I have been reading a lot of books on craft lately, and as I was finishing up the final draft of Fae Hunter this week I thought a book which takes a microscope to the sex scene would be in order.  I don’t write erotica, but I like to think I have a few steamy scenes throughout my novel and I wanted to make sure they stood up to “the test.”

Stacia Kane’s book, Be A Sex-Writing Strumpet, was just what I needed, short and sweet and to the point.  The book is a collection of blog posts that Ms. Kane has up on her website, so while you could also peruse her website and likely read the same thing, it is nice to have it all in one place.  The text is conversational and easy to read.

I took two things away from this book.  First, you need to look at the sex scene as just another scene.  Your characters are put into a situation that advances the storyline, their relationship, or the characters as individuals.  The difference between the sex scene that draws you in and the one that makes you feel uncomfortable, is that a good sex scene is a scene and not just sex.  Ms. Kane shows you how to build up to the moment when your characters finally do the deed and do it in a way that is super hot for them and your reader.

The second thing I take away is how to fix your sex scene if it doesn’t seem to be working.  Take out the sex.  Instead, Ms. Kane suggests you write the scene in terms of how these characters feel towards one another.  Examine the motivations behind their passions and rewrite that scene with every touch igniting the feelings they have without saying a word, figuratively of course.

The book has a lot of broad-based advice such as what I have already stated, but it also has specific advice on things such as word usage and actual choreography.

I’ll admit that before reading this book by Ms. Kane I had never actually read a novel by her, but you can bet I have already downloaded her first book in the Downside Ghost series, Unholy Ghosts.  After reading her advice, I know I am in for a great read!