NOTE: Paperback Writer(PBW) has organized an awesome group of bloggers doing Left Behind and Loving It workshops all this week and weekend while everyone’s away attending the RWA National Conference. Click here to find the links to all the workshops, including PBW’s!
CONFLICT = FOREPLAY
The more conflicted your characters are with each other, the more sexual tension there tends to be. Yum. I love sexual tension. The best part of a book is not the actual sex, it’s what leads up to it, the way the characters dance around it, what happens before–and usually after–the sex. Delicious conflict and tension, the push/pull of attraction. All the reasons why they shouldn’t, but they do anyway. This is the great stuff of romance. This is why we buy the books, why we anticipate the sex scenes so much. This is why we try so hard as writers NOT to let the reader down.
Your job as a writer is to figure out your characters’ conflict, and use it to your advantage to increase sexual tension between the characters. That conflict can be internal (between the characters) or external (an outside force). But either way, conflict drives tension, especially sexual tension. Your characters can butt heads, disagree about the conflict, especially if it’s internal, whatever way you want them to engage each other. Remember, in every scene that’s not sexual, it’s still foreplay. Use that in dialogue, in their interactions with each other, in body language and visual cues. Everything ratchets up the tension between these characters.
But keep in mind that you have to show us this tension, this burgeoning relationship between the characters. Don’t tell the reader how they’re feeling and reacting. You’ll get a much bigger emotional reaction from a reader if you allow the reader to experience this conflict and tension through the characters’ eyes. Show versus tell, always.
Anger and frustration can be a powerful aphrodisiac, can set the tone for explosive sex scenes. Antagonism that masks long checked sexual attraction can be a potent turn on.
Fast heartbeats, curling toes, fluttering stomachs may seem cliché, but when phrased originally and used in a situation that’s both sexual and emotional, readers will FEEL the power of that attraction. Also include unique thought that belongs exclusively to that character. Phrase responses in such a way that they are the only character in the story who would have said such a thing in exactly that wording.
But why sex when there’s trouble in paradise?
Consider your characters’ conflicts. What’s preventing them from committing? And how can you use sex to show this?
With any conflict, external or internal, incorporate a plot twist that allows the hero or heroine to believe that things are different. Or to accept that they will never change and allow themselves to set aside their differences temporarily.
It sounds elemental, but you have to make the reader feel in her bones that now is not just a good time for these characters to take their attraction to intimacy, but the perfect time, despite the conflict.
The event or emotion that provides the impetus to sex must be a natural part of your plot, whether beginning, middle or end. Whatever you choose, make sex necessary in the next moment.
Sex is a journey and an integral part of the relationship between characters. It’s tied tightly to the conflict.
MAKE IT DEEP
It’s not always about tenderness and poignancy, though you can certainly use those. But you can also set up your love scenes to portray reluctant fascination, that refusal to fall for the other person…even as they are, fury, a dark desire to possess, or even (given the right circumstances and people) a determination to remain indifferent. Think the gamut of emotions when you think about love scenes.
Here’s the beginning of a love scene from Surviving Demon Island, the first book in my Demon Hunter series with Bantam Dell. This scene comes about in the middle of chaos, of panic, of the characters’ worlds being shattered by a stunning revelation. If ever two people really needed each other, it’s at that moment:
Their gazes locked and before he knew what was happening, he was bending down to press his lips to hers. Maybe it was just a need to offer comfort, maybe it was just the pain shadowing her eyes that got to him. And maybe he just wanted her and there wasn’t any other reason.
She came off the table and damn near threw herself in his arms. He tightened his hold around her, drawing her close as if he needed to shelter her, protect her from the demons around them.
Because the demons were still around. On the island, within the island, somewhere close. Instinctively, Gina had to know that. Maybe she was kissing him with such wild abandon because of fear, because of stress, because she wanted to shut out what she’d seen and heard tonight. Maybe she was molding her body against his and digging her nails into his back because she was trying to crawl inside him for comfort and safety.
Honestly, he didn’t really care, he was just damn grateful that she was. He slanted his mouth across hers and deepened the kiss, gladly taking whatever she was willing to give. And when he came down over her she didn’t protest, just wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips, whimpering into his mouth.
He realized then what she needed, and why, and how important it was that this be for Gina right now. What he needed could wait.
It’s never just the physical between two characters. There’s always so much more at stake. Never forget that.
More tomorrow! And I forgot to mention there’ll be a prize at the end so I’ll draw from everyone who comments this week! More on that later.
“its never just physical”
I’m so glad to see you touch on all this.
