The following “tip sheet” is meant to provide the author with a general sense of what BSB is looking for in a Matinee Book. These criteria are not meant to be absolutes – guidelines are just that – a jumping off place for an approach to a work. Word count is the only hard and fast item in this category.

MATINEE BOOKS

Matinee Books Romance                                        45,000 – 55,000 words 

Matinee lesbian romances are sharp, satisfying reads for busy women who want to take some time out for pure entertainment.  

The focus is on excitement, sexual attraction, drama, and fun. Characters should be vividly drawn, believable, and appealing. Plots don’t have to be complicated, sex should be hot and real, and by the end of the story an emotional connection should be present. These are light, engaging, sexy stories featuring two hot women who fall into bed, and in love as well. 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 

STYLE – Polished, readable and uncomplicated

TONE  – Upbeat

PACE  – Fast moving

PLOT  – Simple structure - open with a hook, close with a resolution

MAIN CHARACTERS – engaging, believable, may be “types” if compelling

SECONDARY CHARACTERS – Play a low key supporting role. They enliven a scene, but never steal it

CONTENT– Generally dealing in the currency of high drama – anger, lust, passion, jealousy, guilt

THREE TYPES

HOT

Primary Focus:  sexual gratification

Overall sensibility: arousing and entertaining

Opening Hook:  a sex scene.

The players could be anyone. The primary requirement is that the opening scene is hot. Could be the two main characters, who have just met and are having sex. Or one of the main characters having sex with a partner or partners who will not feature in the work beyond the opening pages, except as a peripheral figure, if at all. Could be one of the main characters in a voyeuristic scene, watching two women have sex. Could be a play party… anything.

Couple:  hot, and at least one of them is sexually adventurous

Content : strong on the erotic, with high drama and fast movement through character arcs – not dwelling too much on emotional angst

Sex:  hot, edgy, explicit, frequent, anything goes (usual exceptions)

Obstacles:  Unexpected emotions and unpleasant surprises. Possibly a third party causing a problem. Or just when everything seems to be going quite well someone does something stupid and there is some angst, punctuated with more sex.

Theme:  sometimes life can suck, but sex is good

Climax: the obstacle gets resolved and a really big sex scene happens, and this time there is a clear emotional layer

Resolution:  hey, if everything else is as good as the sex, maybe we’ll have a great relationship

Ending:  happy and sexual  – they’re together as a couple and think they are falling in love, at least. A “permanent commitment” is not essential, but it’s fine to have one if that’s character-consistent.

SWEET

Primary Focus:  desire

Overall sensibility: heart-warming and sensual

Opening Hook:  a character scene

The two main characters must cross paths, or be about to, in a scene that engages the reader quickly . Reader investment in the characters and their romantic journey must be rapid and sustained. Humor might play a role.

Couple:  girl meets girl, with some room for the interesting

Content : strong on emotion, with heart to heart discussions, introspection, angst, confusion, drama, highs and lows

Sex:  sensual, erotic, emotionally meaningful from the start, lots of sexual tension.

Obstacles:  Psychological and personal. One or both characters must overcome an internal conflict or personal issue in order to find true love.  External obstacles may also stand in their path.

Theme:  love creates new possibilities

Climax:  Something (probably external ) almost destroys the emerging relationship, but change and growth carries the couple through adversity

Resolution:  we belong together and will never again let anything come between us

Ending:  happy and contented– they’ve found true love. They make a declaration of love and commitment

EXCITING

Primary Focus:  risk

Overall sensibility: compelling and erotic

Opening Hook:  an action scene

Features a hot, compelling main character in some high-drama situation. By the end of the drama, she must meet the woman she will fall for. One (or both) of the two women is likely to be in jeopardy.

Couple: polarized eg. good girl / bad girl,  butch / femme,  white collar / blue collar,  mixed race,  etc.

Content : strong on action, with mini-climaxes, drama, highs and lows.

Sex:  Hot, hard, lots of physical chemistry

Obstacles:  An external threat, character differences, the wrong time to get involved in a relationship. 

Theme:  danger and risk / together we can triumph over anything

Climax: Big Climax: threat reaches its peak, the couple overcome the odds and win

Resolution:  let’s celebrate our triumph by making love

Ending:  happy and dramatic  – they’ve found each other and can’t live without each other. They make a declaration of love and commitment.