Lesson 2: More Than Just Sex??
Characters in Erotic Fiction
This course will not get into character development as a step-by-step process. If you need additional information or practice in developing compelling characters, you should enroll in Character Development 101, also through Suite University. In this course we will focus solely on your character’s perceptions and behaviors as it related to the erotic experience you are creating. You should reveal your character’s thoughts, feelings, and insecurities, let your readers learn more about him or her as the sexual encounter progresses. But remember, the primary fact your readers are interested in and need to know about your character is that he or she is sexually frustrated, is looking to get some, and has not been successful.
As stated before in the previous lesson, your character’s background and experience determine the choice of words. But an even more important factor in your characterization is whether or not the character is someone the reader can relate to or root for. And don’t forget that your character’s behavior must be consistent, unless you have explained why he or she might behave differently in the scenario you have created.
Following is another passage from Guesthouse:
"Lauren wrapped her arms around Daniel’s neck and sat down on his lap. She pressed her lips to his, letting her tongue claim his mouth. His arms circled her, his hands caressing her curves. “I want to make love to you, Dannie. Please don’t push me away,” she whispered.
Lauren could feel his hesitation. He didn’t speak, then let his hand slip under her blouse. She squirmed in his lap, as he pushed her blouse off over her head, then unfastened the hook on her lacy bra, freeing her full breasts from the restricting harness. He buried his face against her soft, fleshy breasts, kissing and caressing her bare skin.
She unbuttoned his shirt, letting her hand stroke his fur-covered chest. A low moan escaped from deep down inside him, as her hand dropped lower. She stroked his hardness, teasinghim as he was teasing her. She became bolder with each passing second, tugging at his button-fly until she could slip her hand inside his jeans. It was a wonderful sensation, his smooth, hard flesh in her hand, throbbing hot and needy.
Then his hand crept lower, easing its way beneath her jeans. It had been so long since anyone had touched her there. His fingers were exploring places that had been off limits to anyone but Mark. His touch was sure, but gentle, teasing—causing sensation after sensation to sweep through her body. Lauren felt the heat speading slowly from between her thighs. She could not hold back, could not stop it. In seconds, she was consumed by the raging fire. Her body had responded to Daniel’s insistent touch.
She stroked and teased the smooth, hard prisoner, letting her thumb and finger tickle his most sensitive flesh. Daniel’s breathing was loud and ragged in the silence of the nearly-empty house. Lauren knew he was coming close to release, could not deny his need much longer.
She pulled away from him, and crawled onto the bed. He watched, not taking his eyes off her as she shed her jeans and peeled her panties from her sexy body. Again he hesitated. Lauren could see the fear, the uncertainty in his eyes. She knew he was struggling with his demons, the same ones that held him captive in that chair. “Please Daniel,” she pleaded. “It’s just…I haven’t…,” he whispered. “I know. But it’s going to be all right, trust me. I love you, Daniel.” He looked at her and sighed, then lifted himself from the chair and onto the bed. She helped him strip off his jeans and briefs, so that he was as naked as she. He was as perfect as she had imagined. She could no longer contain her own desperate need. In an instant she had taken possession of his maleness, had become one with him.
She looked down at his handsome face. His eyes were closed, as she began to make love to him. It was the first step had ever really made love to a man. Mark had been so rigid, always insisting that he be in control. This experience was totally new to Lauren—and she was enjoying it. She was on top, had chosen to be here, to be an active participant in this experience. She was not ashamed or embarrassed. She was doing what she wanted to do, perhaps for the first time in her life.”(p. 172-173)
YOUR TURN
After reading the passage from Guesthouse, write down what you now know about the characters, Lauren and Daniel. What information is provided about their pasts, about their previous experiences, and how they are reacting to each other in this scene?
Once you have done this, look back at the erotic scene you created in the previous exercise. Are there details you can add that will make your characters more real to your readers?
Keep in mind that what you are creating right now is a very soft core piece of erotic fiction. In hard core fiction, these details would not be necessary.
