We’ve talked about sex scenes in the past, but it’s been a while and the subject recently came up on the Wicked Writers loop. I had credited the explosion of erotica and paranormal books in mainstream pubs to the success of these books in epubs, and I was impressed by Susan Zane’s response. Susan, who is a reader and not a fiction writer, gave me permission to quote her:
“I believe there is a higher level of eroticism in even the mainstream genres now. However it isn’t what the readers want that changed the pubs, it’s the money epubs are making that made the bigs notice. Because of the bottom-line focus, IMO they often don’t get it quite right in the books, making them too much erotica and too little romance.
The Aphrodisia line, for instance, seems saturated in sex but squanders the story, so they don’t sell as well. Perhaps that’s changed in the last year or so, I haven’t bought one since they first came out because the books bombed for me.
As a romance reader, I want heat and a strong connection between the characters, no matter what situation, time period, or universe they are in. That’s where the story lives for me; the intensity of connection I feel between the characters and TO the characters.”
I can’t remember when I last read an Aphrodesia book, so I won’t comment on that. But I agree it makes a difference when there’s an intensity of connection between the characters. Karin Tabke has that in her books. Her sex scenes aren’t tacked on. They come from the characters’ passion for each other.
Not everyone writes with Karin’s intensity. That doesn’t mean they’re bad, it just means they’re different. I recently read a book by a bestselling writer. The book was good, but the sex scenes were boring, with no passion, and the book would have been better off without them.
I write sex scenes and I like reading them, too. But if they’re the same old thing, I’d rather not have them in a book. I don’t mean the hero and heroine have to do contortions or find odd places to do it. The freshness doesn’t come from their positions, it comes from their characters. Their emotions, their passions, their fears. Just like everything else that rings true in the story.
Even in erotica the sex scenes should mean something and change something. Some shift in the character or the plot — whether it’s making the situation worse or better.
Everything that happens in a book should further the plot. Everything in a book should matter, and that includes the sex scenes.
Do you think sex scenes need to change something? That they should matter? Or is it okay with you if the sex scene just shows how hot the hero/heroine are for each other? And does a book need to have a sex scene for you to enjoy it? Even if the writer is bad at them and clearly would rather clean toilets?
Just a note to say that Zoe Winters is a finalist in the Better Sex Erotic Fiction Contest! There’s one last round of voting, so please vote for A Safer LIFE!
Oh, Edie, I almost couldn’t read this blog I was so distracted by the pictures! ROFL