©Stina Lindenblatt
Since tomorrow is
Valentine’s Day, I thought I would do something different in honor of the day.
While I love stories with hot make out scenes, I also love those tender moments
where it’s about the emotional connection between the two characters. So here’s
an excerpt from the NA novel Thoughtless
by S.C. Stephens.
I nodded and laid my head on his chest, fighting back the sudden guilt
at the mention of Denny’s name, and at the simple affection that Kellan wanted
from me. I carefully put a leg over his and an arm over his chest. He signed
again and leaned his head against mine. His heartbeat was steady and strong. I
felt like mine was all over the place.
“Is this okay with you?” he whispered into my hair.
I forced myself to relax. This simplicity was all he wanted, and I was
enjoying his closeness. “Yeah . . . it’s nice. Are you okay?” I absentmindedly
traced a circle on his chest.
He chuckled softly. “I’m fine, Kiera.” He gently rubbed my back, and my
leg. He pulled me tighter in response and we simply held each other.
Do you write tender
moments between your characters? Is this something that comes easy to you or do
you struggle to get the words right?
Reminder: Next week is the free online conference for writers thinking of self publishing and those who already are. It promises to be great. Be sure to check it out.
(Note: Monday is a stat holiday where I live. So there will be no post that day. Have a great weekend!)
Reminder: Next week is the free online conference for writers thinking of self publishing and those who already are. It promises to be great. Be sure to check it out.
(Note: Monday is a stat holiday where I live. So there will be no post that day. Have a great weekend!)
41 comments:
Not like I probably should. That's a great scene.
That's a great, sweet scene. I'm staring my first YA project and I know I'll have to get some romance in there. I'm hoping I'm up to the challenge.
That is indeed a tender scene.
I have to work at writing tender moments between my characters. I'm always afraid of being too sappy.
Now that's romance. :) Thanks for the link to the conference, too!!
As a hopeless romantic, I loved the intimacy of this wonderful scene.
I recognize that scene *sigh*
Yes, tender moments convey so much!!!
Love the little intimate scenes over the full blown ones most times, and lucky you, this side of the country don't get that holiday, hmph!
I do but since i'm a guy and my books have action adventure I keep them short. But yes, I do write tender moments in my books.
As I write MG fiction, there is not much scope to write tender scenes. But I like writing them.
Scenes that make you go, "sighhhh". And then look at your husband of 27 years and smack him.
Sigh, the tender moments and those emotionally impactful moments are my favorite to read and my favorite to write. I tend to write emotionally intense stories. I think we've veered a little too far sometimes with all the sex in books these days. I'm complaining about all the steam, but the connection needs to come first! :) Great post, Stina!
Love the tender moments, but sometimes they can be dang hard to write.
I love reading and writing the emotional connections like that. If there's no emotional bond between a couple, it's harder to connect with them or understand why they're together. That tender, emotional connectedness also can make a sex or makeout scene even hotter, knowing it's more than just a physical reflex for these people.
I, too, love tender moments in books. Since I write MG, my tender moments are a bit different than what you've posted here. :-)
I think my YA characters are a little too awkward, still, to have an intimate/cozy scene like this.
Thanks for showing the other side, Stina. It's not alway about the hot kisses :)
Very romantic for VD (which is how we refer to Valentine's Day in my house).
I think these kind of tender scenes are what elevate the characters and make them feel like real people.
What is the holiday Monday? I love emotional moments about the connection too! They are my absolute fave. In fact, I think those moments are why I read.
I'm all about the tender scenes. I used to e scared to write them but I'm finding them easier and easier. Guess I'm just a big sap.
Happy holiday on Monday.
That was a great excerpt. Enjoy your holiday!
It seems like tender moments are harder to do than big action scenes. You want to convey the emotion without being maudlin, and that can be a tough balancing act.
Sometimes the tender moments are the best!
Very nice excerpt. And yup looking frwd to conference. Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day, Stina!
I try to include those tender moments but my current books have so many conflicts between all the characters it's difficult to do.
Great example you used.
I feel like my characters rarely get room to breathe, let alone have tender moments - I probably need more of them! :)
I don't think I have the tenderness down. I do have one or two scenes in a WIP. I'll have to see what the beta readers think of them.
I think it's easier for certain characters of mine than others. If it comes naturally to them, it comes out as "tender" otherwise, sometimes it's awkward depending on the couple. But sometimes awkward leads to funny or nice or a revelation of sorts.
That's a nice scene...
I do write tender moments between my characters, and those seem to be easy for me. It's the spicy ones that take longer. Layering, making sure it's not too much or too little. :P
Happy Valentine's Day! <3
I'm planning in writing those :)
aw, warm fuzzies!
they last longer!
That was a wonderful scenario. Happy Valentines Day!
a very romantic picture!
That's a sweet scene. Interestingly, the tender moments tend to come easily to me when I write, although maybe it also means that I under-write them. My CP's always ask for more in those scenes. Have a good holiday!
Great scene! Yes, I struggle to get the words right with a scene like that (but it seems like a stuggle to get the words right in any type of scene!) :)
Aww! That's such a sweet tender excerpt! :)
Lovely scene!
No, I don't find it easy. Probably why I don't do many of them! Like most things it's about a balance - there's definitely a place for a hot steamy scene, but it needs to be backed up with a genuine sense of the connection between the characters.
Lovely stuff. I think it's the nervousness and the vulnerability which make it for me. When was the last time you felt like that?
I love those moments of tender vulnerability!
I've been hearing about this INdie Recon. It sounds like an awesome conference!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I love reading and writing those moments. Thanks for sharing one.
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