BDSM and Romance?

[Daes]

Hands down, absolutely.

"Kink (SM) Erotica is technically a Cross Genre.
You can have an amazingly kinky tale - Without Sex. All public BDSM scenes happen without sex - and are just as satisfying, because to a dedicated kinkster - the BDSM IS the Sex.

So - in SM fiction the Kink has to forward the plot – and to forward the plot, you need Dramatic Tension. If all the dramatic tension comes from somewhere OTHER than the Kink – then the Kink isn’t necessary to tell the story. If the Kink isn’t necessary to tell the story - it doesn’t belong in the story.

In any genre of fiction that genre’s main element must drive the plot to BE that genre.

In Erotica - Sex drives the plot.
In Romance - New Love drives the plot.
In BDSM fiction - The KINK drives the plot.
If you are doing a cross genre ALL elements are needed to drive the plot.

In BDSM Erotic Romance - The KINK should be the key to the Erotic situation that drives the New Love developing in the plot.


If it doesn’t forward the plot
- it doesn’t belong in the Story.
If it doesn’t belong in the story – take it out."

~Morgan Hawke

[fantassy]

I agree 100% with everything Daes said. There is a big market for BDSM romances which seems to be growing lately. As a lifelong romance reader, I have noticed more and more BDSM elements and imagery in mainstream romances the last few years. In addition, you will find mainstream bookstores carrying Ellora's Cave and other BDSM romances. As you noted, the primary market is female - to females by far purchase the most books, so that is a great market.

I read your first chapter and really enjoyed it. Keep on writing !

fantassy