When to get to the Sex

[WestCin]

Last year, I published my first story. I enjoyed reading erotic literature, and Inthought I would give it a try. I also wanted to try my hand at writing.

As my writing progressed, I found that I wanted to expand on setting the scenery, how characters reacted to each other, and work towards the sexual encounter.

So, now I wonder, “Am I getting to the sex fast enough?”

After all, we are here to read about the sex.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Sex in erotica is like in real life, it's the right time when you feel it's the right time.

The readership here is wide and varied, don't make assumptions about what readers want. Write as you feel called to, and let your readers find you.

 

[ronde]

Last year, I published my first story. I enjoyed reading erotic literature, and Inthought I would give it a try. I also wanted to try my hand at writing.

As my writing progressed, I found that I wanted to expand on setting the scenery, how characters reacted to each other, and work towards the sexual encounter.

So, now I wonder, “Am I getting to the sex fast enough?”

After all, we are here to read about the sex.

Some readers are here to read about sex. Most readers are here to read a story that includes some sex.

What you find yourself wanting to write is a plot, i.e. a reason for the characters to have sex. The sex scene(s) should be where the plot leads the characters to have sex.

 

[iwatchus]

Some stories here are all sex all the time. Some stories never really get to much sex at all. You do you. There is an audience for that. I tend to put an author's note warning these is late in a category where sex is expected quickly (i.e., not Romance or LS). Late to me is pushing 10K in. Some people might say if it is off the first page (roughly 3.5K in).

 

[THBGato]

After all, we are here to read about the sex.

Don't assume that. I suspect it depends on category. I imagine - though I'm making an assumption here - that readers in anal, erotic couplings and group are here for the sex. For Romance, Sci Fi and Lesbian (and maybe Mature?) this is less true.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

AS others have said, it depends on the story. Waking up in Paradise is about 13K words and starts like this:

"Moaning softly, as the man nestled behind me gently slipped his cock back into my ass isn't exactly how I thought I'd wake up on my first morning in Paradise, but I wasn't complaining. Rick had spent most of last night teaching me what a wonderful thing being with another man could be. That was something else I never thought would happen."

Mary Janes in just over 21K and there's no sex until the next to last page.

They both got a red H.

 

[Britva415]

I wonder, “Am I getting to the sex fast enough?”

Is the "earlier" stuff clearly pointing toward the sex?

Is stuff happening which is leading the story in that direction?

Is the not-sex stuff compelling all by itself, without the sex happening yet?

Can you state the reasons why the earlier stuff makes the sex stuff better or more satisfying when it finally does happen?

Does the expanded scenery contribute to the sexual experience when it happens? Does how the characters relate to each other create any stakes in the sexual experience, stakes which would be absent if you hadn't introduced them via those extra interpersonal relations?

As long as it doesn't seem like an unnecessarily random peripheral story or sub-plot which is just getting in the way of the actual erotica, you're probably getting to the sex fast enough. And I don't mean to say that the story should only be about the sex and the erotica, or course a story can have more going on than that, but, if all you're doing is adding extra description and if in all of that there is no other plot or events which are compelling, then maybe trim some of it out.

Not everything has to be a Chekov's Gun but understanding that principle can really help with the kind of focus you're looking for.

 

[Britva415]

What you find yourself wanting to write is a plot, i.e. a reason for the characters to have sex. The sex scene(s) should be where the plot leads the characters to have sex.

Yeah. I found it rather telling that OP didn't mention "plot" at all - they were motivated to add extra description, not events or plot beats.

@WestCin as long as every page, every paragraph is recognizably part of a story, where stuff happens, and is not just impressionistic prose for mere atmosphere's sake, you're probably good.

Or maybe that's just me. There clearly are successful pieces which are very impressionistic and have no action at all other than some sex embedded within a dense atmosphere. In which case I would still say - atmospheric writing like that would still need to be good enough to be compelling all by itself, with or without any sex, or, it would need to build the eroticism so that it serves the sex which the piece is about.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Yeah. I found it rather telling that OP didn't mention "plot" at all - they were motivated to add extra description, not events or plot beats.

