AI Generation vs Writing

[Tomkin Watts]

No... I didn't say it very well last night, and yes... my brain was more than a little addled last night after racing through an intense story about AIDS from start to finish in a 48 hour span--record time for me. Whew!

It would have been clearer if I'd  used "porn" and/or "smut" instead of "spicy--there's at least a little spiciness in most of my stories--at time a lot. It seems there is a progression running from porn, through a wide range of spiciness, ending up with excellent writing that grants us a privileged, intimate peek at the character(s), so intimate that it carries us off into a place we otherwise only know from within ourselves.

I wish I could write like that, but I keep trying. And I doubt AI could ever take us there.

 

But what I failed to say last night was that what you don't say is often more important than what you do say, especially in "good" writing about sex. The unsaid stimulates the brain and excites the reader's imagination. The meaning of sex, within the context of the story, is more important that the act itself. You modulate the detail to increase the intensity; the reader fills in the unsaid.

Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel.

The detail is only sparsely sketched out, but the feeling is intense. Boom! Like a shot across the bow, it cuts across the linear, inexorable forward motion of the story, generated by the sexual tension between Skylar and Ryan, that simmers beneath the surface from the very beginning. The contrapuntal, cross-current intensity of this scene grabs me--I can feel everything Skylar feels, both sensory and emotional. Little is said, but much more is left unsaid, and if that is spiciness, it is there, welling up, cutting deep.

Well done, Jeff!

Edited yesterday at 07:29 PM by Tomkin Watts

[William King]

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

[Davide]

10 hours ago, William King said:

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

The @Jeff Burton squote referenced on that post is from I'm Gay: A Nifty Story. As for sex scenes written by @Jason Rimbaud, you can find some in Frosted Hearts. But both of those stories have multiple chapters and I don't remember in which specific chapter things happen.

Edited 9 hours ago by Davide

[Krista]

2 hours ago, Davide said:

The @Jeff Burton squote referenced on that post is from I'm Gay: A Nifty Story. As for sex scenes written by @Jason Rimbaud, you can find some in Frosted Hearts. But both of those stories have multiple chapters and I don't remember in which specific chapter things happen.

All the more reason to read both stories from start to finish.  

[Jason Rimbaud]

13 hours ago, William King said:

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

You can read Frosted Hearts, and I could give you a specific chapter, but due to the nature of Frosted Hearts, to understand the sex, which is almost a third character itself, you would have to read the whole story. 

I don't enjoy stories where the sex is more emotional than physical. Since a majority of my stories are about first time or the beginning of a relationship, the sex is always more physical. You don't reach emotional or intimacy until you've gone pretty far into the relationship.

And if the sex continues in my story past the first few weeks of their relationship, then slowly I'll introduce more emotion into the sex. But most of my stories takes place over a week to a few weeks in story time. So the sex tends to be exciting, physical, and raunchy. 

None of my characters sees stars or lose their breath as they stare lovingly in one another's eyes. Fireworks don't happen, just the "O" face. 

22 hours ago, Tomkin Watts said:

Boom! Like a shot across the bow, it cuts across the linear, inexorable forward motion of the story, generated by the sexual tension between Skylar and Ryan, that simmers beneath the surface from the very beginning. The contrapuntal, cross-current intensity of this scene grabs me--I can feel everything Skylar feels, both sensory and emotional. Little is said, but much more is left unsaid, and if that is spiciness, it is there, welling up, cutting deep.

This is not a dig against anyone's writings. 

This type of emotional feeling you described, is boring for me to read. So I don't write in that manner. I write good ole' fashioned "smut", "*orn", or "stroke stories", hopefully with some fun dialogue and interesting premise. 

The sex is always used to force the characters to change/grow/learn/ something. But since I don't believe in an emotional connection for sex, I don't write it. I am very connected to my husband, emotionally, sexually, and all other "ly" you can think of. 

But sex isn't the reason we are connected in that manner. It's our life together, the relationship of living day to day with each other. Sex is biological, not emotional for me. So it doesn't make sense to me when people write it in that manner. 

I can have mind blowing sex with anyone, and the moment I leave them, I am thinking about dinner, or the next thing on my list of things to do. It's a healthy, fun need humans have, but we place way to much importance on the act itself. 

And before anyone becomes angry and tells me where I am wrong. You do you, and I'll do me, and we can both be right for our own needs.  

[Jason Rimbaud]

3 hours ago, Davide said:

some in Frosted Hearts.

Some, I'd hate to see a story where you think a lot of sex happens! . 

[Davide]

Just now, Jason Rimbaud said:

Some, I'd hate to see a story where you think a lot of sex happens! . 

I almost said a lot, but I felt like that could be a spoiler, since it's not what I think people would expect after reading a chapter or two, so I undershot on purpose.

