Should romance novels have a sex scene?

I have read some romance novels and some have sex in them and some don't. So I guess It could be either way, but I figured It doesn't hurt to ask. I am asking because my own writing has many elements of romance in it and I was wondering whether or not my characters should have sex. What do you think?

well, that alone is your choice alone. if you feel that there should be some sexual intercourse in your romance novels then so be it. if you can write some good sex scenes, why not experiment a bit and see how your writings turn out.

It ultimately depends on whether you believe a sex scene would be right for whatever you're writing. Like I mentioned, well-written smut can be hot, but it's not gonna do jack shit if it doesn't blend in with the mood and setting of the piece.

I think it can if you get the timing right. And the characters. It all depends on the rest of the story. Though I am sad to say it sex scenes may increase the fan base.

It's called, "making love". I can't just show my love with words, I have to show it with my body as well. I want to make her feel good.

Depends on your audience, as well. Are you writing for a PG writers forum made up of teens, or are you writing for yourself? If it's the latter, do you feel you are capable of conveying the appropriate emotions you want to convey, or lack thereof if that be the case? It's normal to skip a sex scene if you insinuate that they spent the night together, presumably having intercourse. If you want to write it out, then write it out and practice getting the flow right.

Ultimately, it's not the readers' choice, it's the writers. If the crowd isn't suited for the way you appropriately want to write, then find a new audience.

Depends on your audience I agree, don't expose kids to that sort of stuff, besides sex scenes can easily be avoided or simply just not described in great detail, making them less explicit - I mean it's easy to get the message across without talking about everything they did. Personally i don't believe in "Romance" novels because romance like most other things is just something that happens in the context of everyday life, so to have a good "Romance" you need the focus of the plot to be something else, or at least, you need some other facet to the story.

I am writing this story to try and get it published and sold to the world. The target audience could be anyone really, I try to appeal to men and women of all ages. However one could say that since I am writing this as young man that I subconsciously write in a way that appeals to young men. I do know that you need to have a larger basis of story line then just romance. My story is a fantasy with a lot of action and adventure in it as well.

Thinking back to my favorite romance book (and favorite book of all time), Rhapsody, there were several intimate scenes, but nothing like you would find in a lemon.



" When they were finally completely joined he lay above her, within her, motionless for a moment, afraid that if he moved or took a breath he would awake to find that this was only a dream. Even if it was, he was unwilling to let it end yet.
Emily's other hand came to rest on the side of his head and she kissed him, imparting a wordless, loving encouragement. Then she began to move slowly, rocking him from below, wrapping one of her legs around his.
From the bottom of his toes Gwydion felt a exquisite heat rise, and with it came an insistent movement that matched hers, building the fire he felt in his stomach into a raging inferno that swelled within him and consumed his entire body. He lost touch with his thoughts and let them drift away on the warm night wind, concentrating instead on the rhythm of her heart beating beneath him and the delicate sounds she was emitting.
She whispered his name, or what she thought was his name, and the thrill of hearing it drove his excitement higher. The word became a cadence she repeated, spoken softly over and over as she began to grow warm and sigh with pleasure. The sound reached down into his heart, pushing him past the gates of control, and as the thunder rolled up within him he felt her begin to cry out, gripping him as an anchor as she was swept away by the same wave he was riding.
Time became suspended; how long he made love to her he couldn't realistically gauge, having nothing to compare it with, but it seemed to last an eternity. With each passing second he felt the love in his heart for her expand until he was sure it had outgrown his body. He had expected this event to come much later in his life, and to be far less meaningful, so the shuddering sobs that consumed him when it was over took him completely by surprise.
'Sam?" Emily's voice was alarmed as she pulled him nearer.
'Gods, did I hurt you, Emily? Are you all right?"
She kissed him tenderly, and then pulled back to look into his eyes. "Are you kidding? Did it feel like I was hurt?" She laughed, and the feeling shot through him like a hot bolt of lightning, running up his spine and resonating in his forehead.
He bent his head down over her shoulder, weak with relief. "Emily, I would never, never hurt you on purpose; I hope you know that."
She look him straight on the eye. "Of course I do. Why would you ever hurt something that belongs to you? Because I do, Sam. I'm yours."
He sighed. "Thank the gods."
'No," she said seriously, "thank the stars. It was them that brought you to me.""





God, that was a bitch to type out.
Its nothing sensually erotic, but it is DEFINITELY a sex scene
Again, this is out of a book, nothing I wrote.
The author is Elizabeth Haydon

I think there should be one. Though, the scene is to be short. :P

And yeah, up to the target readers, too.

If your intended audience is all ages, then you're better off being vague and minimalistic on description. As you can see from applesauce's quote from Rhapsody, which is an excellent example of literary romance and thank you for typing that up, it takes a certain mind and understanding to write what can be considered smut in the appropriately gentle and analytically emotional way. Tread carefully, but do what your heart tells you to.

http://www.literotica.com/s/goodbye-la-la-land

This is probably a lot more explicit than you want your own work to be, but do check this out. Characterization was done magnificently, and it shows that romance is definitely possible alongside explicit sex, without making it seem like some mindless porn story.

That is a very well written piece of erotic romance. Very good find.

I think that it would be nice to describe the scene, and i dont mean vulgarly, the right choice of words can make the difference by turning something that would normally sound vulgar into something of an "elegant yet erotic" element.

Very true, Artcellrox.

As someone who'd asked himself this question for years, let me tell you that what the quoted Fakkuza says is part of what I've come to believe. The difference between a romance scene and a sex scene is less about the sex and more about the focus and details put in.
Romance scene: The focus is on their emotions. Details are more intricate regarding their thoughts and how they feel rather then the sensation. The details can show what they're doing, but the wording is mostly gentle. Words like "cock" and "tits" are often exchanged for "penis" or "dick" and "breasts", and common vulgarities are rarely used.
Sex scene:The opposite of the above. The focus is on the sensation. Details focus more on how the moment is affecting their senses, which is a simple way of stimulating the reader. Common vulgarities might be used more, and the sex act might even be a bit rougher. It's less about the love of the situation and more about the fun of the moment.

A good writer knows how to balance these two and merge them, though most who do this still aren't focusing on stimulating the reader as much as writers who write pure sex scenes.

Sex scenes are fine, but only if there's enough tension built up in the characters and reader. The reason most romance novels have so much "step forward, take three steps back" is because it builds up a desire in the reader to get to the sex scene. Once it occurs, the moment might even get them to masturbate. Mission accomplished.

However, a romantic sex scene is often the best way to go. The more genuine it is the less likely it will get the reader to masturbate, but it will give them a warmhearted feeling and boost their affection for the characters involved through the roof. A simple missed kiss or having one of the characters giggle at how nervous their lover is acting feels real and, even if it isn't chuckle-worthy, it gives the scene an authentic touch that many can relate to and appreciate.

Well, there should be some build up so that the sex scene doesn't look out of place. Take a look at Sword Art Online chapters 16 and 16.5 for example.
http://baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Sword_Art_Online:Volume_1_Chapter_16
http://baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Sword_Art_Online:Volume_1_Chapter_16.5