The Plotmonkeys are VERY excited to have Jaci Burton, a frequent Plotmonkey visitor herself, come by to do a Saturday workshop on…well, love scenes! I mean…if someone is more qualified to tackle this subject, I don’t know who it is! Jaci is a fabulous writer of the sexy stuff…and a wonderfully warm woman. We’re so pleased to have her here!
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Anatomy of a Sex Scene
By Jaci Burton
Have you ever read one of THOSE love scenes? You know the kind I’m talking about. Groping and gasping and body parts and genitalia flinging everywhere. And then they did this and he did that to her and she did this to him and insert Peg A into Slot B and oooh and ahhh and boom they’re done.
If you’re reading a book and the author has been teasing you with nonstop sexual tension and this is the love scene you’ve waited 300 pages for, are you going to be pissed or what? I would be.
Why? Because it doesn’t convey anything about the characters. There’s no depth to it. You have no idea what’s going on in the character’s heads, what’s going on around them in the scene. You can’t FEEL that kind of love scene.
So when you are plotting your love scenes, how can you avoid the standard sex scene clichés? Boring narrative anatomy lessons that drone on and on and on with nothing but tangled body parts and purple prose? Total snore fest that won’t get your book noticed.
Sex scenes are very difficult to write. Not just because for some they’re uncomfortable to think about writing, about conveying the most intimate act to the written word, but because you’re trying to impart everything emotional and sexual about your characters to the page. I’ve written hundreds of them. And I still angst every time I approach the love scene. To me, they’re the most difficult part of the book. Frankly, I’d rather blow things up than write sex. Love scenes are damned difficult to put together. Why? Because they lay open the characters, physically and emotionally and it takes a long time to write the scene. It’s like an autopsy. This is where your characters are at their most vulnerable, where they give their hearts as well as their bodies to the one person who can hurt them the most. This is the scene the reader is counting on. Fail at this, let them down, and they’ll never forgive you. Pressure? Yeah, a little. It’s a huge undertaking for a writer and they just aren’t easy.
Ever skim over a love scene when you’re reading? Or worse, yawn your way through it or roll your eyes? Chances are, when you have, the author didn’t see love scenes as an integral part of the book, but a “necessary evil”. Or even worse, they put one in for shock value. Love scenes can be as sexy, emotional, funny or angst-ridden as you want. With a little thought, planning, a deep breath and determination, you can write great love scenes–and have fun!
In my opinion, love scenes are an extension of the hero/heroine relationship. Just as the reader wants the details of their arguments and the resolution, so too do they want the details of their lovemaking. This is one of the most intimate, honest exchanges the reader will see between them. Keep that in mind when you’re wishing you could cut it short or fade to black or aren’t sure what to say other than, “And then they made love.” You can certainly do that, but if you want to write sex, then there’s a right way and a wrong way.
What you don’t want to do is write a sex scene that’s dull, flat and filled with clichés and purple prose and euphemisms. My best advice – read what publishers are buying. Figure out what your target market is, and read those books. If you want to write a single title paranormal with sex in it, then buy what’s releasing right now. Check out the publishers you want to target, or the clients of the agent you want to represent you. Find out how hot (or not) the sex scenes are in those books.
If your target is category romance, buy the current lines and check out the sex. Same with romantic comedy or romantic suspense. It’s a great way to find out what level of sensuality is being published.
Then use what you read and tailor your sex scene to fit those guidelines.
If it’s hot, then write hot. If it’s mild, write mild. But always write within your own personal comfort zone. Step outside that zone and it’ll show. I think all writers should try to push their creative muscles, but not with sex. It’s too personal. And if you’re not comfortable writing hot sex, it’ll show in your book. You don’t want awkward sex scenes. You want sex scenes with rhythm, flow, and passion. Even mild sex scenes can have emotion and passion if written well. You don’t need to write erotic to have a great sex scene. You just need to tap into your characters’ emotions and have the sex scene fit the story. Always be true to yourself and your own capabilities, including your own limitations. That’s why reading is so important. Some great authors write rockin’ sex scenes that show very little, yet convey so very much. Do your research!
That being said, I also believe that too often writers confuse sex scenes with graphic erotic scenes. It doesn’t have to be that way at all. You can write a smoking hot sex scene without ever using THOSE words or getting down and dirty, so to speak.
Just like in real life – sex can be fun, it can be awkward as hell. It can be wild and crazy, it can be emotional and poignant. Your heroine may cry, both your characters might laugh. Let your characters and their personalities dictate the scene. Always be true to them.
There is no hard and fast ‘rule’ about love scenes. There are no magic formulas. This is your book. Your characters and the love scenes should be yours to write in any way that feels ‘true’ to you and your voice.
Remember that sex isn’t just physical, nor should your sex scene be. It’s about the emotion, about bringing all the senses into the scene. Sex scenes are an integral part of romance and when you plot your book they should be planned accordingly. They’re important. Drag out the emotion as well as the physical and bring your reader along for the ride. Nothing is more gratifying than a love scene that really pays off, emotionally as well as physically.
I’m talking about Christmas trees – is yours real or fake? 
mastree:
But I’m so ready for a new (fake) tree. And this time, I want one with all the lights ATTACHED to it, so that will eliminate one less hassle of having to string lights on the tree. :santahat: 
It’s so much different than my last two Wilde covers (see to the right on the sidebar for the cover of BORN TO BE WILDE to compare!), that I thought I’d ask your thoughts and opinions on my latest cover. This book is for my “spin-off” series about the military guys introduced in Joel Wilde’s story. Here it is:
