Writing Smut scenes in an otherwise normal story

[StrongArm]

So, I'm starting a fantasy novel.
Its dark & gritty, and more about the violence & adventure than the sex.
In fact, i don't even plan on doing any sex scenes until the middle of the story...
Ive never been a fan of 'fade to black' sex scenes and i want to write full sex scenes, but i'm wondering if the readers will be completely blind-sided by a very graphic sex scene in an otherwise action/adventure oriented story.
I'm hoping that my readers will be mature, and love sex & violence as much as i do, and WANT to read about a good sex scene.

But what do you guys think? I'm eager to see everyone's opinion on this.



(Shameless self promotion) P.S. my Novel is called King of Pain, if ya wanna check it out

 

[DarkeReises]

Do it, sex is good

 

[HelloHound]

so long as you give a heads up to your readers and mark the 18+ types of chapters I don't see why anyone would have an issue with smut, especially considering some of the most popular stories you can find on this website

 

[Anon2024]

Romance and sex in novels are very hit or miss and you can easily turn off readers if you mention something that they don't like. If the story isn't focused on smut, it might be better to exclude it.

 

[StrongArm]

so long as you give a heads up to your readers and mark the 18+ types of chapters I don't see why anyone would have an issue with smut, especially considering some of the most popular stories you can find on this website

so youre saying i should put like an 18+ warning in the chapter & title?

 

[K5Rakitan]

I believe that activities which could result in new life should not be as strictly censored as activities that could result in death. That being said, you can put in a short warning at the beginning of the chapter.

 

[StrongArm]

I believe that activities which could result in new life should not be as strictly censored as activities that could result in death. That being said, you can put in a short warning at the beginning of the chapter.

Well said!!!, i did put a warning in my synopsis about the gore. It is going to be an extremely gruesome novel.
maybe i should have put a warning in the synopsis for the sex scenes

 

[J_Chemist]

As someone doing the same thing in my own novel later on- fade to black is certainly boring and will be just as sharp as putting in the details without forewarning.

Place a note at the top of the chapter and make your readers aware of the scene. If possible, try to keep plot out of the scene itself so those uninterested can skip it. But, if you have say two political individuals sexing it up and bantering with one another like in some titles and the details are important to their relationship going forward, make it fun. Make it an interesting thing to read for the reader rather than straight up porn. Downplay the exact details a bit and get creative.

If it's straight up sexy time though, feel free to be spicy. Just, again, advise your readers of the scene or even isolate it into its own section/chapter.

I know in some dark fantasy books I've read in the past there have been sex and NC-sex. Both added to the story and I was well aware that they were coming up because of prior written details. While the porny details were minimal in most works, it was written smoothly enough for me not to roll my eyes and skip pages and the author got on with it. There were, at most, three or four pages worth of smutty words before the authors generally moved on with things. Though, these were published works and found in the Sci-fi/Fiction section and not the "Adult" section.

Either way- warn your readers and write the way you'd like. If it's heavy porn and you wanna write about the folds of his nuts smacking her jawline, make sure to warn them accordingly.

 

[StrongArm]

As someone doing the same thing in my own novel later on- fade to black is certainly boring and will be just as sharp as putting in the details without forewarning.

Place a note at the top of the chapter and make your readers aware of the scene. If possible, try to keep plot out of the scene itself so those uninterested can skip it. But, if you have say two political individuals sexing it up and bantering with one another like in some titles and the details are important to their relationship going forward, make it fun. Make it an interesting thing to read for the reader rather than straight up porn. Downplay the exact details a bit and get creative.

If it's straight up sexy time though, feel free to be spicy. Just, again, advise your readers of the scene or even isolate it into its own section/chapter.

I know in some dark fantasy books I've read in the past there have been sex and NC-sex. Both added to the story and I was well aware that they were coming up because of prior written details. While the porny details were minimal in most works, it was written smoothly enough for me not to roll my eyes and skip pages and the author got on with it. There were, at most, three or four pages worth of smutty words before the authors generally moved on with things. Though, these were published works and found in the Sci-fi/Fiction section and not the "Adult" section.

Either way- warn your readers and write the way you'd like. If it's heavy porn and you wanna write about the folds of his nuts smacking her jawline, make sure to warn them accordingly.

