Monday 22 April 2013

S is for Sex scenes (in romance novels)




Back in college  my friend, and book pimp, grabbed the book I was holding and shrieked, “Nana?!” as only she can. I kid you not, my face went red (look at my profile pic and see why this is so amazing), at least I felt like my face was on fire. I took it in stride and told her I had graduated.  For the longest time I only read sweet romance novels, everywhere I went a white covered Harlequin book was with me. One day I picked up a red covered Harlequin book and oh my my. I was hooked.


            These days I read both Sweet and Spicy romances, but I write sweet romances. I love the anticipation that comes before a couple has sex and you find this all throughout a sweet story to the very end.       
            I once worked at a job where one day this man and woman noticed each other. It was like their attraction was instantaneous. For a few days they were sizzling with the attraction. Glances, accidental touches, softly spoken words, it was enough to make a person vomit. One day they came in and nothing. We all knew they’d had sex. The sizzle that they shared was gone.
            This is usually what happens to me after reading a sex scene. The characters are still attracted to each other, and the heat level has gone up. But that innocent flirting has been replaced. Very few writers can bring it back, so I prefer to keep it there and never let it go.
            For everything there is a season, a time for spicy and a time for sweet.


20 comments:

  1. I prefer the 'sweet' as you describe it. I don't need the 'spice' in my stories.

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    1. For me it depends on the book and sometimes my mood.

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  2. That's why I loved the book, Twilight. Sweet untouchable attraction. Enough to make you feel the sizzle and wait for the first kiss.

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    1. I like your description Cathy, sweet untouchable attraction. Nice.

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  3. Hmm. That's a tricky choice. I think I like both. I tend to write somewhere in between. There is sex, but usually towards the end of the book. I think though, that there's still plenty of room for spice after sex, so long as it's written well!

    Rinelle Grey

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  4. SEX! For sure...It's fun to write, but hard - no pun intended - and fun to read :)

    Debbie

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  5. I'm with Debbie. I prefer sexy romance. When it is written well, the sexual tension remains right to the end of the story. That's the way I write mine. :)

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    1. I almost mention you in this post Kiru. You are one of the few that can keep the sweet sizzling attraction (as Cathrina said) going til the end of the book, even after a sex scene.

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  6. In my mind, the trick is maintaining the sense of uncertainty. Will the couple have a HEA? Regardless of whether they have sex in Ch 1 or hold out for a hard-earned kiss at the end, there needs to be at least a possibility that they WON'T end up together. The energy from that conflict (will they or won't they) drives the story along.
    Which doesn't really answer your question, exactly, but it's something I've been thinking about lately. I generally lean towards spicy in my reading and sweet in my writing.

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    1. That uncertainty is what drives the story and keeps us reading, even though in a romance we know the HEA is guaranteed, otherwise I'm getting my money back.

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  7. For me it depends on the genre, in YA, yes I want sweet, a build up to that first kiss. But in my PNR I want way HOT and written with taste :) and after I definitely think the author should keep up the sexual attraction between H/h even once the deed is done :)

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    1. That's because you write HOT romance scenes.

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  8. I love sex of course (in romance, or real life), but the trick is not to overdo it. Many BDSM and erotic romance are sex scene after sex scene and no plot to it. After about third scene, I'm done. No matter the location, the position, the toys used, it's still sex and we read nothing but until now. Isn't there anything else for the characters to do? Where's this book going? How did they change through the sexual experience? Did they let go of their fears, did they live up their fantasies? And even biggest trick is how to keep the couple still wanting more of each other after that first intercourse? Was it everything they dream it would be? Was it better and it only wet their appetite? Usually has to be mind blowing so that they can starve for each other and their next one, is going to be the fireworks. Hopefully at least. I haven't read many YA but some are pretty daring and thread a fine line between being innocent or a slut. Guys being more of a studs turning the girls slutty.

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    1. I am smiling Zrinka. You have a definite opinion on the subject and I totally agree with it. Write on lady, write on!

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  9. Hi nana, I like all kinds of books, I'm a big fan of jackie Collins! Not read harlequin though, I might check them out.

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    1. You may gasp and blacklist me, but I have never read Jackie Collins or Danielle Steele. One day I will have to read at least one of their books, just to say that I did it.

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  10. I like both, so long as the scenes are written with some passion to keep the fire burning till the end.

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    1. You are right Celestine, passion is important for all romance novels.

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