Monday, March 26, 2007

Sex In Romantic Fiction

When do sex scenes cross the line from being titillating into being boring and repetitive?

During my recent reading, I read a series of books that were basically one long sex scene broken up into chapters. Now normally I would say you can’t have too many hot sex scenes, I’m certainly guilt of putting enough of them my work, but what about when the plot is so minor it’s almost invisible because of said sex scenes? I mean, I want the good stuff, but I think it’s imperative to have a reason for the good stuff. 500 pages worth of gratuitous sex scenes with a thinly veiled plot briefly mentioned in passing on every 150th page or so isn’t enough for me to sink my teeth into. I need more meat(pun intended *g*).

So, curious minds want to know what you all think? Do you prefer a good plot with hot scenes as a bonus, or would you rather see less talk and more action?

10 comments:

Barbara Sheridan said...

Count me in the story comes first camp. I certainly don't mind lots of sex even early on but give me enough plot/character wise to care about the boinking maniacs on the pages in front of me.

Unknown said...

Definitely a good/great plot with lots of hot scenes.

Cathy M said...

If the story is a dud, it doesn't matter how great the sex scenes are, it won't end up on my keeper shelf.

Ally Blue said...

Jumping on the "plot good" bandwagon :D
I love some hot sex scenes, but it means not much to me without a plot. I want to care about the characters, then it makes it sooo much hotter when they get horizontal. Or vertical, whatever LOL Plus, the more sex scenes there are, the more likely it is that it's going to get repetative. There really are a finite number of ways to do the nasty, after all, even taking into account toys and multiple partners.

latetocomics said...

I'm all for the plot, with build up to some wild sex...I don't like it when the characters have to wait too long for it..that's frustrating, but yeah, the plot is what is important.

Luisa said...

Without a good plot to make me care for the characters no matter how good the love scenes are, it would leave me disappointed...Even if the story only has one love scene in it,but the build-up to it was fantastic, I would be satisfied ! So, in short, a great plot and the hot scenes are a bonus.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Luisa, the plot and characters are the most important thing and any hot sex is a bonus.

In my other life as a reviewer, I quickly got bored with reading yet another sex scene and often I'd skip it completely if it didn't have something different about it from the off. So when I buy a book just for me it's even more important that I find something that'd be satisfying emotionally if the sex wasn't a major part of the story. That's one of the reasons why I like slash so much, 9 times out of 10 you can find something emotionally pleasing as well as a story that gives you the hot sex bonus.

Vicki said...

I have to be able to get involved with the characters. The sex is just an added bonus, but if the sex is all there is, and I've read stories like that, then I end up bored. I like to have some plot and characterization, that's what makes the sex hot.

ingrid said...

Must have a good story with characters that you get involved with them. That makes the sex in a story hot to me.

Anonymous said...

LOL. Guess the plot band wagon is very crowded because I enjoy the story only if I care about the characters and their whys.

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