AdrienneW

I am working on a peice where sex in an important part of the story my problem is, I don't want it to be generic, bland, or ridiculous. I have read a few novels in my time where sex was graphic, and sometimes well done, but mostly it was akward. Does anyone have any suggestions as to authors that approach this type of action with finess, can do it with detail, and leave the reader blushing?
Thanks so much...

Talia_Brie

Find some female/feminist writers - Jeanette Winterson perhaps. In my experience the best, most innovative renditions of sex come from those sources because for most men sex is a physical act, while for women it's emotional.

I'm sure there are exceptions.

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sdavis2k

I would try to keep it romantic sex, without getting overly erotic. You can do some nice things with the actions and descriptions without coming across as overly vulgar. You can also be graphic without being gross. How bad are you wanting the reader to blush ? Is the sex to advance the story or just purely shock value ?

SevenWritez

Have sex with your girlfriend, and when you're done, give it a silent moment or two before: "So uh, yeah...I'm writing this story and all..."

Anyways, go read some cheesy romance novels, look at their sex scenes, read some regular novels, look at their sex scenes, have sex, try to remember what you can, and incorporate it all into your own definition.

Also, try and base your descriptions based off the point of view. Men and women seem to "view," sex differently. Anyways, good luck on your story.

sdavis2k

If you are going for uber shocking I would suggest reading some erotic stories. That should give you ideas on how to do scenes as well as how far you want to go with it in your story.

AdrienneW

Romance novel type is exactly what I want to avoid, sex just for sex is something else I want to avoid. Jane Auel is graphic but so technical in her explanations I feel like I am reading about how to take down a car engine, there's nothing left to the imagination, romance novels are written for housewives, and way too much errotica is just too animalistic and often borders on the ridiculous. I have a few good novels in my hand where sex is described and done well, but I was hoping for a few more to expand my experience with it in the written word.
So any suggested reading is welcomed. Thanks.

Foxee

One thought that may not have been surfaced yet. How graphic you get with your sex scenes will in some cases determine who will and who will not publish your ms. Different publishing houses and romance lines, for instance, accept different levels of erotic content or none at all.

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Mermaid on the breakwater

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AdrienneW

Well, the sex is important to the plot, its an intergral part of the culture. I'll just have to try and make it as acceptable as possible...but thanks for the heads up, I was aware of it, but not thinking of it as a possible speed-bump I would eventually have to cross.

Wallmaker

Rarely do I find a reader blushing when the read a sex portion of a script. I think, hopefully it might be a little titillating, or help them relate to the character by living a little through them. It sounds like you need to ask what the tone is and who the characters are involved. Their attitudes towards sex will also show how the scene will play. If one person is a prude and takes his/her blouse off (gasp!) that might be more exciting than who touches who where and for how long.

So far, the concensus is read more sex scenes, and I agree, but also think about the imporantance of the sex scenes. Sex is prevalent in your piece, right? So they add to this story. It's more than who did what where and whether a box of saran wrap went missing from the kitchen. Think about the goal of each scene... what if someone has sex for validation, for control, for exploration, to express their love? Do they achieve that during sex? Do they not?

When you start thinking about these things, how each scene might be conducted will start to work out... I promise. As far as writing it, that's where looking at examples will help as well. Lastly, remember what I said about titillating? I think that's a fine line to walk, showing just enough, but it can really keep a piece moving AND keep it from getting too graphic.

Voodoo

Don't say

they monkeyfuck

and don't say

He put his pearl in her clam.

Say

He spread her legs.

Under the covers might be best.

Or, just go graphic, but not horny. An objective view on what every human wants to do.

Writer Kitten

Unless there is some really heavy plot movement going on during the sex scene (I have a character that loves explaining politics to her husband while she's teasing him because it's the only time she can make him stay still long enough to listen to her politics talk) then there is no reason why you cannot fade to black.

Showing one scene, maybe two in an entire book is fine, but if all it's going to be is sex scene after sex scene after sex scene, don't fool yourself into saying it's anything but what it really is: Erotica.

It may be erotica with vampires and werewolves and demons or whatever, but it's still erotica not "great literature".

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Buddy Glass

Ian McEwan is very eloquent when writing about sex. Probably the best I've read.

But get a hold of books by writers who frequently write/wrote about sex: Haruki Murakami, Henry Miller, Harold Brodkey, Milan Kundera, John Updike.

Maybe not Updike. He's a bit excessive.

ClancyBoy

Use the words "sex sausage" as much as possible.

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