K.E Hills

«You’re writing housewife porn!» one of my friends exclaimed when I told her I had planned some spicy scenes in my book.

«Housewife porn» being the kind of book you find at 7-eleven with a half-naked man with long hair and a busty helpless woman on the cover. There is a story (sort of), but you’re not reading it for the plot (be honest!) and the descriptive words for male and female body parts and physical acts are often exaggerated to the point of slightly ridiculous. You know, the «sword/spear», the «flower» and so on.

My friend had never read a book with descriptions of sexual scenes, other than the above-mentioned category. But book-spice is a whole world of categories, up to and including monsters, dark romance, and (apparently) inanimate objects (yeah, like doors. I mean… only imagination can stop you).

So, in a book where the relationship between two people is developing. Describing the passion between these two people, what they feel and think as they get intimate. How far do you go?

A famous series of books, the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas. Famous for, among many other things, the spice. But there is the spice of the triology, and there is the SPICE of ACOSF, a spinoff novel. And i can tell from the reactions on bookstagram that many who stan the original series stay away from ACOSF because of the spice-level. In my opinion, the difference between the spicy scenes only lay in how detailed the author is about the goings on during the act, the thoughs, the feelings, each touch and motion. So, i guess its a matter of «do you want enough to imagine it» or «do you want it exactly how the author pictured it».

My book has several spicy scenes at various levels of heat (for now). The thought then crossed my mind to make a less spicy version of the novel available, and I started looking through my scenes to see how I would transform them into something more palateble for the «less spice» audience.

The challenge is that my FMCs actions in the story are closely linked to her own feelings of self-worth and using physical intimacy as a way to feel «in control». And the evolving relationship between her and the MMCs is partially driven by her reactions to the physical acts between them, big and small.

So how much do I lose if I cut out the «action»? At what point is there enough to convey the intention, but not enough to deter the non/low-spice readers.

The desire to please is strong in this one, but I am off course aware that I cannot please everyone.

One of my favorite writers is LJ Andrews (whose books currently occupy nearly an entire bookshelf). And one of the things that made me have that extra appreciation for her books when i started reading them was the issueing of free additional chapters. So maybe, just maybe, I could write the book a little less spicy. And for those who want the whole kit, they can download for free? Just an idea.

What is your preferred level of spice? Take my poll on threads.

And if you are a writer, would you consider publishing two versions or additional free chapters, if you can reach a wider audience that way?