Rachel Jameson

The Athena Effect

How do your characters come to you? Are they fully formed? Or do you see only a glimmer of them, and slowly flesh them out later? A bit of both?

I have to say, for the most part, my characters tend to jump out of my head fully formed just like Athena leapt from Zeus’ head. I call this the Athena Effect.

Recently, I had a story wriggle into my brain. Parts of it exploded like usual, but for some reason, all I can see of the Hero is that he’s tall, stoic, and thinnish. My Heroine is a true Athena, coming to me in an instant with every feeling, thought, hope and dream she involves.

How does this work for your stories? Do you see the entire story? Is it fully formed instantly in your head and all you have to do is let your fingers type what you see? Or do you see a small flash of something, but you’re not sure what?

I tend to get big scenes in complete movie form in my head. However, here’s where I get screwed. I don’t see what connects those scenes very well. So my hardest task as a writer is getting those big fully formed scenes to connect and to connect well.

How does it work for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

19 Responses to “The Athena Effect”

1. By Sabrina Darby on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   It really depends for me. Because sometimes my stories start with an idea, a theoretical concept, and I think, what kind of people would be involved in that? So, more like unlocking a puzzle.

   Sometimes though, I do get those head explosions. Speaking of which, how did Zeus’ head ever close back together? Did he go around after that with a hole in the head? Maybe *that’s* where that expression comes from.

2. By Jinxie_G on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   For me, it depends on the character and the story. Some jump out fully formed while others I sit and wait on to see what they’re going to do. I usually know the beginning of the story and the desired end, but rarely do I see the middle until I write it. Lately, I’ve been getting only small snippets of stories and have no clue as to what’s happening, where they’re supposed to go, or how they’ll end. And it’s driving me insane.

3. By Kim Knox on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   I often get the one of the characters in a flash, somewhere near where the story will start. Usually it’s the heroine in a setting, ie, her in a bar full of mythical creatures, at a war memorial with a demon, on a shuttle heading to an ice planet to fulfil a rather special contract.

   Then I write that scene and let it simmer for a while as I try to work out who the hell this person is and where the hero(es) slot in

   I love the term ‘The Athena Effect’, btw. I wish full characters would spring at me, lol, though they never do…
   And I imagine Zeus with a Terminator T1000 effect – his forehead shlooping back together in a liquid rush. *grin*

4. By Emma Petersen on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Usually a fragment of something, a song lyric, melody, line in a movie, etc will get the gears turning in my mind. For example, I was listening to Jamey Johnson earlier and his voice and the lyrics of the song made me think of his history, what the person he was singing was like. So a snowflake formed in my head so I went to my CP and told her about it and the the idea grew and grew until I had an outline.

   My stories don’t always start like that but they sometimes do. Interesting post, it made me think about how my stories come about.

5. By Kat Mancos on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   My characters come to me in various states of completion. Sometimes they are Athenian, other times they are snapshots of who they can be by the end of the story. Sometimes I know them when I do my character sketches and interview, and they end up nothing like that by the end of the book, or I run off on tangets with them as I write.

   I do love the name of this phenomena – The Athena Effect is a killer title for a book. If you don’t want it, I swear I’m going to steal if from you – if it’s not already taken that is.

   -Kat

6. By Hailey Edwards on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   I love the phrase “Athena effect.” I need to remember that one. lol

   Everything I have ever written started with a character, always male, fully formed, popping into my mind one day. I know who he is, his flaws/strengths, and his ultimate personal goal.

   The story? Not so much. I struggle to figure out what the heck these people running around my head want to do. Exterior conflict makes me stop and think -a lot. Character relationships are much easier to write for me.

   If I take too long, someone else is bound to stop by and join the party. It’s why I love reading/writing series. The characters are so real, so vivid. It’s only a matter of sorting out what kind of trouble they plan to get into this time. lol

7. By Jeannie Lin on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Though I don’t like to use the analogy of characters telling you things — my characters don’t start out fully formed at all. They’re mysterious to me. I think about them a lot before I ever start writing and in the process of writing, I usually find out a little bit more every step of the way.

8. By Jeannie Lin on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Oh! I wanted to add, I like the term “Athena effect”.

9. By Cambria Dillon on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   What happens to you happens to me EVERY TIME. My heroine is completely formed down to the kind of underwear she likes. The male…meh, not so much. I find that I have to really work (i.e.: completing character charts, etc…) to know who my hero is and what his motivation is all about. I also get those movie reels of entire scenes and must work on making the transitions flow from scene to scene. I was a theatre geek in high school and college so what helps me is acting out the next logical scene to see what works or doesn’t. My dog usually looks at me kind of funny, but it it’s worked so far!

10. By April Morelock on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    I like that… the Athena Effect. I wish it were that easy for me. I usually only see the scenes … I very rarely actually know what the person is seeing or feeling. I have to empathize and figure out, “Why is my character acting like that? What in his or her past are making them do that?”

    Then I have to backwards engineer the people. Sometimes I hear and see them but it’s more a feeling that my “guesses” are on track. It’s like flinging yourself out of a plane without knowing if you have a parachute or not. You just hope it sticks and makes sense.

    I’m getting used to the feeling but I’m still always surprised when I land safely back on earth unharmed, with fully formed characters and a story that I can’t believe I just wrote and that it makes sense.

    Just color me blind and very un-Zeus-like.

    April

11. By Victoria Janssen on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    I love that name, “the Athena effect.”

12. By Heather on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    The Athena affect, I love that! Sometimes my characters come to me like that, sometimes they reveal themselves slowly. Same with their stories. It doesn’t feel so much like I’m crafting their story as it does that they’re telling me their story.

13. By bettie on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    The Athena Effect–great term, and a thought-provoking post.

    My characters don’t come to me fully formed. With third person, I see a scene and have to figure out who the characters in the scene are and what’s going on. With first person I get a sense of a story seen from one perspective, and then have to figure out what kind of person would tell this story, and how they’d tell it. Some stories leap out more or less fully formed, but the characters are always work.

14. By cassandra vert on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    I start with the story I want to tell. Then I work backward to figure out what kind of character would take that kind of journey–what does s/he know and what does s/he need to learn? Then I use that profile to figure out what the love interest brings–what does the love interest need to bring to help the journey and what will the love interest learn from the other person? Then I create the supporting characters to bring completely different qualities, from paternal wisdom to comic relief.

    It’s like creating a design scheme on a color wheel. You pick your story color, say blue, a traditional story. Then pick the character colors. You want these three to harmonize but also allow for conflict: blue-red-yellow is too much harmony. Blue-green-purple is better. You’ve added a little eccentricity with the secondary colors. This could describe the story of two committed singles who fall for each other.

    You could also go green-blue-purple. Now you’ve got a less traditional story (green) with one very traditional character (blue), maybe someone who needs to let go a little, and one less traditional character (purple).

    Then you pick your accent colors, for example fuchsia, chartreuse, yellow–two tertiaries and a primary. That makes a nice balance. You’ve got some grounded characters, some that are a little more adventurous, and some that are best in small doses.

    I build characters important feature by important feature, but very early in the process, they come to life in my mind. I still finish the character profile, though, because after a point there is too much to remember without one.

15. By Cate Hart on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    I love the term “Athena Effect.” I think I tend to have both. Sometimes, one character springs out fully formed, and I know exactly how they are. But I think that sometimes as I write the story and scenes change, then the character becomes more well-rounded as they expose to me more inner things. It’s alomst like what pops out of my head is the movie poster or stand-up for the character. It’s larger than life, but still only two-dimensional. Sometimes, I have an idea. Like for my MS Broken, I knew I wanted to create a paranormal world with angels. I didn’t have a particular idea in my head of who Caleb was, and especially not Sarah. On the other hand, my current WIP, Conjured, I had the name first and his whole backstory pretty much from the get go. But I always start with the characters first.

