Writing the Sexy Stuff

Dear Maggie,

I think steamy scenes are the best part of a book! Do you like writing the sexy stuff as much as I like reading it?

Sincerely,

Steam Lover in Santa Monica

Dear Steam Lover,

I’ll admit, I used to dog-ear the ‘good parts’ of my mom’s old bodice ripper romance novels. Didn’t we all? I will further admit that I love writing those scenes now. I’m currently working on a romantic suspense series. These books aren’t erotica, which is a slightly different animal from romance, so I do have to consider how much of the sexy stuff to include and how graphic I’ll be with the scenes themselves.

Whatever I’m writing, my goal is first and foremost to tell a good story. For the romance books, I also think a lot about my readers’ expectations. People who read erotica are looking for the hot stuff. People who read romance want differing amounts, depending on the sub-genre and their own personal preferences. I chose to write a romantic suspense series because I enjoy throwing in a good bit of danger and adventure as a backdrop for the romance. I know readers of romantic suspense will expect the plot action to be well-crafted and the suspense and danger to keep them turning the pages.

While sexy for the sake of sexy is awesome, if the story is not erotica, I want the sexy to do a bit more. When I include a steamy scene, I think about it a bit like an action sequence, in that it should have a purpose beyond simply the sexy factor. So, my sexy scenes will often help move the plot forward, impact the relationship between the characters involved, or maybe reveal something about our hero or heroine.

Intimacy is revealing. Does our confident hero suddenly show a shy side when he’s finally with the woman of his dreams? Will a past trauma rear its ugly head? How our characters behave with the lights off often shows a vulnerable side they may not express elsewhere. I love that about sexy scenes. I also love using the sexy scene as a payoff, for both the characters involved and the readers. Maybe the two lovebirds have been circling each other for years and finally have their moment? Or maybe they’ve been separated by misunderstanding, or a deployment, or by a crazed serial killer? This intimate connection or reconnection can be a powerfully emotional moment.

I include steamy scenes in my books when I think they will enhance the storyline or character development, and of course so they will entertain my readers. Whenever it’s time to include one, I know it’s going to be a fun writing day!

Do you have a question for me? Send it to maggie@msmaggieclare.com, and I’ll answer it here on the blog.

In other news…

I wrote a mystery story for a collection, and it’s coming out soon! This particular indie publisher uses Kickstarter to fund their projects, so feel free to show some support. Kickstarter works like a crowd-funded pre-order system. Give now, and when the book is printed, you’ll get it before it’s released into the wild. Here’s the Kickstarter LINK to check it out.

This Valentine’s Day, Ray and I are taking the Palm Springs tram into the mountains and having dinner at Peaks Restaurant. Do you have any fun or unique Valentine’s Day plans? Let me know!