Let’s get it on
It can be the heart of controversy in the writing/reading community. Love scenes. I remember both of my firsts clearly. The first time I ever read a love scene, and then when I wrote my first one in a book.
Reading it I was a pre-teen, now which they call the tween years. I picked up a Harlequin Presents (the sexiest cover I could find!) and read it straight through. There’s only a few things I remember. The heroine was asleep when the hero came in seduced her–which later he said ‘I basically forced you’ which even then I knew he hadn’t. She was all over that guy. There was a lot of breast play and a little more, but compared to most love scenes, it was pretty tame. But to me, it was so completely dirty. 
I was shocked. It was that first bridge into crossing that world towards thinking like a grown up. Of course I was hooked on romance novels from that point on. 
When I decided I wanted to write my first book, I wasn’t really thinking about the love scene. I just had this plot in my head and I was going to run with it. So I was writing and writing and plugging along. Then I came to it. My characters were about ready to riot if I didn’t get them bouncing the bed springs soon. 
I remember this part clearly. I took a few deep breaths. I stared at the screen. And then I got up and walked away. Pacing the house I kept saying to myself, “I can’t do this. How am I going to do this?” Start small, start small, the little voice in my head told me. So I sat down again and I started typing. I got through the sexual build up and toed the line where the characters have said ‘okay, we’re going for it.’ It’s then you have to make a decision. What kind of love scenes are you going to write? Are you going to basically close the door? Keep it soft and sweet with lots of shadows and floral? Or are you going to go full throttle and just write the love scene of your fantasies?
I made up my mind that day. And I was going to go full throttle. I didn’t start off with the intention–or knowing I’d be one of the ‘really hot love scene’ writers. I just wrote the love scene I thought my characters deserved. I probably stopped and started that scene many times, but I didn’t leave the house until I finished. I think it took me about four hours. Four hours which I’d scream obscenities, sometimes just, “F*CK! I can’t believe I’m actually writing this!” 
But when I was done, I knew I’d done it. I’d passed one big hurdle in writing a romance novel. 
So what was your first time writing or reading a love scene like? For reading, were you shocked? Or was it like the best thing ever.
For writing, did it flow out as naturally as taking a breath? 
Or were you like me, up and down and psyching yourself up to write oral sex. 
I’m out of town, so I may not be as active on the responding part!
August 13th, 2007 at 2:26 am
I’ve been reading romance for so long that I can’t even remember the first love scene I read! I knew from an early age, though, that most M&B weren’t going to cut it–I wasn’t interested in the “fade to fireplace.”
As for writing, I also can’t remember–oh, wait, yes I CAN remember the first love scene I wrote! I was 17 and everyone in my science class surreptituously read it–I remember it being passed around the class, under desks.
Wow. Can’t believe I did that. But I’m all for the full-throttle approach, too. It doesn’t always come naturally, it’s probably the most difficult scene to write simply because I want it RIGHT the first time. Like, you know, you want real sex to be. 
August 13th, 2007 at 8:12 am
The first love scene, OK sex scene, I read when I was about fifteen. Of course it turned me on. At fifteen, and a guy, every thing turned me on.
I didn’t start writing until a couple of years ago. My first scene wasn’t a lot of trouble to write. I wrote it the way I’d do it. Starting with little teases at the peripheries, using words to build the passion. All the while getting closer and closer to the climax.
I needed a smoke afterwards.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:33 am
I dont think mine was that hard to write either, but I had a lot of pages of buildup to get there. I actually started out writing erotic short stories so love scenes were no big deal for me.
BTW Shell did YOU need a smoke after? LOL
August 13th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Okay…I’m a slow “learner”….I didn’t read my first “romance” until college and the first love scene in The Rose In Winter. Wow…
Jump many years ahead and I’m trying to write my first erotic romance. I had to read lots to be able to even start! Even now, it’s hard to get started writing them….but once they are done, Whew! (waving fan)
August 13th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I’m not a writer but I am an avid reader. I was eleven when I first love scene and thought it was HOT. I still have the book after all these years and I’d say it’s love scenes are a step above warm now.
August 13th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I was engaged and never had read a romance. It was a sweet one, not erotic, and I liked the connotations. Being basically naive in those things, it gave me romantic aspirations about my wedding night. I wrote my first one, very hot one, last year and even posted in RD steamy crit boutique. I was blushing as I wrote it, but the mood struck and I had to get that out. Ooh, it’s going to go into Hot Pursuits. So love that scene.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:01 am
Baby, I started my first erotic novel when I was fourteen! I wrote about two chapters, one of which included a rather graphic astral projection sex scene between the 17yo governess and the psychic 16yo eldest son of the house. That was one bad boy, I tell ya.
Of course, I hid the book away so that my mother and sister wouldn’t read it, and by the time I remembered it a couple of years later, all the lead (yes, I wrote it with a #2 pencil!) had smeared and the whole thing was unreadable.
My first masterpiece, forever unfinished…
August 14th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I don’t remember reading my first love scene - I just know my reading material became a lot hotter bit by bit.
I remember writing my first love scene. Oh, boy, did it take ages, and I kept looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. Even though I was alone. I remember blushing a lot. I’m a terrible blusher.
Thank goodness things have changed. 
August 15th, 2007 at 1:12 am
[…] on the web at the Naughty and Spice blog Shelli Stevens is talking about love scenes. When did you read your first love scene and if […]
August 15th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I read my first sex scene in a bookshop. I was browsing, what else? romance novels and skipped through the pages. The shock! They didn’t close the door…
I read the whole scene, sometimes glancing over my shoulder. Finally I knew what was missing in other books! After that book, I read a ton more.
For the steamy stuff, I have to be alone with my characters.
Writing my first scene was fun, very liberating. I like to write in a coffee shop, but I can’t write the sex scenes there. I’m too psyched that someone glances over my shoulder.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I actually can’t remember reading my first sex scene. I was pretty young no doubt. It could have been Danielle Steele or Virginia Andrews.
I can’t remember it being a big deal when I wrote my first lovce scene either. Though I do remember it being decidedely unsexy, lol. Had to practise hard and read and watch sex scenes (all in the name of research
)until I got it right.