Ever had difficulty making the sex scenes longer than the character descriptions?

[erotica_n_s]

Okay folks...

I'm aiming to write sex stories. However, sometimes, I find that describing the characters can be a lot of fun (and easier than writing the sex scenes).

The more time I spend thinking about my characters, the more ideas I get - even when I should be focussing on trying to write the sex scenes, I get carried away describing my characters' personalities and back stories, etc. As a result, I find that I can write several thousands of words about the characters themselves - even when the "plot" is actually quite uncomplicated... This then makes me think that I should make the sex scenes longer by adding more and more sex acts... and I find it a little hard...

Don't know if any of you have had the same "problem" as I'm trying to describe...

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this...

 

[Stella_Omega]

You are writing subtext, and although it's interesting and fun-- it very rarely belongs in your actual story.

Take all those things you've written and keep them in mind when you write the story-- they will tell you how your characters react in different situations, and will keep them consistent. In this way, their characters will become clear to the reader in a reasonably natural way-- as natural as any fictional device can be, at least.

But if you tell your readers everything you know about your characters, you spoil their fun. Here is an excellent article on the subject;
http://edittorrent.blogspot.com/2010/01/subtext-and-context.html

I recommend this blog for all of us-- beginners, halfway-therers, know-it-alls editors.
http://edittorrent.blogspot.com/

 

[lance gt]

My problem is the reverse. I enjoy writing sex scenes and don't promote my characters enough as to who they are. For the most part, readers want just enough of who they are, and more of the plot that leads to the desired seuxal tension. The sex scene itself is secondary to the set-up to it. I wrote a 5 page story with no sex and just the tension between the characters and got great comments on it.

 

[ole_grouch_1124]

I wind up reading a lot of what the other more experienced authors on this site write so I get a feel on how they are handling both situations. I think that has helped me through that issue.

 

[sr71plt]

no, not really.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Hi, e, nd welcome to Literotica and to the AH. I will suggest you not overdo the descriptions. Especially, don't be too specific, and say things like "He was six feet, two inches tall." Saying he was a little over six feet tall is good enough.

Sometimes you can include some of the description in the sex scenes, such as: "I held her big, luscious breast in both hands and started licking the dark brown nipple." or: "When Mnary saw how big john's cock was, she was afraid it might hurt her ass."

As for establishing character, it's usually better to do that through what the characters say and do.

 

[sr71plt]

Unless it has specific importance to the plot, why say even that he is six feet tall? Why not just "tall."

One of the more important techniques of erotica is putting the reader into the scene--far more important with erotica than in mainstream writing. If you restrict physical description to what has to be provided to serve specific plot needs, you will leave more room for the reader to feel him/herself inside the story.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I don't think I've ever intentionally done much in the way of a character discription beyond a mention here and there. The reader has a mind (well, some do) and his/her own fantasy idea of what your story is about. I just let them fill in the blanks. Do I really give a shit if Gwendolyn's hair is long and blonde or short, curly and brunette?

 

[sr71plt]

Do I really give a shit if Gwendolyn's hair is long and blonde or short, curly and brunette?

The reader is likely to have preference, and, given the opportunity, "really care," which would be the best reason not to pin the description down unless the plot required it, wouldn't it--not that they wouldn't care, but, as you noted in the previous sentence, they would have their own preferred fantasy about that?

And as the author, I would have my own fantasy about it (indeed, it's probably why I'm writing the story--I would give a shit), but leaving it open, I could have my fantasy and let the reader have his/her fantasy as well.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The reader is likely to have preference, and, given the opportunity, "really care," which would be the best reason not to pin the description down unless the plot required it, wouldn't it--not that they wouldn't care, but, as you noted in the previous sentence, they would have their own preferred fantasy about that?

And as the author, I would have my own fantasy about it (indeed, it's probably why I'm writing the story--I would give a shit), but leaving it open, I could have my fantasy and let the reader have his/her fantasy as well.

indeed. When I read your first person stories, sr71plt, I sometimes imagine you as looking a bit like Daniel Craig.

 

[sr71plt]

indeed. When I read your first person stories, sr71plt, I sometimes imagine you as looking a bit like Daniel Craig.

Rushes out to look up Daniel Craig (but not too far, as I think I know who that is. 007?). In the meantime, I'll note that my movie casting file had me down as a Tab Hunter in the 70s (for real). Now, I'm afraid it would be an Anthony Hopkins--after a collision with a bus.

 

[polynices]

Okay folks...


The more time I spend thinking about my characters, the more ideas I get - even when I should be focussing on trying to write the sex scenes, I get carried away describing my characters' personalities and back stories, etc. As a result, I find that I can write several thousands of words about the characters themselves - even when the "plot" is actually quite uncomplicated... This then makes me think that I should make the sex scenes longer by adding more and more sex acts... and I find it a little hard...

It sounds as if you're more interested in character than sex, so maybe you should try writing some non-erotic fiction (if you haven't done it already, that is). Your character descriptions may not immediately form a story, but many (most?) good stories rise out of character. Why not take the characters that interest you and see what happens to them without insisting that they have sex? (Surprisingly, there are genres beyond the erotic.)

