Everything I Know About Writing Sexual Tension I Learned From Twilight
Writers are like sports players. We have rituals. Granted our rituals are different than the average sports player. A sports player may wear the same socks—without washing them—for the duration of a streak; or they may wear a good-luck pendant. They may even toss up a Hail Mary before going out to the mound.
We’re not that different. We definitely say a lot of Hail Marys (or Oh Goddesses) before opening up that Word document. We might wear our lucky writer’s pants—lots of stretch—so we’re comfortable while we’re creating genius. We’ll even put on our favorite soundtrack to keep part of our brain distracted, so we can write-write-write.
I, myself, put on DVDs. Lately, my DVD to Ignore of Choice is Twilight, which I admit was an odd choice for me. I didn’t like that movie when I saw it in the theater. The story is cheesy. The acting is cheesy. Some of the dialogue makes me snort in helpless guffaws. But strangely, it grew on me, and I think I can pinpoint why. You can’t deny these two could write a couple handbooks on sexual tension.
Of course, these two are too busy mooning at each other to write a handbook, so I’ll just give you a crib sheet to amp up the sexual tension in your story.
1.) Don’t have sex. (Wow, I sounded just like my mother right there, but really, once the sex card has been played, it’s hard to bring sexual tension back to the table and make it believable again.) Many authors rush the sex in books as an interesting form of combining “making sure the hero and heroine meet ASAP” and “make the sex hot”, but it’s not about making the sex hot that’s important. It’s about making the tension hot, and if you want hot tension, don’t have sex. Anticipation is 99% of the game.
2.) Emphasize the forbidden. Contemporary sex is not as exciting as historical or paranormal sex because, well, contemporary sex isn’t usually forbidden. Historical sex amps the sexual tension easily because the debutante is not supposed to be having sex with anyone, unless she’s married to the guy; paranormal sex amps up the sexual tension with sex not of this world—or even with sexual parts of this world. (Hazelnuts, anyone?) In the modern world, there’re not a lot of rules left. If you’re of legal age, you can have sex whenever, wherever, with whoever, so long as you’re not harming anyone—and even then, that’s a lot of gray area, depending on the novel you pick up. A little S&M anyone? What’s a contemporary writer to do? Well, fall in love with a vampire, of course, because not only is necrophilia a taboo, but there is always the possibility he may kill her instead of make love to her.
3.) Always be aware. Poor Edward—he can’t help but be aware. Bella enters a room and he’s covering his nose so he isn’t overwhelmed by her scent. These teenagers have it down. There isn’t a scene in this movie where they’re not looking at each other with complete and utter longing. Romeo & Juliet would roll their eyes at these two and tell them to “Get a room already.” Still, there is an interesting believable blend of “action suspense” and “sexual suspense”—even while being chased by bad guys, Bella is still thinking of being held by Edward just one more time, but unlike in a typical action flick (National Treasure’s kiss scene comes to mind), you don’t think such a sentiment feels clunky and out of place. But don’t just be aware of one thing: Be aware of all of it. Bella certainly is: Edward’s voice, his angelic features, his cold skin, his sweet scent, and—well—I don’t remember much in the way of descriptions of his taste, but they were probably there. We were certainly aware of all of Edward’s qualities.
All right, your turn: what do you think makes for great sexual tension? What story or movie scene best demonstrates it? Do you prefer sexual tension or sex? Does it annoy you if the sex happens too early in a story? Have you ever not liked a movie but grew to like it over time? Do you have any writer’s rituals that help you meet your daily word count?
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87 comments:
I think that book demonstrates sexual tension at it's best. And the movie is cheesy but you can't help but watch it over and over again.
I like tension more than sex, I think. Who knows. I'm game for hot sex too! LOL
If sex happens early in the story, then the author better up the ante and make it hotter as the book goes along.
Nope, I like ta see 'em havin' sex. I like ta read 'bout them havin' sex. The sexual tension once the deed be done exists, it's more about what does this sex mean? Is it more than sex? Does he love me or just me hooha? Fantabulous as it is...is that all there is to these wonderful encounters?