Great advice, youve given me a nice perspective, and a few ideas. Edit: Also, your book looks good, its now on my reading list

 

[Southdog]

Throw a warning up, split them into a separate chapter, and, if you're not good st writing smut, make sure nothing important happens in the stort in the smut scene.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

So, I'm starting a fantasy novel.
Its dark & gritty, and more about the violence & adventure than the sex.
In fact, i don't even plan on doing any sex scenes until the middle of the story...
Ive never been a fan of 'fade to black' sex scenes and i want to write full sex scenes, but i'm wondering if the readers will be completely blind-sided by a very graphic sex scene in an otherwise action/adventure oriented story.
I'm hoping that my readers will be mature, and love sex & violence as much as i do, and WANT to read about a good sex scene.

But what do you guys think? I'm eager to see everyone's opinion on this.



(Shameless self promotion) P.S. my Novel is called King of Pain, if ya wanna check it out

all my stories are like this and people like them. They appreciate a well written sex scene or two. It doesn't need to be the focus of the story, just don't run away from them cuz then we gonna call you a lil bitch

Great advice, youve given me a nice perspective, and a few ideas. Edit: Also, your book looks good, its now on my reading list

also, i WOULDNT suggest putting up warnings within the chapters themselves. i don't give a fuck what anyone says, it breaks immersion and i hate that shit. Use some mature tags in the synopsis and let people read at own risk, its not our job to babysit their screens

 

[StrongArm]

all my stories are like this and people like them. They appreciate a well written sex scene or two. It doesn't need to be the focus of the story, just don't run away from them cuz then we gonna call you a lil bitch

also, i WOULDNT suggest putting up warnings within the chapters themselves. i don't give a fuck what anyone says, it breaks immersion and i hate that shit. Use some mature tags in the synopsis and let people read at own risk, its not our job to babysit their screens

hmm, thanks for the advice. also, your novel 'yandere dating system' looks good, love me some crazy bitches... in fantasy... not so much in real life...

 

[CupcakeNinja]

hmm, thanks for the advice. also, your novel 'yandere dating system' looks good, love me some crazy bitches... in fantasy... not so much in real life...

ah, yeah, thanks man. MC of that story would probably say the same. For all that's worth. He's already died like four or five times because he hasn't learned that you just cant fuck a woman back into sanity. Yanderes just don't know how to share, know what i mean?

 

[LilRora]

I personally never liked 'fade to black' sex scenes and never will, but one thing I found a really good way to write sex scenes is to make the latter part fade to black.

It's like showing how the characters get together and intimate and describing their... positions, let's say, then after a climax or otherwise important moment you leave the rest to reader's imaginations.

As for how graphic or how long these scenes are, that's completely your call. But I personally (as both reader and author myself) would avoid completely describing the scenes from start to finish and giving too many details. Unless you're really good, it is very easy to make the scene feel disconnected and rushed or too dragged out by unnecessary graphic descriptions, which breaks the immersion.

 

[StrongArm]

I personally never liked 'fade to black' sex scenes and never will, but one thing I found a really good way to write sex scenes is to make the latter part fade to black.

It's like showing how the characters get together and intimate and describing their... positions, let's say, then after a climax or otherwise important moment you leave the rest to reader's imaginations.

As for how graphic or how long these scenes are, that's completely your call. But I personally (as both reader and author myself) would avoid completely describing the scenes from start to finish and giving too many details. Unless you're really good, it is very easy to make the scene feel disconnected and rushed or too dragged out by unnecessary graphic descriptions, which breaks the immersion.

hmm, a nice healthy balance. classy.

 

[SilverFlame]

I'd just put a 18+ warning at the top of the chapter, or in the previous chapter warning people. It is what I plan to do. My novel is pretty normal, but there are a few sex scenes. Not something I'd label 'smut', but definitely not something my general audience would expect to read from my book.

 

[Tblew]

Just properly tag and rate it and you should be fine. If you want to warn your readers, go for it, but if it's written well it should be obvious when it's going to happen and when it stops.

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

so youre saying i should put like an 18+ warning in the chapter & title?

YES

It should be warned in the chapter name.

Or even better, put the warning in the chapter before it. So the reader will be able to skip it if they want to.

Smut without warning will definitely broke your reputation.

 

[Zenkarn]

I mean provided the sex scene makes sense, don't see why it'd be a problem?

If it's a sex scene for the sake of having a sex scene though? Eeeeh. Also, mark it. Can't hurt.

 

[StrongArm]

YES

It should be warned in the chapter name.

Or even better, put the warning in the chapter before it. So the reader will be able to skip it if they want to.

Smut without warning will definitely broke your reputation.

No, i wont be doing that.

I have decided that i will write a warning in the synopsis that my novel is graphic.

I dont believe in censorship. Its not my job to hold the hands of prudish people that are too immature to read about sex

reputation be damned. (i dont have much of one right now anyway)

Thanks for the input however. I accept all criticism