Sex Scenes
I have a confession to make. I have never written an explicit sex scene in any of my novels. Not that I can’t (I have dabbled in writing erotica). But like the starlet said when asked about nude scenes: “Only if it is necessary to the story.” I have nothing against graphic sex in novels but I think one shouldn’t add graphic sex or violence just to sell books.
In writing my urban fantasy novel Agent of Artifice I tried to keep it PG (well, maybe PG-13 due to violence). For one thing, I knew that my children would be reading it. But if I needed a sex scene I would certainly have added it. But it wasn’t needed. Yes, people are in bed together but I didn’t feel the need to show what they had just done or were about to do. For example, here is the “sex scene” (or as close as I get to one) from Chapter Two:
The girl was long-limbed and a bit on the thin side. Her skin was the color of coffee con leche and her kisses were as sweet. I know there are people who care about skin color; I’ve never understood that. That she was brown made no difference to me. She was striking, with lovely black eyes and she made love like a wild, beautiful animal. She was the cigarette girl at the Sans Souci and her English was limited pretty much to “Cigars . . . cigarettes.” I spoke some Spanish and could use translation spells in a pinch. But we didn’t need much talking for what we had in mind.
Now she was snoring, though, lying in my arms.
Are sex scenes ever needed? Of course, if the genre or the story calls for it. But to add a sex scene just to add titillation value (or sex appeal) is gratuitous. It’s the same for graphic violence. It is really needed? Earlier this year I wrote a mainstream drama novel based partially on my own experiences. In the novel the married protagonist starts an affair with a woman 10 years younger than he (this was the fiction part). Again, there was no graphic sex. I took the scene so far and then stopped and let the sex be implied. There was, however, a lot of graphic necking.
I’m not trying to say there should never be sex scenes in novels. That would be like saying there should never be violence in novels. And that would make for some pretty tepid reading. And I’m totally against censorship of any kind beyond the gatekeeping of publishers. But why do people read books? I believe it is to take them on an adventure that they couldn’t otherwise have. And that adventure can be violent and it could be sexy. Or both in some cases. And those readers want to see violence and sex and writers should give it to them (after all, you write to be read).
As I wouldn’t add extra gory violence just for the shock value, I believe adding a sex scene for the titillation is unneeded. But if it is necessary for the genre or the story I wouldn’t hesitate to put it in.
Agent of Artifice
by S.Evan Townsend
Order Here
They live among us. We know they are there. No government can control them; no authority can stop them. Some are evil. Some are good. All are powerful. They inhabit our myths and fairy tales. But what if they were real, the witches, wizards, and fairy godmothers? What if they were called “adepts” and were organized into guilds for mutual protection and benefit? And what if they started mucking around with the affairs of “lessers” (that is, those humans not able to match their powers)?
During the height of the Cold War, Michael Vaughan is a rogue without a guild. He survives by working for the CIA as NOC (Non-Official Cover). Shortly after the funeral of President Joe Kennedy, Jr., he is sent to Cuba to assassinate Castro. There he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with adepts working for Fidel.
S. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and two sons, aged 17 and 20, and has a 22-year old son attending the University of Washington in biology. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.
S. Evan – Great post! I've tweeted. I just had to comment because your book cover for Agent Of Artifice reminds me of what an Alfred Hitchcock movie poster would look like. I LOVE IT!
Best of luck to you.
Sandy