Hi I'm new and I already have a question

[Florence]

I was excited to find this group because I'm really, really tired of pages and pages of sex scenes. I like sex, but I do know how it works. Then, after I joined, I wondered what precisely defines 'clean' romance. Sex but without following the pair into the bedroom? No sex before marriage? Since I write the kind of romance I like to read, I'd appreciate a little help here in case some day I want to post something about my own work because I don't want to post inappropriately. I looked through the bookshelp but I didn't quickly recognize the books so that didn't help.

Florence Witkop (contemporary, sci/fi and fantasy romance with a gothic feel)
http://FlorenceWitkop.com

[Ginger]

Hi, Florence!

I'm sure either Joyce or Jaimey will be along fairly quickly to answer your question more completely, but I think it is mostly closed door sex between married partners. If they are not married, I think it has to include some form of consequence. Anyway, welcome to the group! I'm sure you'll love it here!

[Florence]

Thanks for the quick reply. I look forward to hearing from others.
Florence

[Joyce, Group Creator]

Hi Florence,

Welcome to our Clean Romance Group! For the purposes of this group, we define clean romance are books without any explicit sex scenes or (since some have pushed this boundary), explicit pre-sex/almost-but-not-quite-sex scenes. We don't rate on what happens after the door is closed. Many of our readers prefer no premarital sex, others don't mind but don't want to see it described. I think all would prefer to have the door closed.

Does that help?

[Florence]

Thanks, it helps a lot. Some of my books include premarital sex but don't describe it. Some don't have sex at all. So perhaps I'll ask for reviews from this group after explaining this to the potential reviewer. Or perhaps I'll just forgo seeking reviews and enjoy the group for what it is, a refreshning break from the too-much, over-the-top, boring sex scenes that sometimes take the place of good writing. And, yes, like others in this group, I've noticed that the quality of writing seems to go down as the quantity of sex increases. Don't know why this happens, but it does.

[Sydney]

The thing is, much of the time, the sex scenes are badly written too.

[Florence]

Love your comment, Sydney. Yes they are badly written. I truly believe a love scene is very hard to write because sex is only one part of love. I think a lot of writers think describing sex is describing love so once the sex scene is written, their work is done. Wrong!

[Sydney]

Exactly. I understand though, that they're very difficult to write well. I think of Barbara Cartland, who was massively successful, who never wrote a sex scene.
Yeah, all her novels ended the same (i.e 'and then the door closed') but apparently, letting her readers rely on their imaginations worked for her. :)

[Jewel]

I actually had a person give me a bad review because there was no sex in the story. Made me laugh. Makes me want to write a book and title it, "Fifty Shades of Chasteness" :-)

[Florence]

Jewel, go for it! I'll buy your 'Fifty Shades of Chasteness.' I'm depressed about marketing romances because lack of sex seems to equate with lack of sales. And, like you said, lack of good reviews. Which is why I'm glad to find this group. Not just because I like the group but because it reminds me that there are actually readers out there who don't want/need detailed sex scenes in their romances.

[Joyce, Group Creator]

Florence, yes, I have always believed the readers for clean romance were there. The challenge is to find them, especially since I know readers who have given up reading romance entirely because they were no longer able to find clean ones to read. So the challenge isn't just to find those who are looking, but also to find those who have given up and let them know we're here. That is one, among many, goals I've hoped this group would help accomplish.

[Alisa]

Jewel, That is funny! I actually read all the 1-star reviews if I am not familiar with a particular author -- because people will give it 1-star because it's too steamy OR because there isn't any sex. If they give it a 1-star because it's too steamy, then I know the book isn't for me; on the other hand, if they give it a 1-star because there's no sex then I buy it! I find that sometimes 1-star reviews are more helpful than the 5-star ones!!!

[Jewel]

Florence wrote: "I was excited to find this group because I'm really, really tired of pages and pages of sex scenes. I like sex, but I do know how it works. Then, after I joined, I wondered what precisely defines..."

Well, if you need a reviewer, I would be glad to help out:-)

[Jewel]

Alisa wrote: "Jewel, That is funny! I actually read all the 1-star reviews if I am not familiar with a particular author -- because people will give it 1-star because it's too steamy OR because there isn't any ..."

I sometimes do that too:-)

[Daris]

I've had some similar things, but I found it helps if I put in the description that it is a clean romance. Then those wanting something else look else where.

[Florence]

Daris, I think I'll start describing my works as clean romances now that I know there is such a designation. And Jewel, I'll get back to you as soon as my next story is ready. Thanks a million!

[Tammie]

What an awesome group. I think both of my novels would meet the criteria. In Island of Secrets, the couple is married and it leads kind of right up to it, but there is no explicit anything in the two scenes besides the fact that it says they made love.

In Keeping Secrets there aren't any sex scenes.

Both of my books have been noted in reviews as being clean, but as you all know that definition means one thing to one person and something else entirely to someone else.

It's really hard for authors who don't write tons of sex to connect with the right readers. I am really excited to find this group.