[Krista]

On 4/14/2026 at 12:15 AM, Topher Lydon said:

I'd actually be down for a writer's guide, or a simple lesson in how to write it. It's a big weakness in my writing and one hurdle I'd love to overcome. Finding a balance between prudishness and spicey

Sex is a tool, like any other device in writing. It can set the tone of the moment, the story entirely, or be nothing more than a fade to black. I do not write sex well, but I give it a good try in most of my longer stories as I've always felt with my slow-ish burn romances, they give me ample time to build up to them. So, I've felt mostly pressed to give the writing sex. 

Living where I have been for decades, in coming of age "first timers" it gives me an out to make sex clumsy, the characters unsure about what they're doing. Foals on new legs, so to speak. If it reads awkward, I say it is on purpose because they're not stepping onto paths they've walked before.  But yeah, I'd say it also reads awkward, because I'm awkwardly writing it in general. 

I would be interested in seeing what GA authors come up with as writing guides to sex scenes though. Would they make me blush? Would I have to put it down, clutch my pearls, and say.. "No I'm a lady, I shouldn't read this..."

I'm sure it will be educational, regardless... surely. 

We've gotten completely off topic, but this one is a better one anyway. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Krista

[Jeff Burton]

8 hours ago, Davide said:

The @Jeff Burton squote referenced on that post is from I'm Gay: A Nifty Story. As for sex scenes written by @Jason Rimbaud, you can find some in Frosted Hearts. But both of those stories have multiple chapters and I don't remember in which specific chapter things happen.

The Saint Sebastian poster would combust and burn the house down if we did that.

It would take Father Matthew blessing the fire hydrants to create enough holy water to close the gates of hell that would have opened up on Skylar’s bed lmao.

[Jeff Burton]

18 hours ago, William King said:

These are all good points, but I wish you would reference what you are talking about, how do I find the Case in point: In Jeff Burton's story, the kiss--and, oh yes, indeed--that "ass grab," between" Skylar and Gabriel. If you don't link to it? I looked, but Jeff Burton has several stories. The same applies for @Jason Rimbaud if you don't point me to an example in your writing that represents what you are talking about, I just look at random or what?

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with all of Jeff Burton's stories nor Jason Rimbaud's, examples with links are good.

The end of Chapter 5 (The beach episode) - I’m  Gay: A Nifty Story.  
 

I usually limit myself to soft core stuff lol.

[Jeff Burton]

5 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

You can read Frosted Hearts, and I could give you a specific chapter, but due to the nature of Frosted Hearts, to understand the sex, which is almost a third character itself, you would have to read the whole story. 

I don't enjoy stories where the sex is more emotional than physical. Since a majority of my stories are about first time or the beginning of a relationship, the sex is always more physical. You don't reach emotional or intimacy until you've gone pretty far into the relationship.

And if the sex continues in my story past the first few weeks of their relationship, then slowly I'll introduce more emotion into the sex. But most of my stories takes place over a week to a few weeks in story time. So the sex tends to be exciting, physical, and raunchy. 

None of my characters sees stars or lose their breath as they stare lovingly in one another's eyes. Fireworks don't happen, just the "O" face. 

This is not a dig against anyone's writings. 

This type of emotional feeling you described, is boring for me to read. So I don't write in that manner. I write good ole' fashioned "smut", "*orn", or "stroke stories", hopefully with some fun dialogue and interesting premise. 

The sex is always used to force the characters to change/grow/learn/ something. But since I don't believe in an emotional connection for sex, I don't write it. I am very connected to my husband, emotionally, sexually, and all other "ly" you can think of. 

But sex isn't the reason we are connected in that manner. It's our life together, the relationship of living day to day with each other. Sex is biological, not emotional for me. So it doesn't make sense to me when people write it in that manner. 

I can have mind blowing sex with anyone, and the moment I leave them, I am thinking about dinner, or the next thing on my list of things to do. It's a healthy, fun need humans have, but we place way to much importance on the act itself. 

And before anyone becomes angry and tells me where I am wrong. You do you, and I'll do me, and we can both be right for our own needs.  

I’m kinda with Jason on this one, the first time I ever did it was awkward as hell and it wasn’t for love lmao.

 

 

[Jeff Burton]

32 minutes ago, Krista said:

Sex is a tool, like any other device in writing. It can set the tone of the moment, the story entirely, or be nothing more than a fade to black. I do not write sex well, but I give it a good try in most of my longer stories as I've always felt with my slow-ish burn romances, they give me ample time to build up to them. So, I've felt mostly pressed to give the writing sex. 

Living where I have been for decades, in coming of age "first timers" it gives me an out to make sex clumsy, the characters unsure about what they're doing. Foals on new legs, so to speak. If it reads awkward, I say it is on purpose because they're not stepping onto paths they've walked before.  But yeah, I'd say it also reads awkward, because I'm awkwardly writing it in general. 

I would be interested in seeing what GA authors come up with as writing guides to sex scenes though. Would they make me blush? Would I have to put it down, clutch my pearls, and say.. "No I'm a lady, I shouldn't read this..."

I'm sure it will be educational, regardless... surely. 

We've gotten completely off topic, but this one is a better one anyway. 

That seems to be what happens when me you and @Jason Rimbaud spend any amount of time together in a thread, it just goes sideways until we are on a new topic. 😂