Tuesday, April 2, 2019

IWSG Blog Hop: Writing Love Scenes by J.Q. Rose


IWSG Badge
IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every Month.
Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop! 
Always on the first Wednesday of the month.
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?
Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 
* to share and encourage. 
* Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 
* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 
*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 
You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up to join.
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April 3 Question 
If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)

Writing Love Scenes by J.Q. Rose

This question is so easy for me to answer. I need help with every chapter that involves a love scene. And I don't mean a hot scene tearing off clothes and a lot of panting and spicy narrative. No. I mean those cute little scenes when the couple just happens to touch hands or shoulders or toes. Toes? Those scenes that allow the reader to know there's electricity between the couple and the sizzle begins. 

I mean how many ways can you say spark, lightning bolt, laser, whoosh, yowser without overdoing it? How do you make the feeling seem exciting and shocking without the scene reading like a second grader wrote it?
Lightning bolts
Video courtesy of Pixabay
Yes, when I re-read my romantic love scenes, I always feel like a kid wrote it. Thank goodness my writers group can help me out AFTER they have finished laughing so hard they can't speak.

Do you have a problem writing romantic scenes? Please type yes in the comments below if you can relate to my plight. Thank you.
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Big thank you to our captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and the awesome co-hosts for the April 3 posting of the IWSG--
J.H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins, and Chemist Ken! 

Thank you for visiting the Focused on Story blog. Click Here to hop on over to more participants in the IWSG Blog Hop this week. 
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22 comments:

Computer Tutor said...

That's my most difficult, too. I find them too private to write about, even in fiction!

Diane T. Wickles said...

Yes! Love scenes are tough. Good thing you have a writing group to help.

cleemckenzie said...

You're not the only adult writer who shies away from those romantic scenes. I read some other others who are famous, and sometimes I wonder if they ever kissed anybody. :-)

emaginette said...

Yeah. I hear you. I don't know how romance writers keep it fresh. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Helena Fairfax said...

JQ, I totally agree. It's hard finding a fresh way to describe those scenes. And the electricity thing has become such a cliche now! It's great you have a group who help you.

Diane Burton said...

When I was a little younger, I had no problem with love scenes. Now I enjoy writing cozy mysteries with hints of sizzle but going no further. Good luck with yours. Your writing group sounds like a great bunch of people. :)

Juneta key said...

Romantic scenes are hard, and so are middles for me. Happy IWSG! Storytime is April 24th. I hope you can join us this go around. I love reading your little stories.

I'm glad their laughing doesn't hurt your feelings. Sometimes though it is fun to laugh at yourself.

Erika Beebe said...

Oh yes! What a great wish. I think the best way to tackle them is to read scenes in other books that do work. That’s what I do and it helps me so much :)

J.Q. Rose said...

Jacqui, I think you're right. Too private to write about. Thanks.

J.Q. Rose said...

Yes, thank goodness for my writing group!

J.Q. Rose said...

LOL--I'd rather write a death scene than a love scene!

J.Q. Rose said...

Keeping it fresh is the challenge for me too. Been there, done that.

J.Q. Rose said...

Helena, yes electricity is overdone, thrills, shivers, etc. Yawn. Love my group.

J.Q. Rose said...

I love cozies too, Diane. Reading and writing them.

J.Q. Rose said...

Juneta, James Scott Bell's The Last 50 Pages recommends knowing the ending in order to make a stronger middle. That makes sense, if you're the kind of writer who knows the ending early! LOL.

J.Q. Rose said...

I agree, Erika. I have begun using my Kindle to highlight story scenes that are well-written so I can go back and study how the writer did it.

Karen Lynn said...

My romantic scenes just flail. And if it's even slightly possible, I edit them out.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

LOL! Somehow I managed to write those for five books.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Yeah, I struggle with romance too. Those scenes need that extra love (lol) and attention.

Heather Erickson said...

I always think about my own experiences. I remember the awkward teenage crushes and the tender (and yes, sometimes steamy) courtship with my husband. And of course there are the love scenes that fall in the middle. It seems to work.

Beth Camp said...

Yes! How many times have we read the hero tucked a curl behind the heroine's ear? My stories tend to be Victorian rather than blazing sex on the screen. Somehow, I just want to respect my characters' privacy. But, the eyes, the first touches, even the kiss -- all these are daunting. Unless I play out my story as a movie. Thanks for writing about the firsts -- and have a great month.

Marsha said...

Hey, JQ. My first book to not have a physical love scene is the one releasing on April 16. Finally a book my daughter's might read. There's interest, angst, doubt, and hope in scenes between the H & H. Sex just didn't work into this book. Good post. I've shared.

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