How Do You Define "Clean"?

[Kathleen]

As a writer of historical fiction/romance with no explicit sex, I continue to wonder what "clean" means to readers. I know I flunk out of "Wholesome"—my books contain the occasional mild curse and no moral uplift to speak of, just characters doing the best they can and sometimes dealing with difficult choices.

What are your thoughts on the subject?

[Deb]

Clean for me is no cussing, especially taking God's name in vain. Nothing sexual of any kind. Only passionate kisses.

[Kathleen]

Thank you, Deb.

[QNPoohBear]

If there has to be a love scene, closed door. No heavy make out sessions or crude discussions. For historical, kisses and if the h/h are married, off page love scene.

[Kathleen]

QNPoohBear wrote: "If there has to be a love scene, closed door. No heavy make out sessions or crude discussions. For historical, kisses and if the h/h are married, off page love scene."

Thank you, QNPoohBear. That's pretty much my own feeling.

[Elizabeth]

I'm a little looser in my own definition. I don't mind if there's cursing or whatever -- I'm not the morals police. I just don't want to see a bunch of smut. If the author has to come up with euphemisms for genitalia, it's no longer clean, IMHO. :)

[Kathleen]

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm a little looser in my own definition. I don't mind if there's cursing or whatever -- I'm not the morals police. I just don't want to see a bunch of smut. If the author has to come up with euphe..."

Elizabeth, I'm with you. My books do include the occasional curse; they also include the occasional murder, duel or mention of a brothel in passing. I don't like the term "Sweet" romance, which suggests fields of flowers and happy bunnies playing therein, and "Wholesome" (as in Hallmark TV movies) is a bit too-too. No explicit sex or pejorative terms sums up my writing territory.

[QNPoohBear]

If you're writing Regency, then Georgette Heyer is the gold standard. If it would horrify her, then I won't want to read it or watch it. Ahem Netflix. The Hallmark Channel movies are cute and fluffy but a little too saccharine. I liked ONE of the Jane Austen themed movies they aired in February and none of the ones that involved Jane Austen or her characters. Just the academic character who uttered every single word that's come out of my mouth about dear Jane and probably about drama queen little sisters LOL! Chemistry can be conveyed by good writing without heaving bosoms and throbbing loins. I read a great description of Charlotte Lucas and a love interest (her husband thankfully dying shortly after the events of Pride and Prejudice). They ALMOST touched hands and it was very sweet and romantic.

[Kathleen]

QNPoohBear wrote: "If you're writing Regency, then Georgette Heyer is the gold standard. If it would horrify her, then I won't want to read it or watch it. Ahem Netflix. The Hallmark Channel movies are cute and fluff..."

Heyer is the gold standard for the Georgian period, too, although she wrote fewer of those. My books are a little grittier in the details of background than hers but I doubt she'd be offended at the language. I don't have much interest in cute and fluffy. While historical romance is essentially the stuff of fairy tales, it's only compelling if it has one foot in the real world.