visited your blog a couple of times, mostly to find out why you sometimes type "we" instead of "I" and now I have the answer to that, and I also know a bunch of other cool things about you. Ha.

Thank you for saying that. :)

So, not only do I write erotica, but also gay erotica, so that pares it down even more. I can't say that I've ever had anyone blow me off (haha, did you see what I did there) for writing erotic fiction, but then, I'm often oblivious and somewhat happy go lucky and I might have missed it.

Writing erotic scenes that are not cookie cutter after a while is hard stuff. Just like a fight scene. There's blocking, for one, but there is also emotion. You are trying to instill emotion/excitement in the reader as well as entertain on a general level and the only other genre that sparks emotion like that is horror.

So, yes, I think we have a smaller audience. And maybe, some of the mainstream authors might look down on us. BUT, I don't interact with them much. Hey, some literary authors out there snub genre fiction authors. Any way you look, someone's looking down on you. I just try to be supportive of my fellow smutties and crow about their successes.

I'm babbling now.
#TheSmutSquad

Alexis wrote: "Do my fellow smut writers ever feel like some other authors look down on erotic fiction?"

As an author who does not read or write erotica, I can tell you that at least personally I don't look down on authors who write it. It's just not my cup o' tea. I'm sure there are some people, but as you illustrated, it's still writing and it still takes a lot of effort.

Alexis wrote: I knew that about your career already because I visited your blog a couple of times, mostly to find out why you sometimes type "we" instead of "I" and ..."

Indeed, I'm half of a whole when it comes to writing. Unless it's analysis reports; those I manage on my own.

It's quite true. : )

Alexis wrote: "Do my fellow smut writers ever feel like some other authors look down on erotic fiction? Writing an erotic romance is just as hard as writing any other book, I feel. Unless you're writing about rocket science or something like that, of course. It takes skill to write any captivating story. Doesn't matter whether it has steamy scenes or not. "

I have deep admiration for erotica authors tbh. I find sex scenes really hard (ha) to write! That's why I only have 0-2 per book. Like with any other genre, there is good and bad. Some people are just weird and puritanical about sex (particularly female sexuality, surprise surprise).

To add my two penn'orth, if we are writing about life there will be sex and there will be swearing, and there will be good guys and bad guys, and birth and death.

And looking down on another author because of the genre they write in? I spit on that!

Me? I just write it as I think the story demands.

I'd kinda like to be able to write erotica, but I get the giggles....

I agree. Sex scenes are hard (no pun intended) to write. Especially when trying to avoid repetition, so yeah, although erotica is not something I readily read, I admire an author who can pull it off.

G.G. wrote: "I agree. Sex scenes are hard (no pun intended) to write. Especially when trying to avoid repetition, so yeah, although erotica is not something I readily read, I admire an author who can pull it off."

Yes, my thoughts exactly. I mean, I'm not sure yet whether or not I will be able to pull it off (but that's neither here nor there), but an erotic romance novel done well uses the sex scenes to advance the story.

To quote from one of my favorite sites:

"Even in erotica, a sex scene should enhance character development and drive the story forward. **REMEMBER** If you can eliminate a sex scene and the plot or story does not suffer, then it did not need to be there."

P.S. The quote above is why I currently have about six sex scenes in a draft-folder. Although they are very hot, they added nothing to story. Such a bummer lol.

"Our job as a writer is articulating in sentences what people feel in an instant. Perfecting this skill requires talent and practice, but ultimately it is how a writer turns a sex scene—even the raunchiest of raunchy—into a love scene. Often writers leave this layer until the actual sex is over, as if the character is contemplating everything in their life and future post-orgasm. Adding a few layers of it throughout the scene, however, will keep the reader more immersed in the overall story."
http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com/...

As someone who doesn't like to write out kisses, let alone sex scenes, no, I can't look down on anyone who can write that, but yes, I do see a huge stigma against erotica authors. I have theories, but they get a bit political, so I'll zip my lips. ;)

Christina wrote: "As someone who doesn't like to write out kisses, let alone sex scenes, no, I can't look down on anyone who can write that, but yes, I do see a huge stigma against erotica authors. I have theories, ..."

Unzip the lips! This is "uncensored". Lol, no just kidding, I understand.

Alexis wrote: "Unzip the lips! This is "uncensored". Lol, no just kidding, I understand"

Feel free to PM me for the rant. ;)

I will be invading your inbox soon lol.

Thank you all for your valuable input on yesterday's topics..

The makings of a Cover
Today is all about the cover. If you read romance novels, you've probably noticed that we are currently being bombarded by covers featuring broad, male models with huge chests. Yeah - not my thing. MY favorite part of the male body is the whole V thing they got going on, but since that would get my book banished on Amazon, I decided go in another direction: women. Yes, it might sound a bit weird, me not opting to use male eye candy or even cute couples to sell my novel but my choice is rooted in what I find sexy, and also what is practical for me.

The backstory
I write romance novels featuring a diverse cast. I will write a novel featuring two white characters one day (book 3, most likely) but the truth is: EVERYONE writes that. (Not everyone, but you get what I mean.) Let me pause here and say that I actually thought about making the heroine and hero in my FIRST novel white as to get as many consumers as possible (hey, the thread is called "uncensored", keeping it real, etc lol) but in the end I just couldn't do it: I wanted to write a unique story and one that felt true to me. If that shrinks my audience then so be it.

