My novel comes out Tuesday and I’ve spent the month writing about writing.  A friend and I were talking about barriers to writing a novel, one being the obligatory sex scene important for certain genres.  It’s difficult. It’s touchy. What people want to read is what generates emotions but too much or too little spice will put some people off. People will think it’s autobiographical and putting a novel spin on it (my go-to sexy move) can make it comic.  Personally, I worry people will find me a pervert, something people in my home town tend to do.

I gave a half-baked solution to the love-scene dilemma: let ChatGPT do it for you.

For those unfamiliar, ChatGPT is much like a search engine that harvests snippets of text and puts them together into a document. Much of AI does what people do naturally, look for patterns and build on mistakes and correct. But the power of computing allows for it to be done much faster.

The program looks for relevant information on-line and steals it, or maybe harvests it. The problem is, there’s not much check for reliability. In fact, currently, there is none. Thus, according to Scientific American, writing programs have a flaw in that “they are quite prone to hallucination, to saying things that sound plausible and authoritative but simply aren’t so. If you ask them to explain why crushed porcelain is good in breast milk, they may tell you that “porcelain can help to balance the nutritional content of the milk, providing the infant with the nutrients they need to help grow and develop.”

In other words, the current program is great at generating BS, the likes of which will put Russian interference in the election of 2016 to shame.

Another problem for serious users and readers:

It can be biased in the information it finds.

In other words, a writing could be used to write a politician’s speech, especially an evil one. Most definitely politicians are using the writing tool. But love scenes? What does it have to offer?

Here is a love scene written by the now much discussed ChatGPT.

“In a dimly lit room, the air was charged with anticipation as two lovers found themselves entwined in a passionate embrace. Their bodies moved together as if choreographed, their hearts beating in sync with the rhythm of their desire.

As soft music played in the background, their lips met in a tender, lingering kiss. Their hands explored each other’s bodies, tracing delicate paths of pleasure. The gentle touch of fingertips ignited a fire within them, causing their breath to quicken and their bodies to ache for more.

He gently laid her down on the bed, the softness of the sheets caressing her skin. Their eyes locked, a silent promise passing between them. Slowly, he began to undress her, revealing her curves, her vulnerability, and her raw beauty.

Their bodies pressed against each other, skin against skin, as they lost themselves in the moment. Every touch, every caress, sent waves of pleasure through their bodies, building the intensity of their connection.

She arched her back, surrendering to the pleasure that consumed her. His lips trailed down her neck, leaving a trail of hot kisses that sent shivers down her spine. Their bodies moved as one, a symphony of desire and ecstasy.

Time seemed to stand still as they reached new heights of pleasure together, their bodies moving in perfect harmony. Their moans mingled in the air, a symphony of passion that echoed through the room.

As their bodies trembled in the aftermath of their love, they held each other close, their hearts racing with a newfound intimacy. In that moment, they knew they had experienced a love so profound, it transcended the physical, leaving them forever changed.

Note: It is important to remember that consent, communication, and respect are crucial in any intimate encounter. This fictional scene is meant to evoke emotions and connection, but it is essential to prioritize the well-being and comfort of all individuals involved.”

I’ve been given tips to improve my love scene which always includes

1.     Slow down

2.     Add dialogue

3.     Use mature language.

None of that is in the sample love scene generated by ChatGPT.

There are plenty of other programs you can check out to write your next book or part of it and they give sample fiction. What I see when I look them over are an abundance of over-used gestures publishers often say to avoid such as smirking, shrugging, nodding, and raising an eyebrow. Which brings up the problem with AI—it’s not original. It’s good at reviewing and collecting information quickly.

AI love scenes are not original.

AI books are being generated at an alarming rate.   Besides being not original, a serious issue with these books is that every word in them has been written by someone else. There isn’t an original phase in them. They can’t be copyrighted because only humans can copyright.  

People tend to like the familiar. Did you enjoy the generated love scene? It’s comfortable. It’s safe. And for those a little embarrassed to write a love scene, you could use AI and not have to write it at all.  On the other hand, there’s a reason these tools are losing steam in content creation.

My love scenes have been called everything from steamy to lack-luster to wholesome. I have a rom-com style with a little science tossed in.

Here’s an example of my pillow talk from Mixed In.

“How illegal are these condoms?”

            He licked his lips. “We don’t have to go all the way. We can take it slow or I can leave.”

            “Really illegal, in other words.” What a fool I was to have this man here. He’d pulled me into a dangerous movie theater, yet I was getting ready to sleep with him and use an illegal condom.

            “There’s lots that’s banned here. Ever notice that there aren’t bookstores? No art on the walls that doesn’t connect with agriculture? Those things are criminal too.”

            His eyes were smoldering. I tried not to let the ache in my genitals or the loneliness in my heart or the rush of adrenaline from the gun-toting Washers speak for me. How could one side of me be so rational and another side of me do stuff like this?

            “Why do you sell them if it’s banned?”

            “They weren’t always illegal. Everything here fell apart slowly. First, a governor was elected who was in the pocket of the Cochtons. They had the money to make him look like a saint. Before long all we had for an economic base was agriculture. It’s not as if agriculture is bad. People need to eat.”

            “Yes. Those beans I’m studying grow on marginal land.” How dumb of me to bring up work at this moment.

            “See. The basic premise is good enough. It’s been taken too far. Monoculture of thought.”

            “Like expecting a science girl to stick to the lab and not want kids or a family. You know, having a family and caring about someone other than yourself can bring inspiration. Pasteur lost three children to typhus. It inspired him to study infectious disease.” I’d done it now. I’d used typhus as foreplay. Talk about a mood killer.

The type of love scene you want to read and write is as individual as you are. Or maybe not original at all if you want it computer generated.

If you want something with a dash of monster love, Snakes in the Class is a quick read and an insightful look at college and monster life.