Screenwriting : How to write a sex/love scene without it being pornographic? by Talia Price

Talya, just write it as you would any other scene -- pithy, exciting, smart. Keep it within the context of your scene, of your plot, and of your characters. Keep in mind which rating you are writing for -- R, PG-13. Is it gratuitous? Or does it truly serve the story? You don't need to get overly detailed. The goal is to paint a vivid picture in the mind of your reader. Of course, if sex is an integral part of your story, like in "Nine 1/2 Weeks" or "Body Heat" then you may need to be more specific, especially if what is happening within a sex scene informs the plot. Perhaps seek out scripts from various movies that are close to the tone you are wishing to create and see how professional screenwriters handled sex scenes in writing. There's also been a lot of threads about this subject. Perhaps do a general search in the Lounge and all threads related to this subject will be listed. I hope that helps!

Thank you for the advice.

What Beth said... Also - it comes down to word choice. Finding the "polite way" to say something that may be "impolite". But find screenplays that do what you are trying to do and read them to see how they did it. If you read several different examples you'll usually find several different methods, and that puts more tools in your toolbox. (which is the polite way to say...)

I've seen it written in some detail or as simple as "they make love" or "Brandon f#$% Janice". I personally think that the shorter the better for the description... just like any other scene. I remember a great piece of advice someone once said to me, "don't say its a bright sunny day, a cool wind blows leaves gently as ducks glide across the clear water of the lake. Just say: A beautiful lake! You don't even know if you'll be able to get ducks for the shoot anyway." If it's integral to character, say it. eg, 'gently glides hands over the body' or 'she shoves him against the cabinet'. But otherwise, the actor, director, etc will probably work our the detail.

If it's a love scene, I'd try to punch up the emotional aspects of the scene... check and minimize the visuals, keeping in mind the audience or ratings demographic I seek. A lot can be done O.C. with sound, images that reflect sensual release, etc. good luck, good question.

Thank you Keith Sewell. And everyone else who has commented.

Hi Talya! I don't write out my sex scenes, mostly because it makes me feels like I'm invading my characters' privacy, which is kind of nuts, I know, but also because my producing/directing partner is insanely talented at blocking and directing them, so I let her have at it =) but what I do instead is just give her adjectives and brief comments: passionate, shy, angry, unhurried,a couple who've been together a long time and have nothing to prove, just this side of too rough, that sort of thing. I stick to the same process in scripts she won't be directing too, and so far it's not been an issue. Hope that helps!

I wrote one into my comedy. It takes place off screen. It is loud and ridiculous.

So offscreen may work.

But a lot of movies and shows filmed them in the dark: just seeing shadows and outlines.

Just say what the director needs to know. For example "they go to bed and make love." Also you don't know what rating they will be shooting for.

Once they start tossing clothes and groping each other, time to cut to the next scene.

How does it change the course of the story? What does it tell us about the characters? Why is it required by the story? http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip138.htm

The link in my post above is all about sex scenes, including script excepts from two famous ones.

I would, if I needed one, write it like a fight scene. The major things you need to get the point across and the story to where it needs to be.

But it would be difficult. Writing is always sharing part of ourselves. That may make this uncomfortable.