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Ranty McRant Rant
Jan. 27th, 2004 07:15 amOkay, I'm going to take a stand on this because it's come up again, this time voice by people I either know and respect or by people who are friends of people I know and respect.
This idea that you have to have had sex to be able to write a good sex scene is complete and utter bullshit. Sexual experiences does not equal a good sex scene (and I don't think any would argue that it does) so lack of sexual experience does not automatically equal a bad sex scene.
In both cases, the quality of the scene is going to depend on the same things: attention to detail, research, and imagination.
"Write what you know" is one of the stupidest phrases ever to be misused. One should never, ever, simply write what you have actual experience in, but, rather, what you have a feel for. I happen to have a feel for sex scenes. I put a lot into them: time, research, energy, and attention to detail. *That's* what it takes to be a good writer. Not experience.
(That being said, I'm not rejecting the idea that a smut writer shouldn't do some playing/exploring on one's own. However, that's more for recreation rather than any real need).
On COTW:
It's not that I said in the fic that the Kent's anniversary was before the Christmas break, it was that I set the episode Jitters before it. Clark gets off being grounded (he was grounded for 2 weeks in the COTW-verse) a few days after Christmas. But I might still just fudge it and look the other way. Thanks for all the advice.
This idea that you have to have had sex to be able to write a good sex scene is complete and utter bullshit. Sexual experiences does not equal a good sex scene (and I don't think any would argue that it does) so lack of sexual experience does not automatically equal a bad sex scene.
In both cases, the quality of the scene is going to depend on the same things: attention to detail, research, and imagination.
"Write what you know" is one of the stupidest phrases ever to be misused. One should never, ever, simply write what you have actual experience in, but, rather, what you have a feel for. I happen to have a feel for sex scenes. I put a lot into them: time, research, energy, and attention to detail. *That's* what it takes to be a good writer. Not experience.
(That being said, I'm not rejecting the idea that a smut writer shouldn't do some playing/exploring on one's own. However, that's more for recreation rather than any real need).
On COTW:
It's not that I said in the fic that the Kent's anniversary was before the Christmas break, it was that I set the episode Jitters before it. Clark gets off being grounded (he was grounded for 2 weeks in the COTW-verse) a few days after Christmas. But I might still just fudge it and look the other way. Thanks for all the advice.
