Writing explicit stuff...

[Rebeccaej]

Great topic/question! I agree with those who said it should only be included if it adds something to the story. Then again, I think that's true of every scene. Filler of ANY kind makes for a very boring read.

I'm surprised how many people said, "If it can be left out, it should." Why?! Can you imagine making that same statement if we were discussing a humorous scene, or one which might make the reader cry??

Well, yes, actually. If a character is joking all the time in a way that doesn't actually reveal interesting things about them, it gets really annoying. A scene feels cheap if it's designed to make you cry with pointless, unearned melodrama.

ANY scene that can be taken out without affecting the story should be taken out.

I don't think the problem is necessarily* that sexual or violent material needs to be deleted more than other types. The problem is that some writers treat it like an exception to the rule that everything needs to contribute to the story. They think "fights are exciting, so I'll just toss in a bunch of fists flying around." That stuff should go.

But if the character's signature sex move or fighting tactic reveals something interesting about the character, world or situation, then sure, describe it in detail, the same way you'd include a detailed description of a meal, if the food revealed something interesting.


*I say necessarily because I do think that, if an author writes something that's likely to hurt, deeply upset or offend a significant portion of their audience, they have a duty to make it worth their while. Don't toss in a graphic, horrifying torture scene on page 50, with no warning that it's coming, unless you're prepared to use that scene to say something significant, something that leaves the reader thinking, "I'm glad I stuck that out."

[MLove83]

I definitely agree that any scene that doesn't add something meaningful to the story should be left out. I saw that several other people said that, too. But I also saw several people saying things along the lines of "If it can be left out, it should." Period. That, to me, is different than saying, "If it doesn't contribute something of significance to the story, it should be left out." It left me wondering if they would respond the same way if we were discussing using something more innocent, such as humor.

Perhaps I'm contributing meaning to their words that isn't there, at least in the case of some. But I'm willing to bet that at least some people feel that neither sex nor violence is ever needed in a story, and I disagree with that. A book is worthless if it doesn't entertain people, provoke emotions, inspire them, and/or get them talking. Sex and violence are useful in making those things happen. I'm not saying they're the best tools, and I'm not saying they're automatically entertaining. I'm also not saying that there is anything wrong with preferring not to use them. I'm just surprised at how many seem unwilling to consider it.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

you can out whatever you like in your fiction since it is your work. what you have to think about is the targeted audience and whether it is suitable for that audience

[echoesofmj]

Since I've grown up, I began to add more explicit stuff in my stories. I don't believe that everything needs to be one hundred percent graphic, but I think that some things need to be said just the way they are. I think that sometimes, not using euphemism makes the scene hit harder the reader. So if that is the point, I wouldn't go for that.

It really depends on the situation. Sometimes, I feel that there is going to be "action" going down, let's say. But it would add nothing to the story to describe the scene explicitly. And other times, it would, because you can see something develop between two characters or it could help the plot more forward, or it serves the story. If it doesn't really, then I usually don't go for explicit scenes.

[jjmainor]

When you write, do you ever write explicit stuff? I'm think of things like sex scenes, profanity, and violence? Do you use euphemisms when these things come up in your stories?

I'm not really a fan of sex when I read so I don't really write it...Maybe I'll have characters who do have sex, but I'll try to write it tastefully, maybe keeping it PG. Profanity, I'm not against, but I find myself using it less and less with each story. As a sort of experiment, I set rules with one series that I wouldn't even make any religious references, so I wouldn't let my characters say "damn!" or "oh god!" and all that sort of talk.

With my graphic novels, I'm mixed. My first contained a few mild sex scenes...eye candy more than pornography. The last one, I felt it was in character for everyone to swear at each other, so I decided from the beginning to settle for the adult tag...after that decision, I threw in more of the hard- R rated sex scenes and nudity. For the most part, my GNs are family dramas, so I'm extrememly nervous/uncomfortable reaching for the adult tag when the stories contain characters under 18.

[JordanKSmith]

I have left sex out of my writing. However, I wouldn't be against it if it felt like it was important to a story. Knowing myself, I'd probably describe the details and feel queasy the whole time, lol.

