Cynthia Sax's Blog, page 225
October 18, 2014
Sinful Rewards 4 – I Might Have A Busboy Thing Now
A Reader Lives A Thousand Lives has reviewed Sinful Rewards 4!
“A few Hawke related thoughts: 1) I might have a busboy thing now. 2) His interruption skills are EPIC. 3) “Passion isn’t tidy.” 4) What they share is real. No forced images, she lets go of her fears and faces them, not alone… with a biker whose real name she doesn’t know. But she holds his most valuable possession close to her heart.”
http://areaderlivesa1000lives.blogspot.ca/2014/10/sinful-rewards-4.html
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
October 16, 2014
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Every Sex Scene Different
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
“I’m considering walking away from erotic romance because I’m tired of writing about sex. There are only so many combinations of tabs and slots a girl can think of.”
“My book needs to be longer so I’m adding a sex scene. I don’t care where in the book this additional fuckfest goes. I’ll write a generic scene and let my editor decide.”
“I’m in a time crunch so I’ll insert a sex scene from a story I discarded. Sure, the old story was a SciFi featuring a doubly blessed alien hero and I’m writing a contemporary with a one-cocked billionaire, but sex is sex, right?”
If you’re thinking any of these thoughts (and let’s face, we’ve all contemplated these – usually when staring at the bottom of a wine bottle), then you likely need a reminder of what a great sex scene should be.
No Separation Of Sex And Story
Sex scenes should change the romantic relationship or reveal character or push the plot forward, or accomplish all of those other things any great scene should do (that I can’t remember right now). It isn’t filler. It isn’t a bonus scene. It has a purpose.
There is also no separation of sex scene and story. Whatever happens while clothed affects what happens when naked and vice versa. Sex can really fuck things up, increasing conflict, or it can resolve differences, forcing couples to work together. If you can remove a sex scene and nothing changes, the sex scene shouldn’t be there.
Every sex scene should be different. I have over 80 erotic romances published. That translates to 250 sex scenes, give or take a few. No two are the same. There are some similarities because yes, there are only so many physical combinations we can write, but readers aren’t reading sex scenes for the actual sex. They’re reading for emotion, for character, for plot.
Every Character Approaches Fucking Differently
They do. Take a simple climax scene. The hero is sextastic. Boyfriend is pulling out all the stops, fucking the heroine into the mattress, and she’s coming hard, the lucky bitch.
A SciFi heroine might go supernova, seeing stars. Diamonds glitter for a fashionista heroine. A phoenix shifter heroine bursts into flames. A warrior heroine’s world explodes into a million daggers. A cowboy heroine is dazzled by sparks from a campfire.
You’re in your character’s point of view. Be your character. Ask yourself if your character would use the words you’re writing for him or her. Would the gruff, tough cop hero know his heroine is wearing a silk camisole (revealing his secret side job as a fashion designer) or would he remove a top so damn flimsy and soft, he’s worried about tearing it?
Would your talkative heroine be quiet during sex (maybe showing she’s nervous) or would she chatter during the entire encounter, forcing the hero to shut her up (in sexy ways)? Does coming loosen the normally stoic hero’s lips or does he stay in character and show his changing emotions? Is a clumsy heroine also clumsy in bed, kneeing our poor hero in the groin (taking care of that pesky birth control problem), or is that the one place she’s graceful, becoming the Cinderella of the bed sheets?
Your Character’s Fucking Style Will Change
In an erotic romance, the main characters have what is known as a character arc. They change. The hero and heroine grow as individuals, becoming people able to sustain a lasting love. This change affects EVERY aspect of their lives, especially their sexual encounters.
Bee, the heroine from Sinful Rewards, cares about her appearance and about what other people think about her. At the beginning of the serial, she gets pissy when thing get… ummm… messy (and things do get messy during sex, don’t they?). As she changes, becoming less uptight about appearances, she also becomes less uptight about sex. The Bee having sexy encounters in Sinful Rewards 12 isn’t the same Bee who had sexy encounters in Sinful Rewards 1. The sex scenes can’t be swapped.
The Relationship Will Change
The relationship between the hero and the heroine will change also. One of the reasons I love writing erotic romances is that, while men don’t always talk about their feelings, they’re really good at showing them, especially in the sack.