Writer's ritual? Lately...is Mom in bed yet?
And there be tension in when are we havin' sex again? And where? Will it be the same? What else shall we try? Where be the toy box?
OK, that last not be tension, but playin'...though it could be tension... ;) Gots ta think about this...after Mum is in bed.
I like the sporting analogy!
There is nothing in the world to compare with the tension created in a soccer cup final at Wembley. A packed stadium erupts with unleashed jubilation by the fans of team A when they score the first goal, balanced only by the black despair of the fans of team B. But then team B equalises and the tension simmers down until the next goal.
It is the feedback loop connecting players and fans and between fans of opposing teams that generates the tension. Its not quite like that tension filled bedroom scene. *grin*
I think its good to delay the sex between hero/heroine to allow tension to build, but the whole thing can be spiced up by the rakish hero sowing his wild oats before his heart is truly captured. There are lots of books like that but I can't think of a single title to quote right now!
*Groping for the coffee pot*
Hey, I'm surprised you didn't mention the Amish sex tension of Witness!
I love the tension...and the sex. Sorry, both are great when done right. I lov ethe tension where they almost have sex many times but keep getting interrupted.
One of my all time fav movies that is loaded with sexual tension is The Thomas Crown Affair. The new one. Holy smokes they crackle up the screen!
BTW - sorry about Friday's cliffhanger...didn't realize I forgot a few details. They thought I had appendicitis so they sent me for bloodwork and a CT Scan - no problem with appendix. So, I have this pretty intense pain in right side and back and so far no idea what's wrong. Dr. supposed to tell me today what to check next.
Sabrina - Sorry your in pain. Could you be passing a stone? That is so unpleasant.
I know I'm one of the few who likes the new movie version of P&P better than the mini-series (J being one of my fellow few) but that scene where they are wet and he proposes - badly, oh so badly - and she's yelling at him and they get close and lean a little. Man, that scene is HOT. THAT is tension.
And you're totally right, don't let them have sex for as long as possible. Doesn't mean the tension dies immediately and the rest of the book is flat, but it sure raises it to a great level that keeps the reader turning the pages.
That interrupt them a few times thing works wonders. Though you have to eventually stop doing that as having your reader yell "OH COME ON ALREADY!" is probably not good.
Thank you, Tiff, I'm glad I'm not the only person compelled to watch the movie repeatedly, despite cheesiness. *LOL*
I'm game for hot sex too...but I really do think the author has her/his work cut out if sex is introduced early in the book. Some have handled it really, really well--but then, I've read some real stinkers where they would have been better off delaying it a few chapters. *LOL*
2nd: *scratches chin* Well, I'm not saying the "having sex" reduces conflict because usually having sex creates more conflict--and "does he love me for more than my hooha?" is definitely the question of the ages.
I'm just saying having sex early in the book reduces sexual tension--blue balls if you will--because once you give it up, chances are you're going to be giving it up at every other opportunity offered in the book. Drawing it out is...a sort of foreplay and I'm all about the foreplay.
Q, my luv, you give me far more credit about my sporting analogy--and you totally put a new picture in my head. I've suddenly got that guy yelling "GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!" at that crucial moment and I'm giggling at the thought of that occurring in the bedroom.
And if I'm Team A, I'd want to get about two or three goals before Team B got their goal. (However, I'm happy with just the one too...I won't lie.)
And what's this about the hero sowing his wild oats? What about the heroine's oats? Is she allowed oats? GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL!
Maggie, ooh, Witness is a great one for sexual tension! I've only watched it once or twice though, hence why I didn't mention it. I don't own the movie. (I also liked the inappropriate but much beloved sexual tension in The Scarlet Letter with Demi Moore and Gary Oldman. *fans self* Say what you will about changing up the story that way, but DAMN, that was way hot. Holy Cow.)
I'm with you on the watching the movie repeatedly, despite cheesiness. I think the second one is going to be really good though.
