tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post8564101780387898044..comments2024-02-13T09:38:07.389-05:00Comments on Carrie's Procrastinatory Outlet: Sex in Romance NovelsCarrie Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13751498516235657725noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-63607771284371630362007-09-13T01:12:00.000-04:002007-09-13T01:12:00.000-04:00I used to skip the sex scenes, back before I start...I used to skip the sex scenes, back before I started writing. Then I fell in love with craft and started paying close attention to the sex scenes. I don't read erotica, though, because while I find nothing wrong with following a woman's sexual journey, I do read romance for the sexual tension, witty banter and luscious language that does seem to fall by the wayside with an increase in sex scenes.<BR/><BR/>I do love Elizabeth Hoyt's brand of hotness!<BR/><BR/>Not sure I added anything to the conversation with this.lacey kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864831060027009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-71991096424160032732007-09-12T10:13:00.000-04:002007-09-12T10:13:00.000-04:00I'm an occasional sex scene skimmer, too. It depen...I'm an occasional sex scene skimmer, too. It depends on the book. I just read one recently that had 3-4 totally skippable scenes. I was more worried about the subplot than the romance and couldn't wait to get back to the external action. That says a lot right there. In other books, when the sex scenes do play an integral role in either the character/romance development or changing the plot, then I read every word. <BR/><BR/>Two people read the story I wrote right before TATTF and commented about its utter lack of sex scenes and mentioned I should sex it up if I wanted it to sell. My feeling was, that particular story wasn't about sex, and any I added would just be gratuitous. I am about to rewrite the story (changing the plot significantly) and will only include sex if it makes sense for the characters. <BR/><BR/>There are a couple sex scenes in my last WIP. The first one had a direct impact on the plot, and the second was (I hope) a major turning point in the heroine's emotional journey.<BR/><BR/>I think that's what it comes down to for me. If I'm reading a Regency and the h/h make love which subsequently ruins her in the eyes of Society, then that sex scene totally needed to be there. If I'm reading a suspense, and the cop and the woman he's sworn to protect boink like bunnies whenever the crazed killer ceases fire for 30 seconds, then that's gratuitous.Erica Ridleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-56151668395625448212007-09-07T15:00:00.000-04:002007-09-07T15:00:00.000-04:00YES! I'm bored with reading them... to be honest,...YES! I'm bored with reading them... to be honest, it's TENSION that excites me. Think of all the TV shows (like "Moonlighting" and "Remington Steele" -- I'm showing my age by my choices) that went downhill when the H/H gave into their impulses.<BR/><BR/>That said, I typically expect that same "tense" h/h to give in to their impulses by the end of the book. Just not over, and over, and over, and over, ad nauseum...Marianne Arkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934613403368823760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-12490453575613828062007-09-07T09:23:00.000-04:002007-09-07T09:23:00.000-04:00I really think it is just reading preference. Some...I really think it is just reading preference. Some people want very little sex in their romances, others want it all....and thus erotic romance was born. <BR/><BR/>I love the sexual tension build up in a romance...and if there is no sex in the book (or if I skipped it) I would have no emotional pay-off. Which is not why I read romance. I want ALL the emotions between the two characters, and that includes the sex.<BR/><BR/>However, the sex and the building up to the sex must be well done. Otherwise, I get a very empty feeling from the book. <BR/><BR/>There's nothing wrong with you, Carrie. Maybe you're just reading the wrong books for your tastes. The sad thing for you is that the current trend is toward MORE sex and more explicit sex rather than less.Kris Etonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00822791622754789365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-76432477563832959822007-09-06T12:10:00.001-04:002007-09-06T12:10:00.001-04:00I recently had a debate with someone about a book ...I recently had a debate with someone about a book we read. I loved it, she didn't. She also said she'd started skipping the sex scenes because they didn't add anything to the book. But I thought they had all of these tender moments of character development, etc...<BR/><BR/>My theory is that in skipping the sex scenes, she was skipping all of this stuff, and so the book itself felt shallow to her. <BR/><BR/>I never skip anything in books. It blows my mind that people do. All the parts are there for a reason.Diana Peterfreundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681841474717604660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21790035.post-82403972107849068782007-09-06T12:10:00.000-04:002007-09-06T12:10:00.000-04:00I think this saaaame thing sometimes. Well said.I think this saaaame thing sometimes. Well said.Celestehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05763211746654246650noreply@blogger.com