Forum: Author Hangout

In addition to SOL tags we pick tags or keywords for Amazon, iBook Store, Tumblr, etc., etc.

Leaving aside all other possible tags and hot button tags, if the story in question could carry "Erotica" and "Romantic" does the "Erotica" tag attract more readers than it might turn off? We know "Romantic" now can include explicit sex, but many Romance readers prefer a softer touch. Harlequin has gradations for exactly that reason.

I have no idea which it might be, which is why I'm asking if others have seen a pattern. We're talking anecdotal evidence here, not science.

We know tags by design work both ways: attract interested readers and steer others who might be put off by the content away. I'm trying to figure out the net gain or loss for the "Erotica" tag. ETA: I'm thinking about the wider world. We already know our SOL audience.

If there is any way to figure it, of course.

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Amazon says you shouldn't repeat the genre as a keyword. So if your genre is Erotica/Romance, those two would be redundant and a waste of two keywords.

It gets tricky. First off, since every book can post multiple search tags, and since "Romance" is the most sought book category, virtually every story is now tagged with "romance", so the tag itself is virtually meaningless. We now have "sci-fi romance", "action adventure romance", "transgender romance" and "apocalyptic romance". Essentially, any story with a love interest of any kind is now classified as a "Romance" story (over 90% of ALL books published for the last several years, according to smashwords annual publication surveys).

However, there are severe restrictions to using the "erotica" tag. While most mainstream novels contain fairly explicit sex scenes, labeling any book "erotica" or "explicit" automatically slaps a 'porn' label on it which prevents many outlets from carrying it. I've got a few incent-themed stories I've NEVER labeled as "adults" only (they're all rated at "high-school age and above), as classifying it as such limits where you can sell them.

If a story indeed has romance, as opposed to straight out "porn" (which implies it's more plot and character driven than sex driven), I'd label it as romance and leave it at that. The key, however, is how someone reading the story would classify it. All it takes is a single reader objecting it and filing a complaint. Amazon will ban a book outright based on a single reader complaint, with no appeal process available to the author. You can always reapply (supposedly after modifying the story), but if you get caught twice, you'll be banned for life (again, not that strict, since many post under a variety of accounts, but if you post under your given name, and use your bank account for payment info., it's a pretty severe restriction)!