I prefer tension to sex myself, if I were to choose. I think that sexual tension is its own kind of suspense. It keeps you reading, wanting to know what'll happen. I don't think that sex immediately in a book is the kiss of death or anything, but I think it definitely takes away one of the major suspense creators in a romance novel.
I do have writers rituals that help me meet word count. I pretty much write when my kid's sleeping and I'm awake. An hour at nap, two at night after he's in bed. If I can eek any more out, then I do.
I was just thinking.... I belong to the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Chapter and right now they're doing a 60 days to PRO event.
I'm already PRO so that's not really my goal, but they're doing a bunch of sprints, they call them. A facilitator keeps time and each of the writers just writes for the allotted time. (Usually a half an hour). People are really wracking up word count. (Go FF&Pers!)
But that might work too. Just setting aside a time frame, setting a timer or something, and telling yourself to just write from go to stop.
Just a suggestion, if it works for anyone else.
P.S. Sabrina, thanks for checking in with us again regarding the cliffhanger. I hope they figure out what's wrong and you get to feeling better very soon!
Sabrina, I didn't mean to imply in my blog we had to like only one or the other. I'm not anti-sex, guys. I'm just anti-sex in the first 30 pages when I don't know anybody...it's like having sex with a stranger. (Okay, that's not a bad fantasy, but you know what I mean. When I have sex with a stranger, I don't plan to call him again...wait, that didn't sound right.)
Terri, I'm with you on the "interrupt the sex" a couple times--but don't overdo it. *LOL* Sometimes you're like, "Oh, come on, already", as you said, and you start flipping through the book to figure out WHEN they're going to actually have sex.
Hmm, I still prefer Colin Firth to the Matthew guy (even if he's got the darker hair), but the new P&P IS good. And the tension is great.
I think that sexual tension is its own kind of suspense.
I think that's it, Marn. Who knew I read for suspense? *LOL* But yeah, delaying the inevitable does make you wonder, will they or won't they and where, where will it be? But early in the game, it's "Oh, they've done it, joy, joy." It's just not as fun for me.
Marn: the sprints sound like a great idea. I had the ENTIRE day yesterday to write, but did I write? Not really. Around my "normal" writing period, I finally settled in and was like, "Look, joker, you are near your 15,000 word count, you just need 1000 more words--you can do it. So do it."
It mostly worked. I got 600 new words, but I couldn't create another 400. I think I need to decide what is going to happen in this scene. Most of my word count lately has been happening organically, but I need to refocus and figure out where my scenes are going, what my characters doing/how they're growing so I can make sure my scene is making that happen. It's totally inhibited my writing the last few days. Gah.
Sorry, that was a complete aside.
I must confess, I adore cheesy. I watched Twilight with part of my mind acknowleging the "cheesiness" and finding many parts predictable, but once I let go of some cynicism I realized I loved it. The romance is there and most definitely, the sexual tension.
I agree that a paranormal story creates sexual tension with the forbidden. I see parts of my first WIP where I could have taken advantage of that better, but it's definitely foremost in my mind with my current WIP.
I love your tips! Each is very relevant to me right now.
(#1) Don't have sex. That is a given with hero as a ghost, but an opportunity, if I'm brave enough, to use ALL the senses and be aware (#3). My hero and heroine do have sex in chapter four, a one-time gift that, as far as the hero knows, is the last time. So it's "early" sex, but bittersweat then it's back to the forbidden (#2).
I got stuck at that point, the how am I going to get them out of this one?, for a very long time, but I'm happy to say I did A LOT of writing this holiday weekend. What else was I going to do in my withdrawal from this blog? lol
It's a good thing school started today for my son. Back to my story. I'm having fun with it right now. Ben wants to strangle his newly independent wife and he tells her so (she can "hear" him), but as she tells her ghost husband, "well, you can't." lol
Melissa: Letting go of cynicism? That can be done? *confused look* I don't know if I could part with mine...it goes with every outfit I have.
I love your number 1 though--where they have sex but they think it's going to be the last and only time...that is bittersweet!
*LOL* I love that. "Well, you can't." I totally hear a "Nanny, nanny, boo, boo" there.
