Writing sex scenes

Writing sex scenes- a scandalous and tricky business, don'tcha think?  On one hand, you don't want to sound like a prude, but on the other you don't want to make it seem like it's a porno.  I confess that the first time I wrote a sex scene in Rules of Vegas, it sounded like a prude.  It was so boring.  Then, I said to myself, "if you are going to write a sex scene, write a freakin' sex scene!"  Granted, I'm sure I could do it better.  The wholesome Roman Catholic girl inside me still monitors the writing. 

I'm all for tasteful sex scenes so I guess I'll never write a porn script.  Good thing it's not on my bucket list. 

Anyway, all this chat about sex scenes came about because I wrote a few with Andy's story aka Going All In.  Naturally, he's the playboy of characters.  I am approaching writing one with Mark's story ( I need a title for this one) and I find it challenging writing something tasteful from a guy's point of view.  Andy doesn't need as much as a filter as Mark does.  This may sound like I think guys are pigs and I don't believe this, but I think-No, I KNOW they are wired differently. 

Well, I'm almost to 13K words and counting...I'll keep you posted when I find that perfect filter for Mark. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in the meantime!

Christmas Cheer

I got kind of depressed the other day because I heard someone say that they are just trying to survive the holidays.  I was at a Christmas party no less when this comment was made.
 ::Warning: I'm going to sound like a Christmas movie::
What do people stress over?  Even last year, I spaced out my time to bake and wrap presents.  It seems that everyone gets surprised about Christmas arriving when it's the same day each year.  This is the time of year where people need to chill out since everyone gets a few days off (hopefully) and you get spend time with family and friends. 
I hope you aren't surviving the holidays, and that you find a moment of peace if you are just trying to hang in there.  I suggest Christmas carols and cookies to get you in the holiday spirit.  Maybe watch a Christmas movie too (I suggest the Polar Express).

10,000 for the 3rd time

That's right kids, I just surpassed 10,000 words for novel number three.  Mark is the narrator this time and I have big plans for him.  We are going to set him on the roller coaster train and watch him go up and down those hills. 
I hope I can walk away from the characters when all is said and done.  I love them obviously, but will I love them enough to let them go?  After all we don't need a Rules of Vegas Part 13.  Surely that would be a disaster like the Land Before Time movies...did they even end with all the original characters?  They should have ended movie four with the meteor hitting Earth and all the dinosaurs dying.  The ending clip could read, "And that's your history lesson for today.  Happy Fossil Finding!" 
Anyway, Mark's story is set when the three of them our 35 years old.  This should be challenging as I do not have the wisdom of a thirty-something.  I will soon enough, but for now I only have twenty-some years of experience to work with.  Spoiler alert: Anne and Mark are married and have two kids.  Andy does not have either...he became married to his career.  Fitting right?
Anyway, I am excited to see where Mark's journey leads because I'm not entirely sure how his story ends.  It will be one extreme or another.  This will probably pose a challenge because I didn't know how Going All In aka Andy's story was going to end.  If you recall, I struggled with this issue because how do you drive to your destination without knowing where it is?  I'll just push the auto pilot button when I have used all my ideas for this story and hope for the best. 
Also, like last time, 90,000 words is my goal.  I suppose now I won't stop until I've obtained it!

Rumors

I was recruiting for my school the other day and one of the students raised their hands and asked, "Is it true that your school has a missile silo?"  We said no, but it would be cool to have a school that bad ass.  Where did he even hear that rumor?  How does something that large start?  Did his big brother decide to mess with him and say it exists? 
Rumors baffle me.  I had two students the other day where they used to be friends, the one got angry and started saying on Facebook that she was pregnant, and then they became friends again and she retracted her statement.  You can't just retract something like that. 
Rumors-they are ugly. 

I just needed to stand on my soapbox for a few minutes today.