THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING LOVE SCENES
There are unique aspects to writing that I had no idea would be issues for me. Firstly, you know that I never intended to be a novelist. I had no aspirations to write The Great American Novel, yet here I am, plugging away at transcribing my characters’ stories while teaching and entertaining readers.
Secondly, romance and love scenes can be tricky. I’m all about teen angst and an occasional cozy romance, but after a bit, my middle-aged self desires some steam. Apparently, my characters do, too.
Authors must decide whether to write open-door or closed-door scenes, implicit vs. explicit content. While writing, I negotiate with my characters and sometimes view the scene through various filters—reader, writer, viewer, parent, mentor, or friend.
Unapologetically, my stories contain intimate scenes, but thankfully, my readers are more offended by curse words than by the natural progression of romance and intimacy. If and when you are faced with how to write a romance scene, take note of what you like to read and write what you know or can be easily imagined.