@WestCin as long as every page, every paragraph is recognizably part of a story, where stuff happens, and is not just impressionistic prose for mere atmosphere's sake, you're probably good.

Or maybe that's just me. There clearly are successful pieces which are very impressionistic and have no action at all other than some sex embedded within a dense atmosphere. In which case I would still say - atmospheric writing like that would still need to be good enough to be compelling all by itself, with or without any sex, or, it would need to build the eroticism so that it serves the sex which the piece is about.

I've played around with that sort of impressionistic prose-poetry. It's beyond my skill set. I don't think many writers, even very good ones, can pull it off, and the risk of falling flat on your face and embarrassing yourself is very high.

 

[WestCin]

Thanks for the feedback.
There is a plot to my stories and descriptions of settings, moods, and actions that I feel add to the story moving forward.
I do make an effort to build up to the sex and gradually add in sexual elements that add to sexual tension or as foreplay for lack of a better term.
Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Britva415]

I've played around with that sort of impressionistic prose-poetry. It's beyond my skill set. I don't think many writers, even very good ones, can pull it off, and the risk of falling flat on your face and embarrassing yourself is very high.

I feel it only works if it either is actual poetry, or it's directly in service of an actual plot.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I have stories here where there's no sex in the first 10k words. It hasn't been a problem.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I have stories here where there's no sex in the first 10k words. It hasn't been a problem.

107,000+ views
4.85 rating
Contest winner

No sex.

 

[Jorunn]

I've played around with that sort of impressionistic prose-poetry. It's beyond my skill set. I don't think many writers, even very good ones, can pull it off, and the risk of falling flat on your face and embarrassing yourself is very high.

At the last minute, I cobbled together several ideas for nude scenes and snuck a story under the Nude Day contest wire. One of the scenes was in Claude Monet’s Gardens (a famous Impressionist painter). I threw in some poorly done prose-poetry and fell flat on my face. I had that story removed. I can do better.

I am finishing a complete re-write (I kept only the flowers). Heavy on romance, lots of well crafted prose-poetry, flirtation, nature, French idioms, and floral metaphors. “Love Blooms in Monet’s Garden” coming - when it is ready!

 

[SimonDoom]

I would second what MelissaBaby said, and offer as well that the best guide is for you to ask yourself, "What turns YOU on?" I think it's the best way to write erotica. Not everybody will share your taste. But some will, and your best chance to reach and connect with readers is to stay true to what turns you on.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Let the characters decide. I'm doing one now that's almost 7k words so far, and no one's gotten naked yet! Just write it and let the story tell you where the sex goes. Don't worry about readers expectations. For every reader who gets bored is another who loves the slow burn.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

The best time is when you feel is the right timing for the story that you wish to tell.

If you want to know when is the best time that most of the readers want, in most categories, as soon as possible and for as long as possible. If you want to pander, go by that, but if you truly want to tell your story, ignore that.

 

[StillStunned]

Last year, I published my first story. I enjoyed reading erotic literature, and Inthought I would give it a try. I also wanted to try my hand at writing.

As my writing progressed, I found that I wanted to expand on setting the scenery, how characters reacted to each other, and work towards the sexual encounter.

So, now I wonder, “Am I getting to the sex fast enough?”

After all, we are here to read about the sex.

We're here to read about sex, but sometimes - like in real life - anticipation or familiarity makes the sex even better. I have stories that open with a sex scene, or have one within a few hundred words. I also have stories where it takes a few thousand words. In one WIP, there's not even any groping for more than 5k words, and the first real sex will be closer to 9k.

Different stories require different pacing. It all depends what story you're trying to tell.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I have stories here where there's no sex in the first 10k words. It hasn't been a problem.

I have stories here where there's no sex in the entire 75K words. It hasn't been a problem.