How to Create Sexual Tension Between Characters

Feb 11, 2025

Guest

Libby Page

Guest

Georgia Summers

Georgia Summers, a Sunday Times bestselling author and editor in SFF, teams up with Libby Page, a writing coach and bestselling novelist, to share insights on crafting sexual tension in storytelling. They discuss the importance of physicality and proximity, highlighting how specific dialogue and sensory details can deepen character connections. The duo emphasizes using strategic settings and conflicts to heighten emotional stakes, making characters’ interactions charged with anticipation. Their tips are invaluable for writers looking to create unforgettable chemistry.

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ANECDOTE

Power of Near Touch

Intimate near-touches and almost-kisses create intense sexual tension with delayed gratification.
The 2005 Pride and Prejudice carriage scene perfectly shows how subtle physical contact can be deeply sexy.

ADVICE

Use Physicality & Proximity

Use detailed physical descriptions and sensory details to create vivid character presence.
Force characters into close proximity to build palpable tension, especially when they initially dislike each other.

INSIGHT

Specificity Enhances Connection

Specificity deepens connection; sexiness arises from unique traits and shared understanding.
Knowing your characters intimately helps tailor tension that feels authentic and non-generic.

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While sexual tension is most commonly desired in romance novels, chemistry between characters is an essential ingredient in any good story. Whether you’re writing an enemies-to-lovers romantasy or a thriller with a romantic subplot, adding yearning and anticipation can create steamy scenes that will make your reader swoon. Writing sex scenes can fall flat without the heart-aching build-up to the act. In this special Valentine’s Day episode of The Novelry on Writing, author and editor Georgia Summers and writing coach Libby Page offer five tips to create that sizzling feeling of excitement on the page.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

01:50 - Tip #1: Physicality and Forced Proximity

04:01 - Tip #2: Specificity

06:42 - Tip #3: Dialogue

10:47 - Tip #4: Setting

13:37 - Tip #5: Conflict

Guest Bios

Georgia Summers

Before joining The Novelry, Georgia Summers was an Editor at Tor, an imprint of Macmillan, where. Georgia worked closely with a range of science fiction and fantasy debut authors. She was the commissioning editor for international cozy fantasy bestsellerLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin.

As well as being an editor at The Novelry, Georgia is also a published author. Her debut,The City of Stardust, was pre-empted in a significant two-book deal for Hodderscape in the U.K. and Orbit in the U.S. as well as several other countries. It was a No.1Sunday Times bestseller in its launch week, an Amazon Best Book of the Month, and an Indie Next pick.

Libby Page

Libby Page is a writing coach at The Novelry and theSunday Times bestselling author of five novels. Her debut,The Lido(published in the U.S.A. asMornings with Rosemary),became aSunday Timesbestseller within three days of publication. It won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award and has been published in more than 25 territories worldwide. It is one of the leading books to be associated with the term Up Lit, coined by the publishing industry the yearThe Lido was released. Libby was named aGuardian New Face of Fiction and has been praised byThe Times, theObserver, and theSunday Express for her feelgood fiction.The Island Home was chosen byRed magazine as one of its top books of the year, and Libby’s latest book,The Lifeline, is a sequel toThe Lido.

Resources

Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write and publish your story:

How to Write a Love Story: 5 Top Tips (For Every Genre!)

Romance Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Fiction

Talia Hibbert on How to Write Spicy Romcoms: 5 Tips

The Novelry on Writing Podcast: 5 Tips to Turn Up the Heat in Romantasy

Read the full episode transcripthere!

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Show description

Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft.

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