References and Character Advice

[Kara]
Honestly, I haven't read a good smut fic on this site. No offense to the people who write smut here. Anyway, I'm not an expert but I have written some smut fics before. And maybe my *clears throat* experiences with my girlfriend help too. Anyway, someone on tumblr made a post to help people with writing smut so here it is.

(source: authorjazmyne.tumblr.com)

Unlearn all that you've learned.
When I decided I wanted to write erotica, I did a lot of research on how to become a writer. I don’t remember half the stuff I read. (I was probably 14 at the time.) However, one thing did stick with me. There was this article that said not to write with your hand down your pants. Basically, what they had talked about was not writing erotica while you’re aroused because it won’t be good. Seven years have passed since I read that, but it is still something I think about often.

My personal opinion on that is: write whenever you feel like it. Don’t limit yourself. Write your sex scene when you’re horny, when you’re pissed off, or when you’re in a great mood. There is no “right” time to write your smut.
What works for one person does not always work for another. So I suggest you unlearn rules like that.

Now that you’re unlearning rules…
My favorite tip I’ve been given is: learn the rules so you can break them. I’ve seen this so many places, and so many people have said this to me in the past. There is a huge difference between doing something incorrectly because you don’t know what you’re doing and doing it that way because you choose to for stylistic purposes.

Learn where commas go. Learn how to structure a sentence. Learn! All of us could always stand to learn a little more.

Keep that knowledge. But know when and where it’s okay for you to forget it.
That’s a general writing tip. Applied to smut, I’ll give you an example from my own crappy writing.

“She was gripping fingers and shaky breaths, hips uncontrollably rolling up into Andrea’s hand, silently begging for more - -
just a little more pressure on her clit from Andrea’s grinding palm,
only a little more force behind the thrust of the fingers that moved in and out of her clenching flesh,
please please please more from the teeth that nibbled and the tongue that traced Sharon’s ear,
just a little more to push her over the edge she dangled from, the one Andrea had brought her to over and over but had yet to let her fall from.”

Notice that I wrote this to be one sentence and broke it up for a little bit of a pause after each line. But what I really want to point out is the “please please please”. Repetition of words can be very powerful in writing, especially when you’re writing about sex. It can show desperation, excitement, force…whatever you want. Choose when and where you do it based on what you want your reader to feel. I’ve always believed it was a great tool to paint a better picture of what the character is experiencing. It’s just one of those things you can do to express something without spelling it out.

In short: Sometimes breaking the rules is okay, just have an understanding of what you’re doing.

Pick a mood, any mood. The possibilities are endless.
You know how some people have music on in the background during sex? Smooth jazz and heavy metal, for instance, would give you two completely different experiences in the bedroom. So why wouldn’t it be the same with your writing?
Setting the mood for the scene, in my opinion, is just as important as the scene itself. A passionate night between a couple wouldn’t read the same as a quickie outside of a bar with a stranger. Decide on the mood of the scene, the atmosphere. I’d suggest you do that first, but you don’t have to. Sometimes you should just start writing and see where the words take you.

You want to pull in your reader as much as you can. You don’t want to just tell them what’s going on, do you? No. You want them to seeit, and you want them to feel it.
Are the characters having a romantic night? Candles? Wine? Maybe there is music. Describe it. Set the mood for a romantic evening, talk about how the characters are feeling. Getting inside of your character’s head is fun. Do it!

Maybe you’re writing about a hook-up at a hotel between characters having an affair. If this is something new for them, the first time, there could be nervousness, worrying, a lot of thinking and questioning themselves. What kind of place are they at? How do they feel about being there? Describing things like that might not sound all that important, but it makes a difference.

In short: Before you even get to your characters having sex, it’s a good idea to establish a mood and describe the atmosphere. It is an easy way to start pulling your reader in. But don’t try jamming it all in at the beginning - that’s something you’ll continue doing throughout the fic. Just try to include enough so the reader can picture what’s going on.

Your 5 senses. Remember those?
You’re going to want to describe what’s going on. Right now I’m mostly talking about physically, although I will later elaborate on what you should do when describing what they’re feeling. You’re not describing a porn scene to someone. It should not read: “His penis went inside her. She moaned.” Yeah, that happened. But what else happened? How does the character feel? What are they experiencing? Don’t write an instruction manual.

