Sweet Tales With Spice?
If you like romance novels or novellas you’ve likely heard the term “spicy” to describe particular books. If not well…I guess the time has come.
Soft and Sweet - Stories are often comedy or drama. Side note the drama tends to be on the lighter side often avoiding heavier topics. If there is sex in the book it tends to be “fade to black” - the scene begins, cuts, then picks up after. Language also is normally cleaner with no excessive foul language. Common tropes are friends to lovers, love at first sight, mutual pinning, slow burn, there was only one bed, fake relationship, and almost always end with happily ever after.
If we think of it in Scoville levels this type of story ranges from 0 - 3,000
No spice to mild salsa
Covers are normally illustrated or a happy looking couple
Steamy - Stories are often drama, fantasy, or mystery. Sex is a staple in these books with tension and build-up leading up to detailed sex scenes. Language also is normally rougher with more swearing. Some of the common tropes are enemies to lovers, age-gap, I hate everyone but you, they were roommates, arranged marriage, second chance, and these stories can end both happily or unhappily.
Scoville levels 3,000 -50,000
Mild salsa to extra hot sauce
Dramatic covers with typography or shirtless man covers
Extra Spice - Stories are down and dirty. They run the gamut from contemporary romance to fantasy to science fiction. Sex is often integrated into the plot or sex is the plot. Swearing is often abundant. Common tropes are enemies to lovers, age-gap, forbidden love, love triangles, harem, reverse harem, mafia, bodyguard, cheating, arranged marriage, alien lover, creature lover… listen if it isn’t your thing, please don’t google it - you can’t unsee things. Endings for these stories are often happy though.
Scoville levels 25,000 - 80,000
Hot sauce to why-are-you-eating ghost peppers?
Covers feature couples with little clothes, in shadows, or those “bodice-ripping” that you see at the grocery story checkouts
The point I am working my way around to is this. The books that are going to be associated with Sweet Tales With Spice are going to have sweet moments, some funny, some drama, a little spice in the romance, and plenty of spice in the language.
If you are starting your writing journey, please write the things that you want to write. Do not let “how it’s supposed to be” hold you back. Write your story, get help with the edits, ask for feedback, and go fearlessly.
If you are on a reading journey I truly hope you enjoy the time with these stories.
