How to Write Sex Scenes
This informative half-day workshop explores what sex scenes should and shouldn't do, digs into the how and why of sex scenes and how they enhance our understanding of characters and power dynamics.
Workshop Topics
A comprehensive exploration of writing intimate scenes with purpose and skill
Purpose and Function
What sex scenes should and shouldn't do in your narrative—when they serve the story and when they become gratuitous.
Character and Power Dynamics
How intimate scenes reveal character psychology, relationship dynamics, and power structures between people.
Writing Authentic Intimacy
Techniques for depicting physical intimacy that feels genuine rather than mechanical or pornographic.
Managing Reader Expectations
Understanding genre conventions and reader expectations while maintaining artistic integrity and purposeful storytelling.
Consent and Ethics
Portraying intimacy responsibly, depicting consent clearly, and avoiding harmful tropes or problematic dynamics.
Language and Description
Choosing appropriate vocabulary and level of explicitness for your genre, audience, and narrative purpose.
Why Learn This Craft
Reveal Character Through Intimacy
Physical intimacy exposes vulnerability, power dynamics, and authentic character psychology. Well-written scenes deepen reader understanding of who characters truly are.
Serve the Story
Intimate scenes should advance plot, develop relationships, or reveal crucial information—not exist merely for titillation. Learn when they're necessary and when they're gratuitous.
Navigate Genre Expectations
Different genres have different conventions for depicting intimacy. Understand reader expectations while maintaining your artistic voice and narrative integrity.
Write Responsibly
Portray consent clearly, avoid harmful stereotypes, and understand the ethical implications of how you depict intimate encounters and power dynamics.
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop benefits fiction writers working in any genre who include or plan to include intimate scenes in their work—whether romance, literary fiction, or any narrative where physical intimacy plays a role.
Writers who feel uncomfortable or uncertain about writing these scenes will find practical guidance. The workshop provides tools and frameworks for approaching intimate content with confidence and purpose.
The focus is craft, not personal expression—how to write these scenes effectively as narrative elements that serve character and story.
Write Intimacy With Purpose
Learn to craft scenes that reveal character and serve your story.
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