Great workshop!
Mandy M. Roth’s last blog post..LB&LI-Cover Art: From Form to Finish Part II
by Mandy M. Roth July 30th, 2008 at 6:57 amGreat post! One of my trouble areas is making sure I show and not tell. Thanks, Jaci!
Stephanie S.’s last blog post..Wishing on a Star or a Beach. . .
by Stephanie S. July 30th, 2008 at 7:44 amI SO agree with you! It is about the sensual dance two people do around each other that makes for an interesting encounter. There’s nothing wrong with consummation - I’m all for it, in fact - but what leads up to it and how they react in its aftermath are what really keep me hooked.
by Margay July 30th, 2008 at 8:02 amThanks, Jaci. This came at the perfect time for me, as a reminder of everything I did right in the love scene I just finished. One thing I struggle with is how often in the scene I should mention deep, internal physical response . After each stimulus, or is that too much?
L.A. Mitchell’s last blog post..My Awareness, Raised in a Barn
by L.A. Mitchell July 30th, 2008 at 8:13 amL.A. - I usually try and blend the physical with the emotional so it’s not too much of one or the other. Whatever ‘feels’ right for the characters. I talk a lot about the emotional here, but we also can’t ignore the physical aspects of lovemaking. It’s there, and readers want to know about it, so you do have to show it, along with the characters’ responses to how their partner makes them feel. I think when you write it, then read through it, you’ll get a feel for how much is too much and how much is just right. :cheese:
by Jaci July 30th, 2008 at 8:19 amSo true Jaci and you do it so well.
by Cherie J July 30th, 2008 at 10:41 amYes yes yes and double yes! Haha, I was just reading a book [wayyy too early/late in the morning yesterday] - where the “sex scenes” are just… a bit off and awkward and something like a train wreck. However, they’re believable, because most of the book builds up to it, so there is a lot of sexual tension - and the heroes and heroines fight like cats and dogs.
by limecello July 30th, 2008 at 1:01 pmYet somehow, it just makes the story more believable, and leads to everything falling into place once the “happy ending” arrives. Great workshop, Jaci!
Conflict is so often left out of sexy stories and scenes and it ruins the book. Wonderful workshop.
by Page Traynor July 30th, 2008 at 2:13 pmThanks for the tips…You do write some smoking hot sex scenes!!
by Renee B July 30th, 2008 at 8:49 pmThanks for this. So many workshops and I can’t get to all of them (just like a real conference!). At least I can come to them anytime (yeah for virtual conferences).
by Ann July 30th, 2008 at 9:12 pmAnn’s last blog post..Are You Watching Dr. Horrible?
I forgot to ask: Where did you get your word counter from (top’o'page)?
Ann’s last blog post..Are You Watching Dr. Horrible?
by Ann July 30th, 2008 at 9:15 pmgood insights love it. thanks
by kh July 30th, 2008 at 10:43 pmAnn - the word count meter I use can be found here:
http://writertopia.com/toolbox/meters
It’s really easy to set up and update too!
by Jaci July 31st, 2008 at 7:50 amNever quite thought of it that way before!
Lea
by Lea July 31st, 2008 at 5:49 pmThank you so much. This is my weak area, having grown up reading SF not Romance. You’re helping me reevaluate my Wips.
by AnnaM July 31st, 2008 at 6:14 pmI think I’ve got sexual tension. Most likely because I enjoy reading it myself. I love a book that has the heroin and hero dancing a tug of war.
Back and forth and then finally tadow! Sex so good it makes your head pop off.
by Nannette July 31st, 2008 at 7:23 pmNannette’s last blog post..Are you a Sexual Kitty?
One thing I think can’t be stressed enough is Don’t Use Stupid Words/Phrases To Describe Either a Sexual Moment &/or Body Part.
I recently read a book where the author actually used the term Masturbatory Secretions. Completely ruined the book for me because that’s all I could see through the rest of the book. So, please, please, please don’t do that. Just sayin’.
by Kaitlin July 31st, 2008 at 11:26 pmKaitlin: I totally agree with that one, it’s one of my pet peeves.
As for the workshop; Some I needed to hear, this is going to be bookmarked for later use. :cheese:
by Angelica August 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pmKaitlin - you’re so right. Word choice is critical throughout the book, not just in the sex scenes. But especially there, where a wonky choice of words will ruin the scene completely.
by Jaci August 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am[...] scenes and drag the writer out of their ‘discomfort’ zone.” Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five - [...]
by Thursday Thirteen: LB&LI « Impulsive Hearts August 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm