Hamilton: Excuse Me Are Aaron Burr Sir?

Check out the redraw:

ink demon doodles

Me acting surprised when, I become attracted to the most vile unredeemable villain, again.

Ma'am please bestow upon me your amazing smut writing ways! 😩Your smut scenes are always top tier and I'm so jealous! I feel like all of my smut writing ends up turning out sounding the same.

Awwwh Lau 🥹🥹 Thank you babe, that’s so sweet of you - you’re so kind to me ♥️

And I was going to joke that I have no idea how I do it (and that is true to an extent - lots of it just happens in the moment!) but real talk, writing smut is one of the things I find MOST difficult in writing. It’s so time consuming to get it right, or it is for me anyway!

But here’s how I try and approach it… apologies I’m chatty and this got a bit long but I hope it’s useful to you and others!

Alex’s Guide To Writing Smut

Understand the context

1. What’s the vibe? Why are they having sex?

Is it angry/angsty/longing/needy/soft/sweet/something else I can’t think of right now? How are the characters arriving into the smut, because it totally shapes how you think about the tone of the scene and how the actual act will play out. Angry rough fucking is not the same as soft, we just woke up and I need you again sex. And that doesn’t need a tonne of exposition to set out in the story but you, the author, need to know where it’s coming from.

2. What’s their relationship?

Like above, sex between people who have been together for ages is different from sex with someone new(ish). Of course you can still surprise each other in a long term relationship but new relationships are all about discovery. And this affects how they communicate during the act itself, and how comfortable they might be together (as well as in voicing likes and dislikes). Also, a one night stand won’t be the same as a pairing who are a couple, and not all of those are born equal - is it a one night of fun or is that we only have one night, because we shouldn’t/can’t do this, but I love you? Those bring very different energies!

Creating scenes that feel ‘real’

4. Limbs logistics

This is the stuff that takes me the longest because I’m a weirdo and I like to be able to properly picture who and what’s where at any given moment! Do think about whether it’s physically possible for his hand to be there if it was just somewhere entirely different. And don’t be afraid to have a little fun with it if your setting allows a bit of real life challenges. Getting stuck or whatever and giggling about it is so human and relatable and will add realism.

3. Use ALL the senses.

Obviously this is an important tip for writing generally but if you want to build a sensory picture and create intimacy it’s extra important in smut writing. Smut writing isn’t just describing where all the limbs and appendages go - if you want it to be immersive you need to go beyond that and explore how the characters FEEL and what else they are experiencing:

- Smells in particular are especially evocative and unique. They stir up emotions and or create a sense of safety.

- Think about how you describe the different kinds of touches (again, all relates to knowing your context). Not just stimulation touch but how they hold each other, breath on skin etc. Are they gentle or rough. And most importantly, how does it feel - both touching and being touched.

- Don’t forget about taste - you don’t have to major on it if it gives you the ick but it’s part of the sexual experience so don’t forget to consider how it might be useful to include.

- Sound allows you to convey emotion with and without dialogue. How does their voice sound? When you’re pressed together can you actually feel the sound? You can use this to show progress too as they get closer to climax. (That feels so wrong to write in a non-smut scene context!)

5. Choice of positions/ sexual acts

My personal preference is starting with foreplay cos I enjoy writing the build up, but sometimes (back to context again!) that doesn’t make sense for your pairing. Deciding what they actually do during the smut scene totally depends on all the stuff in the section above. For example, are they short on time? Do they have all night? Is it the only night they might ever have and so they want to do everything you can think of? All of these will affect what kind of sex they have and the kind of energy they bring to it.

I rarely sit down and plot this out (but I’m not a plotter anyway so that’s just me) - I write what feels right in the moment because I’ve focussed my effort on knowing WHY these two particular people are having sex. Allow the context to guide what feels natural and have fun with it.

6. Dialogue

I used to write with hardly dialogue during smut because it made me uncomfortable trying to squeeze it in, but I’ve got better at it as I’ve written more. So I think you have to do what feels right for you, as the writer. But also, once again, you need to know what your characters would do. Are they talkers? Is one of them noisy but the other is the silent type? Does one have a filthy mouth that makes the other weak and they like to use that against them? Do you want to include a praise kink or someone who gets off on being humiliated (don’t forget AFTER CARE!). All of that affects what kind of dialogue you might have.

Personally I still tend to keep it quite limited (writing Emmett and the whole ‘having to be quiet’ is my fav kink of the moment!). Instead, I focus more on the senses side of things, and let them get a bit lost in the pleasure inside their own heads. And instead of external dialogue, I often opt for more internal chat about how the other person and what they’re doing makes them feel. And how they feel is influenced by, you guessed it, the context!

What to do when it all feels a bit too ‘samey’

So to Lauren’s original ask about scenes feeling overly similar - especially when you’re working with the same set of characters in a long running series. I have this all the time, especially with my Lockdown series because those two are just feral for each other! To tackle getting stuck in a rut, here’s what I think about:

Surprise, surprise, it’s all about CONTEXT again!

Ok yes, you only have so many sexual acts and positions to work with. And not everyone wants to write all the kinks in the land, I know I don’t! But what is different every time is why your couple is having sex - what’s led to/inspired that moment and how are they coming into the scene. So I refer you back to the very first section - understand the scenario and mood you’re trying to create. You can stack the different acts however you like but the energy and emphasis and emotion your characters bring to that should inherently make it feel different each time.

If you want a real life example, check out the smut scenes in this mini series - they fuck in every chapter but each time the context and how the characters come into the scene is different, so (I hope!) the smut reads differently.

And finally

Do not underestimate the power of a little humour! Real life sex can be funny. It’s intimate and, lots of the time, with someone you are (or want to be) very close to. They are moments of physical and emotional connection. Let the people be people. Don’t make it all perfect all the time. Life isn’t like that! 🤍

Other useful resources

How to write smut by @youneedsomeprompts

Smut terminology study

Useful smut language/sound descriptors

Really good guide to smut terms

☕️ Found this helpful? Why not buy me a coffee? - Ko-Fi

Awesomely cute dividers by @firefly-graphics

hi! i would like to highlight this fundraiser. i hope everyone who comes across this would help @mohammed-atallah (Muhammad Atallah and his family) in any way they can. scan the qr code (i got it from haruka aoki's pub materials) and donate.

Further details from Ahmed Alostaz, Muhammad's brother-in-law "My wife's brother, Muhammad, was going to bring aid from the Nabulsi roundabout. He was shot in his left hand by an explosive bullet, which led to nerve loss and bone fragmentation. He needs a bone graft outside Gaza, but the situation is difficult for them. Their house was completely destroyed, and Muhammad's father is also unwell and needs constant medical care. The family is focusing their efforts on caring for Muhammad, as he will need many operations to restore his hand to what it was, and also on rebuilding their destroyed home."

as of writing this post, this campaign is only around 16% completed. and their family is very grateful for it. here is an [Aug 21, 2024] update taken straight from their gfm:

[...] I am Iman, the eldest sister of Muhammad. There are no words to express how grateful my family and I are to all of you. We are a family of 13, including my young children Malak and Amir, Retaj, Rahaf, Saja, Alaa, Amani, Iman, Sobhi, Alaa, and Ahmed, my husband, and my brother Muhammad, who is injured. When we launched this fundraising campaign, I never imagined that it would receive so much love, generosity and compassion. I was honestly starting to lose hope and wondered if our innocent children would ever find safety again; I was preparing for the worst. Your unwavering support made me and my family feel hopeful again. [...] Please continue to support us and share our story so that our children and grandchildren can survive this brutal and relentless slaughter of our people and not just become numbers on your phone screens. I know that donations are not easy in these times, but I believe that every contribution has the power to change someone's life. That is why I am participating in this campaign with all my faith, not only to save them, but also to protect their dreams and help them get out of Gaza. [...] We will never forget how you stood by us during the darkest times of our lives. Thanks to each and every one of you, safety is no longer a distant dream. Things will never be the same again, but knowing that there are brave souls out there who will always stand by us is what keeps us from completely giving in to despair. With your help and generous donations, we can leave Gaza and build a new life and rise from the rubble. [...]

tag list under the cut for wider reach. i hope it's okay. dm me to be included/excluded. tysm. 🇵🇸 from the river to the sea, palestine will be free within our lifetime.

