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Comment by Lynne Connolly on October 11, 2011 at 20:59

Ellora's Cave used to have the S-E-X ratings. S was no holds barred, usually BDSM with some kink, and a very high sexual content (60% or more). E, which was the level I usually wrote at was Erotic, Graphic language (including "those" words), 40% or more sex scenes, kink, menage. The X was highly sensual, and could include "those" words, no BDSM and not much kink.
(kink is BFDM, fetish, that kind of thing).

If you go to All Romance Ebooks, they still have "flame" heat settings, so you might be able to gauge it from there.

Comment by Gilly Fraser on October 11, 2011 at 20:29

I think a guide would be a great idea - and a rating system. But on Smashwords it just seems to be a straight choice - adult content or not adult content - and there aren't enough categories to choose from either. For this particular book I probably wouldn't have chosen the term erotica (though others in the future may qualify) but I thought for the sake of prying young eyes I'd better err on the side of caution!

Comment by Lynne Connolly on October 11, 2011 at 19:12

sometimes editors are a closed book!

Comment by Deena Remiel on October 11, 2011 at 18:27

Guess what, Lynne?!! My editors did change it to 3! Hahaha! I asked if they could provide us newbies with some kind of guide on our loop  to help us discern for ourselves. You, of course helped me consider! :)

Comment by Deena Remiel on October 11, 2011 at 18:10

I figure, my editors have read it enough to know that if the rating wasn't right, they'd call me on it and change it. But it's always good to ask their opinion before it's too late. :)

Comment by Lynne Connolly on October 11, 2011 at 17:55

To be a 4 or a 5, it really needs to have the words. You might disappoint readers. My latest release, (today, yay!), Bloody Crystal, will probably end up with a 3 or a 4 on ARE's bookstore, because the sex is vanilla and there's little kink, only a little bit of exhibitionism. But there's a fair bit of graphically described sex.
http://www.loose-id.com/Dept-57-Bloody-Crystal.aspx
Best guide is do and say what you think your characters would do. Not what you consider appropriate.

Comment by Deena Remiel on October 11, 2011 at 17:04

Oh my goodness, Francine! LOL I just read those snippets! Hahaha! I've never read anything so horrendous in my LIFE! I can't actually believe they're real! And Gilly, my latest work releases on Friday. For me, it's the hottest I've written to date. My other work has been a 3 flames out of 5. This one I called a 4. But then I look at other books in the series my book is in, from other authors, and see a 3 when I felt it was a 4. Here's the thing, Ghost of a Chance has HOT scenes with the sex act described, yet I STILL don't use the real harsh terminology for their parts. For me, it's just too much. The books I read that had 3 heat level, used the words for their parts but may not have described that act in as much sensual detail. *Shrugs and shakes head* I don't know! LOL

Comment by Gilly Fraser on October 11, 2011 at 14:03

Thanks Francine!  I suppose my book's 'naughty but nice' rather than unmitigated raunch!

Comment by Francine Howarth on October 11, 2011 at 13:54

Hi Gilly,

I shouldn't worry about your book sounding hot! Hot seems to sell better on Kindle than sweet romance. Hee hee, the only problem that might arise is someone feeling cheated if it doesn't have a hot scene.

best

F

Comment by Gilly Fraser on October 11, 2011 at 13:47

I've just hit this problem as well - I uploaded my book to Smashwords and because it has some sex scenes in it, I felt I should tick the box that said it had adult content.  However I do feel that makes the book sound a lot hotter than it actually is - especially when I see some of the other books it's been lumped in with!  Can I change that classification - or am I stuck with it for this particular book?

The book's called Forbidden Love & Other Stories - the 'Forbidden Love' part actually refers to a song - but in the context of this discussion probably also makes the book sound whole lot raunchier than it actually is!  

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