See: What the character sees depends on where they are, what position they’re in, and a long list of other things. You’re painting a picture, not just of the sex, but the entire night. (Or not night, because sex in the day is cool too.) Talk about the way the other character looks at them; the look in someone’s eye while they’re having sex says a lot. Talk about what the character likes about the other person’s body, how their own reacts to seeing it. Characters aren’t getting aroused at the snap of a finger. ‘Kay? Something is getting them there, and a big part of that is usually the other person’s body.

Taste: What the character tastes all depends where they’re putting their mouth, obviously. Typically there aren’t too many things the character should be tasting. Unless you’re writing about licking something sweet off of *insert body part/object of your choice*, there’s not really any tasting of sweetness going on. You can taste your own skin if you don’t believe me.

Feel: Where are your character’s hands? Seriously. Think about it when you’re writing. Are they wrapped around something hard and steady? Caressing soft skin? Grabbing something fleshy? Is what they feel hairy, or hot, or wet, or…? Touching is important, and the connection between their bodies should be shown.

Hear: There is a lot of focus put on moaning, but there is a lot more going on that you can hear. (The sound of skin slapping, that wet sound during penetration, panting… and sometimes it’s muffled, sometimes it’s loud, sometimes it’s barely there). If the characters are in the middle of the city, there might be loud cars outside. In the middle of the summer, ACs make noise. Somewhere public would mean there could be voices that can be heard by the characters, footsteps…
(I forgot to include smell, but I think you get the picture.)

In short: Sex is experienced with all of you. Use the five senses to describe what is happening, the atmosphere, and the sex itself.

Emotions, thoughts, and all the things often overlooked.
Foreplay is a thing! I’m not even going to put too much focus on this one, but I’d like to remind you that just as it’s important in actual sex, it’s important in a fic.
You want your smut to be hot, of course. But there is so much more to sex than the heat. The characters are connecting with another person. What’s that like for them? Is this someone they trust? Is it angry, rough sex? Are they nervous? Are they bored and more focused on the leaky faucet they can hear?

There is an emotion there, so you need to write about it. Whatever emotion your characters is feeling is what’s going to give life to what you’re writing. The emotion that character is experiencing impacts everything, but especially the way they have sex. So talk about it, include their feelings and thoughts about what’s going on.

As important as it is to make your smut scene arousing, it’s important to remember that you’re writing about characters. Tell their story through the sex. (In multi-chapter pieces this is so very important. Don’t just stick smut anywhere just because. So much development can happen through sex, like, really, explore that. Build a relationship, man.)

In short: Sex isn’t just about the physical stuff. There are emotions involved, and that makes the story so much better.

Touch yourself.
I’m so serious when I say this. You are writing about what the body experiences. Make your body experience things, test out what you want to write. Of course, you can’t do this with everything, but here are some tips I have:

Run your fingers down your arm, your stomach, your legs, the inside of your thigh. Now press harder. Scratch your skin. Dig your nails into yourself. Touch all over. What do you feel? Do you brush against small hairs as you softly touch your arm? Does it tickle when you drag your fingers up the back of your thigh? Or maybe you feel a tingling sensation as you inch towards somewhere extremely sensitive. Maybe you notice the more you touch, the warmer you get.

Write it. Your character, in most cases, is a person. These are common reactions, and chances are, your character would feel at least some of the same sensations you experience.

Take some time before you write to explore your body. You asked for tips to write, I know. But I’m going to suggest you take a step back from your fic, get comfortable, and just explore your body for a bit. (That doesn’t necessarily mean go masturbate…but it also doesn’t mean don’t go masturbate. Sorry. Once I titled this section ‘touch yourself’, I couldn’t resist.)

In short: Your body is there, use it. It’s called research!

If you’re not comfortable, it shows.
Genitals…
Which words you choose to use are up to you. Of course, when it comes to actual dialogue, some things just don’t sound right coming out of a specific character’s mouth. But other than that, I think it’s best to use the words you’re more comfortable with. Some people just aren’t comfortable saying pussy, and some cringe at the sight of the word. That’s okay. There are more than one way to refer to a vagina/penis.
But… Don’t go calling a clitoris a love button. We’re writing what we’re comfortable using, not what will make everyone else cringe and close our fics. ‘Kay?

Also, the internet is your friend. Look up anatomy. Learn where things are and proper names.

It is not even necessary to refer directly to these things. When you stop focusing so much on writing ‘this happened, and then that happened, after this thing did that…’ you see how easy it is to show the actions and movements of the body and describe something without spelling every little detail out for your reader. Trust that you’re able to choose the right descriptions to paint a clear picture in a way you’re still comfortable with, and trust your reader’s imagination.

