Where is suspense in a sex story?

[CharleyH]

If in chapters, I try always to leave a reader in suspense or at least turned on at the end of one. In the midst of a short story, I find a single pivotal sentance goes a long way, not only for transition, but for the chance to change pace from build up to get off.

How do you create a sense of suspense in sex writing?

Talk away.

 

[TheEarl]

If in chapters, I try always to leave a reader in suspense or at least turned on at the end of one. In the midst of a short story, I find a single pivotal sentance goes a long way, not only for transition, but for the chance to change pace from build up to get off.

How do you create a sense of suspense in sex writing?

Talk away.

By having my characters get horny in situations where they can't do anything about it. Or they do, but geti nterrupted.

The Earl

 

[M-Y-Erotica]

So far I have tried to make it unclear 1) who the protagonist will end up with and 2) when and how. I also like to keep disappointment a real possibiity so that we know it could still go wrong.

But all my stories are fairly short - 15 pages or so in Word.

 

[mack_the_knife]

Well, the suspense could be non-erotic in nature within an erotic story, relying upon more standard plot elements.

 

[Recidiva]

If in chapters, I try always to leave a reader in suspense or at least turned on at the end of one. In the midst of a short story, I find a single pivotal sentance goes a long way, not only for transition, but for the chance to change pace from build up to get off.

How do you create a sense of suspense in sex writing?

Talk away.

If you have characters that do unexpected things and that's something that the reader picks up on, that's what's suspenseful. "What are they going to do next?" When you can't tell what someone is going to do, when it's something completely out of the reader's experience or something that they think they know what will happen but you keep swapping out expectations on them, that's suspenseful.

Writing people that have complex motivations and rich histories and experiences, along with the willingness to think unusual thoughts and take unexpected actions, I think is something that's inherently sexy to me, so they go together.

It doesn't have to be "whodunit" it can be "whydoesit"

 

[Stella_Omega]

If you have characters that do unexpected things and that's something that the reader picks up on, that's what's suspenseful. "What are they going to do next?" When you can't tell what someone is going to do, when it's something completely out of the reader's experience or something that they think they know what will happen but you keep swapping out expectations on them, that's suspenseful.

Writing people that have complex motivations and rich histories and experiences, along with the willingness to think unusual thoughts and take unexpected actions, I think is something that's inherently sexy to me, so they go together.

It doesn't have to be "whodunit" it can be "whydoesit"

We really have to stop meeting like this
I used to have two types of stories- one was simply what they did, couched in terms as strong and unequivocal as possible. The other slowly became- "whydoesit" with a side helping of- "willwegotojailforit?" or "willwerespectourselvesinthemorning?"
Now I'm adding in some outside elements, for maybe the first time...

 

[CharleyH]

If you have characters that do unexpected things and that's something that the reader picks up on, that's what's suspenseful. "What are they going to do next?" When you can't tell what someone is going to do, when it's something completely out of the reader's experience or something that they think they know what will happen but you keep swapping out expectations on them, that's suspenseful.

Writing people that have complex motivations and rich histories and experiences, along with the willingness to think unusual thoughts and take unexpected actions, I think is something that's inherently sexy to me, so they go together.

It doesn't have to be "whodunit" it can be "whydoesit"

I think I'm in love with you! Not asking who dunnit though, asking how you create sexual intensity/ suspense

 

[CharleyH]

I used to have two types of stories- one was simply what they did, couched in terms as strong and unequivocal as possible. The other slowly became- "whydoesit" with a side helping of- "willwegotojailforit?" or "willwerespectourselvesinthemorning?"
Now I'm adding in some outside elements, for maybe the first time...

How outside, as you define, are "willwegotojailforit?" or willwerespectourselvesinthemorning?"?? Seems sort of typical to me. So the suspense is?

 

[Recidiva]

I think I'm in love with you! Not asking who dunnit though, asking how you create sexual intensity/ suspense

Uh, well, check out my story "Coffee" and that might show something about my philosophy sorta thingy.