16. By Rachel Jameson on Dec 16, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Hi!
    Wow! Thank you SO much for all the wonderful comments! It’s just great to see how all of you write. So similar and yet so different!
    And, I’m glad you like my Athena Effect. It erm.. came at me in an instant, much like the lady herself, har har.
    Thank you again! I’m glad so many of you got something out of this post!
    -Rachel

17. By Ms Menozzi on Dec 17, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    For me, they’re usually pretty fully-formed but they take a little more coherent shape over time. Rarely do they spring utterly complete from the depths and recesses of my creative lizard brain, though.

    Once in a while, however, they do emerge with urgency, and they drag me along to tell me their story. That’s what I like best.

18. By Kinsey on Dec 17, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Rachel: Great post, great name for the phenomenon. My H & H usually grow in my head, but they always come before the story. I’ll have an idea about a specific person with a specific problem or situation and it builds from there. but I carry the characters around in my mind long before I give them a whole story. That’s what always takes so long. I knew I had this remarkable girl who threw herself between an enraged werewolf and a little boy she loved so much she’d die for him long before I knew what her whole story would be. I can force myself to make up a story, but I can’t force the characters, for some reason. That has to be more organic.

19. By Rachel Jameson on Dec 17, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Thanks for stopping by, Kinsey and Ms Menozzi! I appreciate it!
    I hope they’re not dragging you along by your hair, Menozzi!

    Kinsey – I find I tend to have the same thing about half the time. Character before much of the story. The other half is the story, and sort of glimmers of the chars. I try not to force anything, which means that sometimes it takes AGES! When I force things though, its not the story that needs to be told.

    Thanks again, gals!

Everyone Needs A Gift Like This!

My author friend, Sabrina Darby has gotten an
incredible present for the holidays!

Her husband made her this great book trailer for her
debut novel, On These Silken Sheets!

Oh yeah, and she has a really amazing new free read!

Smells…. Smells? Yeah, I’m talking about Smells, People!

My apologies that this is so late! My grandmother is turning 85 on the 28^th of December, and I’ve been trying to get the invitations out. What should have been a simple task ended up taking nearly all day! We ended up inviting about 100 more people than we’d planned. Hopefully those coming will actually RSVP, and oh my gosh, hopefully not everyone we invited will come! But phew, I got it all done, everything’s labeled, stamped, and sealed! Now back to writing and romance!

Smells

As a writer, it is my duty to try to describe everything to its fullest, so that a reader can read it and see, hear, feel, and even smell everything I am showing. This can be, at times, a very difficult task.

Especially when it comes to smells. How about certain things that only smell like themselves? Like silly putty. As hard as I try to think of something akin to it, silly putty only smells like silly putty. It’s a smell in itself. When asked, most think of it as either itself, or also smelling like newspaper. However, until you squash it on the newspaper, it starts out only smelling like silly putty. You could stretch and say… chemical-y, but really, it smells like silly putty and nothing else.

There are others that smell only like themselves. Babies for one. Babies have a very unique smell, that again is a smell in and of itself. What else? How about the smell of recently rained upon cement? Pennies. Pennies don’t smell like copper, they smell like pennies. Wet dog, playdoh, burned hair. What else can you think of?

Or smells that you’ve never known. I’ve never been to a ball in 1810, crowded and hot, filled with people who might not have bathed recently. Filled with powders and perfumes and colognes, some that no longer exist in this day and age. Filled with music, people talking over the music, people talking over the other people. So how do I ago about describing something I’ve never experienced? Well, speaking for myself, I pull upon things that are as similar as possible. Crowds, rock concerts, rallies, the smell of an unwashed hippie, when you walk through the perfume department in a store. Drawing on those, I can then get a sense of claustrophobia, mixed smells all hitting me at once, the incredible noise coming from all sides. I can then take all of that, and put it into my character’s perspective, while taking out the modern aspects and enveloping those senses with the clothes, music, conversation, etc. of the time.

I think one of the best things about books is that you can make a world come to life just by a description. What do you think?

4 Responses to “Smells. Smells? Yeah, I’m talking about Smells, People!”

1. By Lynne DuMae on Dec 2, 2009 | Reply

   Great post, Rachel. I think smells are a really hard thing to write. Mostly I believe it’s hard because to everyone, things smell differently. That’s why some people like one perfume while others abhor it. I guess that would go for taste as well. At any rate, I think you did an excellent job describing the ballroom. I definitely got the feeling of claustrophobia there. The thought of all those scents covering up body odor would also add nausea to the mix. Ugh!

2. By MsMenozzi on Dec 3, 2009 | Reply

   I agree – smell is an important contribution to any story, any scene. Another conflict, beyond things smelling differently to different people, is that what one person finds pleasant, another might find appalling. Some folks love the smell of gasoline, while it makes me nauseous and yet it reminds me a little of my father, which gives me a sense of nostalgia.

   Your description of the ball brings to mind another example, from my own writing. In my last WIP, my critique partner and I disagreed frequently when I would mention the faint odor of sweat beneath the cologne or fresh-laundered clothing of the male character.

   For me, this smell isn’t necessarily a bad smell – provided it’s very recent and not after days and days of hard work, then it’s yucky indeed. But for her, the mention of sweat – even sweaty palms, or sweaty skin – was a no-no. My protest was that the story takes place in Venice, in mid-summer, and they live without air-conditioning; people are gonna sweat, and no amount of deodorant can block that! LOL!

   So, I guess smell is one of the senses we have to tread lightly with in our stories, depending on the audience.

3. By Kinsey on Dec 3, 2009 | Reply

   Ok, so this is not on the topic of conveying sensory information, but I have to tell my smelly hippie story because it’s funny.

   We took the kids to the Renaissance Festival over Thanksgiving. My sister, an unrepentant upper middle class yuppie, refuses to attend fairs like this b/c “it’s just a bunch of stinky hippies with pit hair.” Having some hidden hippie tendencies of my own, this offends me but, on the other hand, it’s one of those stereotypes with a basis in truth (know what? organic deodorant doesn’t work). Whateva. We took Diva and her cousins to the festival and had a ball (next year I’m making costumes for all of us, which earned a giant eyeroll from the sister).

   Leaving the festival that night, we stopped for dinner at a small cafe in the rural town where the festival is held. Our waitress was an adorable girl, couldn’t be more than 21 or 22, said she’d live there all her life but never gone to the Renaissance Festival. Said performers from the festival ate there frequently over the last month, and sometimes they teased her and asked her if she wanted to run away and join the circus – i.e., the ren-faire circuit.

   She said they were really nice, but they all stank.

   Of course my sister said, “See what I mean?”

   I still think if I were single and childless, I’d run away to join the ren-faire for a season or two.

4. By April Morelock on Dec 3, 2009 | Reply

   We do reinactments and there’s nothing like the smell of it… but something you also have to remember is that those smells that may bother us today… back then they were probably nostalgic smells.

   Ren-Faire people may smell because of the cooking fires… cook chicken or a roast or lamb over a fire all day and you’ll smell a bit greasy and woodsy. Add natural sweat to wool clothing that you CAN NEVER GET COMPLETELY CLEAN and yeah… just the clothes themselves will smell no matter what you do to clean them.

   Some clothes are so expensive, it’s just not practical to spend a lot of time cleaning them when within an hour of wearing them again, they’ll smell the same.

   But anyway, there are a lot of scents that a lot of people find abrasive that are used in trapping (my family traps)… skunk essence is actually one of them… yet I know for my kids the smells of licorice… skunk… and even some perfumes and woodsmoke will be very nostalgic smells for them.

