Of course, weather isn’t the only heat factor romance writers are
familiar with. When it comes to romantic love, sexual encounters tend to
come with the territory. Quite a few books in this genre have been known to make
a reader blush straight to her roots!
Other times, our stories can be a slow burn with lots of
anticipation before things get really steamy.
Romance novels can run the gamut, from sweet to sizzling and
everything in between. As an avid reader of romance, I’m happy to read all
levels of intimacy. However, as a writer, it became a real consideration – just how
far did I want to go and how much detail did I want to get into?
Full disclosure: It wasn’t the first time I had tried my hand at
a little “risqué” writing. When my husband and I first started dating, I ended
up moving to Bangkok, Thailand for six months. One of the BEST things about
getting together long-distance is that everything has to be spelled out and you
can’t rely on chemistry to do your communicating for you.
On the other hand, one of the WORST things about getting together long-distance
is that everything has to be spelled out and you can’t rely on chemistry to do
your communicating for you. Let’s just say there were some pretty racy e-mails
exchanged between the two of us during those six months of separation.
(And yes, I did print those communications out and save them!)
But writing for a larger, public audience is different than
writing personal love letters to your significant other. I still remember when I sat down to write my first sex scene. I’m a coffee shop writer and
at the time it was my habit to write at my local Starbucks. Every day for hours
on end, I would sit at my favorite table – the one right next to an outlet –
and write.
Yet, when it came time to write my first hot and heavy sex
scene…I couldn’t do it! The café felt too public. I became hyper-aware of the
man sitting next to me working on a spreadsheet, or the young mother and her child at the condiment
station, or the business meeting happening at the community table across the way.
I felt too exposed.
After about forty-five minutes of halted, self-conscious writing,
I closed my laptop, packed up my stuff, and headed home. There, sitting alone at my dining
room table, I was finally able to write that first sex scene.
 |
| Warning: These books contain suspense that sizzles! |
If you'd like to see what I'm talking about, check out my books, Secret Hunger or Secret Need. They're both available on Amazon.
How about you? As a reader, what level of heat do you like in your romance novels? Let me know in the comments!
Speaking of hot, don't forget to enter our July Contest featuring Beach Reads and Book Boyfriends. You can find all the details on our Monthly Giveaway page.
I read all different levels of sex scenes. I mix up a lot of my reading. Glad you found your spot to write your characters' scenes. There's no place like home.
ReplyDeleteI like mixing up my scenes, as well. Although, I'm not nearly as shy as I used to be about writing them!
DeleteI love your story about your first sex scene! I swear every one I ever wrote was that difficult for me. It was a relief for me when I started writing sweet romance. Writing the tension is fun for me--not the act itself. It's so nice there's room in the genre for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI do love that there's room for all heat levels in romance, but I'll admit I really enjoy writing the sexy scenes!
Delete"I couldn’t do it! The café felt too public. I became hyper-aware"
ReplyDeleteI am the same way! But instead of writing, replace that with reading.
It's like when you're having a conversation with someone in public...people can overhear or read over what you've written. In this case, glance over at the hot and heavy passage on my screen. These days, the fonts are just so big...lol.
Hahaha! I always wonder if my blushing will give me away when I'm reading or writing a hot scene. Whew! *fans self*
DeleteI felt the same way. I thought everyone could see what I was writing! I thought they could tell by my face, too. Now they are pretty easy and flow well. I really like switching up the scenes, time, place, events leading up to it, etc. for my characters. I never know how it will happen for them until I really get to know them. Thanks for sharing your story, and it's so cute how you and your husband communicated while y'all were separated.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it at the time, but I think having to communicate long-distance right after becoming a couple was probably one of the best things for our relationship. Well, that and he was my best guy friend for years before we became romantically involved. (A true friends-to-lovers love story!)
DeleteWhen I write sex, it’s about so much more: character development, extra conflict, plot changes like any other scene, a sex scene needs to belong and work hard to earn its place. It’s never just sex. My early ones were written with little kids at my knee...writing in a cafe was impossible. Maybe that’s why I lost all inhibitions...my audience couldn’t read yet!
ReplyDeleteOh, I completely agree. Sex should be an extension of the story and plot. I like to write my scenes hot, but really make my characters earn it first!
DeleteI can see how having little ones at your knee could make ANY writing a challenge. I really admire the fact that you could do that.
Some authors don't have their Facebook pages set up where we can like or follow them but I visited. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by the blog today, Nancy!
DeleteI always feel my characters are growing and learning about themselves constantly. Intimacy on all levels is part of that journey.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more, Kathleen.
DeleteI can't write in public. I'm too 'look a squirrel' to ever get anything done. My eyes would be ping ponging all over the place people watching. I'm like you in regard to heat. I will read books without it and read books with tons. Often if I've read too many steamy books in a row, I look for a sweet one to read next. It's a nice break. And I write detailed steam in my books ( most of them) but yes, the characters have to work for it. There has to be LOTS of sexual tension first to build up to that moment when they give themselves to each other fully!!
ReplyDeleteHeck, the sexual tension is half the fun! It's amazing how often my couples get "interrupted." *evil laugh*
DeleteI can't write in public, has to be at home by myself. My husband always teases me about the sex scenes in my books, LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm an extroverted, social kind of person. My best writing is at a coffee shop with my headphones in playing light, downtempo music. (Nothing with lyric.)
DeleteI always think of sex as the way Mae West described it: It's an emotion in motion." I even used that quote to preface a chapter in my book Old Enough to Know Better. (Each chapter begins with a quote that's a foreshadow of what the chapter's about.) If characters are having sex, then the reader must know that it's more than sex whether the characters know it or not.
ReplyDelete"Emotion in motion." What a great quote. I like that!
DeleteI love that quote Joan! Gonna use it thanks to Mae West.
ReplyDeleteI don't pick my books by the level of sex. I look for a great story. Any level of heat is fine - it's the characters I care about.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete?m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that?s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the issue is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this.
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Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
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