How many times equals all night long?

I was writing a scene today and rather than “show” you all the times my hero and heroine made love, which would have turned you on way too much I opted for showing one time and letting your imagination run for the rest of the night.

Now here’s the question. How many times do they do the deed, the nasty, the horizontal mambo in a night?

Is it one time? Please, no offense, but this is a fantasy and that just would not equate to fantasy in my book. That would be more like wham-bam-thank you ma’am. *YAWN*

Actually, as I sit here and ponder this question, I have to wonder is it the number of times that the hero and heroine have actual intercourse or is it the number of times the heroine gets hers. *WINK* You know what I mean. I mean, let’s face it. A guy might be satisfied with one time. . .but hate to break it to all you men out there. . .once is not enough for most women.

After all this is fiction, so why not go for a record.

Maybe all night long equates to the heroine skyrocketing through that state of orgasmic euphoria several times thanks to her selfless and caring hero who wants to make sure she receives the utmost pleasure multiple times before he gets his, ONCE.
Would that be enough for all night long? Or does that make our heroine selfish?

What?! A heroine selfish? Never. *GRIN*

Okay, so maybe we don’t have to go that far, but yes, feel free to let the heroine to get more than the hero. I mean let’s face it, when you insert tab A into slot B, tab A is sure to achieve, uh, satisfaction. On the other hand, slot B may end up whistling Dixie and staring at the ceiling if tab A is not inserted with the right goal in mind. MUTUAL satisfaction.

Back to our original question. How many times equals all night long? What do you think?

Love Scene Discussion Day 6 Recap & NHRWA Meeting Finale

First, let me just tell you all that we had a blast at the NHRWA meeting yesterday. 90 minutes of discussing love scene writing with lists, and excerpts, not to mention "fun" chocolate lollipops for indpiration.

Ultimately, the goal of thid discussion topic was not just to know how to mechanically write a love scene, but to have fun doing it, be comfortable in writing them by knowing that the scenes are not you but your characters, and then to feel comfortable enough to read them aloud. Reading them aloud truly does make finding the errors along the way much easier. Not to mention that you can tell if someone gets bored or is totally enthralled.

Beyond that, my theory is, if you can read a love scene in front of a group of people, you should be able to give a pitch or introduce yourself and your work to an editor or agent and not get the heebie-jeebies.

I also shared with the group a link to a terrific site I just found while doing this research for alternative phrases. http://home.epix.net/~jlferri/sexrom.html

Day 6 Recap: What do we call "it?"

The first it was the Penis. We came up with quite a few names for this yesterday. Let's see if I can remember them.

his sex
rigid flesh
rigid arousal
hard shaft
fullness
manroot (this one cracks me up)
Willy

The second one was Penetration.

buried himself inside her
thrust (this word could be used for many things)
slammed
drove into her
impaled her
merged their bodies

Final Act.

She reached for his sweater, tugged it over his head without a thought. Then she remembered his injured arm, tugged it to her lips and soothed it with a kiss. When Sam looked up, she saw Max watching her, desire heated his whiskey eyes turning them flaming amber. Standing, she moved so Max’s knees were pressed against the bed. With swift movements, she undid his buckle, unzipped his jeans, and unleashed his arousal.

Wrapping her fingers around him, Max moaned as she stroked him, felt the silky strength. Then she pushed him back so he landed on the soft bed, rid him of the clothing that was around his ankles, and straddled him.

With her forehead pressed against his, Sam whispered a question. “What do you intend to do with that weapon?”

Max laughed, and before he stopped, he shifted. In the blink of an eye, Sam was on her back, Max on his knees positioned between her thighs. He was so handsome, and strong, and overwhelming, she thought, as his lips met hers. As she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss, Max entered her with one smooth thrust.

“Ohhh,” she murmured.

Love Scene Discussion Day 6 - Part 2

Day 6 - Part 2: Use ALL five of the senses. Touch - Taste - Smell - See - Hear

“Don’t you use all the senses when you’re making love?”
“Yes!”

