What is the worst mistake for a writer to make in writing ER
As I work on polishing my writing and building some chops as a writer, I was wondering what you all think the biggest/worst/most annoying mistakes that writers of erotica and erotic romance make? I realize this will be different for everyone, but I'd like to know what you think a writer should watch out for when they are working on a piece. What makes you cringe when you read erotica? I think my biggest irritation is cheesy dialogue. That irks me in absolutely every genre, but I think it's most blatant in ER. Thanks! Niamh

Purple prose. UGH. That'll just make me laugh or close the book. Period. LOL

Not making the characters sympathetic. there have to be plot twists and turns but I can;t take it if any hero character is a bastard or TSTL (too stupid to live).

Cheesy or wooden dialogue does it for me too - and not just in ER but in any form of writing. If I can't 'hear' the characters talking, or feel that their speech is believable, I can't force myself to go on reading. Oh, and having an archangel come to rescue a character in a non-fantasy book because the author has written herself into a corner comes pretty high up the list, too. :D

Re: What is the worst mistake for a writer to make in writin
Measurements of a man's dick in the middle of a sex scene (or prior to...hell, anytime!). Length, girth, whatever. Also physical descriptions of a character from his/her point of view (notice how they're almost always a glowing report of physical perfection?): \\\\\"He ran his fingers over my rock-hard abs, down to my firm, rounded ass.\\\\\" Yo!

Purple prose and wooden dialogue pushes my buttons more than anything else. The dialogue can be a submission killer. Since dialogue is one of the biggest craft issues in fiction writing, I don't spend a lot of time with authors who haven't mastered the basics.

Err...that was bizarre... Karen, your post just disappeared. *blinks* I was typing a response, opened a separate window to quote you, and it wasn't there. Hrm. I hate Forumer. I really do.

Odd.

I can't see why it would disappear. Never happened before.

I've had one of mine disappear before, but no clue why. :?

Oh well. For those of you just reading, see my blogger blog for those things I hate to see in erotica. I don't care what the story is, the quality of writing should still be good, and erotic writers should be even better if they want to take the stigma of \"not really legit writing\" out of the genre. Anyhow, it's stupid moves to accomodate POV and also -- this isn't on my blog -- writers that consistently do this: \"Dave. I. You. Fuck.\" Authors that can't use an ellipsis, in other words. I hate that. I can handle almost any sort of story with any sort of character provided the logic of the writing is sound.

insert scary music... it must be the gremlins. I hate when people build up a plot point and then gloss it at the end. Going on and on for chapters about what a bad ass someone is and at the end you get... \"oh yes, well I confronted him and he backed down.\" WHAT!!!! Show it too me damn it.

Re: What is the worst mistake for a writer to make in writin
Also physical descriptions of a character from his/her point of view (notice how they're almost always a glowing report of physical perfection?): \\\"He ran his fingers over my rock-hard abs, down to my firm, rounded ass.\\\" Danceny, I do so agree with you. You get them a lot in m/f. 'I walked down the street, thrusting out my pert little breasts...' All who write thus should be shot.

Re: What is the worst mistake for a writer to make in writin
Danceny, I do so agree with you. You get them a lot in m/f. 'I walked down the street, thrusting out my pert little breasts...' All who write thus should be shot. At the very least give their characters a giant pin to use on that ego bubble of theirs. :lol: