Caroline Jane Wetherby's Blog
May 29, 2013
Principles in Pornography?
Or - what is Erotica and what is just Porn?
This issue has troubled (or rather given me a lot of cause for thought) from the first part of the first book onwards. I suppose that the distinction between what is erotic and what is just pornographic is very much in the mind of the writer(and the reader?). There were several sections I had to re-write, and in one case remove entirely. I just felt that the decriptions were just too gratuitious, and not really part of the plot, or not what the characters would really do.
From the beginning my novel was always planned with a moral message, and that became clearer to me as the writing progressed. It is clearly stated in the last part of the last book - which is as intended, because only there do all the threads of the story finally get drawn together.
This comes back to mind because of a discussion I've just been having with a reviewer. The four books of 'Caroline's Company' are all written with slightly different points of view, as the plot and the characters develop. Not everything is made obvious from the beginning, and the treatment of the characters varies according to what I can only call my estimation of their moral worth.
It is however fiction, and erotic fantasy fiction at that.I did have a guide in writing it however, and it may sound unlikely. There is a splendid Kipling poem, entitled 'The Three Decker' captioned with a quotation claiming "the three-volume novel is extinct". I recommend it highly, especially if you like maritime imagery.
Alright, not all of it fits, but it summarises what I think a good fiction book should be. I dread to think what Rudyard would have made of my book, but I hope he would have been able to have a quiet chuckle. (If nothing else!)
This issue has troubled (or rather given me a lot of cause for thought) from the first part of the first book onwards. I suppose that the distinction between what is erotic and what is just pornographic is very much in the mind of the writer(and the reader?). There were several sections I had to re-write, and in one case remove entirely. I just felt that the decriptions were just too gratuitious, and not really part of the plot, or not what the characters would really do.
From the beginning my novel was always planned with a moral message, and that became clearer to me as the writing progressed. It is clearly stated in the last part of the last book - which is as intended, because only there do all the threads of the story finally get drawn together.
This comes back to mind because of a discussion I've just been having with a reviewer. The four books of 'Caroline's Company' are all written with slightly different points of view, as the plot and the characters develop. Not everything is made obvious from the beginning, and the treatment of the characters varies according to what I can only call my estimation of their moral worth.
It is however fiction, and erotic fantasy fiction at that.I did have a guide in writing it however, and it may sound unlikely. There is a splendid Kipling poem, entitled 'The Three Decker' captioned with a quotation claiming "the three-volume novel is extinct". I recommend it highly, especially if you like maritime imagery.
Alright, not all of it fits, but it summarises what I think a good fiction book should be. I dread to think what Rudyard would have made of my book, but I hope he would have been able to have a quiet chuckle. (If nothing else!)
May 24, 2013
Is it all statistics?
First free promotion is about to go into it's last day. Take-up (or downloads - whichever you prefer) isn't at the level I'd hoped, but it is there and still increasing.
It's interesting that the proportions between countries have stayed about the same since the first twelve hours.
US - 65%
UK - 25%
Germany - 7%
There are a few from France and Spain and Canada. I'd thought Canada might be higher but it hardly increased at all yesterday. Never mind - a reader is a reader.
Now the question is, who will buy the other books!
It's interesting that the proportions between countries have stayed about the same since the first twelve hours.
US - 65%
UK - 25%
Germany - 7%
There are a few from France and Spain and Canada. I'd thought Canada might be higher but it hardly increased at all yesterday. Never mind - a reader is a reader.
Now the question is, who will buy the other books!
May 23, 2013
Running and Running - just not very fast
My first promotion is running. Panicked this morning at 08:15 - until I realised that 00:00 PST (which is what Amazon apparently work to) was equivalent to 09:00 BST. Now everything is working, and downloads are (slowly) accumulating. Interesting that there are six from Germany!
So far I've been good and am only checking every three hours. I have more time tomorrow, so I must spend time on-line. I'd very much like more reviews!
So far I've been good and am only checking every three hours. I have more time tomorrow, so I must spend time on-line. I'd very much like more reviews!
May 22, 2013
Now it's time...
My first FREE promotion is on 23rd/24th/25th May.
'After the Dreams' will be free on Amazon worldwide for three days.
It will be very interesting to see what the take-up is!
How many times a day should I check the download figures?
After the Dreams
'After the Dreams' will be free on Amazon worldwide for three days.
It will be very interesting to see what the take-up is!