Use all the character’s senses. Show sound, sight, smell, and touch, as well as the hero and heroine’s physical reactions to make their coming together emotionally dimensional. Using all the senses will pull the reader into what the characters are feeling. Remember, the reader wants to experience it too.

Don’t forget the scenery. Are your characters sharing their first kiss in the moonlight at the ocean or the childhood bedroom of the heroine where the bed is dressed in a pink canopy and covered with stuffed animals? What do they hear, see, and smell in the background?

"Why go through all this trouble?"

1. Because you want to show the reader what is happening, allow them to get a visual through your words. We want to see, be drawn into what the characters are feeling, how her skin feels, if his chest hair tickles his nose.

2. Lovemaking is sensual, not just physical. Are the Boston Red Sox playing in the background or do they have Barry White playing in the background? At the sound of the bat cracking against a baseball does the hero drive in for his own "homer?"

Exercise: Show a love scene from BOTH sides using all senses from the hero POV and all senses from the heroine's POV.

This should be loads of fun. Be creative in the place if you want. Sometimes a different place, other than a bed, can make it easier when it comes to incorporating more senses.

Love Scene Discussion Day 6

WARNING - This exercise may push your comfort zone.


Love scene writing Day 6. Let's talk about "it."

Before you begin, let me apologize if this gets tricky for some folks, but this is fiction not real-life. This is not you on a stage showing the world. It is your characters. No inhibitions in fiction.


Some of our examples have shown "it", but now we want to really discuss "it."
It? What it? The "it" I am referring to is two different things. The first one you have to have in order to achieve the second.


Are you confused yet, or just saying, "Tell us what it is!"


The first it is the penis. GASP! She said it. Actually, no, I wrote it. And guess what? You will too in your book. Hey! We're writers. We do it and write about it. That's my slogan.


Part 1: What do you call "it?" Here's a tip. Ask your spouse or boyfriend. I will bet you dollars to donuts they have a pet name.


Exercise: List 5 examples of what you could call it in your manuscript.


Now that we have taken care of the hard part (oops! no pun intended), let's talk about what we do with it.
Part 2: What do you call the "act" of doing it? Example: He buried himself inside her.

Exercise: List 5 terms for the act of penetration you might use.



The final act (OMG! I am cracking myself up!) is to write a snippet that shows hero and heroine doing it and how you refer to it without using the words that begin with P.

Love Scene Discussion Day 5 Recap

Day 5 Recap: The focus of this lesson was to talk about the "Big O." To talk about it from both his and her perspective.

Exercise 1: List 5 examples of the heroine "getting hers". (You may not use any of the 3 commonly used terms I mentioned above.)

· convulsed around him
· ripples of ecstasy flooded through her
· she cried out with unabashed abandon
· screamed in ecstasy
· wave after wave of rapture

Exercise 2: List 5 examples of the hero "getting his". (You may not use any of the 3 commonly used terms I mentioned above.)

· shuddered and convulsed
· cry of satisfaction
· soared over the edge
· plunged over the crest
· exploded within her

Exercise 3: Write an excerpt, just a small one, that shows the hero and/or heroine reaching that pinnacle. Same rule applies.

When her thighs quivered against his hips and her eyes glazed, Lucas drove into her, buried himself deep within her heat. She came in a cry of ecstasy, her gaze never leaving his, as he pulled back and slammed into her again. The rhythm of her pulsating muscles clamped around him and sucked him in. She milked him wave after wave until he shuddered and convulsed and then she pumped her hips and rode him again until he collapsed on top of her.

Love Scene Discussion Day 5 - Part 2 Recap

Day 5 - Part 2 Recap: Love scenes are never just rustling sheets and heavy breathing. They include two people revealing more about themselves through their thoughts, action, and even dialogue.

The assignment for part 2 was to give an example of a love scene with dialogue.

Here is mine: This is actually after it has started.

Jake sat up, grabbed Charley’s bare shoulders, and flipped their positions. Breathing rapidly, he spoke. “You’re going to end it too soon,” he whispered in a husky voice.
Charley giggled. “I want it fast.”
His eyes went wide. “Not that fast, Shugar.”