You do realize if you throw a hail mary there is no mound? I don't know what the equal to a hail mary is in baseball, but the quarterback will throw up a hail mary just as time expires in football and hope that one of his teammates catches the ball and runs in for a touchdown.
But you don't care. *sigh* I dunno why I wasted my breath.
I love sexual tension. I think Ranger and Steph have it in spades. There's something about the way Ranger leans into Steph. The way he watches her as if she were his favorite book.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I didn't think the sexual tension between Edward and Bella was all that great in the first book. Eclipse is where it got good.
Sin, I was totally lost. I was making a Catholic reference, not an actual play reference. And yes, you totally wasted your breath bringing me up to speed about football. *LOL*
Ranger & Steph have reached a point where we're going, "Oh, come on, already!!!!!"
Hmm. I can see that with Twilight vs latter books. I don't remember much about Eclipse--I know it's the book where she's got to become a vampire before the Volturi come back, et al, and Edward is playing the marriage card--so yes, I can totally see the sexual tension being amped.
But in the first book, she gives herself so freely, her love, without care or caution--that it's only right that he burns her in the second book and leaves. I think it brought the tension back because now when he returned, yes, she loved him, but does she trust him? Lack of trust amps up tension.
Hellie - - Beneath every cynic lies the heart of a romantic. :) Sorry if those are "fight'n words." lol
Yes, there is a "nanny, nanny, boo boo" there. lol It's more of me messing with my control freak hero. Why is that so fun? I have a sick, sick, mind. :) But it does come after Beth has learned he'd kept some secrets from her "for her own good" and she's very, very angry. It was hard for me to figure out how to make him less "perfect" in her memory, but the lack of conflict was stopping me cold.
I love torturing control freaks. Even if their suggestion is actually something I want to do.
*grins* My English professor and advisor once told us in class that there are only two things that happen to Romantics: they die young or grow old and cynical.
To which I piped up, "Is that what happened to you?"
Of course, even then I was cynical. I could have given Byron a run for his money. I still could. *LOL*
Oh, btw, I knew I was subconsciencly quoting someone and feel guilty not to give them credit. After a google search I guess it was Glenn Beck who said, "beneath every cynic there lies a romantic, and probably an injured one." I just feel better to get that out there. lol
I'm way too easily distracted and shouldn't pass along my bad habits, but here are some more "romantic quotes."
http://www.lifesip.com/romance-quotes.html
Because of my current WIP, I like:
"Marriage is a romance in which the hero dies in the first chapter."
"Author unknown" on that last quote. Darn, I did it gain. lol
Aww, I shouldn't say this, being a die-hard bleeding heart liberal and all, but I got a little crush on Glenn Beck. I think he's funny for a republican. Who knew they had senses of humor?
i have the same reaction to sex in the first chapter, or even the first third of the book. I don't know the characters well enough yet, and I'm not emotionally invested in them, so I just feel awkward and slightly voyeuristic *g* I much prefer tension to actual sex -- I like it really drawn out and until the tension is just bursting off the page.
Hard Evidence, by PC, has phenomenal sexual tension for the first half, and then we get the hot sex for the second half *g*
Hard Evidence, by PC, has phenomenal sexual tension for the first half, and then we get the hot sex for the second half *g*
See, now that's what I like. I'm a both kind of girl, but I like it in the right order. *LOL* It's like making bread or something, you have to do things in the right order in order to get the bread to come out right...
I agree with your prof, Hellie. The greatest cynics I know were once dreamy-eyed idealists. Cynicism is a by product of shattered expectations. You can't be disillusioned if you didn't once hold illusions.
I want to see the steam before I see the flames in romance. I've read a number of books recently that I would give an A+ on sexual tension. EJ's A Duke of Her Own, Tessa Dare's Surrender of a Siren, Laura Lee Guhrke's With Seduction in Mind, Anne Mallory's For the Earl's Pleasure, Jo Goodman's Never Love a Lawman all come to mind immediately. I think both SEP and Nora Roberts are terrific at creating sexual tension.
And on the P & P question, I can think of four film versions I've enjoyed including the 2005 Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen movie, but Colin Firth IMO is the definitive Darcy.
