Writing Sexy

Writing sexy seems to be the big thing lately. At Nationals, all the editors were talking about "sexy" books being hot and in demand. Like all trends in writing, this will come and go, but in romance, sexy seems to be in and here to stay. The erotica genre is booming, but even within other genres - historicals, romantic suspense, paranormals - sexy books are all the rage. The question then becomes, how sexy is sexy enough for you?

If you write category books, you can figure out the sexiness factor of a particular line by reading the submission requirements and guidelines for that publisher. You can also read extensively in that line to get the tone and feeling for a particular series. If you write single title, however, the sky's the limit.

As a romantic suspense writer, there's a huge span across the genre regarding how sexy a book can be. All romantic suspense books include some kind of romance, but they can range from 90% suspense/10% romance with the emphasis on the mystery, to the flip side - 25% suspense/75% romance, with the focus more centrally spotlighted on the developing romance and relationship. I've read recently published books that were so sexy they made my fingers burn, and ones that were so scary (and thus, not super-sexy) where I had to keep the light on at night because they wigged me out. There is a market for both, so if writing sexy isn't your thing, you'll still be okay. But if you enjoy sexier books, now is the time to try your hand at writing them.

Now, sexy doesn't necessarily mean lots of gratuitous sex. I read one book recently that was super steamy, but it only had one "official" sex scene. You don't have to write x-number of sex scenes to write a sexy book, you just have to keep the sexual tension high through the entire read and not let it drop off anywhere significant - even after a love scene. My critique partner calls it that "low level hum" you get when you're reading, the one you probably remember from the first time you met your significant other - the one most people experience when they meet someone they're insanely attracted to. A well written sex scene causes more conflict and electricity than it should alleviate, so remember to up your tension after a love scene to keep that hum going.

If there doesn't have to be lots and lots of sex in a sexy book, does that means oodles of sloppy kissing instead? Nope. Characters don't even have to touch all that much in a sexy book. It's all about the charge in the air when the two are in the same room together. A look, the way one reacts when the other brushes by them, how their heart rate quickens or the blood rushes through their veins. The sex scenes are bonus - they aren't the root of a sexy book.

The key - in my opinion - to writing a sexy book is finding your comfort level regarding the sexiness factor. And then push it. You might be surprised at what you can do. The last book I wrote was definitely more sexy than any of my other books, and while it was a lot more work because of that reason, I really liked the way it turned out. Was there a lot of sex? No - two near misses and two hits. (And the first sex scene is really short compared to others I've read - but still sexy.) It was the book I landed my agent with, the one that I won a contest with, the one that's gotten the most attention of any of my work. Was it because I upped the sexiness factor? I think so. My writing had improved with this last book, as the more writing we do, the better we get, but I do think the sexiness factor played a big role in the attention this book has gotten.

So on this foggy Monday morning, how do you feel about sexy books? Do you like them, hate them, write them, avoid them? And just out of curiosity...what's the sexiest book you've read lately (not counting erotica)?