Arousal factor

[AmoralAuthor]

I've gotten some feedback on my story that makes me think. I need to increase the arousal factor, and am wondering what the 'tricks of the trade' might be to do that.

So, how does one make a scene as hot as it can be? Any thoughts?

Amoral

 

[Guest]

Hi Amoral!

This question is rather like asking, "What turns you on?" I.e. you'll get different answers from everyone.

I find the most arousing stuff isn't in the mechanics of what they are actually doing, but more in the describing of the effect the acts are having on the characters.

For example... They laid down on the bed and he began to fuck her. He inserted his cock in her pussy, she moaned, then they came.

Yes, that was overly simplistic and I am sure you don't write that way, but it was one way of illustrating where some go wrong.

I'd write it this way (and hope it was more arousing)... She pulled him back, making him lose his balance and fall onto her gasping body. She needed him, as she'd been needing him for what felt like forever. His lips found hers and the passion of the kiss ran throughout their bodies. No time for that kind of intimacy now, she just wanted to fuck. She parted her legs and he moved between them, the head of his cock probing at her opening wetness. As he began to sink into her, she closed her eyes and hissed. This was it, she had him...

And so on.

I really don't know if that is any help to you, but that's the kind of thing I find quite arousing. Of course, there is much more, and variety is often the key, but take us into their heads. Show us their feelings and motivations.

Lou

 

[Guest]

 

[Colleen Thomas]

For me, the arousal is in the details. In general sex can be broken down into insert tab A in slot B. It's what you tell me about Tab a and its owner and slot B and its owner that makes it hot. Where they are, what they are feeling, what emotions are roused along with the visceral response.

The detail, situation and charactrs blend to make a scene hot. If any of thses are lacking, it detracts from the overall effect, IMHO.

-Colly

 

[AmoralAuthor]

Tatelou -- thanks for the suggestions. yes, it does seem to involve the reactions of the characters to what's happening, rather than what's actually happening.

Lime -- Yup, that's so true. However, there are points in the story when it should be hotter, less 'disturbing'. I wanted to juxtapose some of the sweeter side of sex with the horrific, thus making the horrific more so in comparison. Especially in the Aria/Jamie sections, I should be able to make it less mechanical. But I definitely agree, the hot stuff is less hot simply by being in this particular story.

Colleen -- I think you're getting at the same point Tatelou made, that the characters, and the reactions, are just as important, perhaps more so, than the events. However, I'm confused as to what, exactly, you mean by details. Factual detail (such as the details of what each thing looks like, smells like, tastes like, etc) or more character driven details (such as how the character feels in an emotional sense)? Or is it a combination of the two?

Amoral

 

[gauchecritic]

For me, anticipation is the key. To create anticipation you have to have a character who the readers are interested in, even negatively. If thetre is interest in the character there doesn't even necessarily need to be a sex scene if you can keep your reader yearning to know what comes next.

What also works is pace, this is usually controlled by the language. Bring any emotion you like to the page and, controlled by pace, you can make the reader dance to your tune.

Choose your sex language carefully to avoid inconsistancy. Have a nun utter the word cunt before she's even met her lover and it jars the reader. But having a nun use the same word whilst in the throes of animal passion and it can only heighten the intercourse (pun intended).

As a general rule of thumb (to be broken at will, as are all writing rules) sexual language ought to fit the pace/scene.

Pussy before the knickers are off and cunt afterwards.

Having said that, there will be an equal number of people that think any given piece of work is a turn off as there are that think it a turn on.

Gauche