I’ll go just about anywhere for a good laugh. That’s why at the close of each year, I look forward to one of the most fun literary awards around — the Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction prize. Given that we Brava Authors are committed to serving up the hot stuff in the most convincing and engaging way possible, this award gives us pointers on what not to do!
It’s amazing the heavy-hitters that are short-listed. This year’s pantheon includes John Updike, Salman Rushdie, Gabriel Garcia Marquex, Paul Theroux and the 2007 winner — wait for it — Norman Mailer, who died just in time to make sure he doesn’t have to show up to claim his prize. Check out the excruciating samples yourself — just google bad sex awards 2007.
Now that you’re back — wasn’t that fun (o.k. maybe a bit painful). And honestly, what went wrong? You’re devoted readers of sensual romance, so I’d love to hear what you think makes for good writing around sex. Is it characters, setting, atmosphere, detail, too much detail?
Lori Foster was talking about this recently, and having read Mailer’s example, um, yeah, bad is too nice a word LOL. That’s why my shelves aren’t filled with his books. I’ll take those sex scenes with a lot of romance and a dash of adventure, thank you very much, and extra emotion and enough creativity to make it interesting, but not weird or cringe-worthy.
Can’t wait for your book Charlotte!
I think cringe-worthy is too kind, Stacy. How does vomit-worthy work for you?
Charlotte asks, “What went wrong?”
IMHO…EVERYTHING!
Just for the record, I personally would have cast my vote for the finalist who compared female parts to a tropical fish of bit of old rug that smelled like armpits.
OMG! Thank you Brava authors. Thank you for not doing ANY of the things these novelists did.
OMG those are just pure rubbish – I have to agree with Stacy and Lainey they make you cringe and sick.
I so love the Brava authors who make reading a pleasure and do all the right things to make the book a pleasure to read.
I read these last week or so. They were just AWFUL…and “snort-worthy”
Thank goodness I can cleanse my palette with some good love scenes (thanks to the Brava Authors)
I don’t think a Brava author will be given one of the awards anytime son.
Oh my… I have no words. Those were unbelievably bad. Based on those descriptions, no one in their right minds would ever have sex again.