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Sex!

A. E. Lowan

Forum Mom
Leadership
I'm sorry if I overreacted Chessie. Thanks for the explanation :) I see how my words could have been interpreted that way. I spent the better part of this morning going back over them. I really was just trying to support you and Lowen, who I know both write romance, and who have shown in many ways that these scenes are often the best way of approaching your character's inner conflict. I honestly meant no disrespect to you or your genre. I'm sorry if did not articulate myself properly and put out the wrong information. You are correct in that I don't know everything about every singe genre, though I do study, and I do try :)
Helio, if you want to have fun sometime, there is a very old collection of essays, if you can get your hands on it, that does an excellent job of breaking down romance as a genre, from language usage to tropes.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Ro...75608&sr=8-25&keywords=how+to+write+a+romance

One of the reasons my language tends to be a little flowery is because my mother was a romance writer and raised me on this book, and others like this one...

https://www.amazon.com/Romance-Writ...&sr=1-1&keywords=romance+writer's+phrase+book
 

Chessie2

Staff
Article Team
I'm sorry if I overreacted Chessie. Thanks for the explanation :) I see how my words could have been interpreted that way. I spent the better part of this morning going back over them. I really was just trying to support you and Lowen, who I know both write romance, and who have shown in many ways that these scenes are often the best way of approaching your character's inner conflict. I honestly meant no disrespect to you or your genre. I'm sorry if did not articulate myself properly and put out the wrong information. You are correct in that I don't know everything about every singe genre, though I do study, and I do try :)
No worries! I apologize for coming across rude. I'm sorry! <3 I should have known you wouldn't say anything like that. I misread. :D

I loved that quote, A.E. Lowan!
 

A. E. Lowan

Forum Mom
Leadership
Here's a question on topic. I've finally arrived at the chapter where we get to have fun sexy time, and I have a lot of story going on with both characters - one's never done this before, the other has never let themselves be emotionally vulnerable before. So, to head hop, or to pick the one with the most story happening and stick with their POV? I normally head hop very little, but I've been known to do it when a scene calls for it. What do you guys think? Is head hopping distracting, or does it open up the perspective?
 

Svrtnsse

Staff
Article Team
Here's a question on topic. I've finally arrived at the chapter where we get to have fun sexy time, and I have a lot of story going on with both characters - one's never done this before, the other has never let themselves be emotionally vulnerable before. So, to head hop, or to pick the one with the most story happening and stick with their POV? I normally head hop very little, but I've been known to do it when a scene calls for it. What do you guys think? Is head hopping distracting, or does it open up the perspective?
Spontaneously, and without knowing any of the details of either the characters or your writing style I'd say to avoid head hopping in this case. On the top of my head I can think of two reasons.
1. The characters are already very close to each other physically and mentally and it may be tricky to keep track of who's head you're in.
2. You may be able to play up the tension between the characters if the mind of one of them is hidden from the reader. There may be an element of uncertainty which could be used to increase the tension in the scene.
 
Here's a question on topic. I've finally arrived at the chapter where we get to have fun sexy time, and I have a lot of story going on with both characters - one's never done this before, the other has never let themselves be emotionally vulnerable before. So, to head hop, or to pick the one with the most story happening and stick with their POV? I normally head hop very little, but I've been known to do it when a scene calls for it. What do you guys think? Is head hopping distracting, or does it open up the perspective?

I'm not sure about your question, but this is exactly the type of thing I mean when I talk about exploring vulnerability between characters.

I mean, personally I don't like head hopping, and even if we don't get into both characters' POV's we still have limited insight into what's going on with them emotionally.
 

Chessie2

Staff
Article Team
I'm sure your stories are hot enough as they are already. :p
Writing sex isn't about being explicit, but you totally get that. In fact, I find some of the best love scenes are the ones where the author has you read between the lines.
 

A. E. Lowan

Forum Mom
Leadership
I just finished the scene, and I ended up head hopping. So far, I'm pretty pleased with it. The language is consistent with the characters and my writing partners love it. Feeling very accomplished! lol
 

pmmg

Myth Weaver
Possible is it?

Well, Dragons do it hotter, I don't know about finesse. But if it leads to head hopping, well...maybe I've been doing it wrong.
 

A. E. Lowan

Forum Mom
Leadership
Deep POV is how I do it, and making transitions very clear.

Alerich glanced up and caught his reflection in the mirror. Well-bred, good-looking. He knew what he looked like to women. Had used his looks to get his way for years. He knew why his father had sent him. His lip curled up with revulsion. “‘I pray you, do not fall in love with me, For I am falser than vows made in wine.’”

Winter paced the bathroom floor as she brushed her hip-length hair. What was she doing? She had never invited a man to bed before, had only kissed Cian before tonight, and had only the most clinical idea of what came next.

Just like that, only with sexy bits. :D
 

LWFlouisa

Troubadour
I use fiction as a coping mechanism for personal tragedy, cause I literally have nobody else that cares. Why should I censor my writing for something nobody else will even read to begin with?

Whether that be fantasy culture or sex, if that's your thing to write about. Mine happens to revolve around it.
 
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