   At the same time, they easily fade into the background. I’m sure in the old days and even in other countries… the smell of sweat is so normal that for most people it comes in under the radar.

   Personally… I find the musky odor of fresh sweat on a hot male body very sexy.

   That’s just me.

   April

Want to Know a Secret?

6 Responses to “Want to know a secret?”

1. By Shelly on Nov 18, 2009 | Reply

   I used to sit outside in my treehouse and watch thunderstorms. Now, when there is a storm, I want to go hide out in my kids treehouse by myself and watch. Makes you miss being a kid.

2. By Stephanie Draven on Nov 18, 2009 | Reply

   When I was a kid I loved to dance in the rain, but then I got caught out in a rainstorm and I couldn’t come inside. I’ve never been so cold in my life, and that pretty much made me look at rain in a whole new way

3. By Leigh Royals on Nov 18, 2009 | Reply

   I knew there was a reason I love you! Spontaneous song and dance. YES! You can help me and Haven orchestrate one thing like this at a Wal-Mart.

4. By Lindsey on Nov 18, 2009 | Reply

   WoW, always wanted to do that! The one time I went to do it for real the rain slowed down and instead of coming home soaked, I was merely damp. *sigh*
   I miss summer days at the farm when my sister and I would round up the kittens in the wagon, load it with snacks and head out to the pastures to play pioneer women! Oh, the good old days. Considering that house no longer exists (caught fire last year and my parents had to give it up and move it was so far gone). Someone else owns the property now so if I decided to rehash old memories, I would sure look the fool!

5. By Rebecca March on Nov 19, 2009 | Reply

   My secret was singing “My Favorite Things” like Julie Andrews, (I also knew every word) only I was out on my home made ice rink skating, instead of on the bed jumping and pulling down curtains. Then I accepted my Olympic medal after a fantabulous performance.

6. By Rachel Jameson on Nov 19, 2009 | Reply

   Hehe. Thanks for sharing your deep dark secrets! Glad to know I’m not the only crazy… er…. adventurous one. *G*

Twitter Lists – How to Set-Up & How to Utilize Them. Is Twitter Working For You?

4 Responses to “Twitter Lists – How to Set-Up & How to Utilize Them. Is Twitter Working For You?”

1. By Sabrina Darby on Nov 4, 2009 | Reply

   This was a massive labor of …(love??), Rachel. May your pain be other people’s gain.

2. By Hailey Edwards on Nov 4, 2009 | Reply

   Thanks so much for the work you put into breaking down this feature for those of us who are less Twitter savvy. I admit, I grabbed your Romance Divas list. It made following the Divas not already on my list much easier.

3. By Kate Pearce on Nov 4, 2009 | Reply

   Um-can you do mine now?
   just kidding ;

4. By Catherine Spencer on Nov 11, 2009 | Reply

   This is great info! Thank you! I am very, very afraid of Twitter, but I know at some point I will be diving in. I refer back to this when I do! Thank you so much for taking the time to spell all of this out!

Interviewing AJ Chase! PLUS A CONTEST! My first time interviewing, ever!

12 Responses to “Interviewing AJ Chase! PLUS A CONTEST! My first time interviewing, ever!”

1. By fallon hadley on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Cat and Mouse sounds awesome. To write, take care of the two little ones and one on the way, AJ is very dedicated.

   Wishing you many sales,
   Fallon H.

2. By RKCharron on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Hi Rachel
   Thank you for the great interview with AJ Chase & thanks to AJ for sharing.
   CAT AND MOUSE sounds like a fun intriguing read. It’s now on my ToBeRead list.
   Thank you for bringing AJ Chase to my attention Rachel.
   And Congratulations to AJ on her baby. And her debut book.
   So many different genres, AJ, you are an inspiration.
   Thanks again for sharing AJ & Rachel,
   All the best,
   RKCharron
   xoxo
   PS – AJ Chase is on Twitter: @AJ_Chase

3. By Tarlonis on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Great interview. Wishing AJ all the luck in the world selling and I’ll have to check out Cat & Mouse when I get the chance.

   (btw, my wife designed a pregnant Princess Amidala costumer for our prego friend =D )
   ((PPS, that monkey is a Tarsier found in the Philliphines))

4. By April Morelock on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Excellent interview.

   Cat and Mouse. I want. Please. I’ll tackle AJ’s hubby and make sure he lets her name this cute little darling Paige (LOVE the name… Gillian. Really… when you could have Paige)

   April

5. By AJ on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Thanks Rachel and thanks for the comments peeps. I hope that if you read Cat and Mouse you enjoy it. I don’t know if dedicated is the right word, Fallon, I think my messy house would tell you differently. Thanks for dropping by. RK, I always think of my genre hopping as some kind of literary ADD instead of an inspiration lol. Oh thanks Tarlonis, I thought it was some sort of monkey. LOL April, he’s pretty strong. You can try but I don’t know if you’d win.

6. By Danielle Yockman on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Congrats AJ and Rachel! Two great firsts! AJ best of luck with your new release, sounds like a good read!

7. By Sabrina Darby on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Great interview

   I’m commenting but you don’t need to enter me in the contest; will be buying the book…

8. By QLady48 on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Nice interview, good luck with your 1st book!!! My sis was a pumpkin each time she was pregnant, just an idea!! Take care, Sue

9. By Sasha Devlin on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

   Congrats on the release AJ!

   BTW that picture looks like it might be a lemur. A very excited one. Or I could just be getting that from the eyes.

   My friend (was was 7mo pregnant at the time) went as a Nun. She was the life of the party.

10. By Teresa D’Amario on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply

    Awwww, what a funny little critter, and AJ, CONGRATS!!!! i can’t wait to read it!

11. By Rachel Jameson on Oct 22, 2009 | Reply

    Hi!!! I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to pick the winner at 10:15! I got stuck at CPK’s with the world’s most craptastic waitress. Took an hour to get the check!
    But I’m here, I’ve randomized the contestants, and I had someone randomly pick a number.
    Soooo…. Drumroll please.

    WOOOOOT! WTG Teresa D’Amario!!! Please DM me on twitter with your email when you get a chance.
    Congratulations on winning such a fantastic prize!

    And a thank you to all those who stopped by. I know it was a very busy promotion day, with lots of contests, so we appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.

    On a personal note, thank you for the kind remarks about the interview. It was my first, and I was rather nervous doing it!

12. By R.G. Alexander on Oct 22, 2009 | Reply

    Great Interview! Sorry I’m late Congrats AJ!

He reached his crisis – Working with Climax terms. AND A CONTEST!!!

Today we have a contest! Read the blog, comment, and you could win a copy of Sabrina Darby’s new novel, On These Silken Sheets! Instructions at the end! On These Silken Sheets is a historical erotic romance. “What happens in Harridan House stays in Harridan House. It is Regency London’s most exclusive after-hours club, catering to the erotic fantasies of randy lords and inquisitive ladies, each discreetly masked to guard every delicious indiscretion. Under the proprietorship of the notorious Madame Rouge, virgins, rakes, bachelors, and courtesans intimately mingle, free of the suffocating moral rules and restraints imposed upon them by good society. Harridan House: where forbidden pleasures always take place on silken sheets.”

He reached his crisis – Working with climax terms

As a Romance writer (one that doesn’t write “sweet romances”), there invariably comes a time when I need to describe one or both of the characters climaxing. Now, there are more terms for this act than I even knew! I did a little “research” for this blog post, and have found some I had never heard before, like cheer, cheese, come one’s cocoa, come one’s fat, cream silkies, fanny bomb!, and go over the mountain. As funny as some of those are, they don’t seem so…. romance-y to me.

