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

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 #MemoirWritingSend us Fan Mail Welcome to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. If you've ever felt the pull to write your truth, to shape the chaos of real life into something meaningful and to share your journey with the world, you're in the right place. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who believe in you and know how important it is to find a writing community to guide you on your path to self-publishing. You’re invited to connect with us by joining our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week. Whether you’re working on a memoir, a novel, or journaling for yourself, this is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.   Join our Embodied Writing Experience where you’ll get a writer’s retreat directly to your inbox each week. This is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and write with embodied intention.   If you missed this year's Memoir Summit, we recorded it! You can purchase the replays and get instant access to over 4 hours of memoir-specific content from Elizabeth and our amazing panelists of published memoir authors, indie presses, editors, and industry professionals!Work 1:1 with Memoir Coach Elizabeth Wilson. Book a session here.If you prefer to watch our conversations, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.You can find us on Instagram.