Sex scenes are hard - pun intended. They've become nearly essential to a good romance. Writing one that is believable and heated can require a lot of effort. If you're uncomfortable it shows and turns off readers. So where does one start? By remembering that the sex scenes are for and about your characters and not yourself.
1. Don't use medical terms if you can avoid them.
Nobody wants to read about vaginas and penises. Nothing can be more jarring than that. Of course crazy euphemisms hurt the story flow also. Pronouns however are great. Use both subjective and objective particularly!
Consider:
"He entered her swiftly" is hotter than "His penis entered her vagina swiftly." It's also better than "His pink cigar entered her taco swiftly."
Notice how the euphemisms were taken to the extreme. That was to prove a point because clefts, feminine deltas, meat, and poles can be equally weird in a situation. Use with discretion.
Conclusion: Readers want to be able to slip into the fantasy. Let them!
2. Reflect and record.
What attracts you to sex scenes in other romance novels?
Make a list of what you find and have found sexy in other authors' writing. Keep this list handy so you can refer to it while writing. Think of it as inspirational reminders. Be sure to try to include the list in your own work. Just don't turn this into a formula as that won't help. Formulized sex scenes read flat, underdeveloped, and are forgettable.
If you can't think of anything for your list, remember that sex is explored through all the senses. You can start there and flush out the scene accordingly.
Conclusion: Formulaic sex scenes are crap, but having a list of good sex scene qualities that appeal to you will go a long way.
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Originally posted 2009-02-24 23:47:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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