Monday 2 May 2011

Love Scenes in Books: The Do's and Dont's in Writing Hot Love Scenes.

OK, I've been reading a lot of romantic scenes, love scenes, and sex scenes, until I know what should be done to improvise or change in making the scene believable and can be enjoyed by the people who reads it. So, here are some tips, steps, or whatever you call it in writing a love scene.

No.1: Decide what type of writing you are comfortable with.

You see, a reader should read a lot of books that is diverse in writing the love scenes. There are many of those that just only focuses on on of these two categories. emotion and sex. One can have all sex, no emotion, or all emotion, but no sex. It is important in having in balanced so it sounds believable. One can insert normal fetishes that is condoned by the public, and making it steamier or erotic but also limit yourself so that it does not turn into a sex story. Remember, if it is tasteful and realistic, but not boring and redundant, doing the same thing over and over with the same movements and climax, you are on the right track.

No.2: Make the scenes real

This is one of the important things in making a love scene good and real.Your characters are HUMANS, and one should know the human capabilities and limits in having sex. No one will never believe on had sex 24 hours straight, right? Also, the bodily functions should be written accurately, for example orgasms for women. It is hard to achieve orgasms and it becomes ridiculous when the sex was so good, she achieved multiple orgasms. This is not the TRUTH. Sure, some women can achieve it, but not after like 10 minutes and the man just started thrusting her for 5 to 6 times, and she is spent. That is not the real. Only hentai can do that ;-) . I might like to add the height of sensitivity of the characters are having while having sex. This sometimes can be too exploited to be over-emotional when being teased by each other. It is great when the couple feels hot, wanting with wanton lust, but not when they are only at the foreplay. Sometimes I read books that makes a blowjob feel like it is the most pleasurable thing in the world and the man can't handle it. The women screams and shriek when the men licks, laves her wet, slick soft skin (you know where). To sum it, to exaggerate, one should be realistic, not that over the top that it becomes weird and ridiculous.

No.3: Sexual tension is a must to elevate it to the next level (sex)

Unless you watch porn all the time, one never goes into a room, tears their clothes and start humping like a dog in heat. The writer should be aware the place, the environment, and how to utilize fully the place in making the tension elevate. It should be done from the start as it is gonna drag when you just start with innocent conversation and making turn to sexual will take a lot more pages and thinning the readers patience. Writers should at least show the physical aspects of the sexual tension, like the muscles, breathingand the tone of the voice used by the characters. After that, transitioning to foreplay will be easy as pie. The thing is, don't make a scene where there is nothing but silence and at the wrong place to meet and have a love scene on the spot. It should at least know what they are feeling. And please, never ever have that scene spoiled, like, "Suddenly, someone knocked at the door". I cringe and have the urge to burn the book when it goes to that path. If you wanna write the damn scene, do it properly.

No.4: Set the scene and mood of the characters

This involves the 5 senses of humans, scents, sights, tastes, sounds, textures. Add this with pleasure having sex, putting it into natural form. What you normally do to be turned on by something, that's what you should be writing in there. The scene can be a candle-lit room, with romantic songs playing, add lingerie and the man only wearing silk trousers. This I'll leave it to your imagination.

No.5: Use the background/talents your characters have in initiating the bond between characters

An added bonus for this is when you put talents in your characters and using it to impress the other party rather than being an average Joe or Jane falling in love with normal circumstances, like personality and physical appearance. Add things like he's a musician, or she's a dancer, a stage actor role playing with her. Keep it interesting and strengthen the bond when the act is done. It can also be done by both, like both dancing sensuously under the stars with Heaven gazing above them. Something like that.

No.6: Point of View

This is a crucial point in telling the love scene, especially the sex part. Some like tot tell it from both point of view, some only the man or the woman. For me, because sex is a couple thing, it should be viewed by both points without spoiling the emotions of the other part in the other point of view. Meaning, when having a point of view from the man, One should not describe the feelings of the woman when the man is having sex with her. It is better to change views if you want to tell it. However, You should not change it frequently, as it will confuse the readers and makes them frustrated in following through which character is having the emotions. Be careful with this.

