Guest Author Darien Cox

And we're closing out the week with a guest post from the fabulous Darien Cox.

This one might be somewhat NSFW, but a great post on some of the challenges of writing the smexy scenes in erotica. Read on!

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In the Details
Darien Cox

A while back a couple of female friends were discussing contraceptive options, and when diaphragms and spermicide came up, one of them responded, “But it’s messy.” Without missing a beat, I jibed in, “But sex isn’t?”

Yes, sex is messy—we all know this, though it’s usually not the bit we focus on when discussing the horizontal bop. Things don’t always go as smoothly as they do in books or films, where no one ever gets tangled up and falls off the bed, no one ever fights over who gets the wet spot, and every daring position, no matter how awkward, leads to a mind blowing orgasm. But of course this is what readers want to see in erotic fiction, because the goal is fantasy. Naturally they want a story where the sexual partners are all gorgeous with smoking hot bodies, and the sex is wild, climactic and ultimately successful. But as writers, we’re tasked with the added responsibility of making it real for the reader, and not too cartoonish.

Of course the exchange of bodily fluids and the like are often part of the excitement, depending on the scenario, and many readers enjoy references to ejaculation and other intimate bodily details. But it’s interesting how different authors of erotic fiction handle graphic descriptions; some going to extremes in presenting the nitty-gritty, others glossing over it as cleanly as a moist towel. The style choices of erotic fiction writers vary as much as the sexual preferences of the readers. Some people like hairy buttholes; others want it all smooth and waxed. So we could say that striking a balance doesn’t matter, as there are a bevy of readers out there with varying tastes and preferences. Go with what feels right personally as an author, and you’re bound to hit the mark with a portion of your audience either way.

In light of that, to jizz or not to jizz isn’t really the question. Like any form of fiction, the element of reality has to begin with character development. Sure, erotic romance characters can be over the top, idealized fantasy, the strapping lumberjack, the rich playboy, but what makes the reader connect is how the author delves inside these love interests, not just how they delve inside each other. Sex is messy, but it’s also complex. The term ‘casual sex’ has always struck me as humorous, not because a random encounter without emotional attachments is wrong or unappealing, but because sex is pretty much the least casual thing you can do with another person. So regardless of whether it’s a quick fuck in a broom closet, or a blossoming relationship, readers tend to enjoy a flicker of conflict simmering in the background of this sweaty encounter. Insecurity, desperation, jealousy, or just plain lust, we should include whatever tumultuous thoughts and desires have led the character to this place.

So it probably doesn’t matter whether an author chooses to describe a lubed up cock pumping into a hot, tight ass, or if they take the more poetic route in their descriptions. The bottom line—pun intended—is that something must connect the reader to the characters. Readers don’t, for the most part, just want to see wooden puppets bumping against each other. They want to know who these people are, and what makes them tick, in and out of bed. That intimate character knowledge, even in small doses, can torch up the heat level when the lovers finally get down to business. So while spunk and junk details are crucially important to visceral, realistic sex in erotic fiction, it’s good to remember that while ministering to the head of your character’s cock, you shouldn’t completely avoid what’s going on in the head on his shoulders.

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About the Author: Darien Cox lives in New England, bouncing back and forth between the mountain and the ocean states, anywhere there’s a wave or a ski slope. A nature lover and thrill seeker, the author enjoys exploring the intensity, insanity, humor and chaos that accompanies cupid’s arrow, whether it’s love at first sight or just the overwhelming power of lust. Paranormal elements are occasionally tossed in to further spice up the mix, because let’s face it—sometimes the world is not enough.

Check out Darien's newest release, Body Surf--a hot, m/m summer read!