How many times a day should I check the download figures?
After the Dreams
May 14, 2013
Moving on
The next story is in progress. It's intended to be about 20,000 words, but it may be growing.
It needs to be ready for mid-summer, because that's when the story is set; and yes, there may be echoes of the play by Will S, although some of the action probably wouldn't have been approved by the Lord Chancellor!
It needs to be ready for mid-summer, because that's when the story is set; and yes, there may be echoes of the play by Will S, although some of the action probably wouldn't have been approved by the Lord Chancellor!
More publishing
The story 'What's Real and What's Pretend' is now properly published, and the Amazon 'look inside' feature is working.
I was unsure whether to call this a 'short story', or a 'short novel', or even a 'novella'. After quite a lot of discussion I settled on 'An Erotic Story by CJ Wetherby'.
Well, it's certainly a story, and it's certainly by me. Whether people find it erotic is up to them.
The pricing is a bit of an experiment really. It's only 99p in the UK to if that results in a good number of sales.
We shall see!
I was unsure whether to call this a 'short story', or a 'short novel', or even a 'novella'. After quite a lot of discussion I settled on 'An Erotic Story by CJ Wetherby'.
Well, it's certainly a story, and it's certainly by me. Whether people find it erotic is up to them.
The pricing is a bit of an experiment really. It's only 99p in the UK to if that results in a good number of sales.
We shall see!
May 6, 2013
Next Steps
Just submitted 'What's Real and What's Pretend' for publication. Will see what Amazon have done tomorrow.
Just saw the first swift of the summer!
Just saw the first swift of the summer!
Busy and busier
Spending time promoting the four books of 'Caroline's Company', and planning the best way to market them. There will be a free promotion for 'After the Dreams' shortly - watch this space!
I'm also working on a series of short novels, exploring different, (and sensual and erotic) themes. Not sure what to call them. At about 19,000 words the first one seems a bit long for a 'short story'. Should I call it a 'novella'? I prefer 'short novel' - but perhaps this gives the wrong impression.
Anyway the first one is 'What's Real and What's Pretend' - and it will be published as soon as the cover is ready.
So, watch out for more!
I'm also working on a series of short novels, exploring different, (and sensual and erotic) themes. Not sure what to call them. At about 19,000 words the first one seems a bit long for a 'short story'. Should I call it a 'novella'? I prefer 'short novel' - but perhaps this gives the wrong impression.
Anyway the first one is 'What's Real and What's Pretend' - and it will be published as soon as the cover is ready.
So, watch out for more!
April 22, 2013
Time to start again...
It has taken a long time to get the four books of ‘Caroline’s Company’ into a form that I’m reasonably happy with. Proof reading is so difficult, for me anyway!
I know many authors have said similar things before, but what was amazing to me was the way in which the people in the books came to life and developed characters and interests all of their own.
Although I was able to keep control of the basic plot and its development, I could not force these people, strong-minded lot that they are, to do things that they didn’t want to do, and sometimes I was almost shocked by they actually did want to do!
Some parts of the writing had to be heavily revised or re-written the following day. I’m sure many writers have to do this. This was always where I had tried to make people do what didn’t come naturally to them, or something that they didn’t want to do.
There were many occasions however when the writing just wouldn’t stop, and when I ended up at three o’clock in the morning, cold, tired and hungry. These were the parts that didn’t normally need much revision.
Now that ‘Caroline’s Company’ is complete, there are a series of short stories and another novel being worked on. They all have a heavily erotic content, and represent explorations in different directions as to what human minds and bodies can enjoy – and what they can endure!
I know many authors have said similar things before, but what was amazing to me was the way in which the people in the books came to life and developed characters and interests all of their own.
Although I was able to keep control of the basic plot and its development, I could not force these people, strong-minded lot that they are, to do things that they didn’t want to do, and sometimes I was almost shocked by they actually did want to do!
Some parts of the writing had to be heavily revised or re-written the following day. I’m sure many writers have to do this. This was always where I had tried to make people do what didn’t come naturally to them, or something that they didn’t want to do.
There were many occasions however when the writing just wouldn’t stop, and when I ended up at three o’clock in the morning, cold, tired and hungry. These were the parts that didn’t normally need much revision.
Now that ‘Caroline’s Company’ is complete, there are a series of short stories and another novel being worked on. They all have a heavily erotic content, and represent explorations in different directions as to what human minds and bodies can enjoy – and what they can endure!
