Sex in a story

[Marzipan]

So, I'm just interested in the folks opinnions in this matter. Speak your mind freely!

 

My opinnion on the matter is:

 

I'm an adult. I write sex and I like to read about sex too. I'm not embarrassed to admit it. I also want a real, solid story around the sex. To me a story is not only about the sex. If I'd want just a quick fix, I'd find it somewhere else. It is the whole experience about reading. I read a lot of stuff without any hints of sex in them and I'm not at all annoyed about that, the situation varies with every single story. Just like irl, sex is a big part of who we are and how we function as people. Reading about sex can be both liberating, fun and well... a turn on. But if the sex is written with bad taste... I rather skip it.

 

I don't need sex in a story, I don't judge a story based on the lack or overload of the sex in it.

[Agaith]

To me, I like reading about sex but only if the characters have been developed enough so that I can enjoy the experience with them so to speak. If the story is all sex and nothing gets told to us then I do not like the story.

 

Those are my thoughts

[Tipdin]

Generally, I skip the sex scenes. Often, they are either they're poorly or they make me jealous...

[Dark]

I agree with both of you. There's this ebook I have that was okay -- not bad, but, you know, not great, either -- until the two characters had sex the first time. There were hands and legs in some contortionist configuration I couldn't make out and all "love juice" and "bodies joined in a harmonic symphony of pure passion." I kid you not.

 

And then it just went on and on in one sex scene after another and they were just so bad! I wanted to gouge my eyes out.

 

Plot wins over sex any day, but even when the sex is good, come on! Enough is enough already.

[Nephylim]

I like to read sex and I like to write sex. I agree that poorly written sex is a huge turn off. However, if what you are saying is that sex should be strictly rationed and only used sparingly then why does anyone ever read Mark Arbour and I notice that Comsie's not easy on the sex either.

 

I write erotic stories. That doesn't mean that there has to be sex to be eroticism. There is a particular writer just above who writes huge chunks of steaming hot hotness with no actual sex at all... although what's the definition of sex? Is it just penetration? Is it touching? Blow jobs? Licking? Looking?

 

I like exploring different ways and kinds... Fallen has lots of strange sex. LIC is.. hard and harder with toys, Enigma II is... which bit goes where in places and I think the point of the tale is that if you're reading or writing erotic literature then you are going to be sorely disappointed if you think you are going to find no sex in it.

 

 

And let's not beat about the bush.. this site is first and foremost about erotic literature.

 

I'm not saying that there are no stories on here that have no sex in them... but there aren't many in comparison to the ones that have.

 

 

 

 

[Dark]

I like to read sex and I like to write sex. I agree that poorly written sex is a huge turn off. However, if what you are saying is that sex should be strictly rationed and only used sparingly then why does anyone ever read Mark Arbour and I notice that Comsie's not easy on the sex either.

That is true. And Stonegate stables isn't exactly platonic, either. I guess what I mean is that there's a time and a place. If the quality of the writing is good, then the sex blends in seamlessly and just belongs. Otherwise, at least in my case, I get annoyed and skim or skip over the sex because, if it's not driving the plot, then what's the point? My philosophy is that if the scene (sex or otherwise) doesn't matter to the plot, then why put it in?

 

There is a particular writer just above who writes huge chunks of steaming hot hotness with no actual sex at all...

Hey now. Those scenes were exploring eroticism; not sex. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Nephylim]

That's what I said .... No sex Doesn't mean they weren't sexy though

[Fishwings]

This is a tricky one, as the more stories I read, the more sex scenes I seem to skip. I think setting up the mood right is very important, or you'll reader will think it's awkward: eg, sudden, hot passionate sex.

 

And of course, there are other stories in which the sexual tension is just so unbearable and you're just so hot and bothered and they kiss and they fall on the bed and then...... wtf, no scene (Cough cough, ITFB Dennis + Travis).

 

Being a total cocktease is no good either.

[colinian]

• Any sex has to fit the story.
• I know how the mechanics work, I don't need a primer.
• Well written scenes that have nothing sexier than kissing can be very sexy.
• The stories that have sex scenes that I've enjoyed the most are those where the sex is something the author develops in the mind of the reader and is not detailed on the printed page.

Colin

[Eros]

This is a tricky one, as the more stories I read, the more sex scenes I seem to skip. I think setting up the mood right is very important, or you'll reader will think it's awkward: eg, sudden, hot passionate sex.

 

And of course, there are other stories in which the sexual tension is just so unbearable and you're just so hot and bothered and they kiss and they fall on the bed and then...... wtf, no scene (Cough cough, ITFB Dennis + Travis).

 

Being a total cocktease is no good either.

 

I totally agree... I hated that there were no sex scenes in ITFB... I HATED that!

[TetRefine]

MY biggest qualm about sex scenes in a lot of stories is that they are not always realistically written. Meaning, its their first time together and everything goes perfect with no road bumps at all. Well in my own experience and talking to others, thats not how it works in real life. I generally do not like reading sex scenes unless it truly adds to the story and rings true to real life. If it doesn't (and its usually obvious by the beginning of the scene) I skip over it. I'm looking at you Nifty.

[JamesSavik]

it depends...

 

-on whether it is well done

-does it make sense or is the story a spank-fest?

-is this story about sex with an incidental plot?

-are the characters interesting and hot

[Fishwings]

it depends...

 

-on whether it is well done

-does it make sense or is the story a spank-fest?

