Monday, June 11, 2012

#guest "How Much Is Too Much?" with Jenna Jaxon


Everyone always says, “Sex sells.” Well, as far as I’ve been able to tell, they’re right. Just look at Fifty Shades of Gray. And I’ve done my share of sexy, erotic, you-can-hear-the-panting-coming-out-of-the-pages scenes, where you hope your computer screen or Kindle won’t melt.

But is that always the right decision? Does every book--contemporary, historical, paranormal--need to have a fair amount of sex in order to be marketable?

I sure hope not. Because the many of the historicals I’ve written so far (published and unpublished) have had one or two sex scenes at most. One, my short Victorian, has no sex, though it’s implied at one point. Does this mean my little short story won’t sell? Au contraire. It’s doing better than the two erotic novellas I’ve got out.

So how much is too much? And how do you know?

For me, it’s all in how the story is plotted out. If the internal issues between hero and heroine are the major conflict keeping them apart, then likely there isn’t going to be sex until near the end of the book. I’ve got a couple like that. If the heroine doesn’t like the hero very well, or she likes him but thinks he’s done something bad, or she’s physically unable to be with him, then to keep your plot going you will have to withhold sex from them until late in the novel.

Usually, I know how many love scenes are going to be needed in a book when I start. With my current WIP 7 Days of Seduction, that was easy to figure--seven days and at least once a day (some times multiple times in a day). With Hog Wild I had three “little pigs” or “hogs,” so again, pretty easy to figure out. An historical romance that’s actually out on submission now, As Long As You’re Mine, had more sex scenes than I’d ever put in a novel before. But making love to the heroine was how the hero was trying to make her fall in love with him. And even I thought there were too many of them in it, but then I found a place that needed another scene and lo and behold, another sex scene appeared.  I wouldn’t have thought so, but the book is stronger for that new scene.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the almost sexless books. Where the love scenes are delayed until the last third of the book. One such is my soon to be released novel Only Scandal Will Do. Due to the circumstances of their meeting, Katarina dislikes and distrusts Duncan, even after they are married. During the course of the book there are some great kissing scenes, but no steamy sex scenes until close to the end. I was concerned about this as I was writing it. I even considered putting a sex scene early in the book, to facilitate a later plot development, but I just couldn’t do that. It would have been wrong for this book. And I’m just hoping my readers will agree that delayed gratification and lots of sexual tension are almost as good as the spicy lay.

How have you coped with when to insert or delete a sex scene from a work? Do you agonize over it, or do you know instinctively what works and what will not?

Here’s the blurb and excerpt for Only Scandal Will Do, releasing July 23, 2012.

He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart?

Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.

Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she's a lady, but how can she be?

No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her. Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he'll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who'll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family's name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared. He's betting their future he'll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?

WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.

Excerpt for Only Scandal Will Do:
“I assure you, there was never a night like that before.” Lord Dalbury spoke quietly, and Katarina sensed a tension in him. “I had never done such a thing before. Never participated in such an auction. Never tried to take a woman unwillingly to my bed.” He stopped speaking. Just stopped. Then his breath hissed as though he’d slowly released it.

“I cannot find the words to tell you how deeply I regret I was not a better man that night.” He paused, and she held still and waited. “What I tried to do was madness, without thought, without honor. I do not even have an excuse other than my base desires, and that your abundant charms overwhelmed me.” His face was shadowy in the scarce light of the sickle moon, but he sounded contrite. “I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. I have no right to expect it. But I would ask you to allow me to attempt to remedy the situation.”

Kat shook her head slowly. “What on earth do you believe you could do, Lord Dalbury, that could even come close to a remedy for the terror and humiliation you put me through? Do you think now that I have met you, heard your feeble attempts at an apology, and rejected them, the memory of that night will magically disappear?” She fought to control her anger, though she yearned to blast him with it. “What magic potion would you have me take that would erase the memory of you pinning me to the bed? Because if you have such an elixir, then yes, I will gladly take it from you and obliterate you absolutely and irrevocably.”

He stood silent at her words, then said simply, “I have only myself to offer, my lady.”

“You would have me kill you, my lord? In that, too, I agree I would oblige you, but not at the cost of my own life. I understand the English law punishes those who do murder quite severely.” Kat was astonished when he lurched backward, as from a blow.

“No, my lady, I would not have you kill me,” he said, sounding grimly amused. “Though indeed that would probably give you most satisfaction. I meant I would have you marry me.”

His words surprised a laugh out of her. “Marry you?” The laughter grew. “I see, my lord, you think me both a whore and a fool.”

“I think you are neither, Lady Katarina.”

“Then you are the fool to believe I would put such a man as you in control of every aspect of my life.” That he thought she would even entertain the suggestion was insulting.

The pale moonlight shadowed his face, but she could read displeasure there just the same. “You judge me solely on one act that, I assure you, was grossly out of character for me. You cannot possibly know what kind of husband I would be.”

“And never will, Lord Dalbury. I can swear to you that I would not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”

He inclined his head toward her, a faint smile touching his lips. “I believe you made a similar claim about dancing with me, Lady Katarina. Yet we have indeed enjoyed a dance together despite your words.” His tone was soft, the sensuous, cajoling one he had used to seduce her that night in the House of Pleasure.
Kat trembled, recalling the incredible sensations of his hands, his mouth on her body. Damn. He could not do this to her again. Not just with his voice.