In short: A cock is not a meatstick! (Actually read this one, because I’ve got nothing for the summary.)

Be real.
Characters are people, and people are imperfect. Sex is not perfect. Sex does not happen only one way. Reactions to certain things are not universal. Positions change. Sometimes there are no orgasms to be had.

Sex is messy, and things get wet and sticky. Talk about it. Don’t shy away from that. I think it gives it a more authentic feel.

That perfect hairdo your character had isn’t going to stay neat. If they’re not fully undressed, clothes could wrinkle, shirts can be untucked, and a long list of other things.

I’m sure you’ve perspired before, so you should know how that works. From my experience, nobody is going to be drenched in sweat from a little making out. (Unless you’re in a sauna. I’ll give you that one.) But maybe this is where that prickling sensation at the back of your neck, the small of your back, or under your arms might start. Sweating starts with getting hot; work up to it. Think about how much work the character’s body is doing, the temperature of the room, what season it is, how much clothes they are wearing…things like that. Clothes stick to the skin when you’re sweaty, and they get damp. Skin tastes salty - saltier than usual, because that’s the general taste of skin.

People love to write about vaginas being wet but don’t describe what the face of a person who has just gone down on one would actually look like. There’s no way the character is going to be down there with their mouth and face pressed to wet flesh and come back up without any of that wetness on their own skin.

And while we’re talking about that… Don’t be excessive!

Don’t be afraid to talk about the body. People grow hair on more than their head, so the character is bound to feel it, look at it, or something. Mention it. People scar. Perhaps the character has an old scar. Is there a story behind it? Do they not like when attention is brought to it? Stretch marks are a thing! Moles and freckles are, too. So is belly fat, or any other fat. It’s okay to talk about it.

Oh… Sometimes sex is more quiet and you can really hear the sound of breaths and the way sheets rustle or things creak. Arms get tired, jaws ache, hips lose some of that force sometimes. Reading ‘dirty talk’ can be exciting, but remember that sometimes people do not talk during sex. (And by sometimes, I mean most of the time.)
Sometimes people don’t moan, and others may do it quietly. Just try to remember everything isn’t universal. Switch things up, and don’t forget that your character’s personality outside of the bedroom will typically come through while having sex in some way.

In short: Everyone does not react the same, your characters are still people, and maybe you should take your time to focus on the little things instead of how so and so’s genitalia feel.

Nice and slow is the way to go.
I don’t mean to make your characters take their time - except I sorta do.
Don’t rush through it. If you’re going to write it, make it good. Take your time building up the scene. I cannot stress how important anticipation is.

There is a huge difference in a smut fic that is a bunch of hot words thrown together and one that can get a reader pulled in so deeply that they end up getting turned on. We all want to write something that is that good. The power words have is quite remarkable, honestly. But it’s not all about the words you use. It’s about letting the reader experience everything.

No matter how you choose to write the sex itself, meaning how they’re screwing, you should still write it in a way that the reader has the time to get into the scene. You want them to be able to get into the head of the character so they can truly experience the scene the way you want them to. So you need to work up to the good stuff. Once you’re there, hang out for a bit. Make it last.

Talk about the way the body is reacting. You know – backs arching, hips twitching, toes curling, hands pulling on sheets. Talk about the connection between the characters, the way they get turned on from the other, the way their own arousal builds from hearing and seeing the other. Just have fun with it.

In short: Take your time when writing, give a full picture of what is going on. Pull your reader in and give them something to enjoy.

Still feeling stuck? Need a little more help?
Okay. Here’s five things you need to remember:
1. Your character’s body will react to more than just the touch of another person.
a. Some nipples get hard when the person is cold. (Not all nipples do that.)
b. We know they’re banging! But is there a brick wall scratching their skin? Bed sheets sliding down their legs? Something cold pressed to their skin? Let the character experience more than the pleasure of having their genitals stimulated.

