Problem with Chick-lit

-
I ran into a problem. I'm rewriting the ending of my first chick-lit I think could actually be publishable. But I get to the end and I'm fighting worldly expectations of an intimate scene at the end. It's gotta happen right? It's a romance. They've got to at least kiss, right? Kissing, I can handle, sexual tension, I can handle. But sex before marriage? Sure, I could write it in a tasteful way, but really, I don't want to champion a behavior in my heroine that I would not (morally) do myself. Two options, scrap it start on something new, forget it until the Victorian Age revolution happens, or I can turn it into a Christian romance. Is there any other solution and still feel right in my conscience?

Comments

  1. Alysa StewartMay 16, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    pretty sure there's plenty of successful, non-christian chick lit that doesn't end in sex before marriage (coughTwilight)! So, do what feels right for the story.

    If you want to show deeper intimacy than a kiss, you could try to find a different way to show that, whether emotionally or physically. Study some of your favorite non-sexual intimate moments. Remember some of your favorite non-sexual intimate moments. Playful? secret handshake. Poignant? Back rub, gift of jewelry or other clothing he puts on her. Anyway, these are some ideas.

    Ok, I'll stop with the unsolicited advice. Let me know if you want more ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChristineMay 17, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    I have met very few women who don't love a good Jane Austen novel. And none of them ever complain that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy don't "get down tonight" before marriage. Plus, you know well enough, intimacy is not limited to the bedroom!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The ReiersensMay 19, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    I'm no author, but I agree with the first commenter, Twilight did amazing with sex after marriage. It also made me more comfortable as a reader.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AZMay 27, 2011 at 8:16 PM

    Good thought about Twilight, but it's not chick-lit as a genre, it's YA urban fantasy/romance. Totally different. Young adults should not be hopping into bed--ever! However, the publishing industry thinks that two consenting adults is not only ok, but expected.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top Ten Tips for Fighting Discouragement

-
I asked my most ardent fans (my daughter and my husband) what I should write about on my blog and my daughter said I should write about encouraging others to keep writing. I feel like I've learned a lot in writing for the past ten years, and I'd love to share. Writing, and almost any other creative endeavor is a long process. From the spiritual creation or idea of it until its execution and finished product can take months if not years. Keeping going during that time can become a challenge. Here are my tips to stay motivated. 1. Remember why you started in the first place. I am a storyteller. I always have been. I'm horrid at asking questions but learning. But I think of funny scenarios. I'm the dreamer. Someone tells me a detail and I create a story. I don't write for the royalty check. I don't write to be famous-- although that would be nice. I write because I believe fiction can heal. I write because I believe we all need to safely escape. I write becaus...
Read more

Spring Break Bookaplaooza book feature

-
Image
Need a book to read this spring? Are you having a book slump? Need to find a new author to enjoy? Looking for sassy heroines, alpha males, tissue romances, or a feel-good, funny read? Well, I have just the thing for you! Enter the Spring Break Bookapalooza. Be sure to click on this link to check it out. My romantic suspense book Baker's Dozen is being featured today! I talk about my dream spring break (hint: it's in France) and what I love about spring. And while you are there, check out many of the other authors featured on the site. You may find something that catches your eye. Leave a comment to interact with the authors and let them know what you think about their cover, their except or their dream spring break. Many of these authors are also published under my publisher, The Wild Rose Press. PLUS you can enter to win one of many Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift cards with this link to the rafflecopter contest. You can earn bonus entries by following participating aut...
Read more

At what point do you call yourself a writer?

-
When I was nine years old, I took a piece of blue construction paper and stapled it around some blank computer paper. I titled the book, Young Author. I didn't know what I was going to write in there, but I knew it was going to be good! I wanted to write mysteries. I read a whole lot of Nancy Drew at the time, everything in the local library and bought a few dozen more with my own money. (My daughter has them on her bookshelf as I write this--no way was I getting rid of those.) I attended a few workshops, dreamed, scribbled in notebooks, started a dozen stories, wrote a play (in fourth grade) and a scene I took to drama competition, took some Creative Writing classes in college. But it wasn't until nine years ago that I decided I was going to do it. I had read a book that contradicted the thought that I had to be wildly talented to get published (a popular belief that I held or held me back), I only had to work hard, gain experience, and learn skills. In roughly ten years, ...
Read more