Let’s talk about sex!
To be specific, crafting sex scenes in romance books.
First, let’s back it up. A great thing about the romance genre is its variety. It truly feels like there is a story for every reader, which includes books with a spectrum of varying heat levels.
Although there are many indicators to gauge a book’s spice level, one can be whether sex is depicted on the page or not. This decision very much belongs to the author. But, as a reader and editor, I’ve always enjoyed high-heat romances with sex scenes that reinforce not just the physical connection and chemistry between the characters but the emotional one. Creating that strong connection paired with a sustained sense of tension and anticipation is what lays the groundwork for engaging and compelling scenes of physical intimacy.
When I think of my favorite scenes, dialogue plays a huge part in exploring those emotions and that connection. There have been things the characters have said to one another that have fully made me put the book down, kick my feet, and take a moment because I’m so overwhelmed by the pure sexiness of it all. The common thread between these scenes is that it felt incredibly in line and true to these characters and everything that led to them to this moment.
There are definitely trends we see in sex scenes, but the key is staying true to your characters and your voice. If you introduce language or a specific sex act or kink that feels out of character from what we know about your leads, it can feel inauthentic and take readers out of the scene. Effective scenes for both showcasing the intimacy and moving the plot forward feel organic to the characters and everything we know about them so far.
Sex is sexy, of course, but it can also be awkward and silly and intense – it can run the full gamut of emotions, so don’t hesitate to explore those.
But the most important piece of advice I can give – when it comes to writing any type of scene really – is to write what you’d like to read. If you love it, readers will likely love it too!
