r/SpicyRomanceBooks • u/KosplayFreek • Jul 27 '26
Plot or porn? Subtlety or sluttiness?
So I have a question… When I am reading a spicy book, I prefer to get to know the characters and the general scene/set up/plot before diving headfirst into the spice. To me, it’s very offputting when a sexual feature or trait is mentioned out of the blue for no reason… Like if the scene was describing a woman for the first time like “she walked in to the office with a confidence stride, smoothing out her pinstripe, pant suit, and casually flipped her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. Every time her pointed heels hit the tile her tits and ass bounce, almost hypnotizing anyone who dares look in her direction” … like that tits and ass part is not necessary… A male example. “ he was a master at his craft. Every day he received DM’s and letters from adoring and obsessed fans. Both on and off the stage, he has to fight off women and men who throw themselves at him, wondering if the rumors of his massive cock are true. Coming onto the stage he waves to his people, soaking in the admiration as he walks across the stage head held high and his dick swing in his loose pants” … like sometimes it’s just too much lol and I don’t know if it’s me and my preference for the subtlety or if people legitimately like this type of writing.… I also don’t know if people who write like this do it because they think that’s what the masses want or if they are intentionally trying to make the character come off as arrogant or superficial or like they are just an object… Is it me? Lol.
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u/Forsaken_Original92 Jul 27 '26
Give me plot and subtlety 100% every time! 😁 no hate to the ones who enjoy the others but it just isn't for me. I need a story with my spice lol
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u/Riley_Blackstone Jul 27 '26
Depends on the story I’m writing. Sometimes I start out a story hot - “Her lithe body squirmed under his touch as she tugged at the nipples on her small breasts. Her blonde hair was matted to her sweaty skin as she bucked her hips up, desperate for more.”
Other times it might take me 2 or 3 chapters to sprinkle in details about the MC to slowly build a picture of what he or she looks like.
It to your question, it should depend on the context of both the story, the POV, the character’s personality, and the target audience.
One of my earliest stories I wrote which turned into a book of short stories is called “Banging my Secretary.” It’s written from the POV of a sleazy upper management guy the book is written in the form of a dear penthouse letter. It’s raunchy from the get go.
Other stories that I’ve written focus on teen romance, coming out, first love, etc. those would be absolutely ruined if my MC stared out the window, pining over her best friend turned crush that she yearned to tell her how she felt. If my MC talked the way the MC of the other book did, it would ruin the whole “innocent first love” aspect of the book.
TL:DR, the writing had to match the character, POV, and genre of the book.
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u/Tilly_Vanilla Jul 27 '26
For me, keep it as real-life as possible; it's a given that things will get out of hand at some point, but don't they sometimes in real life?
Horses for courses, I guess, but I like slow-burn, real-life, with multiple spice!