Shugar? “Mmm.” She liked the sound of that. Wow! The tug of her nipple between his teeth sent shivers and heat through her. When he suckled one breast and squeezed the other, she arched up wanting more, raked her fingers into his short chestnut hair, and moaned.

Grabbing his head, she tugged him to her face so she could kiss him, thoroughly. As their tongues danced, Charley wrapped her legs around Jake in a plea for more. She wanted him. Now!
Jake chuckled then purred in her ear. “What’s your favorite lollipop?”

She blinked in surprise, trying to figure out if Jake just asked what she thought. “Lollipop?” She rasped out the word because his hand had just slid into her shorts and her mind swirled.

“Mm. My favorite is a Tootsie Pop.”

He was sliding down her body, taking her shorts with him. When he spoke again, his breath was hot against the tiny patch of hair between her legs. “Know why?”
Charley didn’t know, didn’t care. She just did not want him to stop stroking her.

“Go ahead, Charley, ask me why.”

“Wh – why?” She managed to ask on a breath of air as he sent one finger inside her. She thought she had been wet before.

“Because I like to see how many licks it takes to get to the . . .”She covered her eyes with her hands as Jake’s tongue slid inside her then found her button, and oh – my – freaking –.

And yes, I will leave you hanging there. :-)

Love Scene Discussion Day 5

Day 5: The big O

In a love scene, the pinnacle is reaching the almighty climax. It's the same thing with your manuscript overall, right?

But what do you call the Big O? How do you describe it? Is it described differently for the hero than it is for the heroine?

The 3 most commonly used terms are climax, release, explode. There, I said them so you don't have to.

Your assignments should you choose to accept them are as follows.

Exercise 1: List 5 examples her the heroine "getting hers". (You may not use any of the 3 commonly used terms I mentioned above.)

Exercise 2: List 5 examples her the hero "getting his". (You may not use any of the 3 commonly used terms I mentioned above.)

Exercise 3: Write an excerpt, just a small one, that shows the hero and/or heroine reaching that pinnacle. Same rule applies.

Have fun!!

Love Scene Discussion Day 5 - Part 2

Because of the emails and posts I have received, I decided to add a second part to today's discussion. Apparently, this topic is not actually discussed openly very often. Really? You would think it would be a huge topic, especially for romance writers like me.

Okay, so I have toyed with the next topic and have actually written two other posts, but thought I would still ease you into this whole love scene thing. However, be aware that after today the next few exercises may "push your comfort zone." You have been forewarned. :-)

Day 5 - Part 2: Let's talk about talk, dialogue.

Huh? Talk during a love scene? "No way. Isn't it all rustling sheets and heavy breathing?"

What about laughing? "You want my characters to laugh while making love?"


Just don't let your heroine laugh at the wrong time in the scene. That could cause shrinkage. ew!


Be honest. Haven't you laughed while in the act? Or talked about something with your partner while you are flowing with the motion in the waterbed?


Dialogue in sex can be useful. Use it to reveal information about your characters. Too much talking can get your characters in trouble with each other. It creates conflict between the characters or clues the reader in on the conflict between them. Talking during sex may reveal the characters attitudes toward sex and sexuality. Heck, tell a joke to lighten the mood.


Exercise: Write a love scene that uses dialogue while in the act.

Have fun! Can't wait to see what you write. I'll write the recap later today.

Love Scene Discussion Day 4 Recap

Day 4 Recap: Let's talk about "where" your characters make love.

So your assignment was two-fold.

Part 1 - Identify 5 places your characters could make love (none of them having a bed).

You've seen several responses. All GREAT! It's so much fun thinking outside the box or in this case the bed. Now, here is my contribution.

Airplane bathroom (Mile-high club)
The stairs
Against the wall
An underground tunnel
Hammock
*Glass-enclosed elevator*

Part 2 - Give an example of a scene with your characters making love anyplace but in a bed.

Don't ya just hate only getting excerpts?? It's such a teaser. :-)

This is just after the hero and heroine had dinner and cleaned up. Guess where they are??

