In a blog sense, I’m a bit quieter than usual. I am trying to bang out a synopsis for novel number two. It’s tough. I’m very much a go with the flow, whatever feels right, let the story tell itself type of a writer. Plans and charts, graphs and programmes to assist me in my writing, leave me feeling a bit turned off. I have a really strong idea for a book that I think will both play to my strengths and could be very commercial. But how can I nail down all the action from start to finish at this stage? I just can’t. I need space for plot twists and turns. For happy accidents and good old fashioned strikes of inspirational brilliance (we can but hope.)I can’t commit. It's too early in our relationship. So, I’m going to bang out ten thousand words and see where I get to. That’s why I’m being quiet. And after this book idea, I have two others to work on.
Busy busy busy.
Oh yes…and there’s family and real work to attend to. So, all in all, I’m a bit frantic. I will be blogging for light relief.
There is a sex scene waiting for me this morning. I am not over confident with these - the last one I wrote I foolishly showed to Spouse. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe I expected him to like it. I didn't expect him to laugh, anyway. It sort of knocked the wind out of my sails.
So.I am braced. I've had a strong cup of coffee, I have a few clear hours stretching ahead. Here goes with a bit of raunch. Maybe I should go and put my sexy pants on? If this tome ever sees the light of day, it will probably win The Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction Award. I always remember when Alan Titchmarsh won it. Well, come on, it's hardly surprising. He's not exactly Mellors, is he? I thought it a bit unfair picking on such an easy target. It must be excruciating to win that prize, don't you think? I'm not sure I would ever recover.I'd probably have to join a nunnery.
I know I have a few writers among my regulars. I would be interested to hear how you approach the whole pitch process. Come on, what are your secrets for literary success? Apart from shagging the complete England football team, hailing from Oxbridge,sporting enormous nourkes, being a celebrity chef and having had a miserable childhood? None of which have helped so far.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
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19 comments:
Generally there's just a vague reference to them spending the night together, and the next scene starts with them waking up naked. I try to leave the sex scenes out, to be honest, for fear that any of my family will ever read what I've written, even though to be honest, they'll probably just laugh at me.
Or suggest improvements.
had a couple of short stories published in literary mags..I can't say it amounts to success as such. The idea of a sex scene terrifies me! ( or maybe thats just my hormones at the moment)
How much do you write per day? or "real writing", as opposed to synopsis or outline?? Just curious...
The complete English FOOTBALL team? Come on Mya - I had you down as a rugby fan!
(And no hints on the sex scenes I'm afraid, since a) am not a published writer and b) the only things I have written are stories for children...)
Secrets for literary success? Taking a very loose definition of the phrase for a moment...
Get a bloody good editor. Peer review your work. Timeline your plot and developments - but do it simply. Categorise what is crucial to the story and what is just plain excellent but not actually critical.
The sex thing; it comes with time - and mood. A very small amount of alcohol helps loosen the synapses, but reading erotica helps - if only to see how others have tackled it.
And keep your work focussed on your readership.
Oh there's some good advice up there Mya. I've only ever written a tiny sex scene and it was ok to be funny as it was sex during pregnancy - plenty of comedy potential there. What brennig says sounds good though.
And I'd be interested if you learn anything about pitching. I'm editing a book for kids and have no real idea how to pitch it either. Stress.
Wow! This whole writing thing sounds like such an anxiety producer ... it's really a shame that you can't tackle it the same way you do with knitting: Step 1 - knit (yarn, fingers, click-ity clack!); Step 2 - pearl (yarn, fingers, click-ity clack!); Steps 3 to 4,786 - repeat (yarn, fingers, click-ity clack!);
Then viola! You have created a lovely functional piece of art!!
Best of luck Mya, my pal, you're destined to create literary magic!
If you're squeamish, I'd say think of something that qualifies as raunchy in your mind and then make it one or 2 degrees raunchier. Also the idea of reading some of your favorites for inspiration gets the juices flowing. ha. the other advice I'd have is I avoid flowery terms and analogies..and get it down in straightforward terms I'd use with a closest friend. or dear diary! no 'pet' terms for body parts and such.
Oh blimey, see what I mean, everyone's talking about sex! And in your case, even writing about it. All this fruitiness makes me feel like a sexless old bag I have to say, besides which I exhausted my inner sex kitten last weekend.