Suspense is about mystery or conflict. Part of mystery when writing for me isn't actually plotting much of this out. Short stories can just sorta happen as you go. I had no idea what these guys were gonna do. Sometimes the lack of conflict when people think there should be one...and the expectation that there should be one.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think I'm in love with you! Not asking who dunnit though, asking how you create sexual intensity/ suspense

I try to describe peripheral things, quite often. I mean, we all know what sex looks like, I just can't write it over and over. I write about the grain of sand clinging to her face, or his bared teeth and hissing breath. Or his hands, falling limp by his side.. I try to stay away from dialogue in a fuck scene unless it's actual words that have actual meanings!
And the afterwards. People checking to see if their partner is okay, or telling them that they love them forever and ever- even if they don't mean it, and get slapped down for saying it- sprinkles a little salt on a sex scene, IMO

 

[CharleyH]

Uh, well, check out my story "Coffee" and that might show something about my philosophy sorta thingy.

Suspense is about mystery or conflict. Part of mystery when writing for me isn't actually plotting much of this out. Short stories can just sorta happen as you go. I had no idea what these guys were gonna do. Sometimes the lack of conflict when people think there should be one...and the expectation that there should be one.

LOL not asking for stories, otherwise I'd have promoted my own, but ok ... Is not sexual suspense about the same as any story? A story needs a beginning and middle, climax and end. A short story? Erotic or porn? Should hold these same elements, no? Otherwise, it's just really dull, no?

 

[Stella_Omega]

LOL not asking for stories, otherwise I'd have promoted my own, but ok ... Is not sexual suspense about the same as any story? A story needs a beginning and middle, climax and end. A short story? Erotic or porn? Should hold these same elements, no? Otherwise, it's just really dull, no?

depends if it pushes your buttons or not...
If you happen to have a fetish, plot necessities fly out the window. Just strap that horse bridle thingie on, and awaaay we go!

 

[Recidiva]

LOL not asking for stories, otherwise I'd have promoted my own, but ok ... Is not sexual suspense about the same as any story? A story needs a beginning and middle, climax and end. A short story? Erotic or porn? Should hold these same elements, no? Otherwise, it's just really dull, no?

Everything that follows a mold gets pretty moldy. A painting has colors in it, but how they're used is the point. You can't break every piece of art down always, or start with the colors of the rainbow and just decide to use them all without a vision. That's like saying that all paintings are basically a rainbow when broken down into their elements. It's how it works when it's not broken down that counts in the end.

 

[rgraham666]

If we're talking simple stroke, I do it by leading a character, usually the woman (hey, I'm a guy and these are my fantasies) up to the point of orgasm and not letting her past it. Keeping her, and I hope the reader, at the very edge.

I think I did this the best in my cell phone story.

In longer pieces, these are real stories, any suspense is going to be a character building exercise, or the reward for the character's actions up to this point.

 

[CharleyH]

depends if it pushes your buttons or not...
If you happen to have a fetish, plot necessities fly out the window. Just strap that horse bridle thingie on, and awaaay we go!

Especially when you have a fetish! Isn't getting off, the climax, the ultimate of pleasure? Fetish has lot too: feeling it, loving it, obsessing and getting off . Hm, I see who you are LOL.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Especially when you have a fetish! Isn't getting off, the climax, the ultimate of pleasure? Fetish has lot too: feeling it, loving it, obsessing and getting off . Hm, I see who you are LOL.

"Hmm, I see who you are" That's it! that definitely gets me off.
And it is one thing I try to do, I think, in my writing. Expose something that was hidden, about a character.

interesting....

 

[McKenna]

Your question has me thinking about the stories I have submitted here to Lit, Charlie.

In one story, I made it unlcear that the two main characters would actually hook up. I did make it clear that they were attracted to each other, but for a few paragraphs the reader doesn't know if or at least when they two will eventually do the nasty.

