Meeting to sexing duration (aka the slow burn)

[TheRedChamber]

I was reading onehitwanda's latest and it got me thinking about an issue or at least feature of my own work, namely that I tend to get characters into bed rather quickly after they meet. It's not necessarily the same evening but it does tend to be at least the same week and rarely are there many scenes between the meeting and the 'evening of connsumation).

In Wanda's story (and I think in a few I love read recently including EmilyMillers and No talent hacks if I recall correctly) there are months passing and multiple scenes where characters get to know each other, the sexual tension rises and things generally burn slowly

I have written stories which start with characters who have know each other for months/years before things kick off, but again these stories tend to start with the event that kicks off the idea of them sleeping together rather than dealing with exactly how they met.

Obviously as with all our discussion topics 'it depends on the story being told', but do you as authors tend toward the zipless fuck or the slow burn. What, in your view, makes a successful slow burn?

 

[Emilymcplugger]

I was reading onehitwanda's latest and it got me thinking about an issue or at least feature of my own work, namely that I tend to get characters into bed rather quickly after they meet. It's not necessarily the same evening but it does tend to be at least the same week and rarely are there many scenes between the meeting and the 'evening of connsumation).

In Wanda's story (and I think in a few I love read recently including EmilyMillers and No talent hacks if I recall correctly) there are months passing and multiple scenes where characters get to know each other, the sexual tension rises and things generally burn slowly

I have written stories which start with characters who have know each other for months/years before things kick off, but again these stories tend to start with the event that kicks off the idea of them sleeping together rather than dealing with exactly how they met.

Obviously as with all our discussion topics 'it depends on the story being told', but do you as authors tend toward the zipless fuck or the slow burn. What, in your view, makes a successful slow burn?

The successful slow burn relies of interesting characters, knowledge of the premise, and an understanding between the writer and the reader that their curiosity will pay-off.

POLY AT THE POLY takes till part 3 for the actual sex to take place (if memory serves) but the reader knows the pay-off will come and will be worth it.

I’ve read stories where the set-up is even greater than that, usually these have Twilight Zone elements that create a great deal of intrigue between the reader and the writer.

And finally, for a story to win people over you need to know that the sex will be sensational. You’ll get bodice-ripping, gusset-shredding, power-humping, juices-flowing, noise-making, mattress-busting sex at the end.

But what do I know? That’s just like…my opinion, man.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Slow burn.

If my characters aren't ready to jump into bed, they'll tell me. I'll often circle into the sex scenes slowly, until they're emotionally ready. Mind you, my sense of time is often very "elastic", so I wouldn't want to unpack the elapsed time too closely.

Generally, though, it's to build up an intimate, emotional connection between the characters. Important caveat - if the backstory is irrelevant, I don't include it, and jump straight into a connection.

 

[SimonDoom]

I do both, although the sexual encounters tend to be briefer and to occur with less buildup than in the stories of some of the other authors you mentioned. I write stories from 750 to about 20,000 words, although average is more like 7000-15000. That's enough for plenty of buildup before the sex happens. On the other hand, in my longest story, the sex occurs in the very first sentence.

 

[ElectricBlue]

On the other hand, in my longest story, the sex occurs in the very first sentence.

"Fuck! Mom, is that you?"

 

[MrPixel]

Since I gravitate towards swinger and pickup stories, "we're going to have sex" is front and center. If there is chemistry along with it, so much the better.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

I’m absolutely for slow burn work. It isn’t that I can’t or won’t write a story that goes directly into the good stuff, I just prefer to approach stories from the plot heavy angle and I am heavy on the focus of character development. I have gone literally Chapters with only hinting at sexual advancement, and I think the series was better for it. But it isn’t a one size fits all issue, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to go about it… building suspense tends to be my immediate goal when it comes to writing slow burn work, and really showcasing the character’s personalities. I find this especially vital to breathing life into a romantic piece. Getting to know and watch two characters fall in love before they finally meet in the bedroom is such a treat; I’m sure just as much for the reader as it is the author.

While I do intend to publish more sex heavy work, I think I’ll focus on characters with established relationships when going that route. But I can’t lie that it’s a challenge not to write stories with long durations of time, either in the story itself or in the spacing of writing, before the spicy scenes start to flow.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Obviously as with all our discussion topics 'it depends on the story being told', but do you as authors tend toward the zipless fuck or the slow burn. What, in your view, makes a successful slow burn?

Slow burn, mostly. In my most recent two stories, I had six and seven years respectively between first meeting and sex. In both I started with a teaser of the future, closer to the sex or after it, but then I flashed back and spent quite a while fleshing out that background before things turn sexual.

 

[Lifestyle66]

I write stories about swingers, so the sex is almost a given to occur quickly.

