My Husband – the Body Stand-in for Writing Action Scenes
One little known fact about my writing process is that I tend to need to act things out. I’m one of those people whose lips move when they read, and when I’m writing, I also gesture along with my characters, doing what they do completely absentmindedly most of the time. If I’m writing a more complicated physical scene, like a fight, I occasionally even enlist help.
Those who are familiar with The Incubus Saga already know the sparring scene from book 1. No spoilers here, it’s simply a scene where the characters Nathan and Sasha spar—friendly fighting, a good workout. While our mental imagery can often serve us well enough when writing, sometimes you need references to ensure you explain the physicality of interactions correctly, or that what you’re imagining is actually physically possible.
When I wrote the sparring scene for book 1, I used my husband as a body stand-in. We traded who was Nathan or Sasha depending on what I needed to know for how their movements worked against each other, but the help was monumental for getting the scene onto paper in a way that actually works in the real world.
I highly recommend doing something similar to other writers, acting things out yourself, or getting friends and family to help you act out scenes that have more than one person, especially when you’re writing something physically intricate. You’ll be surprised how much it helps make sure you translate things more accurately.
I’ve done this many other times over the years, but that particular scene from book 1 always stands out to me. Of course whenever I ask my husband to help me out as a ‘body’ for these purposes, I assure him I’m not having him enact a sex scene (though he says he wouldn’t mind).
“I swear, honey!”
But, you know what they say? Write what you know.
One little known fact about my writing process is that I tend to need to act things out. I’m one of those people whose lips move when they read, and when I’m writing, I also gesture along with my characters, doing what they do completely absentmindedly most of the time. If I’m writing a more complicated physical scene, like a fight, I occasionally even enlist help.
Those who are familiar with The Incubus Saga already know the sparring scene from book 1. No spoilers here, it’s simply a scene where the characters Nathan and Sasha spar—friendly fighting, a good workout. While our mental imagery can often serve us well enough when writing, sometimes you need references to ensure you explain the physicality of interactions correctly, or that what you’re imagining is actually physically possible.
When I wrote the sparring scene for book 1, I used my husband as a body stand-in. We traded who was Nathan or Sasha depending on what I needed to know for how their movements worked against each other, but the help was monumental for getting the scene onto paper in a way that actually works in the real world.
I highly recommend doing something similar to other writers, acting things out yourself, or getting friends and family to help you act out scenes that have more than one person, especially when you’re writing something physically intricate. You’ll be surprised how much it helps make sure you translate things more accurately.
I’ve done this many other times over the years, but that particular scene from book 1 always stands out to me. Of course whenever I ask my husband to help me out as a ‘body’ for these purposes, I assure him I’m not having him enact a sex scene (though he says he wouldn’t mind).
“I swear, honey!”
But, you know what they say? Write what you know.
There was a tremble in Nathan's hands when he first reached for the hem of Sasha's shirt. He wasn't desperate for oblivion like he had been the night he left the Gatehouse, but he did want and need with enough urgency that he was shaking.
"Nathan," Sasha whispered against his lips, warm hands reaching down to take Nathan's and still his trembling. Sasha helped him then, he didn't push Nathan's hands away, just guided them, lifting the T-shirt up his body until it was off. "It's okay," the shirt fell to the floor and Sasha reached for Nathan's face with both hands, "I love you. Nothing's ever going to change that."
Another kiss, just as new, like breathing, like coming up out of deep water and breathing again for the first time. Nathan didn't even realize at first that he had started to back Sasha toward the bed. It was instinct, moving for a comfortable surface so this could be easier, so he didn't have to struggle to stay standing when his knees were weak.
Sasha smiled when they neared the bed, pulling back and lowering himself onto it with nothing but trust on his face, and love, and encouragement.
Nathan didn't hesitate. He sunk right down into Sasha, kissing again, touching the pads of his fingers to the smooth skin of Sasha's chest. It felt so natural, even as it was fresh, and new, and different. It didn't feel rushed or wrong like Nathan had feared. Dave had taken the shadow from Nathan's heart, and though it wasn't yet bathed in light, it knew how to turn toward it and seek the light out.
Nathan's over-shirt was pushed down his arms, his T-shirt pulled up over his head and tossed away, leaving both of them only in jeans. They scooted up the bed as they kissed, smiling throughout it all like they almost couldn't believe they could have this again.
It had been three weeks at least, close to four, since the last time they were together long enough for Sasha to feed. Sasha had to need this more than he was letting show, and Nathan had to wonder what the incubus would have done if he had been in the Veil for longer than a week's time on Earth.
They shared a smile as they came up for air, but Nathan wasn't sure what to do next. Well, he knew what to do. It was just difficult to undress Sasha the rest of the way when his hands were shaking.
"Nathan," Sasha whispered against his lips, warm hands reaching down to take Nathan's and still his trembling. Sasha helped him then, he didn't push Nathan's hands away, just guided them, lifting the T-shirt up his body until it was off. "It's okay," the shirt fell to the floor and Sasha reached for Nathan's face with both hands, "I love you. Nothing's ever going to change that."
Another kiss, just as new, like breathing, like coming up out of deep water and breathing again for the first time. Nathan didn't even realize at first that he had started to back Sasha toward the bed. It was instinct, moving for a comfortable surface so this could be easier, so he didn't have to struggle to stay standing when his knees were weak.
Sasha smiled when they neared the bed, pulling back and lowering himself onto it with nothing but trust on his face, and love, and encouragement.
Nathan didn't hesitate. He sunk right down into Sasha, kissing again, touching the pads of his fingers to the smooth skin of Sasha's chest. It felt so natural, even as it was fresh, and new, and different. It didn't feel rushed or wrong like Nathan had feared. Dave had taken the shadow from Nathan's heart, and though it wasn't yet bathed in light, it knew how to turn toward it and seek the light out.
Nathan's over-shirt was pushed down his arms, his T-shirt pulled up over his head and tossed away, leaving both of them only in jeans. They scooted up the bed as they kissed, smiling throughout it all like they almost couldn't believe they could have this again.
It had been three weeks at least, close to four, since the last time they were together long enough for Sasha to feed. Sasha had to need this more than he was letting show, and Nathan had to wonder what the incubus would have done if he had been in the Veil for longer than a week's time on Earth.
They shared a smile as they came up for air, but Nathan wasn't sure what to do next. Well, he knew what to do. It was just difficult to undress Sasha the rest of the way when his hands were shaking.
♥ Click on the covers to learn more ♥
Win a 3-eBook set of The Incubus Saga!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteWhich of the five senses would you say is your strongest?
ReplyDeleteSmell, which is funny since I don't think I write alot on scent when describing ambient surroundings. You know that little trick in life where a smell is the strongest thing to trigger memory? Happens all the time with me, even if just a feeling instead of a specific memory. I can detect smells amazingly, and pinpoint what they are.
DeleteThank you so much for this wonderful stop along the tour, and for the chance to write about some fun facts with this series. It was a hoot to mention the role my husband plays. Please do, dear readers, check out these books, and throw your hat in for a chance at a free copy. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the fun facts and the excerpt, sounds like a great saga, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU so much for stopping. :-)
DeleteSounds like a good saga to get into. Enjoed knowing you use your hubby as props.
ReplyDelete