The Challenge of Writing a Good Scene (Sex and Violence). How much is too much--or not enough?


I love reading. I’ve been reading as long as I could hold a book and writing as long as I could hold a pen. And I read almost everything, as long as it is not too graphic in any manner

When I started reading novels in the early eighties, I found a means of escape and loved it. I would literally devour a book in one to two days. In the nineties, I got a little busy with babies and work, but I still read. Then as the kids grew up, I started reading again with a passion.


Only problem...something had changed.

It seemed that someone told the authors that I’d loved that if they didn’t throw in an erotic scene or violently murder someone, I wouldn’t be interested. Maybe it was just me, but publishers that easily turned books into PG13 movies so the general-public could watch didn’t think that readers wanted the same thing. Two examples: Kiss the Girls and The Time Traveler’s Wife. I liked both of these books, butI would have loved them--andI would have probably suggested them to others--if they hadn’t been so graphic.

On the opposite scope, I also read Christian books. But as good as some of the mysteries are, why is it okay to break every bone in a child’s body, but not allowable to show a sensual scene, even between a married couple? Somehow, the fact that violence is okay, but sex isn’t, doesn’t make sense to me.

So, what’s a girl to do? You guessed it. After twenty years of virtually no writing, I sat down and penned a novel, then another, and another, and another. I let my avid-reading friends and cousins read them, and they loved them.

My thoughts are that readers have great imaginations, and the lead up is the best part anyway. So I take the reader to the precipice, but I leave the best parts to their imagination. And that isn’t just with sex. My novels contain tragedies; they are real life. I take on some tough issues in all my stories, but I will never glorify an act. Rather, I will show you the pain, the aftermath, and the victory.

So if you love a romantic-suspense PG13 movie, and don’t want to worry if your teen (sixteen and up, I'd suggest) picks up your Kindle, or reads over your shoulder, my books should be right up your alley.


As always, happy reading and writing!

Carmen

Thank you for stopping by my place and reading my musings. Remember, these are just my opinions and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section, and I promise you I will answer.  If you’re curious about what I write, please visit one of my author pages, where you can read all about my novels and short stories. And hey, I’ll even give you a free book just for stopping by.

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2 comments:

  1. Great post. I am glad you found a balance that worked for you. My memory maybe lagging, but I can't remember Time Traveler's Wife being so graphic.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, KC. It wasn't TOO graphic as in erotic, but...I couldn't have recommended it to my 19-y-o niece and felt comfortable...and yet, they were able to turn it into a PG13 movie. Funny, they left out the fact that the three things that kept him from travelling, was running...lots of sex and drugs. I did end up giving the copy to an older cousin, but warned her it wasn't as gentle as the movie. Trying to think how to best describe the scene on my PG13 website... Hmmm... I'm paraphrasing... "If...(such and such)was an Olympic Sport, he'd have one a Gold Medal..." LOL!

      On another note... Don't you wish that his daughter would have been able to change what happened...no spoilers... But I cried and cried at the end. Even worse than a Nicholas Sparks' book. I still cry when I try to explain the end. It reminded me of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" only that was a happier ending...did you ever see that? Sigh! Love that movie...wish they'd do a remake. Have an awesome day.

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