Any chance you have any for writing, uh, adult scenes? They're really difficult to implement I feel
writing adult scenes that arenβt cringe, soulless, or weirdly mechanical
first of all, SORRY for the delay responding to this!! i've had this sitting in my inbox like a cryptid under a tarp because i wanted to actually give you something thoughtful and helpful (and not just go "lol same" and vanish into the mist). so. letβs talk β¨writing adult scenesβ¨ in a way that actually works for the story, not just for shock or spice or vibes.
the biggest challenge with adult scenes (and what makes them feel awkward to write) is that they canβt be written in isolation. they need to grow out of character dynamics, narrative tension, pacing, and tone. otherwise, they feel dropped-in or even emotionally hollow. so hereβs a breakdown of how i approach them:
π 1. what does the scene do for the story?
before writing any intimate moment, ask why this scene needs to happen here. is it a turning point in their relationship? a power shift? a moment of vulnerability? a manipulation? a step toward something breaking or healing?
β if the only answer is βitβs time for a sexy scene,β pause and reassess.
the strongest scenes usually have subtextual contradiction or tension. two characters who want different things. one character who's lying. one who thinks this will fix something. one who wants to feel nothing but feels too much. etc.
π―οΈ 2. tone over terminology.
you donβt need to use graphic terms to make a scene powerful. and you donβt need to fade to black to keep it tasteful either. itβs all about what suits your voice + genre + POV.
β are you going clinical, detached, raw, euphemistic, poetic, awkward, sensory, or restrained?
for example, if your POV character is repressed or emotionally numb, describing the absence of feeling can be more impactful than heat. if your POV is hyperfocused or obsessive, then focus in with close detail on one or two things (the way the other person breathes, touches, reacts).
use sensory anchoring to make it immersive: temperature shifts, breath patterns, pressure, skin texture, muscle tension, silence vs noise. this doesnβt mean just listing body parts, it means grounding every action in how itβs being experienced.
π 3. stay in character.
your characters donβt become blank slates just because the clothes are off. this is a moment where everything about them should heighten, their pasts, fears, walls, wants, emotional limits.
β how do they usually communicate (or avoid communication)? how do they handle vulnerability or control?
if one of them is more experienced and the other is nervous, thatβll shape their pacing, their responses, even their internal monologue. if itβs two people with history (or tension or resentment), that should bleed through too. even breath can be laced with emotional weight if you write it in character.
π₯ 4. skip the step-by-step.
you do not need to narrate every movement or article of clothing. thatβs where scenes start to feel mechanical or awkward.
β instead: zoom in on a few potent, emotionally-loaded actions or lines of dialogue. linger on what those moments mean to the character.
youβre not writing a how-to manual, youβre writing a turning point in intimacy, trust, conflict, or emotional unraveling. if you need to, write the whole thing once clinically just to get the beats down. then go back and revise it for tone and feeling.
if you're writing in 1st person, filter everything through that characterβs emotional lens. if they're overwhelmed or dissociating, show that. if they're hyperaware, describe what draws their eye.
awkwardness isnβt bad! sex can be weird or fumbly or vulnerable or funny. donβt sand down the edges unless your characters are perfect robots.
donβt try to make it universal. make it specific. what does this character notice? how do these two people move around each other? what are they afraid to say out loud?
i hope this helps!! and if you ever want examples, writing exercises, or scene critiques, feel free to send more asks π€