Finally (I promise), on the subject of writing rituals, I have a new one. When I get stuck or when I have 30 minutes or less to write, I use Write or Die. Maybe all my years in the classroom conditioned me to externally timed writing, but WOD really pushes me to get the words out in time that I would otherwise waste rereading and testing pens. It also has me composing at the computer, an extraordinary feat for me.
Cynicism is a by product of shattered expectations. You can’t be disillusioned if you didn’t once hold illusions.
This sums up my cynicism completely. Although my illusions might have been delusions. *LOL* Damn, Sleeping Beauty anyway!
Colin Firth IMO is the definitive Darcy
Amen, sister and say it again!
When I get stuck or when I have 30 minutes or less to write, I use Write or Die.
That sounds a little--EXTREME--might be the word I'm looking for here. Like trying to write with a gun pressed to your temple. Most of the time that might work, but I'm contrary enough that some days I'd just look at you and say, "Go ahead and shoot me." *LOL*
Write or Die...are those my only choices? lol Thanks for the tip, Janga. When I put it to myself like that, even the procrastinator in me takes notice. :)
We will not be bandying GB's name on this blog. I won't allow it. That man is insane and should be muzzled. If you must talk about him, then please only refer to him as "the lunatic who shall not be named." Thank you.
Kleypas contemporaries have INCREDIBLE sexual tension. Sizzle. Absolute sizzle.
I need writing rituals. I could practice my belly dance moves around my desk before I sit down to write. But then my kiddo caught me practicing hip drops while drying my hair this morning and was mortified. I'll have to make sure she's not around.
Kleypas, how could I have forgotten Kleypas?
I guess then we might need to add a point to the sexual tension--and that would also apply to Twilight: make your hero POWERFUL. Power draws sexual tension.
(He's a funny lunatic!)
Hey, so long as you're not doing hip drops in public for practice (yet), she shouldn't have a problem. Wait until they make you perform in public! I want to see her face then! *LOL*
I should have posted the Write or Die link.
http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html
Try it, guys. You pirates should have an affinity with someone called Dr. Wicked. :)
And I should say thanks to Carey Baldwin, who recommended the site.
I would be ANGRY at Kamakazi mode. *LOL* Do not be unwriting what I've done! *LOL*
The annoying music sound--would it be Nick Cave?--would undoubtedly work. I'd immediately start writing then.
One of the best things about this class is that the teachers have larger bellies than I do. Amazing muscle control, but still, no six packs here unless they're Twinkees.
Off to check out the link. I've seen that on Twitter but didn't have the courage to check it out. LOL! And yes, at the end when we do the entire routine as a performance, I'm sure she'll be completely horrified.
I would CRY at Kamakazi mode. I lose what I had done if I slow down? Too tramatic. lol
Okay, never mind if it entirely takes away the key motivation of FEAR, but I will time myself and save it in a true "control freak" fashion, thank you. lol
This site is NOT for me. Since I wouldn't be able to reach the actual person responsible, I'd throw my monitor out the window. No no, that is not for me. :)
BTW - Am I the only one who could care less if these two are dating in real life?
Who's dating in real life?
Kristen Bell (is that her name?) and Rob Pattinson. Bella & Edward.
Sorry, that's Kristen Stewart. I knew that looked wrong. My apologies to Ms. Bell.
Ohhh, I think my OK magazine had it, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. They're so off and on, who knows what's going on this week.
Wow, did we kill it completely or what?
I blame you.
Some of these comments leave me totally mystified!
What is a hip drop?
How is WOD implemented?
Is it like Schroedinger's cat where the cat is in a mixed alive/dead state until someone observes and collapses the wave function?
Sounds dangerous to me!
Though I did get the GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLL! concept .... You naughty Helli :lol:
I blame Edward.
Q, a hip drop is a movement in belly dancing. It's one of the things you practice so you can make the whole belly dancing thing seem free forming and natural, but it's all very, very, very practiced.
WOD is implemented by email, I think, or you write at their website and they bother you there.
