theory/meta-writing question. (meta about writing, that is, not writing meta itself)

How do you make somewhat racier fics (PG-13, I am not talking smut, as I haven't tried, but I suppose the question still applies) sound "real", "solid", "in-universe" rather than like you have simply written down your own fantasies and swapped names around? I mean, the drabble I wrote definitely has character details that make it so it could only be about one person (well -- actually -- I take that back. It's a narrow field, but must fix, now that I say so), but it seems to be random, disembodied, not anchored to anything. It's a lovely picture (if I do say so myself) but it just doesn't seem grounded in the universe. Am I making any sense? Is this one of those mystery questions that can only be answered by "keep trying; when you hit it, you'll know"? Or is there something specific I can try to keep in mind?

( if you are interested in the specific bit of fic that is consternating me at the moment )

theory/meta-writing question. (meta about writing, that is, not writing meta itself)

How do you make somewhat racier fics (PG-13, I am not talking smut, as I haven't tried, but I suppose the question still applies) sound "real", "solid", "in-universe" rather than like you have simply written down your own fantasies and swapped names around? I mean, the drabble I wrote definitely has character details that make it so it could only be about one person (well -- actually -- I take that back. It's a narrow field, but must fix, now that I say so), but it seems to be random, disembodied, not anchored to anything. It's a lovely picture (if I do say so myself) but it just doesn't seem grounded in the universe. Am I making any sense? Is this one of those mystery questions that can only be answered by "keep trying; when you hit it, you'll know"? Or is there something specific I can try to keep in mind?

( if you are interested in the specific bit of fic that is consternating me at the moment )