- polynices

 

[OnlyByMoonlight]

I do and I find that if you make the descriptions 75% of the story then only 25% is sex, the readers tend to get a little dissapointed. its just a lot of lead up only for the story to fizzle out. I try to either shorten the descriptions or lengthen the sex, which if you know your characters well enough is not that hard. Also I fins when writing or reading that if you have several thousand words of character description, that description is a little redundant somewhere and that is almost always not something readers like.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Rushes out to look up Daniel Craig (but not too far, as I think I know who that is. 007?). In the meantime, I'll note that my movie casting file had me down as a Tab Hunter in the 70s (for real). Now, I'm afraid it would be an Anthony Hopkins--after a collision with a bus.

Which illustrates your point. Tab Hunter doesn't turn me on, and Daniel Craig does...

 

[sr71plt]

Which illustrates your point. Tab Hunter doesn't turn me on, and Daniel Craig does...

Which explains why my movie career got no farther than third guy from the left of Annette Funicello holding a beach ball in front of his crotch.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Which explains why my movie career got no farther than third guy from the left of Annette Funicello holding a beach ball in front of his crotch.

Well at least you got a nice day at the beach!

 

[mrnicerguy]

If it's a whambam kind of story, then no one much cares about character and it's best to cut to the chase. But a sex scene can be so much more powerful when we know something of the motivation behind characters' actions. It's a question of balance - if the descriptions get too long, edit them down to essential info that lets readers get into the heads of the people who eventually have sex. Just don't write the sex scenes first with the intention of filling in character detail later - you won't!

 

[CWatson]

The more time I spend thinking about my characters, the more ideas I get - even when I should be focussing on trying to write the sex scenes, I get carried away describing my characters' personalities and back stories, etc. As a result, I find that I can write several thousands of words about the characters themselves - even when the "plot" is actually quite uncomplicated... This then makes me think that I should make the sex scenes longer by adding more and more sex acts... and I find it a little hard...

Hmm. Well, I've had a look at your symptoms and I've got a diagnosis for you:

You're a novelist.

You do, in fact, have the opposite problem of most "stroke" stories: you focus more on the characters, the tension, the emotions than on the Tab A In Slot B stuff. That means you're suited to a style of fiction that most stroke-story authors can't handle: specifically, the style that can be published in books made out of paper.

Suggested treatment? Stop writing sex and start working on a story you can publish. Market it. Make some money. Follow your dreams, hone your craft. And don't worry about the ratio of sex vs description. Take the sex out entirely. You, personally, don't need it to write well.

Go.

~CWatson, M.D.

 

[Boxlicker101]

If it's a whambam kind of story, then no one much cares about character and it's best to cut to the chase. But a sex scene can be so much more powerful when we know something of the motivation behind characters' actions. It's a question of balance - if the descriptions get too long, edit them down to essential info that lets readers get into the heads of the people who eventually have sex. Just don't write the sex scenes first with the intention of filling in character detail later - you won't!

I agree with your first sentence. I somewhat agree with your second sentence, except that we don't really need to tell the readers why people want to fuck. It's because they are horny. At the same time, I do agree that sometimes it is a good idea to tell the reader why these particular people want to get together with these other particular people in a specific place at a specific time and why they want to do certain things.

 

[sr71plt]

Well at least you got a nice day at the beach!

And the director liked me. Very much.

 

[erotica_n_s]

Hmm. Well, I've had a look at your symptoms and I've got a diagnosis for you:

You're a novelist.

You do, in fact, have the opposite problem of most "stroke" stories: you focus more on the characters, the tension, the emotions than on the Tab A In Slot B stuff. That means you're suited to a style of fiction that most stroke-story authors can't handle: specifically, the style that can be published in books made out of paper.

Suggested treatment? Stop writing sex and start working on a story you can publish. Market it. Make some money. Follow your dreams, hone your craft. And don't worry about the ratio of sex vs description. Take the sex out entirely. You, personally, don't need it to write well.

Go.

~CWatson, M.D.

LOL!!!!

Don't know whether to feel flattered or hurt...

A backhanded compliment if I ever got one!!!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Why take sex out entirely?

 

[mrnicerguy]

I think you're doing really well, whatever other people might say...

 

[Loring2]

No !!!

LOL!!!!

Don't know whether to feel flattered or hurt...

A backhanded compliment if I ever got one!!!

That is a compliment and not backhanded and I agree with the Doctor from what I read.

You simply should come to the realization that while all people may be 'created equal' we don't remain that way and each of us has a feel for a certain way to express ourself.

There's plenty of room in literature for someone who can make characters that can provoke tears; or laughs; or an erection.

Just promise me that you won't even try to be like somebody else; bring yourself to the table and you'll be just fine.

Shoot I work on TV and movie scripts ... most of which are junk ... should I quit because they're unfulfulling. Let me tell you, character 'profiling' is a very good skill; Especially of suspects

Do me a favor and watch one episode of "Criminal Minds". Tape it and use it as a study guide. Notate it and see how 'Character controls action', it can be fascinating ... might even learn somethng ???

 

[TE999]

Radio programs were once referred to as the 'Theater of the Mind'. Written stories are much the same in that excessive explanation can ruin the pacing and it quickly becomes boring. People prefer to 'fill in the blanks' in most cases; especially in regard to physical appearances and sex acts. Less is more.