Therein lies the problem! The words you use in your writing must fit the feel of the story; as a writer we are left with a limited amount of good ones. I personally like come and cum, “le petite mort”, shattered/shattering, and a few more.

There are ones that I’m not sure I like, or dislike – it depends on if they work in the context, like he poured himself into her. I’ve only ever once seen that in a story and liked it. Spend, convulsed, release, summit, zenith, pinnacle, apogee, he reached the denouement, the end, finish/finished, apex peak, sighed his release, peaked, crest/crested, he ejaculated, are other ones I am iffy on. Like I said, they can work, and they can really not work.

Now, there are ones, of course, that I greatly dislike. “He reached his crisis” is a big UGH for me. First of all, why on earth is he in crisis? He must be sleeping with the wrong person then!

I don’t get the negative connotations a lot of climax terms imply. Yes, the little death could be seen as one, but I’m biased on that because I just love the French terminology, and I love the thought of something being so perfect that you’ve reached a perfect state of bliss, that you reach some form of transcendence.

Things like the crucial moment, the final moment/the finale, the decisive moment, his last act, crux, he reached his resolution,  give me an eeeehhh feeling. How, tell me how, is coming a decisive moment? You don’t usually have much choice in the matter, especially a guy. Crucial could work, I suppose, on whether he pulls out in time, but I just don’t like that term. I guess I want my climax terms to be happy? That may sound silly, but especially because its romance, I want the end of things to be a good moment, and things like the cessation of passion, the ending of the event, the swan song of their time together, give me a sad feeling.

Some just make me ewwwww! Spewed, exploded, he shot his wad, discharged!!!, spurted, ejected.

Some are just comical. His head came to a head, crescendo, he passed the rubicon, he bid her body adieu, the payoff, his penis spoke its famous last words.

I would say the majority of the ones in this short blog are just not appropriate for using in a romance. I mean, how romantic is this – “He reached the crux, sighing as his crisis came.” Hehe… terrible, I know. But we really are limited in what we can use, and how many times you can use it. Overly-repetitious usage of a few terms is no better than using “discharge” to describe someone climaxing.

What do you think? Do you find, as a writer that you do have a limited “bag-o-tricks” to pull climax terms from? Or do you look at the many words included here and think there are so many to choose from? What are your favorite climax terms? The ones you cannot stand? You have a great opportunity today, because if you comment, and include your thoughts on the best and worst climax terms, you will be entered into a random drawing to win a copy of Sabrina Darby’s new novel, On These Silken Sheets!!!! The drawing will be held at 10 o’clock p.m. tonight, Pacific Time. Good luck, and thanks for commenting! Hope you enjoyed the blog!

27 Responses to “He reached his crisis – Working with Climax terms. AND A CONTEST!!!”

1. By Stephanie Draven on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   I already bought Sabrina Darby’s book, but I just don’t see how ’shot his wad’ isn’t romantic.

2. By Tarlonis on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   First off…HAHAHAAHA. Most of those were decidedly un-sexy and un-romantic.
   Other’s made me wonder if we were still talking about the same thing…Apogee? If I have to consult my mental dictionary…it doesn’t work. THERE’s your litmus test, aye?

   Post climax I’d say…”He came back to himself” because to be honest…a “good one” is practically an Out of Body experience imho.

   Release is another good one, after work I like to “release” some tension while I still have the house to myself *snerk* It’s also good because of….well…during the act I have to maintain control, a physiological “grip” lest it end too quickly/before I want it to. As long as I’m trying to think of something/way to describe it, lemme see… how about, “He gave in and explored delicious defeat inside her…” Meh, Maybe. Not sure if it works but something like that. Heehee.

3. By Jeanette Murray on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   Personally, as a newer writer, I do feel somewhat limited in what I use. But that might just be my inexperience speaking. I tend to play it very safe and stick with come/cum and a few other “safe” words.

   The word “exploded” could work for me, not so much in the sticky sense (ew?) but if you’re referring to a sensation, like nerves or stars behind your eyes, etc. In fact, a few words that, if used for the actual physical verb “come” would gross me out, would work more for describing the sensations along with the physical act.

   As a reader, though, I definitely have read some phrases that just bring out the immature 7th grader in me and force me to giggle, thus ruining the mood of the scene. Shot his wad? I mean, sounds like you’re listening to a locker room full of middle school football players trying to be cool. Discharge sounds like a medical issue. And spewing forces unfortunate thoughts to mind of throwing up. Nothing takes me out of the sexual/romantic mood like thoughts of vomit or young boys. (Shudder.)

   And then there’s “cheese.” Really? Someone tells me they “cheesed” and I’m going to think they smiled for a picture. Not quite right…

   Anyway, there are my thoughts. Take them or leave them!

4. By Leslie Dicken on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   In my writing, I tend to use “release” a lot.

   I’ve never even heard of some of the ones you mentioned here. Wow! Most are so unromantic. Although the type of book (erotic, sensual, etc) might also determine some of the words I’ll use or that I think fits with the story I’m reading.

   What an interesting topic! LOL!

5. By Fallon Hadley on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   LOL! “Come one’s cocoa, come one’s fat, cream silkies, fanny bomb!” These are a riot. I have never heard it put such a way before.

   I must say, I am very new to writing. So I feel like I use the same words over and over again.

   With all the books I read, I can honestly say, I am drawing a blank, right now. However, I am enjoying everyone else’s post.

   Thanks for having this.

   Many Happy Sales,
   Fallon Hadley

6. By Lynne Roberts on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   LOL… No really.

   I have often lamented the paucity of good climax terms (not to mention terms for certain body parts) I haven’t heard most of the ones you’ve mentioned but you’re right… not romantic.

   Crisis just made me laugh… really what’s the crisis? Seems to me, in general, you’d be pretty happy about that point.

   Release always works for me, but I like ‘apex’ and ‘crested the wave’ as long as they work in context… shattered is my favorite though.

   Thank you for a wonderful post. : )

7. By Mira Lyn Kelly on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   Okay, I admit to liking poured himself into her, spent, spurt and found his release. I LOVE the Come one’s Cocoa and will never have hot chocolate again.
   Awesome post, this made my day.

8. By Stacy Stewart on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   How about salted? He salted all over me. Not romantic, but funny!

9. By Sarah MacLean on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

   “his penis spoke its famous last words”

   no. that’s not for real….is it?

   I’ve read the fabulous On These Silken Sheets…so no need to enter me in the contest…but I just had to say….oh my.

10. By Kate Pearce on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Personally I like to keep the sex terms to ones that are well known and well-used because I don’t want, at that crucial moment of emotion in the action, to pull the reader out of the story. Some of those terms just made me want to laugh, but then so do some of the historically accurate terms, so I tend not to use those either-some readers like that and others hate it LOL

11. By Sabrina on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Great post! As a reader the terms a writer choses to use for a climax can really pull me out of the scene. My biggest problem is when the phrase used doesn’t match the tone of the sex. If the sex is sweet and slow then don’t use super graphic language there. If it’s hot, sexy and ahem…works you all up – then don’t throw in a “lame” (lol) expression.

12. By Sabrina Darby on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Very funny, Rachel. I don’t think I was nearly as creative as some of these in On These Silken Sheets.

    But Sarah, I have to admit, that “famous last words” one is not from a book, but is from the dark recesses of my mind late last night when Rachel asked for brainstorming help.

13. By Inez Kelley on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    We make what we have work and try not to go too zany. A bad bad bad bad example of what not to use.

    The dragon spit.

