It is IWSG Time!
IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It's a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others.
So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us.
https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
The awesome co-hosts for the March 2 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia,Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
Submissions: It has become my habit to take a break from submitting in January and February. I'll start submitting this month.
WRITING INTIMATE SCENES
The conflict, for me, almost always lies in the depth of a love scene when the couple enters the bedroom. I follow specific rules based on what I've experienced and heard. And no, I'm not going to give away my secrets. However, I will say that I do my best to write honest love scenes that respect both partners involved.
Wishing everyone a lovely spring month.
Shalom aleichem
Pat Garcia
Hi Pat! You and I think along the same lines. I loved your story -Turn the Light on and I agree with you about intimate scenes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month.
Glad you have a secret plan on how to write intimate scenes. I just wrote my first kissing scene, and it was hard. Thanks for co-hosting with me this month.
ReplyDeleteThey enter the bedroom, I shut the door!
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today.
I love this answer Alex! :)
DeleteHi Pat. Thank you for co-hosting. Having watched that little video of your book some time back, I'm sure you do good with romance scenes.
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying springtime. Good luck submitting this month.
ReplyDeleteWe have similar conflicts!
ReplyDeleteWishing you much success for your submitting process!
Thank you for co-hosting.
I think I probably do the same thing. I follow the old adapt: leave as much to the reader's imagination as possible.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for co-hosting, Pat!
ReplyDeleteI try very hard to stay true to my characters and their story when I write love scenes. I don't shy away from writing them, but I do make sure they develop the characters and their relationship and move the plot along. If you can chop out a love scene from a book without it affecting the story, the author didn't do a good job of writing it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting.
Love scenes are always tricky - but they're amazing when they showcase the emotional growth of the characters
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month, Pat, and for your honest post - one I can relate to. A love scene doesn't have to be a sex scene. That's one of the most important lessons I've picked up on the way. It depends on the characters, the environment/setting, and your own comfort level. Just for shock value is something I stay away from whether writing or reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting this month. When I write love scenes, I usually do a mention, lights dim, then I move on with the story. I may get more detailed as my characters progress through their newish relationship. For now, I like to focus on the storyline. https://dianeweidenbenner.com/iwsg-how-to-get-past-writers-block/
ReplyDeleteWriting intimate scenes is not in my wheelhouse, so I salute you for being able to do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
Good morning, Pat. Thanks for co-hosting today, and good luck with your submissions this month.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for co-hosting this month, Pat.
ReplyDeleteI have similar conflicts with love scenes. Though I have so far written only one novel.
Thanks for co-hosting today. I've pretty much stayed away from the bedroom scenes, but I like what you're saying about mutual respect. I'm seeing more of that in romance novels/scenes, now.
ReplyDeleteI"m intrigued by your mention of secrets! Too good. My only trick to stay clear of euphemisms when describing intimate acts. Dancing around topics implies shame. I agree with Melissa. If you can cut the physical part out it wasn't well executed.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG Day, and thank you for co-hosting!
Hi Pat! Thanks for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteLove scenes? I write satire and comedy, so my characters seldom entertain sexy thoughts, words, or deeds!
My name is Patricia, too - happy to meet another!
Hi Pat, thanks for co-hosting this month and for visiting me really early - did you start at midnight. Oh, I know, taking a break from one of those intimate scenes lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting! I have not really written any intimate scenes-kissing is about as far as I've gone so far.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your submissions!
I've never managed a love scene, however, JD Robb does them quite well, and I've bookmarked a few as a guide. That is, if I ever get the nerve to write one. hehehe
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
I don't write sex scenes. Not because I have any moral or religious objections but because they don't interest me. I enjoy reading romance as a genre, love the emotional roller coaster of two people building a relationship, but after a few romance books, I started skipping sex scenes as a reader too. Why? Because they bore me. After the first five or ten sex scenes I have read, every other one feels the same. Besides, sex scenes always stop the action. The plot goes on hold while the heroes indulge in the bedroom. But I know that I'm in the minority among the romance lovers.
ReplyDeleteMost of my bedroom scenes end in fading to black but I enjoy reading a variety the whole spectrum of how those scenes can be handled. Thanks for co-hosting. :)
ReplyDeleteI write YA and have to make sure that door stays closed.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer, Pat! Respect is necessary no matter what we write. I'm an "off the page" girl for sex and violence, but that's what's right for me.
ReplyDeleteI find writing intimate love scenes to be awkward and when I attempt them they don't turn out so well. But I'm not all that keen on reading them or watching them on film. I'm old fashioned in that way I guess.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thanks for cohosting this month. Taking a break from submitting in Jan & Feb sounds like a good idea. Good luck this month.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteYeah, those bedroom scenes always dance on a delicate line, depending on what the author needs to offer and what the reader hopes to find.
Hope you're having a great day! My latest post has my theme for the April #AtoZChallenge (I'm writing speculative fiction and looking for prompts).
At Operation Awesome we have the #PassOrPages query contest going on (friends or enemies to lovers Romance).
Looks like I'll be very busy the next few weeks!
March quote: "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
Those can be hard. I agree that the leadup and setting can be the hardest part. Happy IWSG Day and thanks for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteAnne from annehiga.com
Love scenes can be tricky. So far, I've not written any very specific ones, but I try to consider the POV I'm writing from and what that character would/wouldn't tell as well as genre expectations. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteHa! You're bolder than I. I end my "love scenes" when the bedroom door closes, as it were :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a wonderful way to write intimate scenes. And thank you for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tackled a love scene yet, but eventually I'm going to have to, Pat! I always think of Diana Gabaldon, who created Jamie and Claire in her Outlander books. She is fearless. I don't have her guts! Thanks for co-hosting today! I hope that you had fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog
ReplyDeleteI always struggle with those scenes that involve physical intimacy, believing in that Victorian closed door. Do you remember when writers would say, 'gentle reader, let us leave the lovers as they . . .'? Thank you for co-hosting, for visiting my blog, and for reminding me that intimacy is driven by my characters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting. And I think it's great that you're taking scheduled breaks. :) Best of luck with submitting in March.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting! I have written love-scenes, but since I write crime and literary fiction, the intimate bits are glossed over. There's a fair bit that can be trusted to the imagination if we choose the right words :)
ReplyDeleteI like your take on love scenes, Pat. It can be problematic.
ReplyDeleteI don't like love scenes either, so I ask myself quite often--why don't I write sweet stuff? But then I try and the muse goes mum.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting this month and for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteI like that you take time to consider your love scenes instead of just writing what you think readers might want to read.
Hi Pat, I've never written a love scene, so I've never given it much thought. I like your respectful perspective. Thanks for hosting our March IWSG blog hop.
ReplyDeleteCertainly a tricky area! I have to say I haven't gone into great detail on that. It is hard to do it in a way that deepens the characters without bogging down the action.
ReplyDelete