How to describe sex

http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/sexual+intercourse

Featuring such terms as: sleeping with, intimate relations, fondling, fooling around, coitus, mating, nooky, and sucking face.

You've touched on the most difficult human function to write realistically and sensitively about. I've tried it every which way (in words, that is) and I favour the 'oblique reference' method. After all, the physical act itself will pretty well be known to most of your readers, so they won't need necessary to concern themselves with the pure mechanics of love-making. Think about if you write a couple enjoying a meal together in a nice restaurant. I don't think you'd actually use the term 'mastication' in the piece, or describe the way their teeth tear the meat into shreds and how they then ground it into an easy to swallow mush; or how their jaws work together in exquisite synchronisation. You might, perhaps, allude to the subtleties of the flavour and the texture of the food or to the decor and ambience of the restaurant . You might go as far as to descibe how their eyes 'meet', or, even, how their feet might touch under the table. I don't think you'd go much further than that.

Hope this helps. Good luck with the nano.

MJ

Your question is less a technical question (there is no " right way" to write about sex) as opposed to a style question. You will likely get more and better responses in the "erotica" genre forum

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

2009-Brother Monkey, Brother Lion, Sister Crow
2009 -Bunnystar Galactica Psychic Bunnies IN SPACE

No, the problem's not in the writing, it's in the phrasing. English doesn't have a non-profane transitive form of a verb to describe sexual intercourse.

For example, I can't say, "I sexed her." I either have to say, "We made love that night," which sounds too bland, or "We had sex that night" or "We screwed all night" which sound too blunt and silly.

Thats only if you are limiting yourself to phrasing it as a transitive verb. English is an amazingly versitile language that has many other ways of conveying information. And sex is an amazing thing for which their are many was of describing it for an author who wants to,

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

2009-Brother Monkey, Brother Lion, Sister Crow
2009 -Bunnystar Galactica Psychic Bunnies IN SPACE

COPULATION!

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

One way to handle this is to describe loving actions... I'll try my best here to show an example.

Buela leaned into Rex, her lips just barely brushing against his. It wasn't long before she proceeded to show him just how much she appreciated his thoughtfulness.

Writing it like the above gives strong suggestion that those two are going to have sex without having to use contrived phrasing or actually writing the sex scene.

Justice
Finished "The Blame Bearer"