14. By Zora Stout on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    While I’m okay with spurted, exploded, crescendo, especially when considering the context, I don’t think I’d ever be able to write in a wip, he bid her body adieu or his penis spoke its famous last words or, um, the dragon spit-lol

    And, in romance books (for a love scene), I don’t think I will never like the word discharge. *shakes head*

15. By Cambria Dillon on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Wow…some of those are definitely new to me. I think there should be a book that strives to use as many corny and completely inappropriate climax words. I think it would be very entertaining, although probably wouldn’t win a Rita or anything.
    I don’t like the words that describe other bodily functions like: spewed, threw up, spit…it’s just not sexy to read “his shaft threw up into her deepest recesses.”
    Nothing wrong with using the good ‘ole, simple standby of “he came” or “she orgasmed”.
    Fun blog topic Rach!

16. By AJ on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Discharge makes me think of weapons. The military term for firing, as well as I’m sure other places where guns are shot, is discharging your weapon. Which I suppose could be apropos lol. Funny.

    I already bought Sabrina Darby’s book so you don’t need to enter me into the contest, but that is one funny blog. Some of the images sort of make me feel in the mood…for being ill. Some are that unromantic.

17. By Emily Ryan-Davis on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Well… “spooge” is a verb in my house (including past tense “spooged.”)

    I’d say don’t enter me in the drawing, but I wanna win (and wanna donate my winnings, if they come, to Voirey Linger!)

18. By Voirey Linger on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Aww… Thanks Em.

    I’m blunt and to the point with terms. I tend to use ‘come’ or ‘orgasm’. i don’t really like having to stop and figure out if the character is supposed to be coming or not, so I just put it out there.

    The purple-prosage can drove me bonkers.

19. By Jodie West (JoJo) on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Rachel this is a great post! I have often wondered about some of the wording some authors use, how they come up with it,

    I love the one from the top ” his penis spoke its famous last words” * laughing my butt off* now that one is funny.

    I do agree though it really depends on the story line, the characters, the type of sex scene. The wording can really throw off the scene to me and pull me out of the story.

    Some of the ones i think are ok (if used right) :
    ~ took his raging body over the edge
    ~he became ground zero, a cataclysm of excess that turned him completely inside out and back again
    ~contractions of his climax
    ~his body reaching flashpoint all at once
    ~the burn of his release was ferocious and untamed

    Some of the ones i WOW on, or ewwww :
    ~he emptied himself into her
    ~his body’s seed spilling (like spilled milk???)
    ~hot seed spurted from him (ewww….just ewww)
    ~pumping his flow into her ( all i picture is a gas pump)
    ~he came so hard he saw stars ( ok sounds like something might be wrong)
    ~Spent himself to the last drop

    Now i am by no means a writer. i am sure it is alot harder to come up with wording for scenes like these. I do say that if it is done right i guess any wording can sounds good and fit the scene.
    Thanks again for this post. this was great !!!
    JoJo

20. By Sasha Devlin on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    This post made me laugh!

    Part of the reason people don’t take romance novels seriously is because they either think it’s all terms like “His head came to a head” or they have really been unfortunate to read “he bid her body adieu” in an actual book

    Though I have to say “his penis spoke its famous last words!” Honey if it’s talking, you better run.

    I still w/ cum, release or ograsm. Oh another one not to use: jizz.

21. By Danielle Yockman on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    OMG! This is sooo funny! I think I use completion, peak, release…like many of you I try not to be overly creative at that moment. No point in detracting!

22. By Teresa D’Amario on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Now see, I’m pretty reserved. I think most of mine have already hit it, but yeah, so many are just not sexy to me. I’m pretty weird, I know. LOL.

23. By JulieD on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    What, you mean i shouldn’t be using “Blow his load”? crap. i’m sunk.

    i don’t mind reading come/cum, release, climaxed, orgasm. depending on the author, they can wax poetic with stuff like ‘jump over the edge into ecstasy’

24. By Rachel Jameson on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    Entries are now closed! Thanks for all the comments, they were great! I’m going to randomly pick in a few minutes!

25. By Rachel Jameson on Oct 7, 2009 | Reply

    YAY!! CONTEST RESULTS – Congratulations, Jodie West!!!! WOOT! Please DM me on twitter with your email and address, and how you want it signed! Sabrina will get the book out to you right away!
    Congratulations, and so glad you enjoyed the post!

26. By jodie west (jojo) on Oct 8, 2009 | Reply

    OH WOOT. thank you thank you!! i can’t wait to read it!! you guys are awesome, and this was by far the funniest, post contest i’ve done. it was great .
    Thanx,
    JoJo

27. By Anida Adler on Oct 13, 2009 | Reply

    Late to the party as usual But here’s my two cents worth: my biggest headache is a name for the male member. I truly dislike the term ‘dick’. What else is there that doesn’t sound awful? Cock, and penis. Any more suggestions? )c:

Guest Blog From Author Inez Kelley!!!

Today we have the great fortune to have Romance Author Inez Kelley guest blog! YAY!

Man oh Man oh Myla

In MYLA BY MOONLIGHT, Myla has a few issues with the men around her. Myla is the bodyguard, the strong one, the killer. She is female and feline, woman and warrior. She packs enough punch in her magic that it is easy to forget she could whoop your butt from here to Tuesday without breaking a sweat. Plus, she has boobs!

Prince Taric has a bit of an issue with the fact his guardian is female. Not that he’s a wimp, he isn’t. He’s severed a few heads himself and swings a fine sword. But there are a few clashes between them when his machismo gets in the way. His male protectiveness toward women emerges a time or two but she nips that in the bud. At one point, Myla pins him to the bed and he is NOT happy about that. *poor widdle princey gots hims ego bruised, yes him did*

Ahem. Anyway…

Then there is Bryton. He is a smartass and Taric’s human body guard. Now, I don’t know about you but if I have a mad man after me and I have my choice between human bodyguard and magical jaguar shifter stronger than a half dozen men who can foresee trouble… one guess which one I am picking? The magical chick who kicks butt wins over a mere mortal man any day. The magical and mortal bodyguards clash like popcorn and milk. *shrugs* It happens.

The King isn’t very fond of Myla, either. Of course, the villain has no idea what Myla is or what she is capable of. He underestimates her and…well, let’s just say ‘big mistake’ and leave it at that. There is just something about a strong beautiful woman that makes men get all huffy. The fact she has zero problem killing them if they threaten the Prince also gets their dander up.

Who does she think she is anyway? Fighting is a man’s job. Damnedable woman should be home raisin’ kids and washin’ clothes and fetchin’ supper …Yeah right. Not in my book, buddy. Go watch ESPN and scratch something, why doncha?

Myla doesn’t even bother worrying about what other men think about her. She is only concerned about one man, her charge, the man she gave her heart to. Taric trusts Myla, respects her, never once doubts her ability to protect him. She promised to guard him but he earns her love. He says it best–she is worth more to him than every jewel in the royal vault. It takes a strong man to love a stronger woman…and a bit of magic. *wink*

Inez Kelley writes what she reads, which is pretty much anything with a romantic flair. Deep in the boonies of the Appalachias, she lives with her hero and three spin-offs. They make finding a time to write a challenge but she’s never bored with life.

Visit http://inezkelley.com/

–
Best wishes,
~Inez

9 Responses to “Guest Blog from Author Inez Kelley!”

1. By Jeannie Lin on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   From Angeline Jolie in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” — “Why do I get the girl gun?”

   Rock on, Myla! Chicks with swords are HOT!

2. By Jennifer Leeland on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   LMAO Jeannie!!!!
   I love how Myla puts all those men into place. It is funny how it’s the WOMEN in the story that really “make things happen”. Taric’s mother, who creates Myla. Even the villain’s daughter plays an important role that turns the plot.
   Awesome story Inez.

