Comments on: Writing Hot…or Not http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:39:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Allison http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8501 Allison Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:51:35 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8501 Thanks Toni (whew) and I can hardly wait to check out your sex scene, it should be the most fun of any I've read! ;) BTW, gang, I got to read an advance copy of Toni's book and I'm almost as excited as she is about its release . . . it is fabulous. Thanks Toni (whew) and I can hardly wait to check out your sex scene, it should be the most fun of any I’ve read! ;)

BTW, gang, I got to read an advance copy of Toni’s book and I’m almost as excited as she is about its release . . . it is fabulous.

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8457 Jen Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:55:07 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8457 Natalie, what was your sister's answer???? It seems like everyone is saying the same thing--if sex fits, do it :-) Natalie, what was your sister’s answer????

It seems like everyone is saying the same thing–if sex fits, do it :-)

]]> By: Natalie http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8456 Natalie Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:51:56 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8456 Because I write suspense and mystery, the sex thing isn't as big an issue. For example, in W&S there isn't much sex at all, because it didn't have a lot to do with the story. But BCD DOES have a sex scene, because it was pivotal to the character's development and her decision to finally LIVE HER LIFE. In the book I just finished, there is a lot more sex, but again, it's about a woman grieving something lost and starting over. It all winds down to something my rather prudish younger sister said to me once. "Why do you have to write about sex anyway?" My answer: "Why do you have to HAVE it?" That's life, people. Most people don't go through it celibate. LOL. Because I write suspense and mystery, the sex thing isn’t as big an issue. For example, in W&S there isn’t much sex at all, because it didn’t have a lot to do with the story. But BCD DOES have a sex scene, because it was pivotal to the character’s development and her decision to finally LIVE HER LIFE. In the book I just finished, there is a lot more sex, but again, it’s about a woman grieving something lost and starting over.

It all winds down to something my rather prudish younger sister said to me once.

“Why do you have to write about sex anyway?”

My answer: “Why do you have to HAVE it?”

That’s life, people. Most people don’t go through it celibate. LOL.

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8455 Jen Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:51:39 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8455 Theresa, I'm with you on boring love scenes. In RS, it just depends for me. A RS I recently read was very graphic, but the scenes played into the hero and heroine's emotional issues. The heroine's issues were directly from the suspense plot so it all worked. Allison, particularly in RS, finding the right place for sex scenes is important, otherwise it'll drive the reader crazy thinking NOW? There's a killer at the front door and you're doing it NOW!! Of course, you know that already! Hey Toni, tab A into tab B is best left to sex ed :-) Theresa, I’m with you on boring love scenes. In RS, it just depends for me. A RS I recently read was very graphic, but the scenes played into the hero and heroine’s emotional issues. The heroine’s issues were directly from the suspense plot so it all worked.

Allison, particularly in RS, finding the right place for sex scenes is important, otherwise it’ll drive the reader crazy thinking NOW? There’s a killer at the front door and you’re doing it NOW!! Of course, you know that already!

Hey Toni, tab A into tab B is best left to sex ed :-)

]]> By: Karin http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8117 Karin Tue, 05 Sep 2006 04:00:30 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8117 :) Thanks, Toni. I loved writing those two battling all the way to bed. :) Thanks, Toni. I loved writing those two battling all the way to bed.

]]> By: toni mcgee causey http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8089 toni mcgee causey Tue, 05 Sep 2006 03:00:39 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8089 Allison, I thought yours were great, and in the right place. (I'm working on that same issue now in book 2; there is definitely going to be at least one hot sex scene... I just have to figure out where and how to keep it in character. I'm certain something is going to blow up or catch on fire.) Karin, yours worked extremely well in Hard Bodies; not only were they very well-written, but they were the point of the contention -- it was an issue that couple had to work out due to their past (without giving away too much here, I hope). I felt like they were each in their own private jail, emotionally, and until they were confronted with the other person and broke through those barriers to be with each other, they weren't going to ever be able to have the kind of life / love they both craved. Um, you know, I went back and looked at some books and realized I actually read all of those scenes when they're done well... it's the ones which seem out-of-character or more tab-A inserts in slot-B which gets boring. That doesn't seem to be a problem with the great writers in this group. ;) Allison, I thought yours were great, and in the right place. (I’m working on that same issue now in book 2; there is definitely going to be at least one hot sex scene… I just have to figure out where and how to keep it in character. I’m certain something is going to blow up or catch on fire.)

Karin, yours worked extremely well in Hard Bodies; not only were they very well-written, but they were the point of the contention — it was an issue that couple had to work out due to their past (without giving away too much here, I hope). I felt like they were each in their own private jail, emotionally, and until they were confronted with the other person and broke through those barriers to be with each other, they weren’t going to ever be able to have the kind of life / love they both craved.

Um, you know, I went back and looked at some books and realized I actually read all of those scenes when they’re done well… it’s the ones which seem out-of-character or more tab-A inserts in slot-B which gets boring. That doesn’t seem to be a problem with the great writers in this group. ;)