Fact is, although other races have no problem picking up a book with white models on the cover (otherwise we'd have nothing to bleeping read LOL) the same thing does not go for white romance readers. I remain hopeful that this will change though, and that people will give a story a chance, regardless of what the characters look like.

ANYWAYS
Back to the cover.
Man, I might need to start censoring myself..
Where was I?
Oh yeah, I said "NO" to male chests.
What then? Since my heroine is black and my hero is white ..

I discovered that if was very hard to find stock images featuring a non white pairing. I kept seeing the same, boring, interracial couples everywhere. And they were so unsexy. Blegh. So I thought.. The Gods have bestowed a great and unique talent (to blend stuff and work colors) on me and gave me the tools to use it (photo editing apps) so I'll just.. well.. turn these white women black, lol!

And that's what I did. The problem is although white women and black women can have similar bodies, our facial features are quite different. So I had to find images that are sexy but that don't show the face of the women. I think I did which led to my cover, which I love. (I might make it more colorful but thats a topic for another day. :p) Sadly, I do not have the original image for my cover saved but this is basically what I did:
Warning: male chest hair ahead: https://authoralexiswills.files.wordp...

In the end the process - the search for a cover - led to two discoveries: it made me realize that with a bit of work I can broaden my options with regards to covers AND it opened my eyes to how sexy women and our bodies can be, which made me decide that all my covers will be focused on the woman.

Women being sexy. Women being pleasured. Women doing the seducing.

Moral of the rant story?

When life only gives you white women, make them women of color in photoshop.

Or if I may offer a more general piece of advice: if you run into obstacles don't get discouraged, get creative.

You might end up learning a lot about the direction you want to take your story, or in my case, my covers in. (P.S I will continue to do this with my books, and have already spend the morning turning one very beautiful white model in the throes of passion into a latina, lol.)

Thanks for reading. :)

Alexis wrote: "P.S. The quote above is why I currently have about six sex scenes in a draft-folder. Although they are very hot, they added nothing to story. Such a bummer lol."

This is a very good point and a nice reminder. I've read books with so many sex scenes that I ended up skimming them to get to plot.

You got me with two things:
Male chest hair! Yes! I get tired of hairless chests, so much so that the hairy chest was a huge draw.

And:
Women being sexy. Women being pleasured. Women doing the seducing.

Thank you Thank you! I want women to be more sexually confident... I'm tired them them being acted upon (though admittedly, I don't read much het romance.)

Nat wrote: "You got me with two things:
Male chest hair! Yes! I get tired of hairless chests, so much so that the hairy chest was a huge draw.

And:
Women being sexy. Women being pleasured. Women doing the sed..."

Nat, thank you for your contributions in this thread but for all that is holy can you check your dms please!? Its been hours! I see you in this thread and that thread and all over the place. Lmao. I send you a banner and I'm dying to hear whether you like it or not.

:p

Haha, I just did! I was so busy yesterday I haven't been on again until now!

The Banner is SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are a kind kind wonderful artist. Thank you. If I can do anything non artsy for you, please let me know!

I love the colors and how it looks really active, like stuff is obviously going on and you should check this book out to be a part of it.

Nat wrote: "Haha, I just did! I was so busy yesterday I haven't been on again until now!

The Banner is SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are a kind kind wonderful artist. Thank you. If I can do anything non a..."

Yess see now I can relax lol. Glad you liked it. It seems like a fun book, good luck with it. :D

Sorry to string you along! Wasn't my intention. And thanks!

Alex wrote: "Hi Alexis, thanks for the invite to here. Sorry to hear you're still having problem with your heroine, maybe it's time to remind her who's the boss.

From my perspective, I think erotica suffers, a..."

Yes, see horror is not my thing. I mostly read romance and science fiction but that doesn't mean I don't respect horror writers, you know? But romance writers, boy, do we face stigmas for our work. You're welcome for the invite; welcome to the madhouse, hehe.

Guys! I'm writing again! Trouble is its a whole new book lol! I think I'm going to do it though, I'm going to start work on Book 2, while I wait for Book 1 to start acting right. I got inspired by a conversation I just had with a very frustrated friend and her past 24 hours. I'll save you all the girl talk details, lol.

It led to my next title, an erotic contemporary romantic comedy.

Alexis wrote: "Guys! I'm writing again! Trouble is its a whole new book lol! I think I'm going to do it though, I'm going to start work on Book 2, while I wait for Book 1 to start acting right. I got inspired by ..."

Yay for mojo! Whatever gets you writing is what's important :D

Yikes. That sounds as if it's a time bomb set to explode....

Love it

Alex wrote: "Alexis wrote: "Guys! I'm writing again! Trouble is its a whole new book lol! I think I'm going to do it though, I'm going to start work on Book 2, while I wait for Book 1 to start acting right. I g..."

Yes! :D

Jane wrote: "Yikes. That sounds as if it's a time bomb set to explode....

Love it"

Than you Jane. You guys are writers so you understand me when I say that my head is full right now: like its all coming alive after a deep deep slumber.