@aerequets

@anneemay

@appsa

@axlotlforgot

@brutaliakhoa

@cinemasystem

@clintbeefwoods

@commissions4aid-international

@communistluanneplatter

@comrademango

@cryptotheism

@c-u-c-koo-4-40k

@decolonize-solidarity

@determinate-negation

@dlxxv-vetted-donations

@doumekiss

@dykesbat

@edwordsmyth

@feluka

@fleshdyk3

@gael-garcia

@gaza-evacuation-funds

@ghelgheli

@greatwyrmgold

@heritageposts

@hussyknee

@ichicm

@intersectionalpraxis

@irhabiya

@just-browsing1222

@komsomolka

@kyra45

@lychee02

@magicmooshka

@magnus-rhymes-with-swagness

@mangocheesecakes

@neptunerings

@nonbienerfeeder

@northgazaupdates2

@opencommunion

@our-queer-experience

@pannaginip

@retvolution

@riding-with-the-wild-hunt

@sawasawako

@sayruq

@schoolhater

@sissa-arrows

@sivavakkiyar

@sliceofdyke

@socalgal

@soon-palestine

@stuckinapril

@tamamita

@timetravellingkitty

@trans-girl-nausicaa

@transingthebourgeoisie

@transjjester

@transmutationisms

@txttletale

@ubernegro

@vague-humanoid

@vakarians-babe

@victoriawhimsey

@womenintheirwebs

[the man-holding-a-palestine-flag element is from the free stock pictures of canva. lmk if i am violating any sensibilities here i might consider removing it.]

Charlastor Week 2021: 

Day 1: Shadows/Demonic forms!

a list of 100+ buildings to put in your fantasy town

academy

adventurer's guild

alchemist

apiary

apothecary

aquarium

armory

art gallery

bakery

bank

barber

barracks

bathhouse

blacksmith

boathouse

book store

bookbinder

botanical garden

brothel

butcher

carpenter

cartographer

casino

castle

cobbler

coffee shop

council chamber

court house

crypt for the noble family

dentist

distillery

docks

dovecot

dyer

embassy

farmer's market

fighting pit

fishmonger

fortune teller

gallows

gatehouse

general store

graveyard

greenhouses

guard post

guildhall

gymnasium

haberdashery

haunted house

hedge maze

herbalist

hospice

hospital

house for sale

inn

jail

jeweller

kindergarten

leatherworker

library

locksmith

mail courier

manor house

market

mayor's house

monastery

morgue

museum

music shop

observatory

orchard

orphanage

outhouse

paper maker

pawnshop

pet shop

potion shop

potter

printmaker

quest board

residence

restricted zone

sawmill

school

scribe

sewer entrance

sheriff's office

shrine

silversmith

spa

speakeasy

spice merchant

sports stadium

stables

street market

tailor

tannery

tavern

tax collector

tea house

temple

textile shop

theatre

thieves guild

thrift store

tinker's workshop

town crier post

town square

townhall

toy store

trinket shop

warehouse

watchtower

water mill

weaver

well

windmill

wishing well

wizard tower

I’m way more active on twitter these days (@devilsroost) but have this massive Adam dump!

I LOVE HIM

Contextless shenanigans from the rp server

Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis in Scream, 2020.

family: “why are you just sitting in ur room smiling at ur phone?”

me who’s been reading smut about fictional characters for the past 6 hours:

that feminine urge to read something that makes you cry, get angry, scream, laugh like a hormonal teenager, turn up the heat, feel like the most unique and beautiful human being on earth. *sighs*