What the hell is Schroedinger's cat and why isn't PETA having a fit?
Yeah, I figured you'd get mine. I'm about as deep as an Arizona mud puddle.
Okay, Q, follow these instruction.
Stand with your feet a little less than shoulder width apart. Bend your knees slightly. Tuck your tummy and lift your rib cage. Don't stick out your chest too far, just lift up. Now, put your hands low on your hips. Don't lift your shoulders, keep them down.
Without moving anything above the waist, drop your left hip toward the floor. Don't stick it out and don't shift your weight. Pretend someone is pulling straight down on a string attached to your hip.
Now, change and drop the other. Right, left. Right, left. There you go. Hip drops.
My brain is trying to wrap around doing what Terri described because I can't figure out how she does it without moving anything.
This is the hip drop that I know it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdT98i1YNEk
Maybe, like me, your blog inspired the viewers to, um, write?
I did get some "time" in and now I'm thinking some more on point #3, being aware, and keeping the sexual tension a constant hum even when other things are going on. (The song, You Were Always on My Mind, comes to mind.) I mean, when we switch to a secondary character or focus on the external conflict, the reader can so easily get distracted and the sexual tension is gone. I think a big part of achieving sexual tension is being very careful not to dilute it and I like what you said about having an believable blend of "action suspense" and "sexual suspense." What a challenge!
What? Are you suggesting this blog is supposed to inspire writers to actually go and write instead of screwing around all day, making pithy comments about Twilight and discussing the best way to drop your hips? When was this memo sent? Why wasn't I informed?
That's Tribal Belly Dance. I'm learning a more traditional, non-Tribal. We keep our feet together more and face forward instead of emphasizing the one hip forward.
This was our intro to the move last night, but I'm not sure how we'll use it in the dance yet, or how we'll stylize it once we learn it.
I mean, when we switch to a secondary character or focus on the external conflict, the reader can so easily get distracted and the sexual tension is gone. I think a big part of achieving sexual tension is being very careful not to dilute it and I like what you said about having an believable blend of “action suspense” and “sexual suspense.” What a challenge!
I'm always tempted to dilute sexual tension with a joke. I'm horribly Woody Allen with my love scenes--and nobody wants to read that love scene, not even Woody Allen.
It really is a challenge to do action suspense and sexual tension with any sort of believablity. After all, if you're too worried about being eaten or shot during an action suspense moment, are you really that hung up, thinking what your loved one's kiss tastes like? Not usually.
It's all good research. lol
Oh, and a belly dancing group (troupe?) won first place in my little town's parade. All a group of local ladies doing their thing in public and in broad daylight. It was the bravest thing I have ever seen. :)
Thanks for the clear instructions Terri.
Mrs Q is upstairs typing so I secretly tried some hip drops.
I found that lowering one hip produced a rotation of the body above the waist so that alternate drops produced an interesting gyration. Reminded of kids jiving on the dance floor .... took me back decades!
Melissa, I think the hip drop does induce sexual tension when performed by Terri or Helli. not so sure about me though! *g*
Helli, always glad to educate you.
Schroedinger's cat was a thought experiment devised to irritate Niels Bohr over his interpretation of Quantum theory. The cat is in a box containing a lethal poison which will be released at a random time determined by radioactive decay. According to Bohr's understanding, the cat will be in a mixed alive/dead quantum state until someone makes an observation.
I merely wondered whether Janga was in a mixed alive/dead state until she wrote the necessary. The clock striking at the alloted time! *grin*
Good for them! I don't know that I'd ever have the guts to join the actually performing troupe at this school. I'm a born performer, but that has never required showing my mid-section before. LOL! That might be the line I cannot cross.
I try to show my characters being distracted when they aren't with the hero/heroine, whichever the case may be. Bryan might burn himself (he's a chef) or Celi might staple all the wrong things. Sort of keeps the situation in the foreground, even when it's not.
Neils Bohr, I've heard of. I still think PETA will be all over this if someone is going to poison a cat though. Seriously.
