Seduction

bigmal said:

Could anyone give me pointers on writing a good seduction scene?What do reader's like ?

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I fear that you won't get any consensus on this. The problem is that erotica isn't one genre but a whole series of subgenres that fit the stunning variety of human kinks.

To one reader, a seduction consists of physically capturing a woman (or man), tying her/im up and taking a whip to them, in which case the bottom partner falls instantly in love.

To another, there is a two-sided dance around the mutual desire to have sex, but the awkwardness of communication prolongs the final approach to sex for hours or weeks or even years.

In another, one partner approaches an uninterested or even hostile other, wins them over, and they naturally move on to sex.

And so on, for about 40 different seduction scenarios. These should grow naturally out of your characters.

The seduction scene is the heart and soul of erotica. The actual sex is basically Tab A in Slot B, and gets dull fast.

Well said Dangerous Bill.

May I just offer one word: anticipation.

KW

Readers have a variety of tastes. The best advice would be to read novels with seduction scenes similar to what you want to write, depending on your own tastes and what you think the readers you want to appeal to would want. Or if you're not sure, check out a variety of titles.

I agree that it varies a lot by erotica subgenre and reader taste. But maybe it will help if I describe the dynamics of a few seduction scenes, the motives and scene structure might be convertible from one subgenre to another.

Character A the seducer: Character A wants character B. They have in a previous scene thought about their appreciation for B's body. A should also have admired something non-physical about B - B might be a champion at some sport, or an artist, or unusually honest, or unusually kind, or great with kids, or helped A out, etc. A should also have felt sympathy for B due to some suffering on B's part - perhaps a third character verbally abused B, or B was injured, or worked themself ragged to accomplish a goal they cared about, or can't spend money on fun things because it all goes to a relative's medical bills, etc.

Once those three things have been done to establish A's desire for B as something deep, then A has to decide what to do about it. Seduction is only one option, so if you want seduction specifically then it has to be appropriate to the situation and the two characters' personalities. For example, if A was a social butterfly who was not assertive, A would probably not attempt seduction but instead either tell a friend they liked B (expecting for the message to be carried to B) or ask one of B's friends if they thought B might be interested in them.

If A is someone who is confident in their mind or wealth/power but not their body, they are not going to try for a physical seduction, but will instead write love letters or offer gifts and favors. If A is timid they may play secret admirer, while if A is aggressive they will present gifts in person or with signed cards, and probably go for ostentatious gifts like a flood of roses or a sports car. Vice-versa, if A is confident in their body but not their mind or personality, they may be afraid to express their desire verbally and instead will do something like posing in a skimpy swimsuit or arranging for B to 'accidentally' see them underdressed. If A has experience with sex but has never really been loved, they will again take a physical approach, probably with a lot of touching involved, and maybe some verbal innuendos or a flat-out invitation to sex, they will only shy away from saying anything that actually reveals their emotions.

In a subgenere where dominance and submission are an issue, the act of seduction will generally be aligned with whichever of these A is offering B. If A is dominant, A might express jealousy of B spending time with 'rivals' and express possessiveness of B, authority over B, or protectiveness of B, depending on the flavor of the d/s dynamic. If A is submissive A is likely to offer help, gifts, compliments (especially trying to get others to agree that B is great), and A may be self-sacrificing to help B's goals or if an enemy tests A's loyalty to B. (The major exception to this is if A is submissive but trying to act dominant because they think B will like that better, or if A is dominant but trying to act submissive ditto ditto. Typically this attempt to present a false face should fail in an endearing way that reveals that B really prefers A's true self.)

What sort of seduction scene and how does it fit into the overall plot?

Genre? because in terms of romance that is a tricky one. He would have to do something to change her mind, not just get her physically aroused.

Him changing her mind ---> Seduction.

The pressure, then consideration, then growing excitement/nervousness/fear on her part would be a good tension buildup if done right.

bigmal said:

A man and a woman are dating,and return from a night out.The female is friendly to the male,but gives no sign that she is sexually interested in him.He,however,is very sexually interested in her.

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How I would handle it (in fiction): (assumes she's just being cautious and isn't pathologically afraid or hostile to sex)

He'd keep cool, but indicate that he's reluctant to leave, even though she does not invite him in.
Invite her somewhere public for a cup of coffee.
She has to get up in the morning. Too bad.
He calls her next day and flowers arrive at her home/workplace.
Now he does nothing for two days, then calls up and asks her out again.

Repeat as needed until she caves it, but move from flowers to handwritten note to personalized poetry.

My characters are nothing if not patient. Haste is the enemy of seduction. (In RL, I'd get all peevish and mean.)

Sometimes seduction comes from doing the unexpected. Things aren't going well, a sudden change of strategy. Complete honesty? Humor? Self-deprication? Setting up a rolepay of her most secret desire?

To change someone's mind you have to change what you do. From hesitant to forceful. From forceful to emotive. From suave to uncertain...