“Jake.” She whispered his name and it was all he could do not to shove her against the counter, strip her naked, and slam into her. Charley needed comfort and if this were the only way she would take it from him then he would give it. For now, physical comfort was enough.

She reached up and grabbed him at the back of the neck, pulled his face to hers, and she kissed him. His finger was wet and she tightened around him. He felt himself get even harder. She turned in his arms, pushed at the hem of his shirt, and the next thing he knew her tongue flicked out at his nipple. His eyes widened and his stomach tightened at the new and quivering sensation.

When she moved to his other nipple, her hands went to his zipper. Okay! He undid his own pants, letting them drop to the floor still wrapped around his ankles, and in the next instant, he had Charley stripped and sitting on the counter. He feasted on her breasts, capturing one nipple in between his lips, his tongue teasing it to an excited little nub. His fingers tweaked the other nipple caused it to rise and beg for his mouth.

Her head flung back and hit the cupboard.

“Oops.” Not good. He needed more of her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he pulled her from the counter, and spun around forgetting that his pants were still around his ankles. Not wanting to fight to get them off, he splayed Charley across the table.

Sliding his arms up under her back so she didn’t bruise, Jake slammed into her. Charley fisted around him, and she ignited. She moaned and writhed, tightened her wrapped legs around him. She pulled him in and under her spell. His head swam as he felt her climax build. The muscles in her legs started to quiver. He thrust into her hard then withdrew slow, feeling the tug of her as he retreated, then she opened and welcomed as he thrust again. It was like coming home.

Love Scene Discussion Day 4

Continuing the love scene discussion - Day 4: Let's talk about where your characters make love.

Do you plan where your characters are going to make love? Does it need to be a bed? With bed being the most comfortable location, why have sex in other place?

The answer is that, in fiction as well as in real life, it's usually not a premeditated decision. "Because it's there," is a typical reply.

Truthfully, that's probably pretty accurate. Let's say your characters are so overwhelmed with desire they have to pull over on the side of the road, or maybe the hero is so thrilled and overwhelmed by emotion that the heroine is alive he has to take her then and there, wherever "there" may be.

Come on, admit it. You have probably had sex in at least one or more places and there was no bed in sight. I mean seriously, who has not at least thought of "doing it" in a a glass-enclosed elevator? Well, okay, maybe that's just me. :-)

Wait! Don't you remember playing "truth or dare" when you were in college on a drunken night with your guy and girl friends and of couse, one of the questions was "Where was the strangest place you did the deed?" Be honest. I am so remembering what some of the answers were.

But that gets me to the next exercise. This is a 2 part exercise.

#1: List 5 places where your characters could make love. (None of them include a bedroom or a bed)

#2: Show an example of your hero and heroine making love some place besides a bed.

Good luck and I can't wait to see your list!

Love Scene Discussion Day 3 Recap

Day 3 Recap:


So your goal was to write a scene where the hero and heroine kiss WITHOUT using the word "kiss" in the paragraph. Even if you did not share it could you do it?


What words did you use to describe the mouth, lips, tongue?


Here are some examples that you may have come up with:

• captured her lips with his
• took her mouth with hungry urgency
• tasted her sweetness
• sipped from her lips
• tongue darting inside her mouth
• entangled with hers
• his tongue found hers
• reclaimed her mouth
• sweet invasion

You get the idea. :-)

Here is my rough example from my WIP:

“Uh, Gilly.”

“Hm,” she answered, flicking her tongue against the flat brown disc of his nipple. The quiver that rippled through him sent shivers over her body. With her free arm, she reached her hand up and entwined her fingers in his silky black hair, and tugged his head down. When his face was within an inch of hers, she leaned up and met his mouth with hers. The gentle, warm nature of their embrace was intoxicating. Lucas parted his lips and her tongue darted out, teased, and explored the taste of him. When his tongue tangled with hers a hungry urgency to claim him invaded her senses. When he pulled back and peered down at her, she was breathless and his chest was heaving.

