The Library of Spanking Fiction: Wellred Weekly
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Articles
Items of interest regarding all things spanking
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What Makes a Great Spanking Novel? What makes a spanking book good? The answer to this question is largely subjective as it is based on the interests of the reader. That said there are still certain basic components of a book that must be present in order for the book to be a hit. The elements that make a good spanking book are largely the same as those required to make a good non-spanking book. A book, with or without spanking (although 'with spanking' is always better in my opinion), must have developed characters, a gripping plot, expressive writing, and emotional impact. First and foremost, an author needs to develop the main characters in the novel. The best way to grip readers is to start with characters that people can relate to. The more the reader can relate to a character, the more they will enjoy the book. The characters in a book need to have goals, depth, strengths, and flaws. To leave out any of these elements is to leave a novel incomplete. One of the most common weaknesses that I see with character development in spanking fiction is when the character is made out to be a caricature of a spanking cliché. A strong dominant male character can and should have flaws. To make the dominant male so strong and absolute in his morals is not believable. Likewise, the submissive woman who ends up over the knee need not be weak or passive. A talented writer can develop a strong leading lady that makes believable and understandable mistakes; mistakes she has to atone for over the knee. The world is not just black and white, but contains an infinite number of vivid colors. Authors shouldn't limit their pallets when creating characters so that they fit the genre's stereotypes. It's better to use some color and get a little messy. One of the most important things you need in a spanking novel, besides spanking, is a good story. Writing a hot spanking scene is certainly appreciated, but it is for nothing if the reader loses interest due to a flat plot line. When developing the story, the author needs to think beyond spanking. The story is the backbone of the book. A spanking novel will be a success, in my opinion, if you can remove all of the spanking scenes and still have a story that is worth reading. The most common issue I see with plots in spanking books is predictability. In order for a book to be a page turner that keeps the reader on the edge of her seat, it needs an element of suspense. There needs to be something that the reader hasn't figured out yet that will keep them interested and engaged. The spanking part of the book will keep someone reading, but it won't be enough for them to recommend the book to others. It is much better to develop a stellar story and spice it up with spanking then to try to create a story out of a spanking scene. There are some storylines that are a bit overdone in this genre. I cannot tell you how many stories I have read where the leading lady drinks too much, gets caught stealing, gets a speeding ticket, or overdraws her checking account. Yes, all of these situations lead immediately to her being upended and spanked, but they are a dime a dozen. The book that stands out is the one that can come up with a new way for a gal to find mischief, get caught, and end up with a sore tush for her trouble. Another way to keep the reader engaged is with expressive writing. It is one thing to tell a story about a couple starting a marriage based on domestic discipline but it is quite another to make the reader feel the emotions of the characters while they read it. The reader should feel butterflies the first time the new bride is told she will face a spanking; or the doubt and turmoil going through her mind as she is pulled over the knee for the first time. A good book allows the reader to experience these emotions alongside the characters. To keep the reader invested in the story, an author should try to subtly introduce background information about the characters in small doses throughout the story. It is disheartening to have pages and pages of background at the onset of the book before you've had a chance to get to know or relate to the characters. It is best when authors allow the reader to learn about a character's past while experiencing their present. Now that we've talked about character development and storylines, let's focus on the fun stuff: spanking. When starting to write a spanking scene, an author needs to elaborate on the details. Some readers love the crime, others are attracted to the notion of getting caught and scolded, and some just savor the spanking. An author needs to please everyone and therefore can't gloss over any of these elements. Sometimes the buildup to a spanking is more important to the reader than the actual spanking itself. Some say "the devil is in the details" and with spanking fiction, this couldn't be more accurate. Another common issue in spanking fiction occurs when the spanking scenes do not fit seamlessly into the overall story. A situation or chapter shouldn't be created simply to add discipline to the story. A spanking should occur naturally in the story and should not be forced. The story should be cohesive and consistent from the beginning of the book to the end. Many spanking books have distinct chapters that do not relate to one another. Each chapter will start with a new situation that ultimately ends with a spanking. Once the spanking has been doled out, the chapter is over. This type of writing is perfect for websites that publish stories a chapter at a time, but it is not appropriate for a book. No-one, including myself, is an 'authority' on what makes a stellar spanking book. But, I've read more than a few spanking books and can offer my opinion about what makes a spanking book good or bad. There are a few key elements, such as character development and a gripping plot, that are required to make a book good. Without these key ingredients, it won't matter how awesome the spanking scenes are, the book can never really be great. Once a proper foundation is in place, an author can deliver greatness by connecting to the reader emotionally and focusing on the fun spanky details.  4 comments:
bendover said...