-is this story about sex with an incidental plot?

-are the characters interesting and hot

 

 

Spank-fest? LOLOL never heard that term before

[Cia]

I write some sex. Not a lot, and not the play by play variety. I don't get into the super flowery 'oceans flowed and heavens moved' analogies for it either. I try to keep erotic without being graphic. For me it varies how much I will put in, depending on the story itself. Is the sex part of the story for a reason? Usually. Honestly, there is a time and place for it and it is quite often a vital part of any new relationship (something I tend to write about). I don't like to slide characters into bed right off though. In life and in fiction, I like to think that taking the time to enjoy kissing, making out, drawing out the passion, makes those first times so much more meaningful. I try to show that fundamental place sex has to people but keep it from being overdone. I like to read sex scenes, I don't skip them unless they don't ascribe to that same philosophy. Jack off stories, ones with poorly executed sex scenes visually, will usually turn me away from a story.

[Cyhort]

It depends on why I'm reading the story. If I'm reading it for the sex then of course I'm not gonna skip. If I'm reading it for the plot or the romance sometimes I'll skip it if it isn't well written or if it's awkward. It's kind of jarring when you're reading a tender romance and then all of a sudden it's all "hard throbbing shafts" and "oh god give it to me harder!" Oh and sometimes the euphemisms get downright embarrassing. I think for the most part though I try to read everything in a story. You never know when you'll miss an important emotion in the middle of a sexfest.

[Eros]

It depends on why I'm reading the story. If I'm reading it for the sex then of course I'm not gonna skip. If I'm reading it for the plot or the romance sometimes I'll skip it if it isn't well written or if it's awkward. It's kind of jarring when you're reading a tender romance and then all of a sudden it's all "hard throbbing shafts" and "oh god give it to me harder!" Oh and sometimes the euphemisms get downright embarrassing. I think for the most part though I try to read everything in a story. You never know when you'll miss an important emotion in the middle of a sexfest.

 

A very good point. That's why I try to read through even the lamest sex scenes, because you never know if one of the characters will have a certain feeling, or thought during that scene that may later play a pivotal role or something later on. Hrmmm...

[Fishwings]

A very good point. That's why I try to read through even the lamest sex scenes, because you never know if one of the characters will have a certain feeling, or thought during that scene that may later play a pivotal role or something later on. Hrmmm...

 

 

You guys are so patient

[Michael9344]

I do read them, but I skip. the really lame ones. It's really a turn off when it's poorly written and it could turn me away from the story.

 

I do read them, but I skip. the really lame ones. It's really a turn off when it's poorly written and it could turn me away from the story.

[hh5]

It depends on .... how really sexually grasping the characters are ... would we want to see how they do it

It shear comedy of someone observing the reader who questioning on reading the sex scene

It shear comedy of the blog reader who reading the about a reader who's question on reading a straight authors take on two gay guys having an imaginary sex scene ...

when one can call up the real stuff on-demand cable.

 

gosh ... does this sound provocative to a virgin

who can't get pas the parental lock outs on the remote

[Marzipan]

It depends on .... how really sexually grasping the characters are ... would we want to see how they do it

 

it shear comedy of someone observing the reader who questioning on reading the sex scene

It shear comedy of the blog reader who reading the about a reader who's question on reading a straight authors take on two gay guys having an imaginary sex scene ...

when one can call up the real stuff on-demand cable.

 

gosh ... does this sound provocative to a virgin

who can't get pas the parental lock outs on the remote

 

 

What was it excatly you were laughing at? Call me stupid, but if there is (a not so subtle) hidden axe in this post, I'd really wanna understand it. Really.

[Zolia Lily]

to put it simply.....

 

yes please!!!!!!!!

 

 

[TrevorTime]

To me, I like reading about sex but only if the characters have been developed enough so that I can enjoy the experience with them so to speak. If the story is all sex and nothing gets told to us then I do not like the story.

 

Exactly. When I read a story here at GA, character development is everything to me. I want to know what makes them tick.

 

Case in point is the excellent Second Shot. I know what Pete and Jason are doing in bed together; there's no need to give a precise play-by-play every time they get together.

 

 

 

[Marzipan]

I'm reading a series that has a lot of adult material. And can't complain even with sex being a major thing in plotwise.

 

At the same time, I'm reading a story from the same author that is serious tendences and is not so much sex driven (has sexual scenes too). Happy with that too.

 

Conclution: I love reading well written adult content if it has somethig interesting to present. This author hasn't failed me down yet.

 

Yet, I have read a few stories from other authors lately, that made me jump over sex scenes . I have become picky!

[myself_i_must_remake]

I'm struggling with this on the story I'm writing right now. It's definitely a pleasure you can give the reader if that's what they're looking for, but it can distract or be the only thing some readers remember.

 

I'm trying also to weave character development into the sex, but it seems too heavy-handed, like an obvious metaphor or something.

 

EDIT: New problem. Writing sex is its own distraction. Make what you will of that.

[comicfan]

Like most here I think it depends. It has to be natural or else it just becomes jarring and you skip it or you feel the story has lost some of its pleasure. I hate when I become invested in the characters and everything seems to be slowly building and then one kiss and perfect sex. I'm like where did that come from. One kiss? No problems? Perfect sex? Then again some stories need no more than a suggestion and what my own mind fills in for them is more than any writer would want to put on paper unless it was out and out pornography. I think it depends on the strength of the writer and the story they have crafted.