Sex Scenes

Honestly I've debated making a foray into the trashy romance novel field, if only because it seems like ridiculous descriptions is the norm. And it'd be fun to write.

Plus, I totally want to write an entirely alliterative sex scene.

I guess that's where the disconnect is at for me. If other kinds of acts are interesting or entertaining to read about, then why is sex so objectionable? Is there a trope for that?

I haven't read a trashy romance novel yet, but I've read plenty of genre books that do have sex scenes in varying degrees of intensity. I usually enjoy them, though not always for the same reason.

I must not be a normal reader.

Hmmm... It depends on the story, I suppose. Most of the time I don't want to read sex. I've gotten some recently-published books of short stories and it seemed like every second one had a sex scene. Why? I realize sex is fun and everything (and how!), but c'mon. On the other hand, if it goes with the story, well go for it.

Personally, I tend to limit my sex scenes to when I'm writing porn. But that's just me.

True Art Has Sex

Uh...any advice on how to write a sex scene between an M1 Abrams Tank and a Little Red Sportcar?

Use all the phallic symbolism available in the tank's gun. There's a lot there. Firearms of all kinds are excellent set up for Freud Was Right.

edited 11th Jan '11 3:40:25 PM by Five_X

Battlecanon meets tailpipe.

I feel bad for the sports car.

Just say penis.

penis

Ahem, p0n0s and vag000.

Is it bad to admit that you need help with this type of writing, or that you've been doing a lot of research?

@pathfinder: No, and it would depend on the type of "research".

Personally I prefer when a book has a few sentences that make it clear that, yes, sex is going on, and then skips to later. Or a couple of sentences describing in a fairly abstract way how it made the characters feel.

In my own work, I highly doubt there will be any sex going on, but if there is, I'm pretty sure I'd want it to fly over the heads of kids. For example, I read Tamora Pierce books when I was about 9 or 10. Characters would kiss, whisper something romantic to each other and go into a bedroom. As a 9 year old, I thought "Oh, they're kissing in the bedroom. Moving on." It wasn't until a reread a few years later that I realised Alanna and Jonathan had actually slept together, and I kind of like that.

I find scenes that are trying to be romantic that actually describe the, well, equipment fail. Because there is no romantic word for them.

C;mon, you mean calling it a "meaty shaft of romancing +1" ISN'T romantic?

.+1? pft, how much romancing can that do?

edited 18th Jan '11 12:54:15 AM by Carbonpillow

He used a Potion of Sexual Enhancement beforehand.

Well, ostensibly, it can do one more romance than your average cock.

Enough for me.

Most of the books I've read containing that sort of thing have been something between one and two. They don't skip over the act, and sometimes they go a little into it, but never anything as in-your-face as #3. Sometimes it works very well.

When I write a sex scene, I tend to focus on sensation and emotion more than anything else, because the mechanics of sex are dull and unsexy.

Agreed with this. When you get right down to it, the mechanics of sex don't change much from encounter to encounter. To quote a <female> friend of mine; "The faces change but the acts stay the same...there's some kissing, followed by some stripping, some groping, some licking, some sucking and then some fucking."

I'd say that's a good enough argument; focus on what makes it different, not what makes it the same.

I think the important thing is that it should convey how the characters feel about it, how it affects their relationship and (ultimately) the story as a whole.

"And what about the heroine? She is languidly reclining on the bed ... and doing her level best to not bust a gut laughing, I suspect. Should she stare? Gasp? Giggle? Ogle? Chant 'boingy, boingy, boingy' as he approaches or whistle the 'Elephant Walk' in time to the swaying?

You know I could actually picture a girl saying boingy boingy boingy if the guy is being a bit too serious about getting ready for sex. Fun teasing and gently reminding him they are trying to have fun.

Focus on what makes it different, not what makes it the same.

This is why sci-fi has the best sex scenes.

I hate sex scenes. They kind of distract and sidetrack too much to be useful. I have no problem with love,but I avoid sex scenes.

....Bit late to the discussion, buuuuuut.... This might be of use, perticually for type 3.