Sex, like any other action in a story, needs to forward the plot. Having a m?nage makes the sex and the plot far more complicated. ?Suspending disbelief is one thing, having characters act out of character (either as an individual or as a gender) is another.

If the m?nage is the happily ever after, there are further complications than whose hand went where and at what time. ?I agonize over my characters’ m?nage scenes and relationships, which is why it is rare for me to write them. Believability and character growth are imperative to forwarding the storyline. Some key things to consider when writing a good m?nage story:

1. Each character must have their own conflicts/resolutions. It’s not just about the sex, though in an erotic story, sex needs to be a part of it. Too often a character (we’ll call him/her “the third”) is left as the quiet, easy to please sort without any hang-ups about the relationship. The third is often left as just that: a third. If removing this individual from the relationship does little to change the overall storyline (outside of creative sexuality) then you haven’t developed that character enough.

Jealousy and nervousness (and definitely uncertainty) are a normal part of a duo, so I’m surprised by how often those emotions are left out of a m?nage story. Also, in a m?nage you have an interesting emotional dynamic. The characters are a triangle of support. Someone is the base, the anchor (and it can be ever changing) while the other two support one another. No part of the triangle can stand on its own, but you gain strength from the collective whole. For the m?nage to work, it has to provide something emotionally satisfying for everyone or what’s the point?

2. There is more to a m?nage than body parts, but those are important too. I love reading a great sex scene, but sometimes I get an unpleasant surprise when I come across biological inaccuracies. I’m a very flexible woman but some of these scenarios I’ve read leave me confused. You need to have a firm picture in your mind of how every motion and movement is going to happen.

And remember…there are places that don’t create a natural lubrication, so keep your heroine’s/hero’s comfort in mind when/if you write an anal scene.

3. Remember life outside the bedroom. Unless your story is strictly erotic exploration, there is life outside the bedroom. If the characters fall apart away from the bed or lose their conflict, you need to strengthen the external/internal plot. It’s natural for relationships to shift as the m?nage forms and solidifies. The beta in the bedroom may not want to sit on the sidelines in a physical conflict.

This goes back to #1: Each character must have their own conflicts/resolutions. These are just some of the things I consider when I write a scene.

Thank you, to Selena for the invitation and to all the readers who’ve come out for m?nage week! I had a wonderful time writing this post and hope you enjoy the rest of the articles!

Happy Reading,
Dawn Montgomery
Action. Adventure. Erotic Romance.
http://www.dawnmontgomery.com/blog
M?nage Stories: http://www.dawnmontgomery.com/books-2/menage-more/

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