Growth of porn (erotica) in Romance Fiction?
I have been hearing lately that the fastest growing area of romance fiction is porn (erotica). The agents and publishers are just so excited about it, however, they never release actual numbers or percentages of growth. I (as a man) find it hard to believe that porn has become so popular with women (I have a higher opinion of women than men in most regards).
Does anyone know how much actual growth in the porn romance novels there has been? Has it gone from 1% of the novels to 2%, or more like 1% to 30%?
I’ve noticed some interesting answers, but I should note that I have no interest in romance writing, but my Wife is breaking into the industry (Paranormal, not porn).
As for the terminology, some of you are nitpicking the term “porn” v. “erotica.” The fact is, “erotica” just means porn for women.”
- bewerefan
Tags: Erotica Fiction, Erotica Women, Porn For Women, Porn Novels, Publishers
May 6th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
started a long time ago..but today the romance novels are growing.. since shakespear
May 9th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Almost all Romance Novels are porn or erotica already. At least for women.
Men like to see pictures and women like to read words (gives us our own mental picture). Just look at the number of Romance novels sold in north America for your percentages. A lot of these female writers have sold over 65 million books……
May 9th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Get your head out of the GARBAGE If you need this trash to get your cookies off than you need to find a girlfriend that will keep your mind in place.
May 10th, 2009 at 12:40 am
I am not entirely in agreement with you. Many agents and publishers still won’t read erotica or pornography. I think you need to separate the two terms. Erotica is not pornography. Erotica has a softer tone to it. That is why it blends well with romance novels. Porn is just that – porn. Put it this way – it isn’t just in the romance book area. Mainstream authors are getting away with more and more erotica in their work all the time. However if your goal is to submit outright pornography, most publishers and agents will still reject you.
Mainstream publishing isn’t ready for certain fetishes yet – including child pornography and a whole lot of other areas I can think of. My best advice to you would be to take it easy, soften the focus and you will be fine. If your goal is to write hardcore porn, there still isn’t really a place for you in mainstream publishing.
Honestly it gets hilarious some of the terms for genitals you see used in some of this so called erotica. It has become a complete joke. I can think of some terms I have seen used that have knocked me off my seat. If I were to pick a number for the increase in “pornography” in mainstream literature, I would go with the 1 – 2 %. I read and write constantly, and I just do not see it. And I am pretty sure my publisher (a major NY publisher) isn’t putting any of that out. Pax – C
May 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I haven’t noticed an increase in porn at all. What I have noticed is a general upswing in the number of women who will openly admit that they enjoy finely crafted erotica.
As several responders stated earlier, men are visually aroused more quickly while women are physiologically and emotionally aroused, and to do that women enjoy sexually charged storylines along with word pictures of steamy, sexy details.
Through publisher association statistics, the general increase in women-centered marketing of erotica looks to be around 3-5% every five years for the past 20 years, with a sharp jump in the past three years of 10-12%
However, statistics don’t mean all that much when the original premise of the hypothesis is skewed by a problem with the original nomenclature, i.e., porn v. erotica.
Interesting question, though.
Kimberlee Williams
Caged Heart Publishing
May 13th, 2009 at 11:00 am
I remember finding my mothers romances in her chest of drawers when I was 12 or 13 and reading some very racy stuff….erotica isn’t new….it’s been renewed….
May 14th, 2009 at 2:40 am
I try to keep my romance novel reading simple and Harlequin does it for me BUT even they have porn in the form of their BLAZE series of books.
I read one of them and could not believe what I was reading. It was filth. So I still read Harlequin but I stay away from those and go more for their Love Inspired faith based books. I for one do not want filth to read.