::snicker::
May. 30th, 2005 01:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ciroccojThings you find going through old e-mails:
Well, that actually wouldn't raise my squick-o-meter too much. I've read some, though, that devolve into "and then his [body part] [verb] into his/her [body part] and then they [anatomically impossible action] and then the [secretion(s)] came gushing out like torrent of [bad simile]" by which point I've started scanning down to the end of the sex part hoping to pick up the plot again. I know many people find the above titillating, but to me... geez, that's about as titillating as Gray's Anatomy.
General questions, because I'm curious:
Well, that actually wouldn't raise my squick-o-meter too much. I've read some, though, that devolve into "and then his [body part] [verb] into his/her [body part] and then they [anatomically impossible action] and then the [secretion(s)] came gushing out like torrent of [bad simile]" by which point I've started scanning down to the end of the sex part hoping to pick up the plot again. I know many people find the above titillating, but to me... geez, that's about as titillating as Gray's Anatomy.
General questions, because I'm curious:
- Do you ever read sexually explicit material?
- What are some elements of well-written sex scenes?
- What are some elements of badly-written sex scenes?
- Do you ever write sexually explicit material?
- How do you write it?
- Why do you write it?
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In answer to your questions...
Date: 2005-05-30 09:59 pm (UTC)2) A good sex scene is about sex *and* something else. Something has to drive it other than bodily urges, otherwise what you've got is PurpleGreen. The big question to ask the characters is 'why are you fucking and what are you thinking?' - If that can't be answered, I'm not going to be interested.
3) Mechanical, empty sex. Emotional histrionics, with or without context in the character or the story. Ridiculous acrobatics. Exotic practices by people who you can't, in a million years, imagine doing that, under any circumstances, anywhere, no matter how drunk they might be. Oh, and STUPID EUPHEMISMS!! If the writer doesn't use the terms that the character would use, it sounds utterly ridiculous. Also, if I start laughing in the middle of a sex scene that isn't supposed to be funny (and they can be funny, but it's hard to do right), that's instant death, and I'm just reading for the trainwreck effect, and/or the drinking game.
4) Yes. There are those that might argue that I never write anything else.
5) Carefully. Yeah, I know, that wasn't the answer you needed, but - that's it boiled down into one word. Pretty much, I let the characters talk me through it. It's one of those times that I feel like a court reporter, just taking down what I hear and see.
6) I like reading it. Also, it's a real challenge, and well, I like taking a whack at doing hard stuff. Pretty much I write what I like to read, but I also really work at making what I write readable for anyone else (over 18) who happens to pick it up.
I wish I'd thought to ask these questions! I'll be watching the responses you get - this is a subject of serious interest to me. (Quit snickering.)
Re: In answer to your questions...
Date: 2005-05-31 12:46 am (UTC)Like Ben's hairpiece falling off? ::wink::
And please tell me that I haven't done stupid euphemisms...
Re: In answer to your questions...
Date: 2005-05-31 05:18 am (UTC)The way you wrote it was cute and sweet, actually.
Now, if it had flopped off mid-thrust and fallen on Claire's face, and she leapt up, screaming, now THAT... that would have been funny. Except for Ben, for whom it would have been tragic. So, funny sex is hard to do.
I'll go check your Early Work for Dreadful Euphemisms. *If* you really want me to. ::evil snicker::
Re: In answer to your questions...
Date: 2005-05-31 02:55 pm (UTC)Re: In answer to your questions...
Date: 2005-05-31 03:45 pm (UTC)Re: In answer to your questions...
Date: 2005-05-31 05:33 pm (UTC)FF.net sucks rocks.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-30 11:13 pm (UTC)2. For me, there's got to be some emotional basis for it and the characters have to remain in character and behave in an age appropriate manner.
3. Badly written sex scenes - anything that is anatomically impossible, involves multiple silly euphemisms, is age inappropriate or ends with two characters declaring their undying love for each other.
4. I write sexual innuendo frequently but nothing I would consider sexually explicit. I don't write it because it's not part of my (limited) writing skills set.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-31 12:44 am (UTC)2) To me, good sex scenes should have a balance between the physical and emotional. It's a huge challenge to get to what the characters are feeling without making the scene gooey. (And it's even more difficult in slash, because you have to avoid feminizing the men.)
3) One thing that really grates on my nerves is when writers get overly technical with the anatomical terms - eg. "Claire licked Ben's glans while stroking his testicles." It sounds like something out of one of my nursing textbooks! I'm not terribly fond of euphemisms, but "Claire licked the head of Ben's cock while stroking his balls," works just fine here.
Also, Purplegreen's repeated use of phrases like "Oh yeah, Lennie was going to enjoy this!" annoy me to no end. As does gratuitous spillage of body fluids. As does fifty-something year old characters being able to go at it all night.
I could go on and on...
4) Yes. Next question.
5) I don't really know how I write it - I just *do*. It used to be next to impossible for me, because I'd get embarrassed writing even softcore stuff. But it's gotten much easier over time. : ) Like
6) As far as Ben goes, he's certainly the most asexual character to ever appear on the Mothership (and maybe even *all* of the L&O shows, for that matter). Therefore, it's fun as hell to get him laid. Good and often. And in scorching detail. : )
no subject
Date: 2005-05-31 12:52 am (UTC)Great questions!
Date: 2005-05-31 12:48 am (UTC)1. Absolutely. As frequently as possible and with great interest.
2. As medee said, the best ones are about sex and *something else.* If there is nothing driving it other that "gee they are pretty wonder what they'd look like in bed!" then there really isn't any worthwhile point. For my part, I also believe the best scenes, because they involve *something else,* rarely need to resort to crudity. If the writer must resort to cheap and crude descriptions of actions and pet-names for body parts, then there is obviously nothing of much value underpinning the scene. Some of the hottest sex I've ever read had almost no real mention of intimate body parts--the feelings and emotions of the characters involved were more than enough.
3. What medee said, 'cause I certainly can't top that description! :-)
4. As often as I can come up with a reason to, which is alarmingly often. ;-) Not that most of it ever makes it off of my hard drive, but there you are. ;-)
5. To echo medee again, carefully. Thoughtfully. Slowly (more slowly than some would like ;-). When I write a sex scene, I most often work the entire sequence out in my mind's eye first, and then find a way to commit it to words. I try to live up to the opinions I voiced in #2, although I'm the first to admit that I don't always make it. The scenes of mine that I have been happiest with have been the ones that were the hardest to write. Meaningful sex *should* be difficult to write, imho. The writer is playing voyeaur on what should be the most beautiful, affecting, and intimate act that people can commit. It should never be taken lightly.
6. Mostly because when a fandom pairing has caught my heart, I (as a reader) want to see these two people achieve this most intimate understanding. So I do it for them. But sometimes, I confess, I write because I've read something somebody else wrote and thought "hell, I can do better than that." So in some cases it's also for the challenge.