In her book "I Give You My Body . . .", Diana Gabaldon emphasizes the importance of capturing genuine emotion in writing, particularly in intimate scenes. She uses the analogy of laughing at one's own jokes to illustrate that if a writer overemphasizes their emotional intent, it can come off as forced or self-indulgent. This suggests that the true essence of emotion should be intrinsic to the scene rather than overtly pointed out.

Gabaldon advocates for a more subtle approach to conveying feelings, allowing the emotions to unfold naturally through the narrative. By doing so, the connection between characters can feel more authentic, making the experience more impactful for the reader. Ultimately, the goal is to create a scene that resonates without the writer needing to draw excessive attention to the emotion involved.