3. By Ella Drake on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   I love reading strong heroines who are written real, even if Myla is magic.
   Never once did I question that Myla could kick butt and take names.
   Wonderful story!

4. By Bella on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   So, I love Myla and I have been loud about it. Now I have a question: sequel? Hmmm? I mean, how do you top that, I dunno? But a girl can wish, no?

5. By Sabrina Darby on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   Welcome to Inks, Inez! So, what I wanna know, is do those boobs ever get in the way of her fighting? No need to cut one off or anything like that…?

6. By Catherine Spencer on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   I *heart heart heart heart* the female bodyguard to a guy thing. What a great concept! Thanks for sharing with us today!

7. By April Morelock on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   This sounds fantastic!!! Anything written by Inez is worth reading.

   April

8. By jodi on Oct 2, 2009 | Reply

   you sucked me in, lol…I gotta go get it. I love magic strong female bodyguard created by the mom things. Now if I just had more time to read.

9. By iokijo on Oct 3, 2009 | Reply

   I enjoy your blog comments as much as a lot of books… I’m sure I would love the book..
   I’ve got to get it soon.
   Have a good weekend

To Dog Ear Or Not to Dog Ear. Is it a Crime?

I’ve missed putting up at least one blog, if not two, because the last three weeks have been downright insane. I’m not going to write about it here, because I’m trying to get over it and rehashing it seems to just bring everything up. To keep it short and simple, I came across a robber strangling my Grandmother’s boyfriend. He turned, saw me, came at me, and I ran. Apparently screamed bloody murder. Didn’t know I could run that fast nor scream that loud. Luckily I scared him off, he didn’t end up chasing me far, and it’s over and done with. The last few weeks have been spent putting up new motion sensor lights, new doors, new locks, trimming trees, getting estimates on rebuilding the fence. Anyways, that’s why I’ve missed doing my blog. Hopefully I can get on top of things and get back on track.

To Dog Ear, or Not to Dog Ear. Is it a Crime?

I thought I’d write about something that has irked me for a while. I love books! I cherish them. Would save books before I saved jewels or other things, if I had to. I do however, hate bookmarks, and thus I dog-ear my books. Oh, I have beautiful bookmarks – laminated, tasseled, even jeweled ones! But you have to find them, you have to remember to put them in; more importantly they can fall out! And then you have to skim through the book trying to find your place!

So… yes, I will admit it – I dog-ear my books. I push down the smallest bit of a corner, so that I don’t lose my place. I do so little of it, that often it unfolds itself; but there’s enough of a lasting impression that I can find my place. I don’t push down hard, I don’t bend half the page. I don’t think I’m harming the book, and trust me, I’m careful and caring with books. I never crack the spine. I’ll hold the book at an awkward angle before I bend the spine backwards!

And yet, when I’ve said to writing/reading friends that I ear-mark the pages, oh my goodness they get all up in arms! People have the strongest opinions about dog-earring! It’s really remarkable the reactions you get. One friend went so far as to tell me that she’s sees me do it, I will be shot. Note… a good many of them (including said friend) break the bindings on books! So.. which is more of a crime? Dog-earring or binding-breaking?

Even my Grandmother, who mostly reads “trash novels” as she deems them, finds dog-earring to be a crime. Please note, however, that if a trash novel is too heavy or too thick, she has been known to RIP THE BOOK IN HALF!

I guess it blows me away – the reaction I get about dog-earring, especially from people who will break the spine, and even rip a book in half!

So… is it a crime, bending a corner of a page? Or is bending and breaking the spine of a book far more of a crime?!

Would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. Have a good Wednesday.

19 Responses to “To Dog Ear or Not to Dog Ear. Is it a Crime?”

1. By Rob Graham on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   I don’t dog ear. I book mark using whatever scrap of paper is lying around.

   It’s not something I’d do but I’m not going to get bent out of shape if some one else does it.

   I’m glad you and yours are okay.

2. By SabrinaDarby on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   I have dog-earred pages, cracked the spine, and even ripped a book apart (albeit, not for the same reason as your Grandmother). In the past I have loved the look of a well-used/read book. That is, if the book is mine. If I buy it new, it better not have any creases, dirt, ink markings, blotches, or scrunched pages.

   However, recently, I *have* started using bookmarks more.

3. By RKCharron on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   Hi Rachel
   I’m glad you are okay. And that you saved your Grandmother’s boyfriend’s life.
   That kind of shock takes a while to get over.
   I hope they caught him?
   …about dog-earing… I used to do it too but stopped. I use a bookmark now, and when I’m reading I just let it sit between cover & 1st page. I try not to break the spine, but sometimes I crease it a little (heh) on thick paperbacks.
   
   Thank you for sharing Rachel,
   Love & Best Wishes to you & yours,
   RKCharron
   xoxo

4. By Zoe on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   I use scrap paper as bookmarks, and I don’t break spines. My hubby uses dog-ears, which I don’t mind. But the things he does to a book spine in ONE reading…it’s inhumane.

   Having said that. I’m a book tosser. I get very emotional when reading, and even with books I like, I’ve jumped up and slammed them on the floor. So I’m a somewhat abusive reader too.

5. By Catherine Spencer on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   Oh my goodness, Rachel, I hope everything is okay with you!

   I *hate* dog-earring my books. Hate, hate, hate it. I about had an apoplexy when I saw my brother doing it to the books of mine he borrowed (he wasn’t reading my romance, I should say). I will write in books and I never learned the trick of not cracking spines. I will even tear the front page out of a book I’m getting rid of because that’s where I write my name in my non-romance books.

   However, I never pay for bookmarks. I get them for free, or — because they’re so darn easily lost — I use the subscription postcards that fall out of magazines.

6. By Catherine Spencer on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   Oh yeah, I just saw what Sabrina wrote, and am compelled to say I’m super-picky about books I buy used. No cracked spines, no writing, and no yellowed pages. I hate that books aren’t printed on acid-free paper.

7. By Haven Rich on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   OH say it isn’t so…No broken spines or dog ears in my books! Unless they came from a UBS.

   I’m very protective over my books and treat them as a treasure.

   And if you really want to get worked up, you should talk to, romance author, Elizabeth Boyle. She has said on her blog that she literally rips the books apart and takes portions with her when she travels. I think I fainted when I read that hehe.

8. By Chris on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   I use to dog-ear my books, but have long since stopped. I try very hard not to break the spines either. The reason I stopped dog-earing was because noticed the crease, no matter how slight, can end up hard and heavy, and with time, the corner piece of the book starts to want to wear away. Once a page has been creased, it wants to rip after time. I have books left over from my teen years, one of them being, The Hobbit, three of the pages that I dog-eared as a teen now have missing corners. Since I love collecting books, and have a wall of them, I try to keep them in the best condition I possibly can.

   I will tell you this. When my kids were little, they ripped the one and only book they have ever ripped intentionally. I told them books should be respected as the author went to a lot of trouble to create that book that they so carelessly ripped. For some strange reason, it worked on them. Even my son, who doesn’t read much, is very careful about the condition he keeps his books in and uses bookmarks over dog-ears.

   So, is it a crime, no. But you might consider grabbing a piece of paper instead if you plan on keeping your books in excellent condition.

   PS.
   OMG. I’m glad you and your grandmother are well. I hope things work out all right and they catch the bad guy. Be safe.

   -Chris

9. By Kinsey Holley on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

   I dog ear. I crack spines. I stuff em in my purse and twist em and flatten em and torture em to get them to fit in the itty bitty little book guide on the treadmills at the gym. I am a lifelong bookworm, but the physical book is merely the vessel – the contents, the words, are what’s important. I don’t treat my books like holy relics.