And if the cat is not an actual cat, you all need to come up with a different word. Or use a creature no one would mind poisoning or have decay by radiation--like cockroaches (though many tests have proven, neither poison or radiation will ever kill the common cockroach.)
This cat stays alive/dead until someone makes an observations sounds very much like if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to witness it, does it really fall? Or make a noise or whatever the end of that question is.
That could have been much more graceful. I'll stick to the hip drops.
Q - The idea is to only drop the one hip and not move anything else. I'm sure you can do it. And I bet Mrs. Q could help you!
Dang, too much Mom stuff this morning. I missed out on the chance to defend me sex first stand. I mean, sex is like food. Ya don't go an entire book without the H/H eating. If ya start wit' sex in the first few pages...well, I just love the tension of what does it all mean?
The hooha glitter? The majestic mast? Love? Sex? Passion? One night stand? More? Less?
And I feel the tension between two people who've had unknown sex can be so much more interestin' than no sex. The glance across the room that makes her remember how hard he was, what his tongue could do... His hands, what his hands did!
Will he do it again? Does she want him to do it again?
I wrote a scene recently with this bit of reflection...
Hero - “Breakfast will be here shortly. Time enough for a satisfying bout of fucking.”
She closed her eyes, both unhappy and happy. Happy at the prospect of a bout of fucking, unhappy at how happy the idea made her body.
There's the tension and unknown aspect of early and often sex.
Fer me.
I don't think of sexual tension as not eating. I think of it as APPETIZERS of what is to come. Sex is the main meal, the bowl of spaghetti--and after glutting yourself on all those carbs, it's time to sleep.
You're better off with appetizers.
There are good distractions and bad distractions. I think inserting humor is a natural and believable distraction that helps the ebb and flow of the sexual tension. (I bet Hal could find or create a great chart for this. :))
And Terri, your character being distracted, besides humorous and identifiable, is also a great way to show the character has the hero or heroine in mind.
Hmmmm. We jus' ain't gonna see the same place here. P'haps part a me problem is havin' low tolerance for the tease. And waitin' too long jus' seems like a prolonged tease ta me.
Also, mayhaps it's me age. I want ta see the already-had-sex as part a' the tension. I'm not a great one fer angst. Too many books/movies treat sex as the end a' the story.
Fer me, sex that evolves inta love, lust, deep abidin' emotional connection...that be the beginnin'...
The food analogy ain't workin' fer me...
Melissa - That's what I was going for. LOL! At one point, Celi's best friend mentions something that makes her think of Bryan. And Miranda notices the look on her face and says something like "You look you just found a giant piece of chocolate fudge brownie pie. I'm surprised you're not licking your lips."
And Celi pretends she has no idea what she's talking about. LOL!
Well, 2nd, you're no bullshit and...not quite that straightforward. You also don't understand not telling your SO exactly what you're feeling all the time and I'm all about "not communicating" and letting him deal with it blind. We're just different.
And maybe I equate "angst" with "sexual tension" and other suspense.
Helli luv
I think you may be slightly missing the point. No-one has ever tried that experiment and I don't think that anyone seriously believes that a living creature could be both alive and dead. Though on reflection...no I'm not going there!
The thought experiment was devised to expose possible flaws in the Quantum theory. In particular the difficulty of including the observer consistently within the theory.
Though if Einstein et al had had you as the PA, I have no doubt that they would have replaced the cat with some lower creature. Scientists have been rather slow to understand the importance of public relations. :wink:
Terri, If I stopped the gyration, nothing moved! Maybe I need to lubricate something. *eyes the scotch bottle*
I'm sorry but PA is so close to PITA that I'm cracking up. LOL!
Chance - Many romances are about the relationship. Two people who just meet and have an attraction, but for one reason or another, shouldn't or don't want to be together. So, you establish the "will they or won't they" conflict. The suspense of it. If they have sex right away, that implicit suspense is gone.
However, you are right that them having sex doesn't have to kill anything, it can simply change what the suspense is. Nora Roberts is very good at having the couple start out having sex and then it eventually transitions into making love.
