Guest Post: Consent Is Key In Romance

Tamsen Parker took on the tough topic of consent in romance, as per our chat this Sunday, and she makes some great points for us to think about.

Consent has become a bigger part of the romance conversation than ever before, and it’s a conversation that is essential to have. We don’t live in the era of the bodice ripper anymore when I’d argue that women were demonstrating agency by writing stories in which they could still obtain sexual pleasure without receiving society’s censure for acting “unladylike,” or for, heaven forbid, admitting that they wanted sex. We don’t have to do that anymore. Which raises the question: what is our responsibility in regards to consent in the romances we pen?

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Coming Feb. 25th… Consent

It’s Flirty February! Join us for a whole month devoted to romance-specific chat topics.

Romance Writer chat topic February 25 Consent

The role of consent in society and romance is an ever-evolving conversation. The genre’s “bodice ripper” reputation is a throwback to when leading ladies weren’t allowed to want sex without coercion, but many authors and readers have moved on to more sex-positive narratives. This Sunday February 25th, we’ll talk about what consenting relationships look like (even if you like them rough and/or dark), as well as the past, present, and future of consent in Romance.

Love Scenes Guest Post: Don’t Speak

sexy couple drinking wineIt’s Flirty February! This week on #RWchat, we’re talking about love scenes! Regular participant LaQuette (author of the Queens of Kings series) is known for writing extra hot love scenes, so we asked her to handle this week’s guest post. Take it away, LaQuette!

I love romance novels. To my way of thinking, that should be a given since I write them for a living. I love the excitement of experiencing the couple’s journey to love. I love knowing I’m going to get a happy ending when it’s finished. And yes, I even love all of the sizzling parts that make me put down my reading device and fan myself because the chemistry and/or love scene is so hot (if you’re not having this experience while reading a romance novel you are missing out on everything that is good in life).

Now that you know I love romance novels, you should also know there is one thing that irks my reader’s brain while reading one. The one thing that will make me roll my eyes, and snatch me out of the reading experience quicker than anything else is too much dialogue during a sex scene.

For the love of all things holy, please, just NO!!

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Coming Feb. 18th… Love Scenes

It’s Flirty February! Join us for a whole month devoted to romance-specific chat topics.

Romance Writer chat topic February 18 Love Scenes

Writing love scenes is hard (hehe). Sometimes it’s hot and heavy, sometimes it’s slow and sweet, sometimes it’s something in between that’s difficult to define. Better yet is when they break the boundaries of the physical intimacy we’ve read before with something unique and new. But no matter what, love scenes have to play a part in the plot and the development of the characters. How do you write meaningful love scenes amidst all the “skip to the good part” pressure? Join us Sunday 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

  

Coming Jan. 14th… Your Meet Cutes

Romance Writer chat topic January 14 Meet Cute

Love at first sight is sometimes how it works out, but not always. The meet cute of our lovers’ first encounter makes a big difference in hooking your reader. But coming up with gripping ideas every time isn’t easy. How do you make you meet cute’s stand out and fill them with enough excitement to spark a romance that propels an entire novel? Come share with us Sunday 4pm PT / 7pm ET

Coming Up on #RWchat…May 8th: Ambiance

Next week on RWchat we’ll discuss how to infuse ambiance and atmosphere into our writing – especially in love scenes. We’ll talk about tone, language, and pacing, and how to write love scenes that capture mood and still advance the story.

Join us on Sunday at 7pmEST/4pmPST on the #RWchat hashtag.

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