Writing explicit scenes in fantasy

[JandenHale]

I believe that it's all up to you and what you want in your story. If you try to limit yourself and confine yourself to what you believe everyone else out there wants you and your story to be, you're losing the battle. Your story won't come off as genuine as it normally would. I think Joe Rogan said it best when he said he was lucky enough to be in a portion of the industry where he could be genuine. He started at the beginning being himself and his fan base grew from there. That's where celebs get into trouble, by trying to portray themselves a certain way that's disingenuous to who they are. Then when they step outside the "socially acceptable" zone, everyone gets pissed because they aren't who we all thought they were, or they didn't play by the rules. So write the story you want to write, regardless. Set your own rules. "Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

The trickiest part is keeping the laptop steady.

She doesn't like it when I call her a "laptop", even when she is on top of my lap.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

funny story about that... no, wait... cant share. if i take out the bits i cant say the rest doesnt make sense.
to sum up, there is a way to do that correctly. you need your partners consent, and only write after the cool-down-cuddle.

If they see you reach for pen and paper after the cool-down-cuddle, they might think you're about to give them their score out of ten (and when did this become an Olympic sport?)

 

[Warren_Paul]

So shaking my head as I read your posts David.

everyone gets pissed because they aren't who we all thought they were, or they didn't play by the rules.

Yep, that's the thing to watch out for I think. If your going to write sex scenes then do so from the beginning, or at least write in a style where the reader won't be shocked to find them later on.

If you write books that are absent of sexual tension, don't all the sudden add sex scenes halfway through the series, because readers won't be expecting it. Just like people don't expect Disney celebrities to grow up to be 'real people' because they are so used to them being the perfect role models for their kids.

"Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss.

Never thought we would be getting advice about writing sex scenes from Dr Seuss.

 

[JandenHale]

Yep, that's the thing to watch out for I think. If your going to write sex scenes then do so from the beginning, or at least write in a style where the reader won't be shocked to find them later on.

Good thinkin. I think you probably nailed it on the head there. I think that's what it boils down to. And too, I never would have thought Dr. Seuss would be applicable to something like this either.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Never thought we would be getting advice about writing sex scenes from Dr Seuss.

And too, I never would have thought Dr. Seuss would be applicable to something like this either.

Next thing, you guys will be trying to tell me Dr Seuss isn't a real doctor...

Seriously (hey, I can do serious), that's it. Unless there is some big life-changing event, then a character (fictional or "real" celebrity) should not be suddenly acting so completely different from the way we've seen them. For Disney and similar child stars, that life-changing event is probably puberty, followed by the end of contractual obligations to maintain the squeaky-clean image.

But the reader or fan has to see the life-changing event, or they just won't understand why their beloved character/celebrity suddenly went off the rails.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Next thing, you guys will be trying to tell me Dr Seuss isn't a real doctor...

What! Dr Seuss isn't a real doctor?

...

...

All these years... I've been duped! That's it, I'm never reading Dr Seuss again!


Yes, life changing event... as long as your not writing YA

I think this is what lost Laurell Hamilton a lot of readers. Even though there was always sexual tension in her books, and the two sex scenes that were featured in her first few books were extremely explicit, when she decided to give the main character a condition that required her to have sex all the time people got sick of it. Because the main character was very moral and a bit of a prude leading up to that point the author pretty much destroyed her.

Of course the ardeur would fall into that life changing event catagory, the fans still didn't like it because the sex scenes lost all meaning.

 

[David Evil Overlord]

Now, I haven't read her work. But I could see a prude, with a condition that requires her to have sex all the time, working great in terms of conflict. If done well.

What little I have read of Paranormal Romance genre makes me think it probably wasn't done well at all.

 

[Warren_Paul]

Now, I haven't read her work. But I could see a prude, with a condition that requires her to have sex all the time, working great in terms of conflict. If done well.

What little I have read of Paranormal Romance genre makes me think it probably wasn't done well at all.

It wasn't.... by far. Half the scenes were actually rather gross.