As per the norm (and not F the norm per RATM), we have a very informative post at I Are Writer! that covers some actual progress on my short story quad-logy. Which is something that you might want to check out. Because...it's...the...return...of...
The Disclaimer (think Jello Biafra or John Mayer's voice reading these lines): Today's post contains some semi-frank talk about sexual situations et. al. and very little in the way of inappropriate language. If this kind of thing makes you feel a tiny bit woozy or more probably, slightly uncomfortable, please don't click on the "read more" link. Instead, click on the Tumblr post up yonder.
As you've probably surmised from the bulky post title (because I have faith in my super-smart and highly intelligent readers) as well as the disclaimer (when was the last time I dug that out?), today's post is about sex. Or rather, writing about sex (yes, those who can, do. those who can't, write).
For me, it's becoming less trickier but slightly more challenging writing sexual situations in stories. Now I'm sure you're wondering just how something can be less trickier and more challenging at the same time. Well, let me elaborate just a little bit on this thought.
Less trickier in that I now know when I can/should write a sexual situation into a given scene. I don't just throw one it to break up the monotony of the day or because I'm stuck so hey, let's have the two MC's do the bedroom bop for a page or two until I can come up with something better. While that may work if I was writing an adult movie screenplay (sure I can), and the dialogue/plot is seriously secondary to the various bedroom bops happening in the house/pool/yard, it does not work for a good story.
It also means that I'm starting to get the hang of writing the sexual situation based on the emotional interplay at that particular juncture of the story. In other words, if the two MC's are getting ready to go on their honeymoon, they may have some verbal/physical interplay that may or may not escalate to the point of doing a bop. So I tailor my writing accordingly (Ya'll got a good imagination, so I'm not going to elaborate in minute details).
In regards to more challenging, there is a fine line between writing a good sexual situation and writing hardcore. For those who have been reading my ramblings for years, you know that this has been an issue I've struggled with from time to time. Many has been the time where I would get on a roll writing a scene and a hour later I would wind up with something extremely hardcore as well as improbable.
Even though I can still write hardcore, it's always tempered with a series of questions that start with: "can this be comfortably done in the real world?" Which means that whenever I'm writing a softcore-to-hardcore scene, I'm always applying that question to the scene. Does it work in the real world? Does it make sense? And in the case of me, where my fascination with fantasy is somewhat full blown, does it make sense with the characters I'm using? If it doesn't, then I re-write it so that it sounds/feels more probable/plausible.
I'm sure you're wondering as to why I'm touching upon this particular topic again, especially after such a long hiatus. Well, over the weekend, I did my usual chipping away at my W.i.P., and one the scenes I wrote contained a very plausible sexual scene. The entire scene (taking place inside a car) from beginning to end lasted about 1 1/4 pages, but a particular hardcore instance contained within lasted about three medium length paragraphs. It took me the better part of two hours to write it, simply because those aforementioned questions tempered what I wanted to write.
Afterwards, it got me to thinking and since I needed something to blog about, it just made sense for me to talk about it out loud. Plus, since a lot people still don't quite know what makes me tick as a writer, what better way in enlighten everyone than to talk sensibly about a three letter word that makes people, to varying degrees, uncomfortable.
So, a good question to everyone would be this: how do you feel (if you're a writer) writing about sex? If you're a reader, how do you feel about reading about it?
(c) 2016 BOOKS BY G.B. MILLER. All Rights Reserved.
Interesting. I've seen a lot of "erotica" which seemed, to me, just another name for hardcore stuff. I've never understood the difference between what you used to find in those dark, windowless adult "bookstores" dotting the highway, and Harold Robbins or Syndey Sheldon (really?! the guy who created The Brady Bunch wrote porn?!) novels. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteBut that's only me. And I can see you're trying to find that fine line between them, and deliver what's expected without falling off the cliff. And today's "romance" novels seem to be much harder core than I remember from 20 or 30 years ago, too, so maybe the line moved when I wasn't looking?
Hm.
Interesting thoughts, and I hope you find that even ground for yourself.
I'm in the same boat. I've read and reviewed some erotica that was wickedly hardcore, but it was well written. I think the key to erotica is that a story needs a viable meaty plot in order to work. No viable plot equals reading a Playboy or Penthouse from one's days of youth.
DeleteI don't pretend to think I can write erotica, because that's just not my speed. But yes, I am trying to find that fine line between getting it done and turning people off.
And yes, romance novels from our youth were definitely tamer that they are today. But also, there are different sub-genres of romance to fit everyone's sense of fulfillment.
Well, from a reader's point of view, it's like anything else -- if the sex scene is well-written, it's a pleasure to read but if it's poorly written, it's not. There's a definite art to it though and not everyone can do it well.
ReplyDeleteSo very true. Sometimes less is more, and I have struggled with exactly that over the years. It's weird, but I still have problems reading sex scenes. I'll start to read one, and if it unfolds in a decent way (not talking about cleanliness, but plot-wise), I'll continuing reading it. If it swerves, I'll skim until I get to the end. But a lot has to do with if the scene is a necessity or filler in order for me to appreciate it.
DeleteI'm definitely in the do it rather than write it camp. I struggled just adding one kissing scene to my second book.
ReplyDeleteHalf the time, the stuff they do in movies isn't even plausible - or comfortable. Smart to stick with what is actually going to work.
I think writing sexual situations, no matter what end of the spectrum you're on (clean to unclean) is a matter of personal preference. In addition to the old adage of write what you know, you also have to write what you're comfortable with. Never force yourself to write something that makes you uncomfortable unless you feel it's absolutely essential to the story.
DeleteAnd I do agree with you on that last statement. Plausible and comfortable goes a long way to enjoying a movie. Which is funny, since I enjoy watching movies on the Hallmark channel.
I've been thinking about doing an "adult" SF book, which would have sex in it. who knows when I might get the time to work on it.
ReplyDeleteI've been writing adult fiction for so long that I would have difficulty in writing "clean" stuff.
DeleteThat being said, time is the bane of every writer's existence. You may have to write it piecemeal, just like I do with mine.
I hate trying to write about actual sex because I think I've read all the things I can think of writing for metaphors, verbs, or nouns- so it seems un-original to me. So I avoid that tricky thing you are getting better at! Movies sex-scenes also seem un-original to me, besides new actors, n all who write these are faced with such challenge....
ReplyDeleteI used metaphors for a lot of the sex scenes that I write, but now I've been using mostly the clean versions of certain things. Being my age, you really can't use the terms that are used by the younger generation.
DeleteI don't mind if it's written into a story, but I don't particularly want the explicit details, preferring to let my imagination take over. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't argue with that logic.
DeleteI do a lot of YA writing, so sex scenes is out of the question for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could do any YA writing 'cause my brain is hardwired for sex. Soft, hard and anything in between, I have serious issues in writing a story that has no element thereof.
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