When two near-strangers fuck, it’s a gloriously selfish thing. Both the hero and the heroine are usually concentrating on getting themselves off. Sure, if the other person comes, that’s a bonus, a pat on the back for our big strong alpha male, but his focus is on himself.
He arranges the hook up so he can leave as soon as he’s done (they fuck in his car or between meetings). There’s no talking about personal things or the future. He doesn’t use her name or take her preferences into consideration.
As he cares more and more, his focus switches from himself, to the two of them, to her. Maybe he tucks a pillow under her ass before he pounds her senseless. Maybe he goes downtown on her and doesn’t expect anything in return (and it isn’t even her birthday! He IS a hero.). Maybe he cuddles.
Whether or not he/she sleeps over and where the couple sleeps can be a big indicator of where they are in a relationship. Does he make the bed before she comes over? Buy her a toothbrush? Prepare breakfast the next day? These details are important, revealing character.
Sex And Conflict
Sex is a delicious source of conflict. The heroine and hero could be at different stages in their relationship. She’s falling in love with him and he doesn’t want to sleep over (because, unbeknownst to her, he has nightmares from the war and worries about harming her). She sees his leaving every night as a rejection.
Sex could bring out deeper issues. She assumes the werewolf hero likes to do it doggy style and he thinks she views him as an animal, good for a fuck but not a relationship. He calls her his dirty little slut and she’s spent her life fighting that label.
Other Considerations
There are other things that can make your sex scenes special. I often use motifs or symbolism in my sex scenes. In Breaking All The Rules, the hero is called the Iceman. Temperatures or acts of nature (and Camille IS an act of nature) are woven into the scenes.
Sex in the city (in apartments with paper thin walls) is very different than sex in the country (scream your heart out, hon). Winter sex (cuddling in front of a fire place) is different from summer sex (fucking on the front lawn). Sex when we’re twenty (all night long) is different than sex where we’re fifty (let’s take a breather). Sex in a car (watch the steering wheel) is different from sex on a beach (sand in bad places).
There are a million ways to make your sex scenes unique. What are some of your favorite ways?
If you liked this post, you might like
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Sex Sexy
or
Writing Erotic Romance – The Basics Of A Sex Scene
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Word Choice
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
October 14, 2014
Sinful Rewards 4 – A Must Read!
Defying Tradition has reviewed Sinful Rewards 4!
“…you have more passionate kisses from both men, tempers flying, and more texts from the mysterious “Friendly”. This is a MUST READ”
http://traditionallydefiant.blogspot.ca/2014/10/spotlight-book-tour-sinful-rewards-4.html
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Sinful Rewards 4 – I will never look at riding a motorcycle in the same way!
Yay! We have a first review for Sinful Rewards 4!
“10 out of 10! delicious, gripping and I will never look at riding a motorcycle in the same way every again!” – Brit Nanny Reads
http://britnannyreads.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/sinful-rewards-4-by-cynthia-sax-review-and-blog-tour/
Cara also says this is her favorite Sinful Rewards yet and I agree. My stories build, they become more and more intense.
(Yeah, I know I should start intense but…)
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
A Year Of Sizzling Hot Sax – Sinful Rewards 4 Read Along
Sinful Rewards 4, the fourth novella in Sinful Rewards, a 12 novella contemporary erotic romance serial, releases today! What I love about #4 is we start to figure out secrets!
(We’ll be discussing these in more details on our Goodreads group – https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/139616-a-year-of-sizzling-hot-sax-read-along ).
What Is In Hawke’s Pockets?
In every novella, we’ve received more hints about the object Hawke carries with him everywhere.
Sinful Rewards 1 – The bike creaks as he shifts his weight, bringing my attention to his powerful thighs. Denim stretches across two oval-shaped objects hidden in his front right pocket.
Sinful Rewards 3 – I close my eyes, savoring his petting, conscious of his body under mine, solid and hard and unyielding. A small oval-shaped object is hidden in his front right pocket. I trace the shape with my fingertips round and round, the action calming me.
Sinful Rewards 3 – Hawke strides toward the back of the building, his hands stuffed in the front pocket of his jeans, his gait loose, his tread soundless. He turns into an alley and disappears, his big body sucked into the shadows.
