Sep 2019
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lifeincolorful
Sep '19

Im currently struggling with love and sex scenes. Here is the thing; I LOVE some fanservices when I'm reading a comic or manga, any hot scene? count me in. But when I'm about to draw it..I don't know....

I don't know how much should or shouldn't I show, I mean...some is important for the plot (Of course) but should I insinuate it, show how it start and that's it...don't show or say anaything?...

I have more of a romantic story not a schooler one but more mature so i'll figure it out, but I want to hear some opinion abaout the hole matter of writing/drawing sex scenes and what you like to show or not

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    Sep '19

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    Jun '20
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sadghost
Sep '19

For example in my series:

In episodes 3 (page 09-10) I end with the premise they are about to have sex.

And then in the next episode is what happens after they did it.

Because webtoons/tapas/others are censoring/deleting/hiding the mature/sex parts, so i just draw those scenes as a bonus for my patreons.

That way, those that want to see it, they could check the patreon, and those that don't, well then they don't have that problem.

liann
Sep '19

So I'm not big on making my own romance novel/comics so I can only give you an advice as a reader.

It all depends on the build up. If doing the devil's tango (lol) is something you have been building up to, as a reader, I'd definitely feel cheated on to read a 5 sentence sex scene. It doesn't have to be long, but the tension has to be there. Maybe playfully taking off each other's clothes. Getting on top of the other person. Some thigh grabbing... or whatever. That's cute/hot.

This is where pacing comes in. A sensual sexy time in comics will usually use more panels to slow down the pace and give you a sense that the characters are being intimate. Instead of just ripping each other's pants and calling it a day.

But if it's something they do on a daily basis, describing how his abs look like every time just feels off putting.

When it comes to dialogue, people don't really say paragraphs while having sex so it's kinda weird to see couples talk about their plan to dominate the world while balls deep in the other. But idk, maybe some people are like that... who knows.

lifeincolorful
Sep '19

I get it! for example...I have a scene when the protagonist find his boyfriend cheating and I don't want to show everything, but something...

Since I want to show more of a real relationship I think is good showing the sexual relationships of a couple

ryoko
Sep '19

If you can draw on your own personal experiences and use them for structuring a love scene you may find it easier to come up with the progression of the scene you're trying to illustrate. It makes the whole sequence seem much more realistic and relatable for your reader. For a love scene that I did, I could've ended the sequence with this page and readers would've gotten the gist of what was going to happen:

ch10page38ready.jpg940x1477 207 KB

It really comes down to what you're comfortable drawing. As to how much to show, it depends on if you're posting it here on Tapas or Webtoons and have to abide by their rules or if you can go all out on a Patreon paid tier.

Tanako
Sep '19

Personally for me. even though i like the soft romantic scenes my absolute favorite is the extremes scene. dont get me wrong i don't want to see porn but i like it more graphic. when it comes to my comic, i post short ones. kinda gives you the idea but on Patreon i post it all out, no censor. so what is my point? well its all up to you. you can have the hardcore stuff for patreon and soft ones for Tapas or webtoon or you can choose to keep it light.

CodeMonkeyArts
Sep '19

I would say it depends on the tale. If it's a romance that is somewhat chaste with a slow build-up courtship, then having a few sentences leading up to the big moment and then having a 'fade to black' (maybe a focus on the bed, or a kiss on the bed) would do.

With my story, which is not a comic but rather a WebNovel, the two characters are adults and actively flirting with each other. They make sexual innuendos, have deep kisses, and very much want to make hot love to each other. So I feel like, as @liann mentioned, if the moment is very short and then faded to black, well then it was unsatisfying. All this teasing and hinting and description for...very little? Yeah, not very fair.

So it really depends on the story.

joannekwan(ง ˙o˙)ว here to help~
Sep '19

Yeah, it really does depend on the story and the tone you've set from the beginning (lest it be too jarring).

If it's more on the realistic side that doesn't beat around the bush when handling adult subjects, feel free to go graphic (censored of course when posting here).

If it's more of a fluff romance, have a couple suggestive panels and then fade to black (or white xD).

For my own work, I know for certain from the get-go whether graphic scenes would be appropriate or not. When I intend for a story to include graphic sex scenes, I will honestly look at my characters in a fully sexualized way when conceptualizing them. And when I don't sexualize them, I'll handle them as delicately as Winnie-the-Pooh and other characters I would be abhorred to see in such a state.

therealbereth
Sep '19

I don't feel like anyone mentioned this yet, so I'll give my two cents as well:

Link the amount of sex you need (!) to include to character development.

