Without getting into detail, but as you can
already decipher from the title of this article, my life does not mirror that
of the characters in my book. I am a normal(ish) middle-aged woman with kids, dishes
in my sink, and an annoying but adorable dog. I bake cookies, tie shoes, and am
thankful the stage of wiping noses is behind me.
I also write steamy sex scenes. And I
assure you I have not experienced first-hand the same intimate moments that are
in my books. *Disclaimer for my husband if he ever reads this: We’re good,
baby.*
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| https://amzn.to/2trckPj |
Writing sex can be hard. Sorry! That was
too easy of a joke to leave out! But seriously, it is a tread lightly watch
your adjectives and analogies kinda business. I tend to lean for calling a
spade a spade, otherwise the descriptions of our private bits can take a reader
right out of the moment and give them a direct ticket to Cringe-town.
Great sex is proceeded by a few of things.
One is tension. Building up the energy between the involved parties is
essential. Slowing down the pace, drawing out the details, and keeping that
thread of uncertainty will really enhance the actual moment. And those are the
spaces in which the chemistry is shown and proven to the readers. Thus, making
the audience engaged and enthralled in the story.
The other, in my opinion, is flirting.
Depending on the trope, flirting may take on different forms. An
enemies-to-lovers, for example, will have them insulting each other but smart
readers understand that the frustration is part of the attraction. Whatever the
story, playfulness included in the rising action (total pun intended), for me,
is an important element. I love seeing teasing, winking, and all swoon worthy
charming behavior.
When you get to the act, remember to make
it plausible. I’m all for the suspension of disbelief. In fact, I rely on it
for certain aspects of my stories. But not here. Seventy-eight climaxes in
twenty-four hours? When did they eat? Who is this person? The yoda of sex? My
point is, keep it real-ish. Unless you’re writing Paranormal or Shifters. Then,
do your thing, girl (or guy).
But giving readers a freckle of something
they can relate to is usually enough to experience the believability of the
scene. Enough to want to change places with one of your characters because
they’ve fallen in love with the other.
Finally, try to be original. I read as much
as I can, in and out of the romance genre. And each time I come to a love
scene, whether just a kiss or taking the tug boat all the way to tuna town, I
dissect the moment. I remember the bits that worked and try to learn from them.
But then, I build a framework of reasons why it was effective and morph it into
something for my own writing.
Mostly though, I try not to repeat what
I’ve already done with previous characters. I want my readers to have a fresh
experience each time they pick up one of my books but know they can rely on me
for a certain quality and attention to detail.
As far as inspiration? What can I say? My characters
are horn-dogs.
Contemporary romance and erotica writer Deana Birch was named
after her father’s first love, who just so happened not to be her mother.
Born and raised in the Midwest, she made stops in Los Angeles and
New York before settling in Europe where she lives with her own blueeyed
Happily Ever After. Her days are spent teaching yoga, playing
tennis, ruining her children’s French homework, cleaning up dog
vomit, writing her next book, or reading someone else’s.
Deana’s Rock and Roll Romance, FASTER,
released June 26, 2018. She is a Mid-Western girl transplanted to Europe where
she lives with her own happily-ever-after and two daughters.