We know this object is important to him. In Sinful Rewards 4, we find out what the object is and why he values it.
Bee’s Hometown Of Happydale
In Sinful Rewards 4, Bee returns home to Happydale. Happydale is a fictional town. However, it is based on the very real town of Monee. I changed the name because the people living in Monee are wonderful and the people living in Happydale… well… not-so-much. I didn’t want anyone to mistake one of Bee’s arch enemies for a kind, gentle Monee soul.
Bee’s Issue With Being Vertically Challenged
Bee is short. She claims to be average-sized and is offended if anyone calls her tiny.
In Sinful Rewards 4, we finally get a hint WHY she wants to be average-sized.
***
Hawke chuckles. “You’re tiny, sweetheart.” He fastens the straps under my chin. “There’s nothing average about you.”
“You say that like it’s a good thing,” I mumble, having no wish to be less, wanting to be more, to become all the woman a man could ever desire.
“It’s a very good thing.” Hawke cups my chin, raising my gaze to meet his. My breath hitches, the emotion in his broad blunt face enthralling me, pulling me under.
***
For more discussions about Sinful Rewards 4, please join us on our Goodreads group!
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/139616-a-year-of-sizzling-hot-sax-read-along
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
October 13, 2014
Release Day For Sinful Rewards 4
Woo hoo! Sinful Rewards 4 releases today!
Warning: You will likely cry… at least, I did. (grins)
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
October 12, 2014
Sinful Rewards 4 And Expectations
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
Our expectations of people, of the world, shape us. Bee, our heroine from Sinful Rewards, expects people to leave her.
This revealing excerpt from Sinful Rewards 4 (releasing tomorrow!) shows this.
***
I push through the front doors and stop, my breath catching. It can’t be. I stare, unable to believe my eyes. It is.
Hawke waits outside the building. Sunglasses are clipped to the collar of his black T-shirt. He’s wearing his usual blue jeans and military-style boots and straddles his huge bike. A blue helmet is perched on the sliver of a seat behind him. His head is bare, his brown hair styled short and straight, an adorable lopsided smile on his rugged face.
All thoughts of Happydale, of the bus, of anything other than Hawke disappear. My body hums to life, his mere presence resuscitating my desire, tightening my nipples, moistening my pussy. I want to run to him, to throw myself into his arms, to kiss the tiny scar on his square chin, brush my fingertips against his stubble.
Instead, I stand, frozen in place, my mind spinning. “You’re here.” My voice lilts with wonder. “You didn’t leave me.”
Hawke’s smile fades. “I’m not leaving you, love.”
This lie returns me to the cold, harsh reality. Nothing has changed. He remains a tattooed biker, a drifter unable to commit, and I’m a woman seeking forever.
“You told me you wouldn’t leave me last night.” I twist my lips, calling him on his bullshit. “Then I woke up and you were gone.”
Hawke’s thick eyebrows lower. “I had to run some errands this morning, but I’ll always return to you. You’re my girl.”
“You’ll always return to me?” I scoff, unable to believe in him, the cost of being wrong too painfully high.
“Always,” he repeats, his tone grave, as though he means what he says.
He’s not sincere. I release a ragged breath. This is another one of his flippant comments, such as calling me love or his girl. My military man doesn’t even know what forever means.
Hawke sighs, his big chest rising and falling. “You don’t believe me.”
“Of course I don’t believe you.” I roll my eyes. “People need a reason to return.”
His forehead furrows with thought lines. “You’re my reason.”
I can’t be the reason. I’m not enough for him, for anyone. Especially since he’s seen only the perverted, imperfect version of me. He’s heard me cuss, seen me stained with black ink, my nose and cheeks reddened from crying, watched me dance half-naked in the window. That’s not a woman worthy of returning for.
***
Bee’s dad left her mom as soon as he found out she was pregnant. He never returned. Bee’s default assumption is people will leave her. Ironically, her knee jerk response to difficult situations is to leave.
My default expectation of people is people are busy. They have their own sh*t to do and I should help myself. When folks help me out, I’m surprised and extremely grateful. I view this as a gift. They’re setting aside their own tasks to give me a hand.