   I’m a little more careful with hardcover non-fiction, but then hardbacks withstand my treatment much better than paperbacks.

   If I had a copy of the Septuagint laying around, or a first edition Austen, then yeah, I’d treat it reverently. But a mass market paperback – eh.

   I wish there were a way of downloading all my unread paperbacks to my Sony EReader…

10. By Cambria Dillon on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    No dog-earring here. But I have been known to use random receipts, gum wrappers (without the gum, mind you), even pieces of thread from my shirt as a bookmark. But lately I’ve been reading mostly from my Kindle and I gotta say, it’s nice that it remembers all on its own where I left off.

11. By April Morelock on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    Rachel,
    OMG… I hope the guy is alright (not the strangler guy… but your Gran’s boyfriend). That’s enough to make you go gray.

    As for me, yeap, I’m completely guilty— I dog ear the pages (just a little bit), I crack the spines ( I MUST have the book flat, I’ll even bend the book backwards in half so I can neatly see just one page at a time), I treat my mass markets like throw aways— even from those authors I adore. Some of my older books are so battered you can barely read the spines.

    HOWEVER, hard cover…. those I treat with reverence. No dog earing. Always a bookmark or scrap piece of paper. I can’t help breaking the spine but hardbacks are more forgiving for that.

    And library books… those suckers get treated like the Holy Grail. They are kept immaculate, no dog-earing, no spine breaking (if I can help it) And if I find something wrong with them— Captain Underpants books are always falling apart– I will personally get the strongest tape available and tape them together so none of the pages are lost and the spine is reinforced. You never know what poor soul will find that one book and have few other means to acquire a good book to read— and I will not be the one to destroy that experience for them.

    Now the one and only series romance I’ve kept (original Linda Howard copy of MacKenzie Mountain)… I lament the fact that I’m so hard on books. It looks rather sad– pages bent, spine broken (can’t even read the spine), cover fading and yellow pages. But I still read it over and over.

    But my opinion is that I hope, with all that is in my heart, that anything I create — a quilt, a book, dinner– that it is well used, devoured, enjoyed to the utmost so that there will be nothing left when all is said and done. I want those readers to read the book so much that pages are falling out. Or they’ve been passed around so much that the poor thing looks like it’s been through a war.

    What’s really bad… I’ve loved books so much that I will go out of my way to get a hardcopy just so I can keep it and reread and enjoy it longer.

    April

12. By Nadia Lee on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    I don’t dog ear. Easier to keep books pristine longer that way.

13. By Danielle Yockman on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    Well, I am a reformed dog-ear person. And in a pinch I will still do it! I am also an unrepentant spine cracker! I can’t help it, usually I get so in to the book that I am gripping it furiously and have folded the thing in half. (But I never tear it!) Anyway, so for me too each his own. If I want to really preserve a book I buy the hardcover (assuming it is available) cause I will never read it in that format! Otherwise, I figure I paid for the book…I can do what I want with it. Now if I borrow a book I try to be very respectful of someone’s property.

14. By Lynne Roberts on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    I confess: I dog ear.

    If I use a scrap of paper, it falls out. I don’t turn much and never if I’m borrowing the book, but when they are mine, I do it.

    I don’t mind when books look like they have been read. What I do protect is the spine because without you, you don’t have a book for long.

    Pet peeve: Libraries who put their code on the pages over the words!

    Thanks for letting me vent. : )

15. By Rachel Jameson on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    Wow! Thanks so much for all the comments! The power of Divas and Twitter astound me yet again!
    Thank you for all the good thoughts and concern about my family. We’re all fine – Louis got pretty beat up and shaken up, but is ok. Same with the rest of us without the beating. I really appreciate the kind words.

    As for the post – I have been known to dog-ear a hardback – IF its nothing particularly special. Those who have seen my bookshelves have seen my prized 14th-19th century books that I barely let anyone touch, let alone dog-ear!

    I would NEVER do anything to a library book – omg those are even MORE precious!

    And… baaaaaad baaaaad spine breakers! Hehe…..

    Thanks again for all the wonderful comments!

16. By bria quinlan on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    You know exactly how I feel about this since I was one of the “heated discussions”.

    How — oh how! — can you abuse a book that way. I think of the bumpy edges and sad side-flappy pages that distract me…the next reader. I think of the long term damage to books who (yeah, i said who, not that. i personify my books, ok?) lose actual words off the corners.

    I will buy you a box of bookmarks if you’ll cease and desist from this madness immediately.

    said with love, but don’t make me call the book version of DSS on you.

17. By Rachel Jameson on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    Pfffffft…. I never fold it down far enough that if it ever ripped (which it doesnt on mine) it would take WORDS out. And YOU… you are a SPINE CRACKER!!!!

18. By bria quinlan on Sep 23, 2009 | Reply

    I would like to clear up this “spine cracker” accusation.

    I do not crack open a book and crease the spin. If the spin accidentally creases while trying to read the book b/c it’s so tight i can’t see the inside words, then it happens and I give a deep sigh and move on.

    But I don’t go around purposefully maiming my books. Abusing them. Hurting them. Forcing them into advance yoga moves their little flat pages aren’t ready for.

19. By Lisa Dale on Sep 24, 2009 | Reply

    That’s an incredible story. Even when the trauma is over, stuff like that still lingers. My apt was robbed once – I wasn’t there for it – and I swear I’m still not over it. I wish you restful nights and days of feeling safe and secure.

    As for your great question about dog-earing, I admit: if a book is mine, I will write in it in pen or pencil, stick tons of post-its, dog ear, bend inside out, and essentially love a book to death. You should see the books I’ve read more than once (my copy of Wharton’s House of Mirth looks like peeling birch bark).

    All good wishes you to!

The Secret Bookstore

Wow! This is my first blog, EVER! I am so glad and honored to be a part of Romantic Inks. What a fantastic group of writers! I write Regency- and Georgian-Set Historical Romances. I’m pretty new to the Romance genre, only having fallen in love with it in the last year and half. As I delve into it as both a reader and a writer with great enthusiasm and anticipation, I look forward to sharing my discoveries and my journey with you. Hope you enjoy my blog, which just might prompt some comments, if not discussions!

The Secret Bookstore

Have you noticed that there’s a “Secret Bookstore” in your average bookstore? Being relatively new to the Romance genre, I never knew it existed, carefully avoiding the section that had “those bodice rippers” like the plague. When I finally stopped being a fool, and realized how great Romance is, well that’s when I found this hidden treasure-trove.

And I do mean hidden! When I got up enough courage to go to an actual bookstore to purchase some, rather than buying them from the safety and privacy of my own home, first I had to find the suckers!

Where were they? Other than a few brand new ones in a “New Paperback” case, the Romances had been delegated to the netherworld of the bookstores. Far in the back, tucked away where some hapless reader might never stumble upon them.

It truly felt to me like I was sneaking past the beaded curtain at a video store! As if I was doing something naughty by even going into that section, let alone carrying the books through the store; and oh my, when I had to hand them to the checker?! Mortification up the wazoo.

The raised brows, the glances at the covers. It was enough to make me never want to purchase another Romance at a store! Much better to do it naked in front of my computer. Er…Well I do have clothes on…. sometimes!

I decided I was being ridiculous – why would anyone care what I read, and even if they did, I wasn’t silly enough to care what they thought! (Well, of course I was, but I can be delusional for a few minutes, can’t I?)

I went to different bookstores; at nearly every store, to find the Romances, I had to go deep into the back, or into a dark side row. I know it’s likely more my over-active imagination, but it felt wonky to me, that such a well selling genre was tucked away like porn under the mattress.

