• Episode 63: If It Doesn't Fit, Don't Force It: Talking About Spice Levels in Your Novel

  • Mar 17 2025
  • Length: 24 mins
  • Podcast

Episode 63: If It Doesn't Fit, Don't Force It: Talking About Spice Levels in Your Novel

  • Summary

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    In this week's episode, we discuss the nuanced decision of how much “spice” or intimate content to include in your romance novel, memoir, or fiction with romantic elements. Stephanie shares her personal journey navigating this important choice in her own writing, breaking down the decision-making process into three key areas:

    Your audience - Within your genre, what does your audience expect? How are you choosing to balance YA vs. Adult audience expectations and the spectrum from sweet romance to more mature content?

    Character development - How you can use intimate scenes to deepen character growth

    Your comfort zone - What are you most comfortable with? If you imagine yourself sitting on stage being interviewed about your novel, what is your comfort level? It's important to find your authentic voice within your genre.

    We cover reading preferences and writing dilemmas, from deciding between YA and adult genres to considering “fade to black” techniques versus more explicit content and Elizabeth shares her experience determining appropriate intimacy levels in memoir writing.

    Perfect for romance writers, memoirists, and fiction authors wrestling with portraying relationships authentically while staying true to their vision and audience. #RomanceWriting #WritingAdvice #SpiceLevels #WritingTips #AuthorAdvice #CreativeWriting #MemoirWriting

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    We hope you've found guidance and inspiration for your own writing.

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