What is your default expectation of people?
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards4-1645053-149.html
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Breaking All The Rules – Best of Erotic Short Stories and Novellas
OMG!!! Breaking All The Rules was named Best of Erotic Short Stories and Novellas !!!
http://www.romanceatrandom.com/lists/dirty-shorts-best-of-erotic-short-stories-and-novellas/
“Quality writing, quirky heroine, hot stuff. Erotic done right.”
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
October 9, 2014
Writing Erotic Romance – Making Sex Sexy
This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old and/or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.
Sex, on its own, isn’t very sexy. Reading that Tab A is sliding into Slot B (or C or D) isn’t making anyone hot. Hell, I read a sex scene last week that reminded me of an erotic hokey pokey. He thrust his big cock in. He pulled his big cock out. He thrust his big cock in, came and shook it all about. No, just… no.
Great erotic romance is all about tone. I’ve read erotic romances with absolutely no sex that made my lady parts tingle. A talented erotic romance writer can craft a handholding scene into the sexiest snippet you’ve ever read. Her characters will eyefuck the hell out of each other before they even exchange a word. THIS is how erotic romances start sexy without characters jumping into bed together (beds? That’s so old-fashioned).
Action, Physical Reaction, Emotional Reaction
This is a trick I learned from Christine d’Abo, a woman who can make a soccer mom’s grocery list sound like the dirtiest piece of literature ever written. The basic construct for a sexy exchange is action, physical reaction, emotional reaction.
Here’s an example from Sinful Rewards 4
***
He nibbles, licks, sucks, ravishing my sensitive neck, and I press against him, relishing his strength and his size, his distinctive scent filling my nostrils.
***
He nibbles, licks, sucks, ravishing my sensitive neck
I press against him
relishing his strength and his size
Every part is key and yes, you can write them out of order (though having the reaction before the action weakens the sentence) and the parts can appear in different sentences but for erotic romance readers, the emotional reaction is key. This is why we’re reading your story.
Size Matters
Because erotic romance readers are reading for emotion, EVERYTHING in the story should serve this emotion. This includes grammar. Yes, I saw the grammar Nazis wince. But it’s true. Short sentences are choppy. They’re great for action scenes. They’re not-so-great for sex scenes. Sex scenes call for luxuriously long, flowing run-on sentences.
Let’s revisit our example
***
He nibbles, licks, sucks, ravishing my sensitive neck, and I press against him, relishing his strength and his size, his distinctive scent filling my nostrils.
***
Compare this to
He ravishes my sensitive neck. I press against him. I relish his strength and his size. His distinctive scent fills my nostrils.
These two snippets have completely different tones. The first is sexy. The second… yeah, not-so-much.
A trick I use is to read my scenes out loud, taking a breath at every period. If I sound like I’m hyperventilating, I know I need longer sentences.
Magical Body Parts
It is tempting, especially in erotic romances written in first person (as Sinful Rewards is), to have body parts lead the action.
His big hands cupped her ass.
This adds variation to sentences, breaking up the he did this, he did that structure.
The problem with this is a) body parts don’t move on their own and b) readers don’t care about body parts. They care about characters. Readers want characters to take action.
He cupped her ass with both of his big hands.
Is always more powerful than
His big hands cupped her ass.
The pet peeve of editors everywhere is moving eyeballs. Gazes move. Eyes, unless you’re writing a Minority Report type of SciFi erotic romance, don’t move.
Felt, Touched, Saw, Smelled
These are filtering words, putting distance between your reader and your character.
Instead of saying “Bee saw his cock harden.”, simply tell us what Bee saw. “His cock hardened.”
“She felt white hot desire.” becomes “A wave of white hot desire swept over her.”
Word Choice
Word choice is key in any sex scene. One wrong word will pull a reader out of the story. Some words aren’t sexy at all. “He scissors her nipples with his fingers.” Ouch! Unless you’re writing horror erotic romance, keep the scissors away from delicate body parts.
Some words are wrong for your specific scene. “He eased his cock into her pussy.” is very different than “He pounded his cock into her pussy.” Both are great sentences. Only one fits the mood of the scene you’re writing.