I've written about violence on multiple occasions, and I will often include a mild level of profanity. I'll go into a fair amount of detail, but not usually too excessive. Personally, the details of death don't really bother me. I usually process it from a mental point-of-view rather than with my emotions.

[lisalynn]

I like explicit material. Real life doesn't actually fade to black. I want to see the real deal.

[Brendan Donaghy]

Rightly or wrongly, I always think that when a writer starts down the line of graphic sex or violence scenes, it's because he or she has run out of ways of holding the reader's attention. I'm not against realism in either books or films, but if you start finding too many sex scenes in either medium, I think it's a sign that the writer has little else to say.

[milissamcdaniel1]

As a writer of romance, I am no stranger to writing steamy sex scenes. Most romance novels limit the more descriptive encounters to two or three, but I don't know that there's a rule to it. My personal style is to be descriptive enough but leave some blanks to be filled in by the reader's imagination. I completely disagree with the opinion above stating that past a point, the writer has little more to say. If a book is a romance, then there needs to be romance, and yes, usually sex, as well. My general rule of thumb for my own writing and what I like to read is this: Be mindful of the fine line between tantalizing and porn. To put it simply, if there's a highly descriptive money shot, it's porn. But this is simply my personal and humble opinion.

[CinWin]

No, I never write explicitly, using profanity, etc. I feel there are too many other words to use to get my point across. Sex is also not in my writing, as I usually write about new-age spirituality.

[Brendan Donaghy]

As a writer of romance, I am no stranger to writing steamy sex scenes. Most romance novels limit the more descriptive encounters to two or three, but I don't know that there's a rule to it. My personal style is to be descriptive enough but leave some blanks to be filled in by the reader's imagination. I completely disagree with the opinion above stating that past a point, the writer has little more to say. If a book is a romance, then there needs to be romance, and yes, usually sex, as well. My general rule of thumb for my own writing and what I like to read is this: Be mindful of the fine line between tantalizing and porn. To put it simply, if there's a highly descriptive money shot, it's porn. But this is simply my personal and humble opinion.

I think the key words there are 'past a point'. I completely agree that in a romantic book there's going to be romance and probably sex. My point is that if a writer continually resorts to depicting sex scenes, then there's a strong argument that there is little else going on for the characters, that the writer is unable to flesh them out into credible characters. Is sex the totality of their story? They meet, they form an attraction, they have sex, they have more sex, they have sex in an odd location, they have kinky sex, they have angry sex...

[lucia_kizas]

Some people swear more, some swear less, but if nobody in a book uses one single word of profanity, at least once or twice (in fiction, I mean), I find it unrealistic
As for violent or sex scenes, I guess it depends on the scene, and how repetitive it is. I don't mind a few steamy scenes in romance novels, but when they keep happening in every chapter and go on for pages and pages - that is way too much. There was a novel I read which was quite interesting but then sex happened. It honestly seemed like the author opened a porno clip and transcribed not only every action but also the talking... It ruined the image of the entire book (and it was the first book of the trilogy).
I don't mind uncomfortable scenes of abuse and violence, as long as they are not glorified, and focus more on the emotional state of the person than describing the action.

[Lady-of-Literature]

I don't think they are shameful to write. So when I do write them, I go all in, descriptions and metaphors alike.

[clint_csperry-org]

I tend to shy away from both heavy profanity and erotic scenes. I know sex sells, and I know that profanity is a fact of life. But for me, I won't read the sex stuff, and it irks me when I come across the it unexpectedly. "30th Century: Escape" (General Audience Edition)
by Mark Kingston Levin PhD had a ton of it and one would get the impression the addition of General Audience Edition to the title would have been what it said. I would not like my fourteen year old boy picking this book up to read. I feel a book definitely needs to disclose sex scenes are in there. As for the profanity, I don't talk that way, so I don't write that way. Once in a great while, my characters might use profanity, but most of the time it is unnecessary. And for me it is nearly always a distraction that I don't enjoy.

[rumik]

Sure,, I don't mind writing some NSFW things. Sex is totally alright in my books, as is cursing – as long as it's all well written.
As for violence, including rape, that's not my thing. Some violence is fine for a story, but once you start writing things like rape and murder in graphic detail, you really ought to ask yourself if it's gratuitous or not.