Childbirth scenes in books (cont) - UQD - have just read [does not insert book title]

[katepol]

and really enjoyed it.
Neither the childbirth scene nor the sex scenes made me wince, which is unusual. I reckon you should have a longer go at another birth one though, just to test whether the credibility can stretch through a long labour and birth .

I like the fact that the book has predictable and then less predictable moments, but found the jumps in what happens a little frustrating; I like being walked through what happens, which is a personal thing I know.

I would recommend it as a good read though - kept me up till after midnight a couple of times .

How do you feel about the book? How was the writing process (as you can see, I know nothing about this, but am just very curious!).

Ah but UQD, isn't it just a bit lazy not to give us the detail . I have felt that with other authors...

I am very pleased with it - of all the three "proper" ones it is the one I feel is the most fully-formed and one where everything comes together. People do comment that I can "do" women characters quite well, which I'm pleased about.

The imagination is what is lazy and in short supply these days, kate.

What does it matter, what a person's name is? Or what they have written?

Particularly here.

Even the effort of trying such is something to be complimented, UCD, IMHO.

Expat - I am still confused (I need things spelt out for me as I have just discovered).

About what, kate?

What I do for a living?

I am a ghostwriter for now, if that is what you mean.

I sell work to people who cannot or cannot be bothered or do not have to write it for themselves.

I do not ask them what they do with what I have written for them, as it is none of my concern.

They sign an agreement to that effect, to the effect that my work is for their reference, and what they do with it beyond that is none of my affair.

There is nothing illegal in that from my par, because they signed the statement.

Expat: indeed it's tricky to write sex scenes no matter who your target audience is. In the days of the Guild I used to advise writers that if they weren't turning themselves on at least little tiny bit, they probably weren't doing a good enough job.

(Disclaimer for any startled other authors: I'm referring specifically to erotic fiction that's branded as such...)

Expat - I don't get your 0.13.13 post (the second half).

I kind of agree about your imagination comment, but if I read a book I prefer it to either be a walk through all the way, or to know that it is a diy kind of job. I don't like being 'let down' in the middle by the story disappearing for a while, if that makes sense?

It is not altogether unsatisfying, and as I am nowhere near as creative a writer as UCD, yet there is still pride in the work I do.

I cannot manufacture personas as he can. I wouldn't know how.

I am in awe of those who can. How can their divorce themselves from, well, themselves, to create such works?

I don't know.

I write to suit our needs and serve my clients, and so, having not much else to be proud of in this life, it seems I do a good enough job to be known to do so, IYKWIM.

Oh, that had to do with outing a writer, kate.

I would not do that, anymore than I would want someone to do that to me.

It is saying much, for UCD to trust his readers in such a way. That is not the norm, from what I gather, amongst many who are published these days.

There seems to be a trend for a creative writer to spell much if not all out for his reader, and such a trend I see as sad.

personae.

Pardon me.

That is the hardest part, madame, when I wrote romance!

Striking the right note when it comes to the sex scenes.

People don't understand just how difficult that can be!

Oh, I am worried now that I used the phrase diy job on a thread with Madamez on it...

Expat - I get your job now - thankyou. I have no problem with it - I couldn't do it though - found it hard enough to get my essays in on time at Uni, and I didn't have to do that many .

Madamez - I suppose the problem with writing sex scenes is that it can be such a personal thing. One man's meat etc etc. I find that I can really be enjoying something, but then a wrong descriptive word can just stop me in my tracks. Mind you the same can be said for any writing, when you think you 'have' a character, and then they go and do or say something improbable...

Katepol: yup, you have to keep a consistent tone in sex scenes (like in any scenes relaly) and if you're going to use a really joltingly inappropriate word or phrase there has to be a reason for it.

that's the editor's fucking job.

Expat - there has to be a funny retort to your last comment about fucking editors, but it is late and I must go to bed.
Night night.

Night!

I'm up, probably colluding in plagairism tonight.

I do most of my work at night. Thankfully, I am an insomniac and don't drink much these days.

Hmph, just googled that set of clues and got a link to a novel written by a woman - UQD do you use a female pseudonym?

Absolutely NOT!

UQD You don't us a pseudonym, but in the evenings is your name Susan?

What sort of idiot can't answer the Beggars Banquet question though?

Are you an admirer of Grayson Perry's work He does a woman character quite well, I think.

nobiggy too true! I suppose Jeff is just not a big Stones fan.

swedes - I hear literary transvestism is a way out of a career rut...