The story is about the background of the MCs, the setting, and the conflicts which occur. They're swingers. But that doesn't mean it's an open orgy of sex with everyone and everything shoved into every orifice in the room. (Although, now that I think about it, "never say never." It might happen.)

 

[MelissaBaby]

Slow burn, mostly. In my most recent two stories, I had six and seven years respectively between first meeting and sex. In both I started with a teaser of the future, closer to the sex or after it, but then I flashed back and spent quite a while fleshing out that background before things turn sexual.

I think my record is 12 years in Oyster River, but the theme of the story was the question of whether or not you could lose your chance, and get another years later.

 

[Nellymcboatface]

I like to write long, slow burns... Mainly because I like to build characters and back stories, so the reader gets to know them and gets involved... At the end of the day, this is an erotic site, so that is the end game...
You can write page after page of sex and still attract readers, but would you enjoy it as a writer?

As previous contributors said, let the story and characters write it, and you'll know when it's right...

I struggle with short stories, as it's all too quick, maybe I just fell into longer ones and now can't rush through it... I have a plan in mind and as I write, I just find more too add, rather than find things to remove...
It all depends on your style, characters, readers etc...

You can start with sex, then drop back to show how they got there, but it won't suit everyone... But hey ho, long slow burn doesn't suit everyone either... Horses for courses...

 

[EmilyMiller]

In Wanda's story (and I think in a few I love read recently including EmilyMillers and No talent hacks if I recall correctly) there are months passing and multiple scenes where characters get to know each other, the sexual tension rises and things generally burn slowly

You haven’t read my work very widely, hun. I’m normally the queen of gratuitous sex scenes .

Jacob’s Progress was different. 6k words before any sex involving two people (and come to think of it before any orgasms). My current story is a bit like that too. I’m trying different things as a writer.

Em

 

[ronde]

I prefer to build an emotional relationship between my characters before they hop into bed because I think that's normally the reality of the situation for two reasons. It depends somewhat upon the time in history of the story. It's only been since he sixties that women were able to control their ability to reproduce. Prior to that, a woman had about a 50/50 chance of becoming pregnant from sex. The social and practical issues that would be caused by a single woman becoming pregnant were pretty severe. Yes, condoms were available as early as the 17th century, but the woman depended upon the man to use one and to use it correctly. After the 60's a woman could be in control of her own fate, so sex on the first meeting wasn't the threat it once was.

The second reason that a woman is extremely vulnerable during sex. I don't think most women are ready to screw the guy she just met in a bar. She'll want to know who he is and probably develop at least a little emotional connection before she hops into the sack with him.

 

[NoTalentHack]

It really depends. Some of my stories are of established couples, like Virility; there's a sex scene within the first thousand words. Some are fast romances; Cultural Exchanges plays with the "we're going to wait" thing, but there's an expiration date for their time together, so they skip that. Some are "we're both here to fuck, so let's get to it" like Why She Cheated. A lot of my stuff is friends to lovers; Meat Market, After the Future is Gone, Longings From The Past, and even Unwanted Memories (where they're married but the wife has amnesia) have months in-universe before they end up in bed together.

 

[Whanmore]

Obviously as with all our discussion topics 'it depends on the story being told', but do you as authors tend toward the zipless fuck or the slow burn. What, in your view, makes a successful slow burn?

For me there are a lot of characters in my story, but I like to show at least the initial conversation between two people. I'm all about going from the "hi" the bed. But it does depend on the story and whose horny for the most part. I certainly want to build a bit a intrigue since everyone has a story where people fuck, so hopefully by adding dialogue and mannerims it keeps the characters interesting enough to be sexy.

Personally i thing that's more inportant than how much time passes

 

[onehitwanda]

That’s just like…my opinion, man.

That rug really pulled the room together.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Slow burn, for sure. Sex and romance are so much more fulfilling for me when desire, longing, and attraction are built up slowly and skillfully.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I'm writing a story where FMC realises she knows the name of someone visiting her work (MMC), confirms this with mutual friend. FMC introduces herself saying she's a friend of MF and apparently they have interests in common. Half an hour later they're discussing kinky sex and an hour after that, doing it.

In contrast, same MMC spent a few weeks (and 3 lit pages) getting to know the MF by phone after knowing her from a year at college, then a day in person, before offering oral sex but refusing to fuck. "Sex before even having a first date? What sort of boy do you think I am?"
He then assures her he's exactly that sort of boy and they make plans for the weekend. Meanwhile two other characters (shy man, woman recovering from bad relationships) take until chapter 7 to get it on, after working together for a year. (Educating Laura).

All depends on the story you're writing. Some stories are about sex rather than the chase, but you can still draw out character during sex.