Hello! I'm a new writer on Lush. I've posted a story and it's mostly set up for a series. I've struggled writing the short Oral sex scene and I'm struggling currently writing sex scenes for the next story. What's something that you do to ensure your sex scenes don't sound like writing a manual?
I'm not great at them either. I tend to focus more on characters and situation. If you can build up the sexual tension enough in a story, it will carry readers through a not-great-but-okay sex scene. The other tip is try not to over-describe what's happening. Take a minimalist approach to the sex. Take care in selecting just the right details, but only enough to sketch what's happening, and trust readers to fill in the blanks themselves - they will, and in their mind it will probably be 100 times hotter than anything you or I could describe in text.
Post-avant-retro-demelodicized-electro-yodel-core is my jam.
I figure I'll weigh in here, not because I'm an expert on sex scenes, but because I'm still new around here and I've been thinking a bit about this recently. It might help me as well if I put my thoughts into words...
I guess my first thought is that how the scene plays out should depend on the characters. What sort of sex would they have? What might the two (or more) of them each like to do?
And two of the main advantages of writing over movies are that you can say something about all the senses, and that you can describe what at least one of the characters is thinking and/or feeling. So let us inside their head a bit. This is true in general, but also applies for sex scenes.
Then the next question is what is the narrator going to focus on? As Just_A_Guy says, a bit of "less is more" can work well. Don't try to describe every second of the act, just some broad brushstrokes of what appealed most to the narrator e.g. (assuming it's a male narrator) would this particular guy focus more on the feelings of love for his partner, or more on the way her boobs bounce while she's riding him? But balance it out a bit - not too many sentences on bouncing boobs!
Then my last thought is to read some of the great authors on Lush, and figure out how they do it (check out the "favourite author" or "favourite story" threads, and go from there). If the story does it well, then you may need to read it again to try to figure out why it works (since you may be distracted a little the first time through...) Then try not to get disheartened if your story doesn't seem as good as theirs...just try to get a bit better each time.
And hopefully some of those great authors might add their thoughts here too...
Further to what Phil said, check out some of Sprite's stories, particularly her Butterfly Beach and Mrs Vandermeer's Rules series. Be warned, she goes a little offroad, but the sex scenes themselves are truly amazing. Vivid, sensual, and wildly arousing.
Contextualise your sex in good plot and character development. Build up to it, increasing the tension as you go. Broadly outline the act itself with stage direction and mechanics so the reader knows what's happening. Then focus on a few tiny details here and there to bring the imagery to life in the reader's mind. For example, the soft depressions in her skin as he traces his fingers up her inner thigh. Colour is powerful, as too are other scences, such as touch, smell and taste.
The trick is in finding the right balance. You're trying to prompt the reader's imagination, not do their thinking for them. Similarly, you don't want to leave them wanting.
Finally, emotion is perhaps the best, and hardest, element to convey in a good sex scene. Describe how at least one of the characters feels lust, longing, anticipation, nervousness, excitement, exhilaration, passion, love, satisfaction, and/or contentment or possibly regret throughout the scene. It's a journey through the emotions just as much as getting off. Again, the trick here is in being subtle. Weave it in. Show, don't tell. What you leave out is just as important as what you leave in.
Good luck.
My latest story is a racy little piece about what happens when someone cute from work invites you over to watch Netflix and Chill. One word: Relax. Writers like Sprite are not trying to be impressive, they are concentrating on telling a great story. Telling sex is no differrent. My advice is simply based on my own personal preferences, as I'm sure everyone's is. When I read other writers, I know when they are trying too hard to be "sexy"--rushing it or they have what I label "porn envy". Relax and concentrate on your characters, not on you or your readers. Sex is unique to the individual, if you have created an interesting character (and have at least fully developed them in your head) the scene is going to reveal itself. Let them do and go after what develops and strengthens the story. Other than that, the same writing goals apply as with the entire work, "show don't tell," etc... Don't chase readers by creating what you feel will be popular. I generally find those obvious, amusingly awkward and predictable as a reader. But, like I share on my bio, if you're looking for a quick stroke then I'm not your writer. I'm writing stories highlighted by the sex, not just concentrating on the sex. If your goal is stroke lit, my advice probably won't work. The response to my erotic scenes are pretty good. A lot of readers say that it felt real or like they were actually experiencing the scene. That's what I enjoy when I read and therefore my goal when I write. Of course I want to do better, so threads like this are wonderful. I enjoy seeing what works for others.
Just write what comes 'natural" and what you think those characters would do. If you over think it, then it will definitely show and readers will "fast forward" through the scene.
I've only written one story but I think the above comments about writing what comes naturally - whether that's to you or your characters is pretty spot on. I have said FOREVER - "I can't write a story because I can't for the life of me articulate the sex scenes". Turns out I really had to worry less about writing sex scenes and worry more about writing stories, because the sex came naturally to everything else that had developed in my head. I had ideas and I would jot them down but it took me a long time to come to a place where I could actually put it together. When I did I wrote my story start to finish in less than 36 hours because I had developed the 'characters', the emotions, the sex, the feelings in my mind for so long, that once I had a 'lightbulb moment' it really worked for me.
Like avrgblkgrl highlights (who is an amazing, AMAZING writer) you have to decide what your goals are for the piece. Erotic story telling or pure smut? I admire writers who write about stories and draw you in by creating a reality of the spectrum of emotions, and highlight with sex. Yes, I expect a story to evoke feelings of arousal, but I prefer the subtleties I see in writing like this. I hope that's what I was able to create in my own story and those going forward.
I agree with the others in saying that you should relax and let the characters take over. Having a sense memory of various sexual activity will help you describe what they are doing and feeling. Let the scene build as arousal would build and intensify and then climax (pun intended).
One thing that is an immediate turn off is what we call the laundry list to physically describe your characters, especially if it is very unrealistic. For example: She was a slim 5'6" blue-eyed blonde with long hair, 38DD boobs and shaved pubes. He was tall, dark and muscular, and his penis was at least 8 inches before arousal.
I would let the details of the characters' appearance come out slowly in the story or as they are having sex. Avoiding impossible bodies, like a facsimile of a Barbie doll for a female character is also wise. You want to write about people who are believable, not cartoon characters.
Nice thread.
I would add: use dialogue. Not only is talking dirty really hot, but it's fun too, and it keeps the pace fast and light. You don't get bogged down in all the details of describing what's happening.
You can also use dialogue to add description and characterization and exposition, without having to write a big chunky paragraphs.
Dialogue is the Swiss Arny Knife of writing!
When it comes to sex I write what I know and have experienced. I get into character. It should not be clinical nor should it sound like your describing a suspect to the police. Your descriptions of the characters should evolve rather slowly into the scene. And some vagueness is good, let the reader build their own image from the aura of the scene you create.
If you're like me, there is a lot of talking and noise during sex. Dirty talk and taunting makes sex that much hotter. Great sex should make you sweat even in frigid temperatures. Make a scene with action that the reader can taste and feel as well as hear in their head.
I write them when I'm horny. If I get more turned on when writing it then I think I am on the right track. Never had any complaints about my sex scenes.
