[wearywanderer64]

I'm writing one now in my story and it is pretty complex from a man's standpoint to know how the woman would react.

Is it 

or 

or   

or 

I'm hoping it's lustful.

 

[NikOK]

Nice.  Hope that you get plenty of  from readers.

I did a few in a first person crime comedy, and I always have fun with those parts.  Especially in first person because I can make the character purposely not describe everything.  Shooting for a shy/steamy vibe.  But, because it's such a personal thing it's hard to know exactly how anybody would react.  It's the kind of thing that depends on the reader's life experience, so if a hundred people read it, a hundred people might read a hundred different things in it.  If you were describing going to the store, then everyone would have a similar idea of what that's like.  But sex scenes go to a much more personal level for the writer and reader and that's bound to be the best thing for some readers and the worst thing for others no matter what you write.  Heh, or at least that's what I feel like.

But, maybe my most encouraging writing experience came from something like this.  It's a little bit of a personal story, so be warned!  Sorry.  After I did my crime book, I bought a bunch of paperbacks and sent them to friends and family.  Then, like a month later two of my long time friends sent me messages and said, hey, you single these days?  I was laughing and thinking, well, maybe the sex scenes were steamy enough.  I seriously don't mean to be a jerk or anything talking about this, I just thought it was a funny/weird story.  And, when I was getting going in this writing thing, this strange incident made me feel so much better about my writing.  All because I guess you never know how people will react.

 

[wearywanderer64]

It's true, Nikok. Everybody sees it differently. When I told my wife she was like - bet you need a lot of help writing it. I get the feeling she's trying to tell me something. But I don't get hints.

 

[NikOK]

It's true, Nikok. Everybody sees it differently. When I told my wife she was like - bet you need a lot of help writing it. I get the feeling she's trying to tell me something. But I don't get hints.

Ha, sometimes people that love you just like to talk a little smack. If they didn't, well, then how would you know they care? But I really do think that everyone can write a good sex scene. It's just different, you know? Like, you can make a good logical chapter about your plot, but you can't have a logical sex scene. It's the one part of any book where the emotion is the main character.

 

[chrisstevenson]

I have a serial killer crime story with some paranormal elements. But I had the lead detective have a non-detailed bout with his wife, to remove the stress he was under. I just said that at the conclusion of the lustful attack, the bed was broken. In my case, sex was just kind of a by-product of the intense situations going on. There was never a repeat. Yet, I don't see anything wrong with a coupling sex scene in crime fiction. Didn't Joseph Wambaugh pull some of that off?

 

[Karen Monroe]

The best advice I can give for a sex scene is keep it short and end with satisfaction. That’s the KISS version.

If you are writing to please a romance reader, or they may be a part of your audience, then my advice is the same except make sure you express the feelings involved behind the sex. Like...sex, sex, emotion...etc.

Good luck.

 

[Doglover]

From my point of view, it depends on how it's written. I cannot stand to reach crude words and the first reaction to that is to toss it. Sex scenes can be done tastefully as long as they are necessary to the story and not just to shock.

 

[Rebecca Pink]

I think it would be interesting to dilute the forensic literature with sex scenes.

 

[Karen Monroe]

From my point of view, it depends on how it's written. I cannot stand to reach crude words and the first reaction to that is to toss it. Sex scenes can be done tastefully as long as they are necessary to the story and not just to shock.

A part of me wants to debate what's "tasteful" in a sex scene....

 

[wearywanderer64]

I've just done the second draft of it. I feel the sex scene is important in the story as both characters want something out of it apart from sex. I've never written a saucy scene before so I'm fumbling in the dark if you pardon in the pun. Any erotic fictioneers out there who want to read the scene?

 

[Karen Monroe]

Bring it on.

 

[NikOK]

I'd take a look, anytime 

 

[Karen Monroe]

I have some comments. How should I convey them?

 

[wearywanderer64]

I have some comments. How should I convey them?

Just PM me.

Thanks.

 

[Karen Monroe]

Just PM me.

Thanks.

Just did.

 

[Nicole Simon]

I like to read mystery slightly romancy books, but am annoyed by the detailled sex scenes the authors seem to be so fond of. I came for the mystery not for a reverse harem setup (oh of amazon only had filters for certain types).

Now I roll my eyes and skip the pages since many of them go into graphic detail. I am really not a prude but I did not ask for a porno,  I wanted a story.

So in your case: does it really really REALLY need to be a sex scene - or would the start of it - tastefully - and then a "next morning" thing not be much more satisfying and enough for the reader. You mention you want them wanting something out of it - again that can be written without the sex part.

Sure there will be fans but you might want to try out on some of your beta readers how they will feel. One such bad scene and "oh he / she is going graphic now, no thanks" can kill further reading.

 

[Karen Monroe]

So in your case: does it really really REALLY need to be a sex scene - or would the start of it - tastefully - and then a "next morning" thing not be much more satisfying and enough for the reader. You mention you want them wanting something out of it - again that can be written without the sex part.

Sure there will be fans but you might want to try out on some of your beta readers how they will feel. One such bad scene and "oh he / she is going graphic now, no thanks" can kill further reading.

Forgive me, but I'm just curious. Why do you not like reading descriptive words regarding sex? As you mentioned, you prefer to skip and progress to the morning after. Are you as opposed to vivid details when it comes to death?

If the sex is necessary for say...a spy to learn how to be a double agent, would you still object? If killing was necessary for a spy, would you object to detailed descriptions of death?

Why do you not like descriptive sex scenes?

 

[Lorri Moulton [Lavender Lass Books]]

Descriptive sex scenes are fine...if the reader expects it.  I think some readers crave them and others don't want them at all.  Haven't seen too many "don't really care" comments from readers.

If you do plan to be explicit, it might help reviews if you signal it with the cover, blurb, etc.

ETA: When I dropped my pen name, I toned down a few of the romance scenes for my clean/sweet readers. Now, I let them know there will be more of a PG to PG-13 scene when the title font is in all capital letters.

 

[Karen Monroe]

I’m in a different class of readers then....because I don’t expect anything but a good story when I’m reading a book.

 

[wearywanderer64]

Thanks for replying.

"I like to read mystery slightly romancy books."

That sounds like cozy mystery. My cozy books (not this one) don't have sex scenes as I feel it has to be clean. This is book 2 of a rough and tumble character.

I agree about sex scenes just for the sake of it.