How do you make your sex scenes sexy?
Next week, I’ll talk about how to make every sex scene different.
If you enjoyed this crazy post, you’ll probably enjoy
Writing Erotic Romance – The Basics Of A Sex Scene
or
Writing Erotic Romance – Word Choice
***
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Four years ago, Bee Carter left her tiny hometown, escaping her tormenters. She concealed her tarnished reputation under a good-girl persona, hiding her history from Nicolas, her strong and silent billionaire; Hawke, her tattooed bad-boy biker; and Cyndi, her man-crazy best friend.
Today, she’s returning home … and she’s not alone. Some of her deepest, darkest secrets will be revealed. Trust will be tested. Clothing and inhibitions will be discarded. Bee and her hometown will never be the same.
When her past and her present collide, will any of Bee’s relationships survive?
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-Billionaires-Bikers-Novella-ebook/dp/B00I7V89N4
Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-4-cynthia-sax/1119919839
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_4?id=PvxzAwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-4/id814148698
Interview With Whitley Gray
I sat down (virtually) with Whitley Gray for a short interview. Whitley Gray’s latest release is Crash Pad, a MM Contemporary.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Crash Pad?
Whitley Gray: “Okay. I’m back. The boys are trying to murder each other. Superman and Batman are not friends, no matter what they tell you.”
“It’s that superpower-envy thing.” Jamie chuckled.
This is from a telephone conversation Jamie has with his sister. I like the visual of Jamie’s two nephews racing around in capes, Bat powers versus Spidey senses. No cooperation of superheroes in a household with two young boys, who compete with each other about everything.
One of the things I like the most about writing is layering in little details like this, especially things the typical reader may be able to relate to.
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Crash Pad?
Whitley Gray: I set out to create a story set in the summer. Lots of people run in the park year-round, and I wanted to add an activity more confined to nicer weather—like rollerblading. This activity also lent itself to an accidental meeting, as rollerblading isn’t easy, especially for beginners.
Remy is an Emergency Medicine doctor and has seen a lot of sports injuries due to accidents. Naturally he wants to help. Jamie is suspicious of doctors due to his background. The opposing viewpoints makes for some nice conflict.
Cynthia Sax: How does Crash Pad start?
Whitley Gray: As they say, always start in the action. Each of the guys has a backstory that contributes to the story, but initially it’s not necessary to know that history in order to understand what’s happening. I like to start with a brief orientation of location and what each character is doing, and then throw them right into the action. The story starts when Remy and Jamie “crash.”
Cynthia Sax: What one piece of advice would you give new writers?
Whitley Gray: Voracious readers make the best writers. If you don’t like to read, writing is the wrong career choice.
In the beginning, I think it’s vital to ground yourself in the fundamentals of writing. I don’t have a background in English Composition or Creative Writing—I’m a hard science person. For me, the best way to learn about writing was with a combination of online workshops and devouring a lot of books on craft. Since romance adds another complex layer to any story, it was important to move on to workshops about writing romance in particular. Finally, because I write M/M romance, I did a lot of reading in the genre itself, then workshops and books to help me get a good handle on what I wanted to do.
Thank you, Whitley Gray, for joining us today!
Whitley Gray’s Website: http://www.whitleygray.com
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Physician Remy Marshall has two loves: Emergency Medicine and running. Work doesn’t leave much time to meet guys, and most seem more interested in his bank account than him. With a week off to train for a marathon, Remy plans to make the most of his precious vacation. The last thing he needs is a distraction.
Jamie Sutton is new to the area. He hopes to make a fresh start after leaving an abusive relationship with an orthopedic surgeon. He’s got a new job as a massage therapist and wants to meet some nice guys. Against his better judgment, Jamie decides the best way to meet a cute rollerblader he’s seen in the park is on wheels.
With attention on his watch and not where he’s going, Remy crashes into Jamie and fractures the first-time rollerblader’s ankle. Jamie has no one to help him after the injury; Remy proposes Jamie stay with him. Jamie is reluctant, but it’s a better option than staying with the odd guy in the neighboring motel room. As the two get acquainted, Jamie’s past comes calling. Remy discovers the prize he really wants isn’t a medal in a marathon, but the man right in front of him.