Not being a "proper" writer I've never written a sex scene - but I'm with JNRR, think of a scenario and jazz it up a bit. But please don't use the words "thrusting manhood". I've had to stop reading Jackie Collins for that very reason.
thrusting manhood!
That's hilarious (and strangely terrifying)
Blimey! You are really jumping in the deep end! With the sex thing. Not being a writer out of blogging, I am not in a position to give advice. Keep it uncomplicated & write about stuff you know. Good luck. Every one seems to be writing a book!
i have a question. According to your profile, your first book hasn't been published. Yet here you are writing another and with one or two to come...what keeps you going? I'm all for giving up.
Pigx
and sex scenes are triiiccckkky! so hard to read them without them making you cringe! Good luck with that. surely if you've shagged the england team, you'll have a bit of material to draw on?!
I can't help you with any of your questions, being completely incompetent at writing fiction, especially sex scenes. I think readers would spout tea through their nostrils if they read mine. In my never to be written novels, people would just not have sex or other bodily functions. They would only eat huge messy sandwiches over the kitchen sink.
At least the bad Sex Award is only in fiction... I've been out with plenty of chaps who could wine it in real life. Hmmm... wonder if there's a place for that in my next novel?!
The whole sex thing in novels is a tricky one. I've included a few jolly spicy comments but tend to avoid the actual ins and outs, as it were.
As for pitches and synopses... eurgh, I don't know if there's ever an easy way hit that nail on the head. Nails schmails. Should've stuck with screws.
Oh, and still sniggering in a shameless way at Brennig's suggestion of alcohol to 'tackle' it. Wey hey! Oh dear.
BTW, I'm not much cop at sex scenes. I tried writing one recently and it accidentally materialised as unprintable no-holds extremely explicit hard-core porn.
Though I did blog a little bit rudely the other day. :-)
Amy,
Yes, but how awful getting tips to improve your sex scenes from ....your Mum...or your ancient Auntie Doris! Or your Dad! Eek.Maybe there is some mileage in 'Antonia ceased to fight the passion that seared through her heart, and fell into his arms, as the bedroom door swung closed.'
Next morning, at the breakfast table...etc.
Screamish,
Congrats on the published stories! I write between five and eight hundred words a day - but then I have to go over it again, pulling it to bits and binning loads of it. I like to bang out the story as quickly as I can, then go back and refine it. I suspect I am a lot slower than other writers.
PM,
Yes, I prefer the rugger boys - they are generally a little more couth.But not so good for tabloid acreage.
Brennig,
Thanks for all those pointers - very helpful indeed. x
Jo,
I'll let you know!
Molly,
Are you drunk?!I agree, if I had a set of instructions it would be easy - but then wouldn't that already be a book?
JNRR,
No pet terms for anatomy? So that means that John Thomas is out? Or Willy Wonka?
Nun,
Thrusting manhood.Hmmm...I might nick that.
Screamish,
Yes dear - that's what got you in the state you're in!
Maggie,
Thanks! Yes, I'm beginning to wonder whether less is more when it comes to these sex scene thingies.
Pig,
What keeps me going? Lord knows. I do have some 'interest' at present which is very motivating...but apart from that, without wanting to sound like a complete wanker, I feel the need to write. In a past life, music was a very important creative outlet for me. I seem to have the urge to spill my guts creatively, in any way I can. Tant pis for you lot!
Norah,
Huge messy sandwiches over the kitchen sink sounds like a wonderful prelude to a sex scene if you ask me.
Jen,
I'll avoid the ins and outs. Does the same apply to the ups and downs?
Brenning,
Yes, that's the problem isn't it? You either do it properly, or not at all. It's a hard nut to crack.Metaphorically speaking.
Mya x
I've been told my sex scenes have my readers reaching for a vibrator.....
All I did was right what I wanted to happen to me - everything I've ever fantasized about.....and bingo! Bob's your uncle!
oh crap! That was suppose to be 'write' not right!
Hi Mya. I'm a bit late to the comments party here, but I just wanted to share what have to be my fave fiction sex scenes. Have you ever read any of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich? We're talking very light-hearted poppy fiction here. And the sex scenes are great because... they leave almost everything to the imagination. And I think what works about them for me is that I totally (in a fantasy way) fancy the male lead, so because hardly any details are given, I can make up my own.
So my advice: make your male character utterly fanciable. Which isn't really any use at all, as we all have such different tastes.
Oh well. Check out a Plum book though ;)
xx
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