Welcome to Researching For Romance Writing, a weekly meme where I feature my latest finds. Please feel free to share any links or tips you think will add to the discussion. Happy Researching!
For those new to this feature, I've listed past topics below.
Celtic Legend And Lore
History In Style: Seventeenth Century Dresses
Action Sequences MMA Style
The Claymore Sword
A Peek Into Riding Habits
Whiskey Making
Sexy Is Not About Looks
Barley Farming
Biting The Bullet
Sex, Sensuality, And More...Or Less: A Romance Writer's Investigation.
Writer's Relief posted an interesting article, Writing Sex Scenes: How Much Is Too Much? I'll hazard a guess that if you ask romance readers, you'll get a wide variety of responses. Sex and sensuality are no strangers to romance novels, it's expected within the pages of a good romance. The disparity comes when asking what constitutes 'enough' sex or sensuality. Some readers prefer great romantic tension and build up, but fade to black intimate scenes. Others prefer the same, but with the addition of a sexual scene or scenes - as the case may be. Readers of erotica want plenty of both - and more graphically depicted. Personally, I would categorize erotica as a separate sub-genre of romance, but the lines are blurred with the addition of the tag 'erotic romances', and therefore, I include erotica in my discussion, noting that I recognize the division.
Most readers I have spoken with conveyed similar sentiments. While they hold a certain personal preference, they are not opposed to more - or less - sensuality or sex provided the scenes are well written - and of course, that the story is one they enjoy. Nearly all expressed aversion to sex scenes slapped within a story simply to boast a sex scene. Sterile and clinical descriptions of the act likewise affected readers negatively. But, my research subjects are few - mostly consisting of romance reading friends. Menopause Maniac linked back to Daily Mail, where poll results claim a staggering 91% of the 400 women quizzed reported to have read at least one erotic book. More than two thirds, 68%, stated they would like to do so more often. Despite the small pool of readers polled, results suggest that readers welcome sex and sensuality in romance novels.
Erotic content in romance novels is on the rise. As a reader, I'm not opposed. But after asking around, one theme popped up over and again. Sensuality is the key. Sex in and of itself isn't what grabs readers up and carries them away. Rather, readers want to be caught up in romance, in sensuality and seduction. If along the way they indulge in a sultry sex scene, well...I haven't heard any complaints about that!
How Do You Feel About Sex Scenes In Your Romances?
~ Nadja
Ref: Sensuality is the key.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
Like "Chekhov's gun", if a relationship is implied, I expect the author to do something about it. Creating a relationship out of milquetoast dialog does not drive the sub plot of their relationship forward.
It doesn't have to get nekkid, but it does have to create empathy for the characters.
Love the reference! And *nekkid*...I'm rolling on the floor. Ha! But you are so correct - dialogue can make or break a scene.
DeleteI admit to fearing writing sex scenes. I think mostly because my family might read it - or my husband! Yikes - you know how guys become self-conscious and want the only man their lady fantasises about to be them (or is that just my husband - he's an old fashioned guy but I love him) - well I just couldn't deal with the 'conversations.' about sex and the sex-scenes. I will tackle it though. In my first novel I'm revving up - planting seeds and building heat. By the second novel my heroine i so ready for more. But I'm not writing romance, so I can do that. Thankfully - otherwise romance readers would be pretty gutted with my first novel. No sex? Gimmi my money back!! :P I'm going to explore a link or two now. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm also stopping by to share some sunshine - I'm tagging you on the Sunshine Award. :D
http://shahwharton.com/2012/09/sunshine-nominees-nietzsche.html
Thank you for the sunshine, Shah! I'll be around to visit everyone after my daughter goes back to Maryland later today. She will ship to Hawaii in the next few weeks/days - the Navy isn't clear on when exactly - so I may not see her for a long time. She will then deploy for 10 months! Ack! I will not see her for almost a year!
DeleteI love the build up, the intensity, the will they won't they? And I have to say in my writing things turn to black when things get intimate! But I don't mind a sex scene either! I think for me it needs to seem real and makes sense within the story.
ReplyDeleteI love a steamy scene - provided there is a relationship built to support the emotion I feel is necessary for a sex scene to be realistic. There are incidents where a sex scene can go off without a hitch sans emotion - but it has to be in the right context.
DeleteSensuality is tops though.
In my earlier novels (all still unpublished), I always did the fade to black thing, like others, afraid of actually writing a sex scene. But when I wrote Yseult, I knew I was dealing with a relationship where a big component was a kind of sexual addiction, so I forced myself to "bite the bullet" *g* and show why these two just couldn't leave each other alone. And it was fun! :)
ReplyDeleteHahahah....bite the bullet! Too funny.
DeleteI love your take on Yseult - and the relationship between the characters being a sexual addiction. Very interesting.
I don't mind reading "Adult" books, but I confess I don't like it when sex is the focus of the story.
ReplyDeleteI also don't like writing explicit sex. My explicit sex scenes sound forced ... so I stay with the more sensual ones, the ones that focus on the emotions ;)
I don't like when sex is the focus of the story either...I want a story that has sex worked into it as a 'bonus' to an ongoing and developing relationship. Agreed!
DeleteI read some romance, but not a ton. I like sensual as opposed to sexual. Give me the tension and buildup, but fade to black please. I also like a whole lot more plot than just why these two don't manage to get together at the beginning of the book.
ReplyDeleteMostly, though, I like the category you have: Researching for Romance Writing. I'm willing to do all the research I can!
Thanks for weighing in, Jennifer! And I absolutely love the research side of writing, too.
DeleteI would have to be on the side of sensuality, the building up of sexual tension, romantic overtures, etc., by gorgeous men.
ReplyDeleteWhen I write a "sex" scene it's well thought out. In some cases I like to add some humor, that way it doesn't feel so "serious", and I rarely (unless the scene calls for it) go into great detail like most romance books do. I will find the right moment to fade out, rather than go on for pages about the sex act. I actually don't want to be in a "spitting match" with paranormal romance writers. I'm an urban fantasy/mystery/adventure/mild horror writer.
As far as reading, erotica is not on my radar. I simply can't read it and not want to up-chuck.
Yes. Erotica is an entirely different type of book than romance. But I do enjoy a well placed sex scene within the pages of my romances. :}
DeleteI don't think readers or writers feel slighted when someone feels differently about sex, sensuality or even both! That's why we have so many books ...we can all find exactly what pleases us as readers. But it's good to gather 'reader likes/dislikes' as a writer.
I'm with you...I don't mind a bit of humor myself. It lightens up a scene. There is a time and place for it - and I think it depends on the storyline and characters.
Thank you for stopping by and jumping in on the conversation!
Sensuality is much more important than sex, in my opinion. Sex just for the sake of sex leaves me unsatisfied. That's one of the problems I have with erotica. There's usually no romance involved, and I WANT the romance. If I had to choose between romance and sex, romance would win out. I had to decide whether the last scene in my latest WIP would be mostly emotion and romantic feelings or whether to also include a sex scene. I let the characters decide for me.
ReplyDeleteYou have a knack for writing just the right blend of romance, sensuality, and sex. That's where you shine! :)
Thank you so much, Lauralynn! And your observations are just as I see it. Give me the romance! Ha! :}
Delete