I'm a new member of the Romance Gems. I write the Fortune Bay Series, which is small town contemporary romance.
Before we get down to the art of writing sexual tension...
The Romance Gems Launch month is drawing to a close next week - has it ever gone fast! I want to remind you to -
enter our RAFFLECOPTER DRAW for a chance at a Kindle Fire or one of six ebook bundles from our wonderful authors!
Also, remember our weekly COMMENT TO WIN promotion! Be entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card just for commenting on this or any other Romance Gems post! Remember, when posting a comment, leave your email address written out like this: LuckyReader at gmail dot com in order to avoid those dratted email harvesters.
Now, back to writing sexual tension...
For me, part of the fun of writing romance is writing scenes that shimmer with sexual tension. Think of TV shows where the couple is hot together, sometimes for years, and as a watcher you're thinking, “Just kiss her already!”
And when he doesn’t – you’re definitely there for the next episode!
Like Ross and Rachel. Sure, they got together, but never for long. And we didn’t need hot and heavy onscreen sex to feel their longing.
The buildup is usually more fun for the viewer than what happens after the kiss. Often, that basically spells the end of the series.
I went looking for the scene of their first kiss and at first, the only gif I could find of that first-kiss moment was just - the kiss.
via GIPHY
Without the scene that leads up to it, it’s just a kiss. Compare it to the whole scene – actually, there's a 30 episode lead-up, but in this scene they fight, he storms out, she slams the door and locks it. Then,
Now that’s a kiss!
Same kiss, but so much more powerful with the lead up - and we didn't even watch the whole scene! (If you want to see it all, the link is at the end of this post.)
More than down and dirty sex, I like to read - and write - sexual tension.
Click here to read a Sample of Sexual Tension in the first novel of the Fortune Bay Series, Summer of Fortune. (Scroll down on my web page to read the excerpt.)
And you'll find Summer of Fortune FREE on all online book stores!
What TV couple do you remember who really kept the tension running? I'd love to hear your ideas. Adding your comments below will automatically enter you in the February Blog Launch contest!
Thanks for joining me today. Visit me at my Website and my Facebook Page, and let's chat.
P.S. You can find the whole R&R-first-kiss-scene here on YouTube. I think you'll agree, the more build-up the better.
Anyone remember Pierce Brosnan's first starring role as Remington Steel? Can't recall who played the woman co-star, but I do recall the sexual tension. Muldaur and Scully is another tv couple. You're right. Once the couple gets together the series usually dies. Generally, I don't think TV does sexual tension nearly as well as romance novelists.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Zimbalist. Her father was Efram Zimbalist (a famous actor from the 50s and 60s).
DeleteLoved Remington Steel so much! Totally agree, Kathleen. Romance novelists do it so much better.
DeleteI did love Remington Steele! I'd forgotten it was Pierce. (Yes, we're on a first name basis.)
DeleteI agree, Romance novelists often do tension better, but TV series really know how to string it out.
OMG! Yes, love that show, Remington Steele. Another one I own on dvd and rewatch often.
DeleteThe very best sexual tension/chemistry for an on-screen couple was Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher from Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997). Not only did the Lois and Clark characters have great chemistry but she also had tension with Clark's alter ego Superman. I still watch the series from start to finish at least one time per year.
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe find a bit of inspiration? I agree. Great example.
DeleteI own this series on dvd!! Yes, they are amazing together!!
DeleteMe too Kari. My son makes fun of me for holding on to the dvds but this and The West Wing are two boxed sets I'll never part with ... no matter what.
DeleteI agree, the tension is the best part! I loved the tension and banter between Castle and Kate on the TV show Castle but it was never as good after they got together. The tension wasn't the same. I think your example from Friends is a good one.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Castle and Kate's off-screen relationship seeped into their onscreen characters. I've read she simply did not like him. Of course, that's just gossip. Who knows how true it is.
DeleteCastle was a a big favorite of mine too. In fact, that's the only type of cop show I'll watch, with a bit of fun and a bit of romantic tension.
DeleteEnjoyed your post, Judith. Love your banner image and liked illustrating with video clips. Btw, best "swept off her feet" kiss ever? The scene in BABY BOOM, an old movie starring Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard, where he grabs her and kisses her. Hilarious and oh so good.
ReplyDeleteLiterally "swept off her feet"! Funny how some scenes just stick with you.
DeleteRomance novels do the best sexual tension...but all the tv couples mentioned here were great! Let’s not forget Moonlighting with Cybil Shepherd and Bruce Willis.
ReplyDeleteThey were so young. Sigh. So were we...
ReplyDeleteI agree, sexual tension to me is hotter than sex scenes. I think many romance authors today are too let's-jump-to-sex-shall-we and don't work on the chemistry between the characters. Maybe this whole Tinder culture is to blame, I don't know - I'm too old school for my age (I'm 29).
ReplyDeleteMy contact info: adissidente [at] gmail [dot] com
Chemistry that's the word! Old-school perhaps, but isn't it what we all long for?
DeleteYaaaaay old school for the win! Yessss, I agree <3
DeleteI love that friends scene. One of my favorites. The build up is all.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
It's the one that jumped to my mind when I was writing the post. The looks say it all. Thanks for commenting and entering the contest!
DeleteLove the scene. Also they've been dealing with the tension so long I didn't expect the kiss. Great moment on TV for Romance.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Maddie and David on Moonlighting!
I so agree that sexual chemistry and tension is often way better than on the page sex. Not that I don't appreciate that to a degree but longing and desire really show the emotion better.
ReplyDeleteA few people already mentioned Moonlighting, but that's what popped into my head when I was reading this.
ReplyDeleteThere's a new show called Private Eyes where a couple is working together. They're dating other people but that just seems wrong. There's a lot of sexual tension going on between them.
The show Bones had good chemistry with Booth & Bones and it didn't end when they got together!
ReplyDeleteMsRedK at aol dot com
Casablanca. Rick and Elsa.The glances between them full of sexual tension
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Judy, and some super examples of sexual tension/buildup! Now I need to rifle through our DVD collection! One recent watch was North & South starring Richard Armitage. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post! Love that you referenced Ross and Rachel's first kiss to make your point.
ReplyDeleteI agree, half the fun is the yearning anticipation leading up to when the couple actually gets together.
I really enjoyed your post. Sexual tension is what keeps me reading a romance. It's what gives me all the feels. Will they, won't they? What happens if they do kiss? Yummy!
ReplyDeletennlight at nnlightsbookheaven dot com