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Bdsm for Writers

by Charley Ferrer (Goodreads Author)

4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 · rating details · 19 ratings · 7 reviews

Paperback, 206 pages

Published December 23rd 2011 by Institute of Pleasure (first published July 24th 2011)

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Aug 19, 2012 Sage V Alford rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: writing-references

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This review was originally posted at MM Good Book Reviews.

Written in an engaging, talkative style which gives the impression you’re actually holding a conversation with a friend rather than reading a book on writing, BDSM for Writers captures attention from the first words of Joey W. Hill’s preface. However, the chatty writing style quickly becomes detrimental in a non-fiction reference book as there are no footnotes or endnotes attributing any of the quotes made along the way. This same fault o...more This review was originally posted at MM Good Book Reviews.

Written in an engaging, talkative style which gives the impression you’re actually holding a conversation with a friend rather than reading a book on writing, BDSM for Writers captures attention from the first words of Joey W. Hill’s preface. However, the chatty writing style quickly becomes detrimental in a non-fiction reference book as there are no footnotes or endnotes attributing any of the quotes made along the way. This same fault occurs when reference examples of kinds of behavior in the BDSM community. An example is given, yet there is no note of any kind saying – personal conversation with so-n-so, even if the name used is a pseudonym to protect the individual’s identity. Additionally, things are stated as fact with no attribution to outside research. Yes, many of these facts are common knowledge within the BDSM community; however, an author should never assume that all their readers share the same knowledge base.

Often an acronym or term is introduced, used repeatedly and only later defined as to its exact meaning. Luckily, many times these terms are again common knowledge which anyone doing a bit of online research into the BDSM lifestyle will already have been exposed to; however, again, this lack of immediate explanation is a determent to the context of the book. For example, Dr. Ferrer begins to discuss the basic rules of a BDSM relationship by defining the term ‘safeword’ in the context of ‘SSC/RACK’ relationships but doesn’t explain the later term until two paragraphs and one page later! If you don’t already know the anagram, you will have no idea why Dr. Ferrer is using the term in her definition. It’s not until the third chapter of the book – after pages of generalized discussion – that Dr. Ferrer actually takes the time to fully define many of the terms she’d already been using. Thankfully, many of the terms are either in common usage, are understandable from context or are casually defined whenever they are mentioned in the text.

Additionally, there are some formatting issues with the book. The copy I read for this review would shift back and forth between one inch margins all around the text to inch-and-a-half left margins with one-inch right, top and bottom margins. Many of the errors are easily ignored – such as missing periods at ends of sentences, misplaced periods and a repeatedly used non-traditional spelling of ma’am – but partial parenthetical phrases where the beginning/ending parenthesis is missing and common, easily noticed spelling errors quickly became irritating.

BDSM for Writers suffers from an inherent bias on the part of the author toward heterosexual relationships, specifically, female dominant/male submissive relationships. From the beginning of the book through to the final pages, the reader is constantly reminded that this is the preferred relationship for the author and that – all gender pronouns could be switched as needed – as if the dynamics of BDSM relationships are completely interchangeable. While this could indeed be the case, it is difficult to ascertain from the text. Only twice – once in the section discussing anal sex and once in the resource list – does the book directly reference male/male authors. And then only to refer these authors to other books.

After all of the hype surrounding this book in the writing community, I must admit to being extremely disappointed in it. None of the material was really new to me, nor was it something I hadn’t found in other BDSM non-fiction books. The resource list was very short, mostly links to sites or groups known directly to the author, a few non-fiction general information books, and a few movies and fictions books. Again, the authorial bias was shown in this list. As an extremely basic introduction to BDSM, this book is passable though I feel it is greatly flawed due to authorial bias. Even the much vaunted BDSM Checklist for Writers is just a variation of similar checklists and instructions for filling them out easily located via a Google search.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Candace Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

'BDSM for Writers', is an invaluable exploration for erotic romance authors, delving deep into the physical and emotional relationship responsibilities of the Dominant/Submissive life-style.
The author opens doors and gives us a guide complete with terminology, equipment, and scenes. It is written in a way that transcends a writer's usual tool resource. There are touches of humor, checklists, discussions of protocol and ritual, and examples that reach into the depths of the extraordinary trust an...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Charley Ferrer rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Shelves: bdsm-for-writers

I created this book to teach writers who were not completely familiar with ALL the dynamics of Dominance and submission as well as for those that aren't actually in the BDSM Lifestyle but writer/want to write about it. I hope this book dispels many of the misconceptions that Hollywood and the media have perpetuated about D/s being all about "whips and chains". Well ok, we do love our toys but it's much more than that. D/s is about respect, love, honor, connection and the sensual craving and thri...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Dana Wright marked it as to-read

Shelves: adult-content, alternative-lifestyle, bondage, writing

I am excited to read this book. After the 50 Shades trilogy, I want to find out more about this so I can write a story that makes sense.

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Mar 25, 2012 Trillium rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm-non-fiction

If you're going to write about BDSM, you're going to need this book to ground you in the actual lifestyle as opposed to the fictionalized version that's out there. (Fifty Shades of Grey doesn't do it.)

However, the book could stand some stronger editing. There's a lot of "stream of consciousness" writing and it would help if it was more concretely organized. And there are a number of grammatical errors.

Finally, be aware that this is written by a female dominant and is somewhat colored from that...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Erzabet Bishop rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, anal-sex, bdsm, adventure, kink, must-read, spanking, sub, sir, slave, dom, power-exchange, punishment, humiliation, value, correction

This book was of enormous value. I really enjoyed Dr. Charley's window into the psychology and situations belonging to the BDSM culture. I will be keeping this book in my e-book library for a long time to come and it is a valuable reference!

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May 01, 2013 Princess Brina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book for BDSM writers.

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May 14, 2013 Lynn marked it as to-read

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May 02, 2013 Danny Tyran marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 25, 2013 Suzanne Steele rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 19, 2013 Kynthos-the-Archer marked it as to-read

Shelves: d-s_dominance-submission, bdsm, non-fiction, wishlist

Apr 17, 2013 Stephanie Jacobson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apr 16, 2013 Kelly Maybedog Hawkins marked it as to-read

Shelves: what-writing, what-non-fiction, what-bdsm, why-legwork-is-calling, what-reference

Apr 14, 2013 Steelwhisper is currently reading it

Apr 12, 2013 Bernard Broono rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 08, 2013 Yvonne marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Mar 21, 2013 Robert India is currently reading it

Mar 13, 2013 Tina Bright rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 12, 2013 MA Taylor marked it as to-read

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Jan 23, 2013 Charley Descoteaux marked it as to-read

Shelves: nf, writing-how-to

Jan 08, 2013 Brenna Sutton-marino marked it as to-read

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About Charley Ferrer

A world renowned Clinical Sexologist, TV/Radio Producer and Talk Show Host. Award winning author of 8-books on sexuality.

New books now available:
BDSM FOR WRITERS & BDSM THE NAKED TRUTH

www.bdsmthenakedtruth.com
www.bdsmforwriters.com
www.instituteofpleasure.org
http://blog.bdsmforwriters.com

More about Charley Ferrer...

Books by Charley Ferrer

The W.I.S.E. Journal for the Sensual Woman

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