Sometimes, sex is just sex, and there are genres where it's expected to see some of it (romance without sex is, from an industry standpoint, lackluster – even though that throws ace people under the bus, but oh well). But overall, I'd say that everything and anything in our work serves at least some kind of purpose. Be it that you just casually show how characters interact (= relationship-building for the reader) or bigger things that really build up the narrative.

From my humble perspective, sex is just like everything else. If it's "just there", for the sake of it, I drop out. People can have sex, but I don't need to be a voyeur in the story itself all the time, so if it's not really part of the narrative, I'd say mentioning/hinting it would be enough. If you're writing about a sex worker, then this changes of course lol

But overall, make it part of your characters' arcs and then I think you can figure out for yourself much easier when it's "appropriate" to go full graphic or when it's just not needed. Does something happen while the characters have sex? Something that MUST be shown in order to understand their relationship better? Or is your story about a steamy relationship from the get-go and the readers expect to be treated to some kinky stuff? Go for it!

Otherwise, I'd say you just need to gauge what the story and your characters need, i.e. what your readers need to see in order to be into that relationship.

I hope that helps.

xabelmind
Sep '19

There you have it :thumbsup:

For me sex scenes must include either some development of the story (the line of thoughts of one of the characters, for example) or have been built up for some time (their connection is there and we all can feel it), if not, it just feels like we made a stop to see them get laid for no good reason.

Porn focuses on the actions of the characters, their hands, their crotches, objectifying them.

Erotism, BL, GL... focuses on the actions AND the psichology of the characters.

I didn't invent it, this is actual theory (not quoted, just mentioned, tho) :point_up:

From... -checks- The article of Kumiko Saito, Desire in subtext :thumbsup:

SAITO, Kumiko. Desire in subtext. Mechademia, Volume 6, 2011, pp. 171-191 (Article)

JRHoch
Sep '19

Have to point out your Freudian use of "hole" instead of "whole."

TAMAnnoyingThe Cow
Sep '19

I’m pretty sure I have a very strange perspective of this. I’m very much in the wheelhouse of porn with plot. I love reading that kind of shit and what’s more I think it shows in the work I do for myself in my off time.

I also have eventual plans to do sexual scenes with characters in my comics but I have a hard time knowing when to black out/white out due to the fact I’m incapable of writing a sex scene without characters talking about their damn feelings before, during or after.

I personally hate Porn for porn sake but the audience exisits. I feel as long as the sexual scenes still involve the story or character development even if it’s a bit graphic people won’t just ditch out cause they think your “selling sex” or “just having some fan service”

Tho I’m also in the wheelhouse that fan service is perfectly fine so long as it’s done with some dignity/love/skill. :v so take that as you will.

Jenny-Toons
Sep '19

I love making NSFW content, though a lot of it is shared between friends or placed on my Patreon. When it comes to including sex in my stories, I prefer to make it more intimate and suggested rather than explicit. Tapas does allow me more room to show more, but I've mostly grown used to showing a hint of skin peeking under the covers, some partial nudity, and certain mood lighting.

For the bonus comic in Our Universe, it was basically that. Some nudity, heavily implied sexual behavior, but nothing actually happening. Even in My Demon Valentine, there wasn't even a hint of nudity going on. But you could tell Sandra and Adonis got intimate because she's now wearing her pajama shirt without any pants and his hands are placed strategically.


Though, I guess it can be a matter of preference. Sometimes, if I'm in a VERY NSFW fanservice-y mood, I'll just make a side comic that has nothing to do with the main plot at hand, but it'll have the main pairing having sex. And a little bit of romance in it.

WillisAuthor
Sep '19

Writing intimate scenes has been a slow progression. Granted reading love scenes (Writing/Comic) helps establish how I want to approach my own. It helps to establish your boundaries and comfort levels along with who your audience might be.

If writing Young Adult, you're going to be a little more cautious and not go in great detail.

Romance genre in general can range from Sweet (Close the door and turn off the lights) to steamy (Tearing off clothes and twisting nipples).

Erotica is all about the love scene and it's the main plot and the level of detail and amount of description amps up.

When I first started writing, it was YA and most ended at the door or fade to black or avoided anything beyond a make out session. Cedric the Demonic Knight I realized something had to give since my main character was half vampire and half incubus... herp derp. So, I started reading and noticed things I didn't want or like about them and set boundaries. In the end, I had a sensual style that shied away from a vocab list I didn't care to use with a blend of narrative and dialogue. For my Erotica pen name, I get gritty... so much so that if the husband walks by I nearly knock the screen off my desk hiding the naughty writing which makes him giggle.

Experiment. Try writing the same scene in different "heat level" and see which one feels right for the story and audience.

8 months later