Suspense in my other two stories involves small power struggles, some of it physical, most of it mental. The suspense comes with two strong characters meeting head on and the outcome -however brief- remains unclear.

Is that what you were asking?


The story I am currently working on involves two strong characters who will have some sort of power struggle as well. Hmm... that must be a favorite theme of mine.

 

[CharleyH]

depends if it pushes your buttons or not...
If you happen to have a fetish, plot necessities fly out the window. Just strap that horse bridle thingie on, and awaaay we go!

I missed your previous response in reading the thread, and there a was a grain of something there. I will adress it, sorry I am too tired at the mo'.

Thanks all! Keep writing here or otherwise.

 

[Matadore]

If in chapters, I try always to leave a reader in suspense or at least turned on at the end of one. In the midst of a short story, I find a single pivotal sentance goes a long way, not only for transition, but for the chance to change pace from build up to get off.

How do you create a sense of suspense in sex writing?

Talk away.

Were you intending to end the chapter with an unfinished sex scene? Now there is a thought to get the ol' juices flowing.

 

[togitc]

Comedic elements work for me. I like to build up the moment before sex like this is the moment that will change the world. The guy hits orgasm instantly. Not only does the scene stop there but the girl is still up there aroused.

Drag out the scene between them with conversation and awkward moments. Maybe have a day or more go by just to make things really tense between them. Then have a them hook up in a broom closet.

 

[JamesSD]

Suspense can be tough in a sex story. The reader knows someone is gonna fuck. And a lot of times the category, title and description give it away. If they don't, you'll often upset a lot of your readers. I've seen stories with wonderful twists get bombed in the scores because the readers didn't like the unexpected direction the story took.

Then again, think about Hollywood romantic comedies. Generally it's clear from the previews who the female protagonist is going to end up with. But those movies succeed when the journey is enjoyable and well executed, even if you know where it's heading. Build-up goes a long way too.

 

[cantdog]

My stories which allow for suspense are the longer ones. You say chapter works, so we're on the same page so far.

I did write a short where the female POV character is trapped via a sort of blackmail situation into more and more degrading things, until she rebels. But I didn't exploit it for suspense, really. No one got to wonder when she would rebel. I depicted the situation which got her into the mess, and the scene wherein she extricates herself, only, leaving the reader to connect the two. All the many encounters which lay between these, wherein, I tell people, the scenes become more and more exploitative, are referred to but not shown graphically. I did this because the length of my stories seemed to be getting in the way. I wanted a short tale.

Only in the longer works did I do any suspense. In one, which is mostly a farce, the male protag has to mature. He has to see that he needs to change and become more serious. He also has to do this before he drives away the female lead with his callowness. So I set up a sort of race between his maturation and her attachment to him; the idea is, once she becomes involved with him really intimately, she will see him for what he is. He has to fix up what he is to meet that deadline. Only at the very end do I allow the reader to know that he will win that race. As suspense, it's not very suspenseful, I guess.

Tension in a power struggle? As Charley says, that's all very well, but any suspense has to come from how you write it.

I don't think most writing here is really very suspenseful. We don't really aim to keep the reader on the edge of his seat. Conflict and resolution? Oh, yes. Of course. You hardly would have a story at all without it. Suspense is another, more subtle matter.

I tried some in my first story here. It's listed last on my memberpage, because they alphabetize by title. There, we have competing criminalities and some real suspenseful moments! But I was not a great writer, by any stretch, and I didn't really exploit the potential for suspense.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The story that- I thought- would only take me a couple of days to work up- is giving me this problem. The first part had a nice outside device, the couple couldn't leave a public place in order to consummate their desires.... Well, I got them out of the kitchen.
Now, I want a similar device, to liven up the second half. Some little mystery or adventure, that gets in their way, otherwise, it's just the horizontal bop *yawn*

 

[elsol]

*burp*

In AMR, he doesn't get the girl.

You only have to do it once and POW! the reader can NEVER be sure.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[The_Fool]

The suspense is in whether or not I'm going to finish the damn thing...