This is a very good article. A few of the bases have been left out. Dialogue and Dialect are very important, as well as descriptive data. How smart is a character? When they speak, how well or poor is their diction in every word they say? A character in a spanking novel or short story can be well versed in speaking properly, or they can be dumber than a box of rocks. It all boils down to how interesting they are. If a character is a lawyer or doctor the author must have them converse like one. If they grew up in the Hood, you can’t expect them to speak like they just graduated from Yale or Oxford. Many readers like to know what the panties look like once they’re exposed. Others like to feel the humiliation of a male about to be spanked by a woman. It makes them read the paragraph over and over again. It makes them find that story again and again because they can’t seem to get it out of their minds. I can remember my first two spanking novels to this day. The Spanking Stewardesses and Ass Whipping Women (and their Young Boy Lovers). The offense is usually a cliché’ of course, let’s face it, but the spanking should leave the reader very satisfied. I like to call it ‘A Mind’s Eye View.’ I enjoyed the article a lot. Nicely done. Authors need to read and know these things if they want to be taken seriously. Thanks Katerina. 27 April 2012 22:15
barretthunter said...
This is a very balanced and helpful article. I recognise the weaknesses described. Oddly enough, I just finished a non-spanking novel (no, that's not the odd fact), Brian Aldiss' "Greybeard", and on reflection, found it strange that he'd introduced a scene where the main character's then girlfriend was kidnapped and bound by a man who wanted to dominate and gloat over her. It didn't seem to add anything to the rest of the book, or tell us anything about the two main characters, or lead anywhere, and there wasn't even any suspense as it was a flashback and we knew that she'd survived and been reunited with her boyfriend. It seemed like an insert. Maybe I've just found part of the answer. 1 May 2012 20:07
islandcarol said...
I agree with you wholeheartedly, good writing earns that badge no matter what the genre; understanding every spanko's needs does draw the greatest crowd of readers. I can remember reading those romantice novels set in the 17 and 18 hundreds and later thinking how easily a spanking could be inserted right before a love scene- they were never that racy and a spanking would have added a nice sizzle. I never see spanking novels on bookstore shelves. Are they really out there? Every once in awhile I'll be listening to an audio book and bam in the middle of Interstate 95 the narrator chronicles a spanking and I'm so shocked, I have to pull over to catch my breath. I do agree, there are only so many offenses that deserve a spanking- and those tales are boring and predictable. A pity, it is a popular genre and an author capable of incorporating your guidelines, might make a killing. Excellent piece. IC. 1 May 2012 20:57
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I have written two novels in this genre and in at least the second I tried to do exactly as you described. The first was “Atonement”, a first person private eye novel about a lawyer investigating the theft of trade secrets to a spanking machine invention. It was somewhat tongue-in-cheek and more spank scene oriented. I wrote it 12 years ago. The second was what I refer to as “The LaForge Trilogy” (Farm of the Delphian Sisterhood, LaForge, Thermopolis Springs), a three part work that taken together is a supernatural thriller novel with two sets of main characters. This one, I think, does a better job at being a novel in its own right with spanking as an element.
My own exploration of spanking novels reveals that there are flaws that tend to drag the novel down. You have pointed out a few (stereotyped characters, clunky plot). I’ll point out a couple of additional ones. Recall that these books are, for the most part, romances with alpha male leads and spunky but headstrong heroines that follow typical romance novel story lines. So you have regency era, cowboy/westerns, cop dramas, medieval costume dramas that repeat the types of plots usually found in those novels, only this time the spanking scenes that should have always been there are now included. Should be great, but it’s not. Often the scenes seem forced or implausible, or come out of nowhere---out of the flow of the novel. Another huge problem is that they tend to occur over and over again between the same two people for much the same reason.
The fix for both problems (assuming strong characters, good plot idea) is to find some reason why spanking is largely inevitable and/or culturally acceptable, and to provide multiple character pairs (or groups) so that the spanking scenes are not limited to the same two people. I’m currently working on a third novel that hopefully does exactly this.
I could go on and on with examples but this comment is long enough. Great article and I love your web site.