Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Fantasy


Today I have been mostly thinking about sex.

Okay, now I've got your undivided attention let me elaborate.

Sex in books. Do they, or don't they?
I am at a particularly moist part of a chapter and the scene can go one of two ways. Do I allude to the sex, or go all out, full frontal so to speak? The life and times of my characters allow for a very heavy duty romp, but is this the right thing to do?

My personal choice is allusion. In real life I find certain clothing/fabric far more erotic than full nudity, and a male friend recently stated that thongs were the most disgusting thing that had ever been invented. I can understand this, why tie a piece of string around a chocolate cake?

How much does fantasy need to be fed? How much do you need to get the picture or am I just giving you a cheap thrill? There is also a possibility that I could end up with a Bad Sex in Writing Award if I don't do it properly.

So, what to do? My instincts are leaning towards the big hint, but my naughty side is itching for a little minxy action!
It could be fun and I could wipe it all out afterwards as if it never happened. Maybe I should lie back and enjoy it - after all I am a fantasy writer!

.

36 comments:

Roberta said...

Oh! In my humble opinion, drag it out. NOTHING is worth more for the waiting.

Roberta said...

By the way: Does he do windows?

Curious and innocent minds want to know.

Anonymous said...

let 'em romp, minxy .......but then again, i've always been the more, ummm, impatient type .....

Anonymous said...

ps ...i like the way your guy mops ...hands and knees -oooooooohhhhh my!

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

I think an allusion to it is the best way to go.
Friends of mine who are guys have told me that while they always appreciate a nude woman, it's the ones who are dressed well in something that teases but leaves the serious stuff to the imagination that they love the most.


Good luck!

Scarlett & V.

Unknown said...

He does all sorts, Roberta. But he's mine and my windows need cleaning all the time!

Patience is a virtue, Red Dirt - but then again I think it was the nuns that made that up.

Totally agree, Scarlett. Leave it to the imaginati.....mmmmm.

Mellifluous Dark said...

Difficult to write a sex scene (I find, at any rate) and get the balance between sensuality and sheer description right.

It starts to become a wee bit Jackie Collins (I imagine) to go in heavily on the whole description scenario. Having said this, I've included a sex scene in my story but I do cringe when I read it, and always tweak it on re-reading.

Anyway, I digress. Maybe a bit of allusion followed by a snapshot of gratuitous explosion?

Anonymous said...

I wish my husband looked like that.

Unknown said...

Jesus Bloody Christ - just noticed that he is cleaning the floor with 'Spunk'!

MH said...

I had a similar problem three chapters ago, when the main character was drunk and accosting of a young lady. Because he was drunk I got away with:

'And she said something like, "do you want to have sex with me?" and I said "yes," and then she sort of licked my ear and we scattered her kitchen utensils and a very expensive looking pepper-grinder off her kitchen side and we did, for twenty minutes, and it was okay.'

Yodood said...

Today I have been mostly thinking about sex.

It must be in the air, I think we had a virtual simultaneous syntax. Check my latest post.

Since words are symbols, it is all allusion. What you strive for is art that evokes the visceral reality of pressure swollen blood veins with vocabulary about velvet.

My favorite of all time, by e. e. cummings, (my favorite name as well):

Oh, wet pet.

Taffiny said...

My first thought "must be the time difference" as it is 9 am here, and I am thinking of no such thing, but oh, you mean in writing...

I'm going more for the sensual, but not the actual act in my story, because the story itself dictates that. Does one way work better with the over-all tone of your story?

I don't know, it is an interesting question (decision for you to make). Because on the one hand it doesn't change the story, what happens, but it does change the feel of the book.

My personal reading tends towards Jane Austen, so...

Unknown said...

Matthew, you have captured the moment (nearly) and your attention to detail is superb - I only have one little reality check to offer concerning the 'twenty minutes'.

Ah, G&G, but do people really want to hear about the pressure swollen wet pets (I adore that) or would they prefer an un-mucky heaving bosom, or two? Is it right to lay it bare across the pages or do I cover myself modestly like the good girl that I am?

Melli would like an explosive finale, Mem needs to get out more and Taff is going for the disinfectant. Help!

Unknown said...

Tantalise and titillate. Or just write the story you're meant to write and stop fannying about. What did that muse of yours just say?!

Unknown said...

If you've mostly been thinking about sex, why have you put that picture up?

Unknown said...

