Writing Sex
- Thread starter gothicangel
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Okay, I could barely get through reading the first link. Are we supposed to take these seriously?
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I couldn't, so I hope the answer's no.
"Write from experience, not fantasy" -- uh oh!
-Derek
Don't worry I couldn't fix the error on the homepage (duh! proofread girl, proofread!)
Hasn't there been a few successful M&B writers (and the raunchiest) who profess to being 45 year old virgins?
Hasn't there been a few successful M&B writers (and the raunchiest) who profess to being 45 year old virgins?
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I couldn't, so I hope the answer's no.
"Write from experience, not fantasy" -- uh oh!
-Derek
Hahhaha oh god, imagine if every writer did that.
... actually, that'd be pretty sweet. The romance section would be filled with people misunderstanding each other and then (rather than making up) hating each other, having awkward sex that leads to disintegrating relationships, and thousands of dollars of therapy.
"Oh John, you're so BIG!"
"What are you trying to say? That I'm fat?"
"Write from experience, not fantasy" -- uh oh!
-Derek
So... During the sex scene characters would fall off the bed, or get runny noses midway through, or shout out the name of an ex? I thought that the purpose of a sex scene was meant to keep people reading?
I clicked on the first link and read the article; was it an April Fool's page, by any chance? It's a load of old bollocks twaddle! Do they not realise that there are actually women out here, in the real world, who love sex just for what it is, a physical pleasure and don't find writing about it difficult at all? 
Nonsense. Good grief.
ETA: I only read the first link. Can't be bothered to click on the remainder.
ETA: I only read the first link. Can't be bothered to click on the remainder.
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I clicked on the first link and read the article; was it an April Fool's page, by any chance? It's a load of oldbollockstwaddle! Do they not realise that there are actually women out here, in the real world, who love sex just for what it is, a physical pleasure and don't find writing about it difficult at all?
Nonsense. Women do not have orgasms, and men are all patriarchal misogynists!
Where do people like the author come from, anyway? Time-travellers from the 18th century?
Writing about sex, as a woman?
It's not hard!
This has been SP's first, last and only post in this thread.
It's not hard!
This has been SP's first, last and only post in this thread.
An incidental question - what percentage of sex scenes do you think actually add anything substantial to a book or film?
In my experience probably less than 1%. I can only think of Fatal Attraction and even that's arguable.
Any other form of pointless padding tends to get slammed but not sex scenes - curious.
In my experience probably less than 1%. I can only think of Fatal Attraction and even that's arguable.
Any other form of pointless padding tends to get slammed but not sex scenes - curious.
You think that less than 1% of sex scenes advance the story or reveal character?
Wow.
(Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't post in this thread again but I couldn't let that one drop).
Wow.
(Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't post in this thread again but I couldn't let that one drop).
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Can we turn this around and make it into a non-crappy thread? Maybe!
Very much agreed. There's nothing more jarring for me than a disjointed sex scene. I'm all dug into the story... and suddenly the characters land in bed. Often with minimal segue (James Bond, anyone?) And indeed, it rarely advances the plot. Maybe not 1%, but more seldom than often.
Why do many authors do this? A form of fan service? Do most readers want their heroes to not just solve the mystery and beat the baddie but also watch them getting it on?
Very much agreed. There's nothing more jarring for me than a disjointed sex scene. I'm all dug into the story... and suddenly the characters land in bed. Often with minimal segue (James Bond, anyone?) And indeed, it rarely advances the plot. Maybe not 1%, but more seldom than often.
Why do many authors do this? A form of fan service? Do most readers want their heroes to not just solve the mystery and beat the baddie but also watch them getting it on?
Yes, sex scenes may reveal character but so does how people cook, or how they shave, or how they drive their car; authors don't tend to spend pages writing about these everyday functions.
Edit:
Especially how they drive.
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I can see this turning into another "I swear 'cause I keep it real!" vs. "I don't swear because I'm a puritan!" thread.
There is nothing inherently wrong with writing sex scenes.
It's GRATUITOUS writing - whether it be sex, swearing, driving, shaving, eating or what have you - that should be edited out.
If sex, swearing, driving, shaving or eating advance the plot, I write it. I'm not that touchy about people bumping uglies.
There is nothing inherently wrong with writing sex scenes.
It's GRATUITOUS writing - whether it be sex, swearing, driving, shaving, eating or what have you - that should be edited out.
If sex, swearing, driving, shaving or eating advance the plot, I write it. I'm not that touchy about people bumping uglies.
We must have different experiences.
I can think of plenty of books in which the sex scenes -- detailed and not -- have a huge impact on how the story plays out, beginning with Gone With the Wind and ending with just about every romance I've ever read. Or written.
Have some of those sex scenes been padding? Sure. But I tend to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume he or she included them for a good reason.
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Ha, and I was going to ask if the opening paragraph was outright offensive to SP:
"Women think that the Kama Sutra is an Indian takeaway. We are just not fluent in body language. Nor do we have the gift of the grab."
Seems the author would believe all women throw like a girl, as well.
Without the sex scenes Species would have been a really terrible film. As it is, it's just a terrible film.
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