“Is there nothing that would entice you to leave your Hell for my Heaven?”

She struggled to answer, opened her lips to deny it, only to find her mouth completely sealed by his.

21 comments:

  1. Sex scenes are tough - I often feel like I have too many so trying to find the balance can make me pull my hair out.

    I deleted several in Black Dorn and I think that was a good choice as I got the book more to a comfort level for me.

    Don't know that there is a right answer. Guess it's what ever feels right to the story.

    thought provoking post, Jenna

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    1. I think there's a right answer for each story. Some need the sex scenes as integral parts of the story, some do not. But a writer's got to be sensitive to the characters, plot, and audience to make it work perfectly. Thanks for coming by, Daryl!

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  2. I don't think there is a correct answer to this question--it all depends on the story. Some stories need more sex than others, and some books work beautifully with only "implied" sex.

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    1. I think you're exactly right, Brenda. There can be too little sex (Jo Beverley's An Unlikely Countess needed the final sex scene--left me very unsatisfied) and there can be too much. Well, I assume there can be too much. Haven't run across that book yet. LOL Thanks for coming by.

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  3. Loved the excerpt, Jenna! Can't wait for the book.
    As for fluff scenes, I haven't made it to that point yet, though it's approaching.
    From a reader's point of view, I can handle various levels as long as it's delivered well. Is there a tension? Emotional attachments? Etc, etc, etc. Totally depends on the storyline and delivery for me. I can read a few versus none and find myself just as satisfied with the book.

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    1. So glad you did, Melissa! I haven't been told a date yet, but I'm thinking late July.

      And yes, both story line and skill of the writer make those scenes work--or not. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  4. I think the amount of sex scenes depends on the characters, and where the story takes them. I started a new story today that had a love scene in it. I quickly discovered it didn't fit. I cut it. That's how it goes.

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    1. Yes, D'Ann, you have to be able to judge what works and what doesn't. you can't force something like this into a scene or it simply won't work. Like any other part of a story, a love scene has to be organic, part of the fabric of the story, not stitched on top or attached at the end. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  5. Hey Jenna, I loved the excerpt and I agree with the others. It all depends on the story. You can have just a hint of tension all the way up to a little sex on each page. As long as it follows the story, and is rtten well its good.
    Great post and thanks for sharing,
    Lynda

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    1. Thanks so much, Lynda! My pleasure. :) Yes, I think that's the answer. Especially the well written part. That's going to make or break it in the end.

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  6. For me writing the sex scenes are the hardest part, so I think I try and put them off. I've read some of yours Jenna and well, yours are fabulously steamy. But it is all about what fits a story. Have to wave at Nerine!

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    1. Thanks for that shout out for my "steamy" works, Jerri. :) I really didn't think I'd end up writing like that, but got inspired by Lisa Kleypas. She writes a hot historical! Thanks for coming by!

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  7. I think that sex scenes, just like anyother scene, have to move the story forward. I loved your excerpt.

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    1. Thanks, Ella! Yes, the sex scenes can't just be gratuitous, unless you're talking erotica. For erotic or steamy romance, it has to have a purpose.

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  8. Honestly I get tired of all the sex scenes in books. One or two is good for me. If there's too many I start skipping ahead to get back to the story.

    Can you tell I don't read erotic? LOL

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    1. I do understand that, Sharon. That's why I'm a little concerned with some of mine. Though the scenes do forward the plot or the characterizations, for some readers one is as good as a feast. So it's a real balancing act. Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. I good sex scene and quickly turn into a bad one if it's not written correctly. Or it's bland. Or too mushy. You get the picture. And each scene doesn't have to be full-out sex. A few closed doors scenes work for me, along with the open door scenes. The sex scene, like any scene, needs a place in the story, I think. Does that make sense?

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    1. That's absolutely true.And it does make sense. Variety in the type of love scenes can keep a reader's interest better than just full-blown sex scene after sex scene. From kissing, to heavy petting (does anyone use that term any more?), to sex to closed door. The more different ways your H/H can experience their love, the more interest they can generate. Thanks for coming by, Sheri!

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  10. My novels are all erotic romance, and that's how I and my publishers advertise them. Obviously, that suggests that there had better be plenty of sex, and explicit sex at that! When I plot out my books--and lately, they've featured spanking heavily--I am careful to note where I want the sex to show up, and I make a big effort to keep those points pertinent to the plot. Sex stuck in, even in an erotic novel, sticks out like a sore thumb, pulls the reader right out of the story, and makes the writer look like an amateur. That being said, I have also written sweet (no sex) stories. Some stories don't lend themselves to sex for one reason or another. There's a place for everything! Wonderful post, Jenna. Very thoughtful.

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  11. That's such a pertinent point, Patricia. A sex scene where it doesn't belong, even in an erotic novel, just doesn't serve the book well. The writer has to be careful, no matter the sub-genre, where these scenes are placed and how they are written. So glad you dropped by today! :)

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  12. Great post, Jenna! Sorry I'm so late getting here. Tough call on the sex scenes. Depends on the book and the characters, I think.

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