No.7: Details, Details, Details

This is also important and crucial when writing all novels or fictional works. Never change the physical appearance and characteristics of the characters. Once she's a blonde, and then she's a brunette, or this dude is short and stocky, suddenly he's a tall, lanky dude. Readers are aware of this and will question who is actually the character.
Next, details as in what attracts the hero to the heroine, One can never look and fall in love at first sight. Sometimes beauty can be skin deep. It's what we all are attracted to first, before knowing her/him. You can say that he's attracted to her soft, luscious lips while she's sipping her drink, or when she sees him jogging and checking out this hot body. 
The next detail is how the meet with each other. This should at least be interesting than the overused dropped something and the guy helps her pick it off the floor. Formal introduction or a friends introducing to one another is also overused. Try like they wanted to buy the last loaf of bread, of she stumbles on him, knocking him off his feet and she landed on top of him. Just be creative in making the introduction unique and romantic. 

No.7: Dialogue

Can you imagine having quiet sex? Seems bloody awkward  and there are no feelings when having sex with no moans and naughty dialogues in it, right? Using dialogue within a scene of sensual awareness can heighten the erotic edge immeasurably. Just a few words can prompt enough excitement to make your reader unbearably uncomfortable. 
Next is never, ever use bad euphemisms describing the anatomy of the human body especially the intimate parts. You see, his throbbing erection or her wet, slick soft skin is acceptable, but please do not use euphemisms like her Secret Garden, Tunnel of Love or his Man Meat or Magic Wand. Unless you're trying to be funny, AVOID it at all cost. Do not use the direct word of penis and vagina, it kills the buzz in the erotic feelings. As a rule, it is better not to mention it frequently as  the readers know how sex is done and part of the anatomy will be used.
However, adding humour in sex is a big plus. Humour can merge better with sex as it is boring when one is too deep in pleasure, it feels serious and more to obligation in having sex with each other. One can add like, "You won't go soft on me, are you?","Baby, I can never go soft on you like this," he grinned like a giddy child. Make it tasteful, easing the tension and one should be enjoying the sex.

No.8: Less is more in love scenes

Love scenes should be told as it is, you do not need to be describing all the minor details, like the length, or how is her breasts, and many others. Sometimes a short love scene can be filled with erotic pleasure of two to five pages. Don't forget the foreplay, desire of each other teasing one another sometimes is hotter than humping and bumping. Making the reader feel what your character feels is what we want to achieve in writing a great love scene. 
Don't be too obsessed with the intimate parts of the body too much. We all know what they are doing and which part of the body they are using. So, get on with it and don't waste pages describing it with detail.
However, to make it long enough so it doesn't feels short, describe what they are thinking when having sex. It what makes the readers know the intentions of why and what is actually happening . Thoughts are important in knowing if the sex is for the sake of pleasure or just for fun.

No.9: Don't write sex for the sake of sex

Continuing from the main point, the sex should have meaning and purpose in having it. The purpose and reasons should be strong because one never throws away their virtue willy-nilly like that, especially women you are virgins in the story. It should be strong enough to initiate the feeling of love, pleasure and eroticism to let the hero in penetrating her, giving away a gift of her virginity. It should have the strong bond between them and that's what makes the love scene believable.

No.10: Reveal something after the love scene

Like in number 9, after the love scene, they should have reasons, feelings after their private interlude with each other. Tell the readers if the characters feels guilty, satisfied, pleasant, or downright sated from the hot sex. Admitting of loving her/him, proposal of marriage, reveal hidden emotions, or any devious schemes in having sex with him/her makes it interesting and readers will delve more into the story.

So, what I can summarise is that love scene is actually fun to do. Let your imagination go wild, but one should put a line to limit yourself in what should be written so it is believable and real. Love scenes can make or break a story. if it is bad, people will skip to the next scene, wasting paper and story. However, if it is done properly, it can make the reader delve deeper, feeling wet, hot and aching for the actions the characters are having. So, those who are interested in writing love scenes, you are welcome to read this as a guide in making one hot, sexy story. if you would like to share me some of the stories, I'd like to read them. I won't be criticizing coz I'm also an amateur in writing it. I'd like to learn more in how to write the love scenes it can make any women melt while reading it. Heh, I'll be back another time, folks. Keep it real, and goodbye. May we meet again for another long, useful entry, awright? Cheers...