Oh write it both ways, so you can have the fun and make the allusion and then maybe you can mix both. If it turns out to be bad sex writing you can post it and give us a laugh ;)

Unknown said...

The Muse can't talk right now, Vanilla, she's getting it on with the hired help.

Umm, because I am shallower than a shallow thing, John G?

Well, if you think I'm here just for your sexual gratification between the pages, Missy V, you can think again.

MommyHeadache said...

Build up the tension that's the main thing, have them almost having sex, having them groping each other only to be interrupted...then when you do eventually write the scene the reader will be panting and yes, make it graphic and squelchy please!

Re your picture, while I do love the fantasy of men as slaves I simply can't get aroused by thouse rubber gloves which invariably make your hands stink all rubbery when you pull them off (the gloves I mean)

Unknown said...

There are many who would disagree about your last statement, Miss Emma.

Unknown said...

Love your new banner, minx ;)

I'm for the allusive sex, rather than the squishy, slishy, ram-by-ram, ugh-by-ugh, sort of sex...

Marie said...

Just have fun writing the scene - you can always edit later. That's what I do anyway.

Beach Bum said...

I think you should include photographs - high resolution. I'll be happy to edit anything you have to proffer.

John said...

Don't decide in advance. Have yourself a wallbanger and write the scene with cooling--not cold--blood. Edit right then. It'll work out.

The collision of meat is basically uninteresting, and explicitniess has the further disadvantage of limiting your appropriate audience.

Think I'll eat an apple.

L.M.Noonan said...

Well, in my humble opinion-not too many have got it right...from a womans' point of view. So it's a tough call. Whatever you do maintain that marvellous sense of humour you always write with. Whatever eventuates, I'm sure it will be suitably minxy

Anonymous said...

I have no idea - I can't write sex for toffee - I like reading it though, so maybe it should be included, but then you have to chose the words you use for - well .. sex parts... hard to be coy then isn't it?

By the way can yer pink friend pop round mine for a bit later?

Debi said...

Your fantasy will be fantastic (see that clever thing I've just done there?) whatever decision you make.

John suggests a wallbanger. That's a drink BTW ...

Unknown said...

Thank you, Cailleach. A bit silly, really, going for the Aud look seeing as my hair is more Heapburn than Hepburn!

I'm having fun, Marie and no, BB, include photo's? The very thought.
Tut - (have you gotny?).

John, I am glad that Debi pointed out that a Wallbanger is a drink (I am a little dense about cocktails)- I was wondering. I am all for research, of course, but...

Btw, no snacking on this blog, thank you.

Unknown said...

One has to laugh, LM, especially during a sex scene!

Maybe that's your problem, Mutley. Try replacing the toffee with something a little more seductive.
And names for sex parts? I think we discussed this on the blog a while ago.

Update:- No snacks and no throbbing members!


Debi, this is my fantasy - what are you all doing here?

Anonymous said...

As long as she doesn't gasp as he enters her with his pulsing manhood, a tortured moan escaping his lips as he gives into his primal urges whilst she screams in a never-felt-before mixture of pleasure and pain, I think that you should go balls out (pun intended) with the sex scene. Sex in literature is good.
Sex is good!
The words "nipple" and "tweak" (in no particular order) should definitely be there ....

Anonymous said...

Oh, definitely write it, and then see if the world deserves to read it...

Unknown said...

'Nipple' and 'tweak' are a given, Trollop. Along with 'masterful' and 'love grotto' - I think I may have got it sussed.

The world will get what it is given, Leslie, and if I want a 'manroot' in there then let it be so.....

John said...

A wallbanger is not a drink. That's a Harvey Wallbanger. A wallbanger is a cerebroskeletomuscular explosion. Be careful...

Unknown said...

Oh, you mean a knee trembler - why didn't you say so!

Wanders of into the distance, shaking head that her blog has sunk to such depths......

Vesper said...

Suggestion is far more erotic to me than explicit description, in books or movies, though every now and then I feel the need to write a very detailed scene - just for myself.
I'm sure you've had your mind made up about this before writing this post! I bet you just wanted to tease us and have fun reading our comments! :-) :-) :-)

Unknown said...

Heh.

basest said...

my unfunny and honest opinion: if the sex is well written, then it may be a good idea. Even good erotica can sound silly when taken out of the context of it's genre. So...go ahead and write it...enjoy writing it...and then read it after the excitement is over, and see if it still turns you on.

...and if you decide to cut it, post it here for all of us to read.