Sensual Writing

As Romance Authors or stories can be anywhere from Sensual to Erotic.

I fall into the category of sensual and actually more sweet. I'm totally with giving readers a bit of spice and then letting them fill in their own blanks. I think if you take them down the path to a sensual interlude it engages the imagination much more than putting out every little detail of what happens to a pair (or more) of characters.

But what about the sex scenes?What do you think makes the perfect lovemaking encounter between hero and heroine that would capture the readers attention?

I think erotica cuts to the chase way too soon--too often it seems like the goal is to see how many sex scenes can be written into a short span of pages with a minimal story line for the sole purpose of getting to the next sex scene. I've seen too many erotic novellas where there is no character development, no connection to the characters -- most aren't anyone I'd want to be or anyone I'd want to be with. There is no build up, no tension, just sex. Now "just sex" is fine. It's okay...but when I read I read to escape and I want to think there's an amazing happily ever after out there for me. Erotica doesn't do that for me -- hot sex with a lot of passion, emotion and true connections between the characters is much more fulfilling for me

How do you convey the emotions behind the act and make it as realistic as possible for the readers?

I try to do this with a look in a character's eyes, the scents in the air--for me I find evening jasmine to be highly evokative and sensually stimulating. I know what my hands feel like when I'm waiting as patiently as I can to get my guy into a position to grab his butt -- not a public display but something that's just between us that is a prelude to what will come later. A momentary holding of breath, acute sound, a heartbeat that is felt and heard. Making love isn't just a physical act -- it is an array of senses and emotions that encompass every aspect of our body before, during and in the after glow.

In your opinion what takes writing a love scene from sensual, romantic or even erotic into the realms of writing pronography and how do you keep from corssing that fine line? Sensual and romance are, for me, a combination of all our senses -- sight, sound, scent, touch, taste coupled with an emotional connection between two people that lasts beyond the interlude between the sheets. Pornography is when it's just sex for the sake of sex.