You are both saying the same thing when you say it creates the "what did the sex mean?!" suspense. But even you have to admit, in a traditional romance, if they have sex on page four and we're not invested in the characters yet, nor does it feel like they are invested in each other, it's not quite as powerful.
Hel - Not sure I get what yer saying. I think I've been here at Mum's too long and losin' me ability ta think straight...
Well, 2nd, you’re no bullshit and…not quite that straightforward. Alex? Can I buy a vowel, or something?
I get the rest. I'm totally in yer face and yer sneaky. ;)
I am surprised I be the only sex-first vote! Hahahahahaha!
And Sabrina, glad ta hear yer not havin' brain surgery...hope they figure out what the pain be all about...
If the sex is written with interest I can find myself invested. I like books that start out as if they are just naughty little escapades and end up with some real substance.
Aha! I know what me problem is... I'm not thinkin' along the criteria a' romance. Well...duh!
As I said, I needs ta go home, straighten out me brain.
WHOA - BACK UP...
There's a MRS. Q!?!?
Ok - back to the regularly scheduled program.
Yes, Sabrina, the amphibian Mr. Q has a Mrs. Q. Unless, of course, he's really a 14 year old boy living in his mother's basement in New Jersey. Which is my theory.
The vowel was "I", 2nd. I'm the one who's not typically straightforward. I talk in metaphor if I have to explain myself. I don't just say, "I don't give a shit", I say, "Say there are two boats that pass in the night..." Everything's a metaphor.
2nd: I'm not into the sex first because I'm not invested in the characters. It's just like watching porn than watching people in a relationship. I don't care about the pizza guy...and I don't even care if he does it well.
I have to be invested in the characters to care about the sex. That's all. By page 4 or page 30, I don't know enough about my characters to leap itno bed with them. Usually.
I think you may be slightly missing the point. No-one has ever tried that experiment and I don’t think that anyone seriously believes that a living creature could be both alive and dead.
What if it was a vampire cat? Did you think of that? Vampires are dead, but yet they're alive. You should find a vampire to do the experiment. PETA doesn't care about Vampires.
Now the Twilight cult might have your ass, but...that's the chances you have to take for science.
;) Vampire cat... There was a kitty on the sci/fi convention circuit named Vlad. Had the longest canines...they were long and sharp. His owner would dress him up in a black cape and he'd ride around on a coffin shaped wagon. And yes, he was black, sleek and terribly handsome.
*ROTFLMAO* I love it. That is hilarious!
But I like cats.
Honestly, Hel...I think I'm jus' a renegade romance writer/reader. The norms jus' don't fit me. But I get where yer comin' from.
I also think I'm a wanna-be sex addict.
2nd: Honestly you sound like a guy's ideal date: a girl who doesn't bullshit and wants sex from the get go--the rest can work itself out or not...
I am clearly not designed with that in mind. *LOL* I'm a mess. *LOL*
Well, I may be the mess. Luckily, I'm married or I guess I might have one 'ell of a wicked reputation.
Not only am I married...he's the only man I've even slept with...so maybe it's just an underdevoloped sense of sexual exploration? The sexual explorer in me never got to try out othe models??? ;)
Makes me think of J Perry's blog on Monday about Cougars. I might be a cougar???? If I were sleek, on the prowl and unmarried... Since I'm not, I'm a cougar reader... Yeah! That makes sense!
I think.
A reading cougar...
*giggle
If only I were an artist, I'd draw that...
Helli, Good point about the vampire.
If only I could find a willing specimen. *grin*
I expect it would be happy with a bottle of donor's blood to keep it undead for the experiment?
WOW that would be a first for science!
Chance, You can test your theory by asking me a question that only a thirteen year old would know the answer. Actually my Grand thinks I'm the grandpa who never grew up! *grin*
Thirteen years old or not, its my bed time!
Fourteen, Q. I said fourteen.
*grin
Sweet dreams!
I think it would be more telling if she asked Q questions only a kid in NJ would know. LOL!
I'd ask questions only a quantum physisist would know...but since I don't know anything about qp, I wouldn't know if he were bullshitting me or not.
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