Stephanie Laurens has a good idea for writing love scenes–write the emotion first and overwrite the physical description. For me, I had to swap it around because I had the physical. But I only had the emotion within internal monologue. I am still not sure exactly how you get emotions without thought into a story, but I gave it shot.
Why don’t I know? I confess to skimming or skipping most love (sex) scenes. They just don’t ring true to me, not usually. Word choice especially gets in the way, and not just in romance novels. Plus I think I’m super private about that part of a relationship. When the girlfriends start talking sex, I don’t say much. Notice I’m not saying much NOW. In fiction, like in life, I seem to prefer the closed door.
Which brings me to the real question…why did I think it was a good idea to write a romance? Not just a subplot with love but a really romantic love story? Guess I like a challenge. I think I did okay with the scene, which I finished this morning. It was FUN to write, which amazed me. I find I really ennjoyed lingering on the emotional component. That’s what’s been missing!
I’m still not contest-ready. I want to read some of those scenes I’ve been skimming in other writers’ novels and break them down like I did my own. I am especially curious to see if I got the emo without the mono.