Love Scene Discussion Day 3

Day 3: Let's talk about Kissing!

What is used to kiss? Yes, I'm talking about parts of the body.

Lips, mouth, tongue. Heck! A really great kiss ususally involves hands and body contact.

Remember that movie "Bull Durham" with Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon? Remember his line about kissing?

". . . and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days."

I don't know about you all but that made my toes curl.

Your assignment:

Show a kiss. Use the lips, mouth, tongue, etc. Make toes curl!

But here is the kicker. You cannot just say he kissed her or she kissed him. Uh-uh! Use another word besides "kiss".

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Love Scene Discussion Day 2 Recap

Recap day 2: Sexual tension is more important than sex itself. “The buildup makes the actual act that much sweeter.”

Your assignment: What leads those characters to sexual tension?

Yes, you guessed it! The characters conflict leads them to sexual tension.

The hero and heroine are physically drawn to each other, but the fact that they are enemies, or in competition keep them apart. The stronger the conflict, the higher the sexual tension and when the love scene finally does happen, it is more meaningful and exciting. Whatever you use as a conflict to build sexual tension, make sure it is part of the plot.

In my case, the logline for my book It Happens in Threes says it all. "Once burned, twice learned, did she dare trust again?"

The hero had walked out on the heroine before, would he do it again? There is more than the heroine's trust issue, but you get the idea.

Countdown to love scene discussion - Day 2

First, let's start with yesterday's post. The 3 elements of a love scene are. . .

Place, action, and emotion. The most important element being emotion just like Ceri mentioned in her comment.

What your characters do and where they do it, is not as important as why they do it and how it changes them and their relationship afterward. For a love scene to be satisfying it must change the relationship between the hero and heroine. It can bring them together, pull them apart, make them question the other person's motives, even their own motives. Those emotions help propel the story forward.

Here is an example from my book, It Happens in Threes. This is the beginning of the first love scene between the hero and heroine.

“Hmmm. . .my favorite idea is. . .” His sentence trailed off as his mouth crushed down on hers. The kiss sent heat streaking through her, overwhelming in its intensity.

She knew she should protest – needed to – couldn’t – really didn’t want to.

This was a mistake of gigantic proportions. They were friends, not lovers.

Can you see how the heroine was feeling?


Next tidbit: Sexual tension is more important than the act itself. Remember anticipation makes the physical act that much sweeter.

So the question here is. . .What leads to that sexual tension between your hero and heroine?

Give some examples you've used in your own writing.

Countdown to writing the love scene - Day 1

In honor of the fact that I am going to be presenting a discussion on "Writing Love Scenes" Saturday, April 11 at NHRWA, I thought I would post some prep work to lead up to writing that sizzling hot scene.


First, let me start by saying love scenes or romances do exist outside of the romance genre. Let's make that clear for everyone. Pick up a book by Jonathan Kellerman, David Baldacci, John Sanford, Janet Evanovich, and you will find romances or love scenes in their books.


That said, let's get to the basics. What are the basic elements of a love scene?


No, the answer is not, "insert Tab A into slot B."


Hint: There are 3 basic elements.


Next question. Of those 3 elements, which one is the most important? Why?

Post your thoughts and we'll chat about them.

How to write a love scene

I started to write an article on "how to write a love scene", but decided before I go too far that I would see what people needed to know.


The mechanics of writing the love scene are important but my impression from listening to a lot of other writers is that the issue in writing the "love scene" is that it is intimidating and scary. Like you as the writer are putting yourself on display.


So I thought I would try to encompass how to not be bashful and write the scene that your characters want. Does anyone have any other things they think should be mentioned in the article?


Oh! I know, like what do you call the body parts? HA! I so love that. Look at it this way. . .what does your boyfriend, spouse, significant other call "it"?


I wrote a love scene the other day that was different than any of the others I have written so far. I know, I know, you're like. . . "How can it be different?"


Well, I called this a slow and lazy love scene because it starts when the heroine is sleeping and the hero just kind of responds to her body pressed close and moving against him. Nature takes its course. Thank goodness!