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Originally Posted by Hitch
With exceedingly few exceptions, sex scenes NEVER advance the plot. I mean, let's not kid ourselves, how could they? You could move the plot ahead with the old-fashioned "fade to black" and then open with them in bed, or whatever. Which says "yes, characters A and B have had sex." There you go, that's the plot moved. All the sweaty body parts do nothing except for pure prurience.
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I don't agree -- sex scenes done well can give important characterization, as well as plot. KJ Charles has several examples of advancing the plot in
Let's talk about sex scenes. Here are some of her examples (MC = main character):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by KJ Charles
The received wisdom is that in romance (not erotica or erotic romance, which are separate beasts to which this blog post does not apply), every sex scene needs to advance the plot on some level. A sex scene should not be skippable. Remember here that plot is character in action. A sex scene might have any of the following effects:
- MCs who don’t know each other well create a tentative connection, so MC 1 feels able to flee to MC 2’s home when disaster strikes
- MCs who click/laugh/otherwise develop their emotional relationship in a way they have not before now
- MCs reveal insecurities, fears, vulnerabilities, or past trauma
- MCs reveal a quality that hasn’t been apparent before, whether unexpected kindness and consideration, humour, passion, or a more alarming side
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She also has examples of characterization in
Yes and No: Consent in sex scenes