2. You just had that character put one hand on the wall, the other on the second character’s hip. Guess what… You’re out of hands.
a. Go back and read what you just wrote. Do it again! Did it make sense?
b. Sometimes finding the proper words to describe the position in your head is difficult. I’ve gotten halfway through something and started over just because I couldn’t figure out how to explain how X did this and that without breaking something in the process. Take your time and be patient with yourself.
c. Pay attention to where you place body parts. Look at photographs if you need to. Watch porn if you want (but remember that most people do not actually sound/look/act like that. For positioning, it can honestly be very helpful because you get a visual and they are moving around, which is helpful if you can’t figure out how to transition. For other things, I would suggest you stay far away from the porn. Really far!). Check out some gifs. The internet is your friend.
d. If it doesn’t sound possible, it probably isn’t.
e. Please remember everybody is not a gymnast! Don’t make all your characters human pretzels. Some people cramp and hurt - if you want to write it, make sure you include the way it feels to be bent into an unfamiliar position.
f. And just because the character can get into whatever odd position you’re thinking of, doesn’t mean it’s going to be enjoyable. Characters are people too, so it’s okay for them to try things that aren’t going to work. But just as you would feel something pulling painfully, so will your character.
g. Remember: blood rushes to the head if you’re upside-down or your head is hanging off the side of the bed; muscles pull and spasm; balancing on things can be dangerous, and people can get hurt. Like I said, if you write it, include the real reactions people would have.

3. Kissing is hella good.
a. As far as writing smut goes, kissing is a pretty awesome helper. Characters are undressed, but you don’t know how to move things along? Let them kiss. Don’t know how to get started? Kiss! Need to get them from one room to another? There is a hallway waiting to have someone pressed against it as the characters kiss, unable to keep their hands off each other.
b. Don’t limit kissing to the lips. Hell, you don’t even have to include mouth to mouth kissing. (Strangers might find that too intimate.) Necks, ears, collarbones, chests, stomachs… I mean, play around with it. And don’t forget you can convey the mood through a kiss. Teeth can hurt and be painful, but they can also lightly skim and gently press down. Rough sex can include a lot of biting, but maybe you want it to be more playful or teasing. Lips pressed above the heart can be seen as something loving, but marking someone’s neck can be rather possessive. Don’t limit yourself with the kissing, because you can truly express so much with it.
c. Remember how I said to touch yourself? Try running your finger slowly over your bottom lip. Bite your lip. It may tingle a little when you lightly trace it, sting when you bite. Your character is going to feel these things. Write it!
d. You kiss with your lips, but you don’t only experience it with them. Things that sometimes happen: noses touch, teeth clash, tongues come out to lick, breaths get a little faster. If the characters ate before the sex scene, there’s going to be the taste of whatever they had, sometimes the smell of it. Include it. It not only makes it more real, it ties everything together. Hands wander, sometimes hold someone still, or hover in the air. Don’t just focus on the lips! (But do write about them! Because lips are sexy.)
e. Talk about the experience of kissing as a whole. Again, don’t forget about the five senses.

4. It’s called show and tell, so don’t leave out the show part.
a. You can tell the reader that the character is aroused, but why spell everything out? There are signs to arousal, things people may do when they are sexually excited. These vary from person to person, so it’s a great way to focus on some of your character’s unique traits.
b. Find a nice balance between telling the reader what is happening and describing it through what the character is feeling. Again, you don’t need to spell everything out.

5. Orgasms, climaxing, coming… That release!
a. Not gonna lie, I hate writing orgasms. So my advice with this is limited. But one thing I’d suggest is not to overdo it. Of course, if you just spent 2 thousand words talking about how so and so did this and that, there should be some type of outcome from that. But an orgasm tearing through somebody’s body ain’t it.
b. Orgasms aren’t necessary. Huh? Well, not everyone experiences orgasms, and an orgasm is not what makes it sex. Characters can get tired - hey, not everyone easily gets off. Characters get interrupted. And when you’re going back and forth between receiving and giving (not all characters should be selfish lovers!), sometimes one person won’t be having that orgasm they worked up to.
c. Every orgasm does not feel the same. There are short orgasms. There are orgasms that make you feel like something was missing, like you could just taste something more but couldn’t reach it. There are orgasms that will be so good that it’s almost too much.
d. When describing an orgasm, describing the body is a good idea. That thing I said about toes curling and stuff… yeah, use it here.

Last tip!
Don’t judge yourself too hard. This is a general tip, really, but something I think is so very important. I know it’s hard not to, trust me. But I think it’s something most writers, and artists in general, need to remember. You’re always going to be your worst critic, and you need to learn not to be so hard on yourself.
Perhaps find someone you trust to read your work, someone who will give their honest opinion and helpful suggestions if you want it. You will always see the flaws, and sometimes only the flaws, in your own work. Get the opinion of someone else. Let someone point out to you what they like, and you’ll be surprised how a little confidence boost can change what you think about what you’re working on. But also choose someone who will help improve your writing. Practice makes better, but if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong or how to fix it, there won’t be much growth.

Now go write!

Notes