Gradually, I got a bit more comfortable purchasing them in store, (well 40% only-in-store-coupons helped!) but each time I went into the depths of the store, I still felt like I was doing something bad. I couldn’t help it that as I walked around the store looking at other books, or heading for the register, I turned the Romances upside down and around – so all that was visible were pages. Nor could I help turning my body just a bit, so that the people in line behind me couldn’t see what the checker was scanning. To this day, I still get red-faced asking an employee where a romance book is that I can’t find. Everytime, I wonder what they’re thinking.

I really am going to have to get over this! At some point, hopefully, I will be on those shelves. I will be speaking to said employees about signing author copies. Who knows how long it will take; but all I can hope for is that someday soon (long before I’m published and have an excuse to do so), I can proudly walk to The Secret Bookstore in any bookstore, and hold my head up high, the books in my hands with their covers and spines in full view.

15 Responses to “The Secret Bookstore”

1. By Sabrina Darby on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Lucky me, I’ve known about the romance section for a very long time. However, I must admit I was embarrassed to buy romances when I was in high school and either read whatever my sister and mother bought or snuck my own selection into their pile, walking far away during the moment of purchasing. I had to get over that in college, which was pre-Amazon.com.

2. By Carly Carson on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   It is supremely annoying that booksellers, who ought to be openminded if anyone is, are so snooty about romances. Last time I asked for a romance at my local independent bookstore, she literally stuck her nose in the air and said something like “Trade paperbacks! (Or was it mass market? Not sure) We don’t carry those.” I hope she’s feeling just as smug when the store folds. Romances are huge sellers and retailers should understand that. Of course, there are no stores that embrace romances, so where do I take my business?

3. By April Morelock on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Rachel,
   I don’t know what bookstores you’re frequenting but I live in a major city and romance is front and center at all the shops I go to. I simply REFUSE to go to any other stores that relegate that section to the back.

   If they’re too embarrassed to sell them, they don’t get my money.

   I want my books displayed properly. At least two rows devoted to my passion, covers out where I can see.

   My favorite store (Barnes and Nobles – Shout out to the best of them all on Greyhound Pass in Westfield IN) has them three (or maybe four depending on how you count) isles in, and you can glance through the titles from several seats in the cafe.

   I have no qualms about selecting a large handful and taking them back to the kiddie section and looking them over to make decisions while my kids play or look at their own books.

   And for those bookstores that hide my books, I complain. LOUDLY. To the desk. To the counter. To the manager if they’re nearby. These people are missing the boat and they won’t get my business.

   Luckily we have enough bookstores that competition is pretty fierce. and we don’t have many dumbos around her.

   April

   PS. You let me know what bookstores those are and I’ll personally write to them and tell them what idiots they are :>

4. By Arianna Skye on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   I also have a secret bookstore. The romance section is always way near the back of the store. As if it were the naughty section. LOL.

   April, My bookstore is a B&N, but I live in a super conservative city, so I guess it’s only natural they would stuff us romance novelists in the corner. LOL. Where’s Patrick Swayze when you really need him.

   Great blog! And it’s great to have you here!

5. By Stephen Tremp on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Saw your tweet on twitter and thought I’d stop by, give my support, and say hi.

   I write action suspsense books, but have to weave romance and an occasional sex scene in to keep the reader engaged. Action needs to be balanced out with romance. Of course, sex with a twist in the plot is vital. For example, the protagonist is seduced by a very sexy girl from the group of bad guys and is almost killed after the fact.

   Not all sex has to be romantic. It can be dangerous, and offer the writer the opportunity to make a left turn in the plot when the reader thinks he is going right.

   Stephen Tremp
   http://www.stephentremp.blogspot.com/

6. By Rene on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   I’ve been buying romance since the 80’s. In high school I was teased by my teachers for my taste in fiction. I didn’t care and I took it in good fun. They ended up designing an assignment based on romance novels. Anyway, in those days, romance took front and center. The covers were brilliantly colored and while the books didn’t have much respect from anyone else, the bookstores knew where the money was.

   These days, my bookstores don’t really have any sections that are front and center. Teen fiction has a prominent place as does fantasy, but romance has the biggest section and a lot more featured shelves.

   I am a big historical romance fan. My particular favorite is Georgian. It influenced me when it came to college. I majored in history with a focus on 18th century America and I graduated with honors. That is the horrible influence historical romance had on me. I read all genres. All of them are written by hard working, passionate people. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. And who cares what these strangers think of you? Do they sign your paycheck? Do they come home with you? Are they people you love and admire? No, so who cares what they think. Buy your books with pride and smile if you get the look.

7. By Danielle Yockman on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   No I never noticed it where I go now. I am a loud and proud romance reader…it makes my DH laugh! I sit in a bar while he watches sports and read a romance. Tee Hee!

8. By Flicka Holt on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   Where I live it’s simple – bookstores don’t carry romances. So I have to shop from the comfort of my own home.

   That in itself probably tells you something…

9. By Kate Pearce on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

   I don’t let it bother me anymore and to be honest when I moved to the USA and saw a huge section of the local bookstore proudly labeled Romance I was so excited that I didn’t even realize at first that anyone would care less what I read or bought. And now I’m published I care even less

10. By Lynne DuMae on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Our romance section is just mixed in with all the rest of the fiction. There is a sign that states “romance” but that is it. It’s actually in the middle of the store and on the aisle side next to the main aisle of the store. So, I guess I’m lucky here where I live. I’ve never been embarassed to buy them. if people don’t like what I read, oh well. Of course, I was raised with them. I always went to town with my grandma who would spend hours in a bookstore picking out romances. When I was old enough, I bought my own teen romances. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Most people don’t even pay any attention to what you’re buying anyway. They’re busy looking at what they want. At least, that’s what I think.

11. By Leigh Royals on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Hey, I know what you mean. But now, I don’t care. I mean really, I love to make a fool of myself, so just buying Eden Bradley or any racy books doesn’t bother me. I’m proud to do it AND say, “I know her.”

    BTW….Check your purse :p

12. By KB Alan on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    I’ve been gradually getting over the embarrasment of buying romance novels in the store and checking them out (in bulk) from the local library. It was hard at first, but I’m mostly okay with it now, though I still find myself buying at least one non-romance book each time. Not that I don’t enjoy other books, but if I go in to buy a romance, I will almost always look until I find a non-romance, too. Must get over that! Especially since I write erotic romance and will someday, theoretically, want to walk in and buy my own book, or *gasp* sign it. Great post, Rachel!

13. By KB Alan on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    I should add that I’ve neve actually noticed anyone looking down on my reading selection. Of course, I’m frequently oblivious to such things, because I don’t really care what random people think of me. Yes, I do realize that makes me a contradiction, that I worry people will notice and judge my reading selections, but I’m oblivious to their reactions! Ah, the joys of being me

14. By Catherine Spencer on Aug 27, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Great post! I had a very, very similar experience in coming to reading romance. The embarrassment factor has so totally vanished from me, however, that I will not buy *any* book at a used bookstore that doesn’t have a romance section — or if it’s a single hard-to-find shelf with a handful of totally weird out-of-date titles. And there is such a used bookstore in my area. I find it totally offensive that they have piles of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery… but no romance. They don’t support me, I don’t support them.

15. By Kendal Corbitt on Sep 1, 2009 | Reply | Edit

    Chapters is the big store here in Canada, and I find in the one I go to often that Romance has a huge section (a few rows) and is displayed pretty front and centre. Actually, on that same thought, the erotica section, though much, much smaller, is also right there for anyone to see as they walk by. Okay, maybe it’s the bottom 3 rows of one shelf, but its there!

    Good to have you here with us Rachel. I look forward to reading more.
    Cheers!