]]> By: Allison http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-8042 Allison Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:54:47 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-8042 I include sex scenes and some are better than others. For me it's not the writing the scene as much as finding an appropriate place for them to HAVE sex. I think THE PREY had a realistic and graphic sex scene that wasn't gratuitous where we learned a lot about both the hero and the heroine. THE HUNT had a very non-graphic love scene that was far more emotional and probably the hardest for me to write, though I think it worked the best. THE KILL didn't have to be there, I'm the first to admit, though the place of the scenes were appropriate for the story (after they rescued a victim but before the killer was caught.) It's funny but finding a place in SPEAK NO EVIL wasn't difficult because it fit the CHARACTERS more than anything else. It seemed far more comfortable and realistic and it's near the end of the book, but before the climax. It's a quieter love story than SEE NO EVIL which has far more sexual tension. It's really interesting to me how the books come out in the end. I think I write pretty "traditional" RS which for me focuses on the suspense and has one or two appropriate-to-the-character love scenes. I've had some readers say they loved my books, but wanted no sex scenes; others that wanted more sex scenes but less violence. Under the heading: can't please everyone . . . I include sex scenes and some are better than others. For me it’s not the writing the scene as much as finding an appropriate place for them to HAVE sex. I think THE PREY had a realistic and graphic sex scene that wasn’t gratuitous where we learned a lot about both the hero and the heroine. THE HUNT had a very non-graphic love scene that was far more emotional and probably the hardest for me to write, though I think it worked the best. THE KILL didn’t have to be there, I’m the first to admit, though the place of the scenes were appropriate for the story (after they rescued a victim but before the killer was caught.)

It’s funny but finding a place in SPEAK NO EVIL wasn’t difficult because it fit the CHARACTERS more than anything else. It seemed far more comfortable and realistic and it’s near the end of the book, but before the climax. It’s a quieter love story than SEE NO EVIL which has far more sexual tension.

It’s really interesting to me how the books come out in the end. I think I write pretty “traditional” RS which for me focuses on the suspense and has one or two appropriate-to-the-character love scenes.

I’ve had some readers say they loved my books, but wanted no sex scenes; others that wanted more sex scenes but less violence. Under the heading: can’t please everyone . . .

]]> By: Theresa http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-7997 Theresa Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:52:10 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-7997 I like a good sex/love scene. But there needs to be something to set it apart for me. It needs to charge the plot, set something up, open a can of worms. It needs to have some purpose. I also want emotion in it. Honest to god emotion. Not just simple basic instinct and lust-- but some sort of feeling that sets this person apart. That makes the moment special. I guess that's the romantic in me. To be honest, I find most love scenes boring anymore. I'll read the first one in a book and if it isn't different/evocative/something I'll skip the rest. I've read too many that are universal, you can take the hero/heroine out from book and and switch them with book B-- and other than the names the scene would still make sense. I think part of the reason I'm being drawn more and more to maintream RS is because the love scenes are scarce. Which is a good clue that I'm moving away from the traditional RS. I like a good sex/love scene.

But there needs to be something to set it apart for me. It needs to charge the plot, set something up, open a can of worms. It needs to have some purpose. I also want emotion in it. Honest to god emotion. Not just simple basic instinct and lust– but some sort of feeling that sets this person apart. That makes the moment special. I guess that’s the romantic in me.

To be honest, I find most love scenes boring anymore. I’ll read the first one in a book and if it isn’t different/evocative/something I’ll skip the rest. I’ve read too many that are universal, you can take the hero/heroine out from book and and switch them with book B– and other than the names the scene would still make sense. I think part of the reason I’m being drawn more and more to maintream RS is because the love scenes are scarce. Which is a good clue that I’m moving away from the traditional RS.

]]> By: Jen http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-7981 Jen Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:23:53 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-7981 Toni, it would be fun to read a scene where the guy is clueless as to what's going on :-) Like Jake, I like your description of "...crossing some sort of line of trust or acceptance or something rather than just the act." Karin, that's exactly the word--tiresome. It's only effective if it's really the character's words Toni, it would be fun to read a scene where the guy is clueless as to what’s going on :-) Like Jake, I like your description of “…crossing some sort of line of trust or acceptance or something rather than just the act.”

Karin, that’s exactly the word–tiresome. It’s only effective if it’s really the character’s words

]]> By: Karin http://www.murdershewrites.com/2006/09/04/writing-hotor-not/#comment-7943 Karin Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:47:30 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=272#comment-7943 I write sex scenes and love scenes. Both require some form of an emotional hook for both parties to be involved. In a sex scene it can be curiosity, anger, frustration or unmitigated lust the two have for each other. For me as a writer for that to happen there also has to be more for my characters, more in that I know something they don’t know or more importantly more they are in denial about. But there must also be a strong pull lurking beneath. While my heroes admittedly will pursue a woman they find attractive and have sex for the sake of sex, my heroines don’t. Sex for them is more than a physical connection. For my girls sex has to mean something more than scratching an itch. I’m not so old fashioned that the sex has to come with roses and a promise of marriage, but my girls have the say in who, where and when. It’s on their terms. That’s not so say they don’t get into some heavy foreplay, but the ultimate act is because they want it, because they have an emotional investment. The sex scene is just the beginning for them both. Ultimately they come together emotionally and physically in the love scene. Obviously since I write erotic suspense or a form there of I have to be more explicit. I don’t mind using all of the words, but they do get tiresome after awhile. I write sex scenes and love scenes. Both require some form of an emotional hook for both parties to be involved. In a sex scene it can be curiosity, anger, frustration or unmitigated lust the two have for each other. For me as a writer for that to happen there also has to be more for my characters, more in that I know something they don’t know or more importantly more they are in denial about. But there must also be a strong pull lurking beneath.
While my heroes admittedly will pursue a woman they find attractive and have sex for the sake of sex, my heroines don’t. Sex for them is more than a physical connection. For my girls sex has to mean something more than scratching an itch. I’m not so old fashioned that the sex has to come with roses and a promise of marriage, but my girls have the say in who, where and when. It’s on their terms. That’s not so say they don’t get into some heavy foreplay, but the ultimate act is because they want it, because they have an emotional investment.
The sex scene is just the beginning for them both. Ultimately they come together emotionally and physically in the love scene.
Obviously since I write erotic suspense or a form there of I have to be more explicit. I don’t mind using all of the words, but they do get tiresome after awhile.

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