Too much Romance?

[dirk2024]

Hello,

I am working on a submission for this year's Nude Day contest. The characters in it are from my first (and only) published story - link below. It's a stepsibling incest story with a friend added in. In this story, I am changing my perspective to first person, based on the MMC, as someone had recommended to me. I have another WIP with these characters where, after an absence, they come back together and establish a sort of poly relationship. The perspective there is third person, like the first story I wrote.

My concern with this current story is that I am overdoing the emotional connection that is growing with the MMC. It's not a Romance story, yet I seem to keep writing about how the emotional connection between the MMC and MFC is growing. What I am worried about is redundancy. I have read elsewhere in this forum about how sometimes an author can belabor a point. How can an author make that determination? Especially since it's hard to find a beta reader.

 

[NotWise]

Maybe you're in luck. Readers in most categories, including T/I, eat up romantic stories.

It's hard to say when it's too much. If you think it's repetitive then it might be. Go with what feels right to you.

 

[Britva415]

What I am worried about is redundancy

Just don't repeat the same thing.

I don't mean "word it differently." It's more like - don't say it at all unless it's moving the plot along. Each instance of talking about the growth of the emotional connection should actually demonstrate/show a specific element of growth, not simply state... again... that growth is happening.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

My concern with this current story is that I am overdoing the emotional connection that is growing with the MMC. It's not a Romance story, yet I seem to keep writing about how the emotional connection between the MMC and MFC is growing. What I am worried about is redundancy. I have read elsewhere in this forum about how sometimes an author can belabor a point. How can an author make that determination? Especially since it's hard to find a beta reader.

Find a beta reader.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I just find reliable beta reads to be the only true test. So if you do manage to find a good beta reader or two, treat them like gold.

 

[dirk2024]

Find a beta reader.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I just find reliable beta reads to be the only true test. So if you do manage to find a good beta reader or two, treat them like gold.

Oh, that's not rude. I've had one, but he's an author here, so he's quite busy with his own creative juices.

 

[Voboy]

If you're intending to write a romance to go into Romance, don't make it incest. The normal Romance readers are lovely and forgiving souls, but they're not into incest all that much. If you're putting it into T/I, I hope it does well.

I'd recommend listening to your subconscious. If you think it's too much, it's too much. Dial it back until you think it's the right amount. You're the writer, and it's your story: trust your instincts.

 

[alohadave]

What I am worried about is redundancy. I have read elsewhere in this forum about how sometimes an author can belabor a point. How can an author make that determination?

Don't worry about it.

Also, "Is this a kissing book?!!".

 

[penandpenis]

I think that there will be an audience for your story. I'd say that too many incest stories just jump straight into the sex and end up completely defeating the purpose of the taboo kink which is about the crossing of typical social boundaries. That IS going to have an emotional effect and romance is certainly a potential motivator or consequence.
As others have already said about repetitiveness, just make sure that you're not pointlessly repeating information instead of developing characters or plot. If you're still actively writing the story, I'd say just push through and complete it and then return to assessing repetition as you edit.