Comments on: Sexual Tension: It's all in your head

By: Writing the Sex Scene | Writers In The Storm

Writing the Sex Scene | Writers In The Storm — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 11:01:15 +0000

[…] I wrote a blog here at WITS about how to put sexual tension in your romance novel. But it felt like only half the story. Sexual tension often leads to…you guessed it…sex. Not […]

By: Writing tips! | Taylor Grace

Writing tips! | Taylor Grace — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 14:48:25 +0000

[…] For those of us who write romance, this is a great one to add some spice to our novels. Writing good chemistry and sexual tension are […]

By: ProfeJMarie (Janet Rundquist)

ProfeJMarie (Janet Rundquist) — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 13:11:24 +0000

"I think my favorite scenes in any romance are the “getting to know you” scenes:" Me too - especially when it feels fun and natural and moves the story forward (and not just the relationship). When I compare 2 romance novels I read recently, one does this bit so skillfully and what I was missing from the other was this logical and fun "getting to know you" bit. So much seemed mundane rather than blending with story and character. *How* the characters get to know each other is very important. I'll also chime in with agreeing about #3. I love when a character points out a particular physical trait in his/her counterpart because even if it might not be my particular attractor, I'm suddenly right there with that character in watching for it throughout the novel.

By: sjmn60

sjmn60 — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:35:59 +0000

Susan, I'll be using these pointers when I go through the sexual tension scenes in my WIP, esp. one that's a 'bad' one…I'm sure I can improve them a bit, thanks to your notes. Thanks. Great post.

By: Susan Squires

Susan Squires — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:24:18 +0000

Reading replies here. Sharla Rae, couldn't agree with you more, and I'm right with Deb Herbert too. And Holly? Love "bad" sex scenes. They give you something to recover from. Excruciating to write, of course. But it can be worth the pain....

By: debherbert2013

debherbert2013 — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 02:30:15 +0000

I love the tension when a character debates showing their vulnerability to the potential lover.

By: susancyarina

susancyarina — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 21:15:32 +0000

From Susan to susan -I hope that looks all right because the leave your comments is overtypoing. It's funny how these blogs will come up just as I am thinking about them. Seems almost anything can up the tension once you have established your characters. I seem to write in series. I simply think that way. why? I remember one of my favorite authors encouraging me to. On another note she wrote how the hair on her hero's legs glinted in the sun while he lazed on the roof he was repairing, listening with interest to her questions. It probably helped that earlier she'd noticed how nicely tanned his legs looked in the khaki cargo shorts...so, if we can sprinkle in details just as we see them in our mind's eye as the story unfolds your story with be all set for the tightening of the tension.

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:33:39 +0000

In reply to Alanna Lucas. Awww, Thanks, Alanna!

By: Susan Squires

Susan Squires — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 19:28:00 +0000

Glad you are finding this helpful. Actually, writing this post also came at a perfect time for me too, as I edit my next book. We often know these things, but it helps to see it all put together in one place. I'm thinking about doing a post on sex scenes. I have opinions (of course!)
Susan

By: Alanna Lucas

Alanna Lucas — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 18:01:20 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. You do an awesome job highlighting those details :-)