I wrote an article a couple years ago about this subject and how lines of romance are constantly changing. At the end of the article I wrote -- 'One can always tell erotica written by women and that written by men. Women's erotica is 80% emotion and 20% graphic detail, as with men, it's 80% graphic detail and 20% emotion. Women want to know how it feels emotionally and men want to know how it feels physically. I know I’ll get slaughtered for saying this, but this is why women are generally better at writing romance and erotica, and men are so much better writing thrillers.'
The comment was about the erotica market, but it also applies to romance.
Perhaps other question should be asked: What defines romance? What makes one book a romance and another book romantic?
jeff herman > Kemberlee ShortlandApril 12, 2012 at 1:22pm
So does this mean that men and women are "wired" differently?
The preponderance of romance writers, as found in bookstores and airports, are clearly female. Authors like Nicholas Sparks have given them a run for their money, but still, males are outgunned by the females manifold ... until my novel comes out this summer, that is. Which write better? I like what both sexes have written.
Replies
I wrote an article a couple years ago about this subject and how lines of romance are constantly changing. At the end of the article I wrote -- 'One can always tell erotica written by women and that written by men. Women's erotica is 80% emotion and 20% graphic detail, as with men, it's 80% graphic detail and 20% emotion. Women want to know how it feels emotionally and men want to know how it feels physically. I know I’ll get slaughtered for saying this, but this is why women are generally better at writing romance and erotica, and men are so much better writing thrillers.'
The comment was about the erotica market, but it also applies to romance.
Perhaps other question should be asked: What defines romance? What makes one book a romance and another book romantic?
So does this mean that men and women are "wired" differently?
I think so, yes. However, men who aren't afraid of their sensitive side and let it come through their work, can turn out some pretty emotive scenes.
But when men write it, is it classified as "Romance", or a more generalized category? Do you find Sparks in the romance section? DH Lawrence?
The preponderance of romance writers, as found in bookstores and airports, are clearly female. Authors like Nicholas Sparks have given them a run for their money, but still, males are outgunned by the females manifold ... until my novel comes out this summer, that is. Which write better? I like what both sexes have written.
Both I guess. It depends on how good you write...imagination, knowledge and experiences count as usual.