Same-sex Love Scenes

[dizzylia]

I'm a bit new as a writer, and especially of this genre. I was wondering if any others find it difficult sometimes when writing love scenes with characters of the same gender. How do you keep it from getting confusing? How do you make sure "he" refers to this or "his" refers to that, or she/her and so on?

Any tips? I would highly appreciate it. Thank you!

 

[SlickTony]

You did all right on this one

 

[KillerMuffin]

Write it out first, then edit it. Don't worry about his and his or hers and hers until you edit. You don't want to disturb the flow you'll get going, if you do. When you edit, use paragraphing, props, dialogue, and description to work around the use of proper names. Leave names out unless there's no other choice for clarity.

 

[dizzylia]

Thanks

Thank you for both the reassurance and the advice. I'll try to remember that in the future. I was really worried about that this last time, and when I got feedback telling me how confusing it was, the paranoia grew.

I just found it very difficult to keep it descriptive while still giving the reader a clear idea of what was going on, though I did try to keep it as simple as possible, as in, only one person was doing the majority of the action at one time.

Oh well, it's only my second at bat. Plenty of time to work on the RBI.

 

[Chicklet]

the first couple of times I wrote same sex scenes I felt that it was very important to keep body parts in mind. I wrote name this name that name this. I didn't realize how hard it was to read "Jane reached over and stroked Kim's leg until Kim's pussy became hot with lust. Kim bent over and touched Jane's hand with her lips, then Kim laid back and let Jane work on Kim's body until Kim was finished" etc etc <giggle that was a HOT love scene wasn't it?!>

When I saw what I'd done, I edited most of the names out.

Like KM (who is ever wise) said, just go back and edit it when you're done. If something gets confusing, you can add a name or two to straighten it out again.

Chicklet

 

[Weird Harold]

Like KM (who is ever wise) said, just go back and edit it when you're done. If something gets confusing, you can add a name or two to straighten it out again.

I think I would prefer adding the names in the intial writing, and edit them out later.

I've found that sometimes if something is confusing when I'm editing, I can't remember who was doing what to whom to untangle the confusion.

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

I haven't written a male - male story yet, but, I've done a few with female - female. I'm bi so this wasn't a problem. Also when I'm writting I'm so into my story, being my characters, that it's like what is happening is really happening to me. For me, I write what interest me so I don't have to think about whose doing what to who and trying to keep it straight.

I would like someday to write a male - male story, however, I'm not sure I can make it believable. I guess I'd have to really study how gay men act when they are together, aroused and in the heat of the moment. This to is a good idea, just study how your particular characters are going to act and then as you start to write them...be them.


Wicked

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I think too many names will just make it even more confusing than a lot of his/hers.

 

[dizzylia]

Yeah, rereading the thing again probably would have helped. At the time, though, I'm afraid I was just so sick of the thing, I wanted it out of my sight. *grins* I'd already been sitting on it for months. Perhaps Chapter 2 will turn out better.

Thanks again! I'll try to work in all your very helpful advice this next time.

 

[SlaveMasterUK]

This has been a great help to me too, I've fallen into this trap already and had a real mess yesterday evening trying (in vain) to sort it out!

ax

 

[deliciously_naughty]

Too many names gets annoying, but throw in a name here and there to keep things in perspective.

However, I do think that most of the same sex love scenes I've written have been in the first person, which makes things less confusing, but we can go over to the other thread to discuss the pitfalls of rampant firstpersonism (to borrow a phrase)

 

[Chicklet]

Also...

I believe it was Weird Harold who suggested that in certain situations, such as group sex, sometimes not being able to keep body parts of certain people straight is realistic and can be sexy.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Amen to that!

 

[dizzylia]

Re: Also...

I believe it was Weird Harold who suggested that in certain situations, such as group sex, sometimes not being able to keep body parts of certain people straight is realistic and can be sexy.

*laughs* That's a wonderful viewpoint.

 

[TheEarl]

Find several names for the participants. I've never tried more than a two-person lesbian sex scene and if you have a secondary name (the older girl, the blonde). Try and make it obvious who's who on your edit. If you're not sure if it's clear, then add the name instead of the pronoun: better to be clumsy than confusing.

Alternatively write it in first person. Then you only have one his/her, the other one is my.

The Earl

 

[Quasimodem]

I believe it was Weird Harold who suggested that in certain situations, such as group sex, sometimes not being able to keep body parts of certain people straight is realistic and can be sexy.

Alternately, not being able to keep body parts straight is also realistic, but not sexy in groups, or mixed doubles.

 

[dizzylia]

I think there's a point where you can have purposeful confusion in a story to convey a feeling of chaos or excitement. But of course, there are the other times where that confusion is simply frustrating, which risks losing a reader.

And yes, I know writers should to some extent write for themselves, but I know I like to think I've accomplished expressing myself in a way that others can understand, perhaps respect or appreciate, and if I'm lucky, enjoy.