Let's Write about SEX ©
by Melissa Schroeder

So you want to write sensual stories? You want to write full-blown love scenes but you don't know where to start? Or maybe, you've written one and it is, well, mechanical?

I think if you are having problems writing the scene there are three main things you can do to work it better.

Engage the Senses - Making love isn't just about fitting tab A into slot B. It is so much more than that. It is the feel of the skin, the scents, the taste. Engage all five senses, and don't hesitate to let the reader know how they are feeling as they go about the process. Not just their arousal, but also their hearts and minds. All these combine to make enhance the experience for the reader.

Know Your Characters - Recently, I was having trouble writing a love scene. It is one of the most explicit scenes I've written and I thought that was why I was having problems with it. But, as I stepped back and worked on a Character Worksheet, I realized that I wasn't letting the hero have his say. Said hero is always in control and one of the sticking points in the relationship. So, I had to let him take control and let it get a little raunchy, especially with his comments. Know if you character likes to have her ear nibbled, or if the hero really enjoys being surprised in bed. Knowing them inside and out will help your show the reader what they are feeling, seeing and thinking during the whole experience.

Are You Pushing It? - And not in a good way. Maybe your characters are not ready for what you think they are. Sometimes, we have ideas on how you want a book to work and push your characters around. I've done this on occasion with disastrous results. You need to let your characters decide when they are ready for sex. Also, did you build the tension? Sexual tension before, during, and after sex is an important part of writing a love scene. Maybe the tension leading up to the scene just wasn't high enough. Without it the reader will feel cheated and your characters look cheap.

Writing explicit love scenes is not for anyone. I can't write sweet romances because my characters don't want them. But, if you want to write explicit scenes, but are having problems, try these three things to help. Good writing makes for good sex and great enjoyment for the reader.

Also check out the following websites as I found them very helpful when I first started writing love scenes.

Charlotte Dillon - everything a reader needs to work out a scene. ESP the character worksheets.

Linda Howard's 12 Steps to Intimacy- (a beginner's starting point to understanding sexual tension and how to use it in writing).

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