Whether a romance author writes sweet, sexy or spicy, there are 10 mistakes with sexual content they can easily avoid:
- Allowing the sexual tension to disappear between love scenes: Thread the tension throughout the book. It doesn’t have to vibrate on every page, but if you let it sag, then it’s going to create more work for you to gear the characters – and the reader – up for the next love scene.
- All build-up and no follow-through: Make that culmination scene worth the wait. Whatever you do, do not pull back. You don’t have to be shocking or come up with the ultimate sensual setting, but you do have to fulfill the promise you established early on in the book.
- Bringing out the Barbies: This is a term my twin sister uses when she reads a romance and can’t figure out who’s doing what to whom or where in a love scene. Never give the reader a reason to put down the book so she can get a visual. She might not come back.
- Telling instead of showing: Love scenes are not in the point of view of a reporter or sports announcer.
- Forgetting the emotions: Why does the heroine want to make love with hero? Why can’t she? And what makes her do it anyway? Ask the same questions about the hero, and then you have figured out your goal, motivation and conflict for the sexual arc of their relationship. Address these struggles within the scenes and you have created a situation for high-octane sensuality.
- Ignoring the five senses: When the hero and heroine are together, their awareness to the surroundings are heightened. If you want your reader to really savor these scenes, aim to describe three of the senses, and show how it affects the character.
- Being a tease: If your first published book is hot and sexy, then it’s in your best interest that your next book is hot and sexy. Not simmering, not scorching, but hot and sexy. Why? With that first book, you are making a promise that you will keep delivering the same level of sensuality.
- Overstepping the line between fantasy and reality: There’s always an element of fantasy in love scenes, but don’t ask the reader to suspend all disbelief.
- Believing that secondary characters have needs, too: Showing the love scene between secondary characters adds sexual content to your book, but always ask yourself how the secondary character’s scenes are affecting the main storyline.
- Writing the love scenes to market: Don’t push or rush the sensual journey for your characters, even if the guidelines request at least two consummation scenes in your story. Trust your characters. If a scenario goes against your hero’s or heroine’s goals and motivations, or if has nothing to do with their journey, don’t add it.
