Writing explicit stuff...

[NSUSA]

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?

[Syrcco44]

When you write, do you ever write explicit stuff? I'm think of things like sex scenes, profanity, and violence?
Well... not really. All that stuff is... putrid to me. I do have some scenes that I hope have some violence - I have some battle and murder scenes - but it's not hard core graphic stuff. I personally don't enjoy reading about that kind of stuff - too distracting and disgusting for me. I think in a way they are good though - tell it like it is, perhaps - or if you want your books/writing to be for more of an adult audience...

Do you use euphemisms when these things come up in your stories?
I don't really write explicitly that much - my work doesn't require such things so not really. I think whether or not I use a euphemism would depend on the situation.

[Tracey Neal]

I just recently started writing explicit things, its not really my thing to do so, and even after doing it I felt kinda gross, but as a writer I wanted to try it, you know what I mean? My teacher said as a writer we need to tap into places we usually wouldn't go. And I'm doing just that. I've been a very very bad girl.

[sleepydumpling]

I'm fine with explicit sexual content, so long as it's not violent or degrading. I write some stuff along those lines, and I don't mind reading it.

And I'm an Aussie, swearing is second nature to us.

But as far as violence... nope, don't do it. Don't believe it should be there for titillation, but can understand if violence is there to illustrate a point. For example a character that is being abused, or has survived some great tragedy is ok, but a graphic rape scene or murder which is supposed to entertain the reader is inappropriate.

[Matthew]

I needed to have some violence in my book, but I do it in a sentence or two. Hate it. I recently read No Country for Old Men, where one character's "face ended on the wall." Barf. I like how E.M. Forster can kill off a character in, like, half a sentence. So tasteful, so British.

Sex? Can't do it. Makes me blush. Good thing I haven't come up with a story where I absolutely need to have a sex scene. The stuff before and after can be a ton of fun, though. (Depends how it's done, now that I think of it. That bit in Madame Bovary where she's doing it in a carriage? The carriage is described as bouncing in the street, but Flaubert doesn't let us peek inside the carriage. Great scene.)

Profanity? I don't swear in the narrative voice, but my characters cuss up a storm. I love it.

[pandajuice]

Depends on the style and story. Sometimes explicit content is fine, but sometimes it just doesn't fit with the prose.

[Tracey Neal]

I needed to have some violence in my book, but I do it in a sentence or two. Hate it. I recently read No Country for Old Men, where one character's "face ended on the wall." Barf. I like how E.M. Forster can kill off a character in, like, half a sentence. So tasteful, so British.

Sex? Can't do it. Makes me blush. Good thing I haven't come up with a story where I absolutely need to have a sex scene. The stuff before and after can be a ton of fun, though. (Depends how it's done, now that I think of it. That bit in Madame Bovary where she's doing it in a carriage? The carriage is described as bouncing in the street, but Flaubert doesn't let us peek inside the carriage. Great scene.)

Profanity? I don't swear in the narrative voice, but my characters cuss up a storm. I love it.

My explicit content lately had to do with sex a weebit. But I'm not real comfortable even still, my dad would kick my rump if he knew what I have written. But I'm willing to try new things, as a writer, grow as a writer. Even if it is a mistake, I learn from that too.

I agree E.M. Forster is very tasteful...very british...I marvel his work, I particularly love his short stories and essays, very good, I love it!!

[Gard]

Violence is part of human nature and sometimes in stories you need to see how that violence affects the characters in that story. But there is a limit to howmuch and how explicit violence should be.

[sandranovack]

I don't ever limit myself as to what I might or might not write about. I write what the plot calls for, or what the character needs. Violence and fights are many times a part of conflict. Someone mentioned Cormac McCarthy, and he's a great example. Milan Kudera's "The Hitchhiking Game" comes to mind for sex scenes--that one is meant to be degrading, but it fits with the plot and theme. It's particularly well-crafted.

Regarding sex scenes: there's no need to be overly explicit (tab a into slot b sort of writing). Many writers opt to pay attention to body parts other than the obvious ones. For some great sex scenes:

Victoria Redel in Loverboy (concentrates on legs, uses metaphor and simile to construct the scene and go lofty)
Milan Kundera (mentioned above)
Updike (who tends to be more explicit but still crafts his scenes so well and also uses metaphor and simile)
Steve Almond has had some sex scenes that are almost porn--really pushes the line, but it's neat to see how and why he does that.

Violence?
Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark comes to mind
Faulkner's Sanctuary
American Psycho

Charles Bock's new book Beautiful Children has both sex and violence.

Hope this helps!

Sandra Novack

[Niphredil]

I think Syrcco44 hit the nail on the head with "tell it like it is". Explicit stuff is fine in my opinion so long as that is what it is doing. Problem is so many violence and sex scenes in novels DONT do that - the violence is overdone and the sex is porn star fantasy stuff rather that anything realistic. An honest sex scene between a married couple would be nice but you so rarely see that. I find it hard to be interested in scenes that are either there to sell books, or to indulge the writers darkest fantasies in a "safe" way. I mean, by all means do that through writing, probably it's even healthy, but don't publish it!

[RichardG]

Well no, writing explicit stuff is not my cup of tea.

[The Mythwriter]

I too agree with Syrcco44. It gets so strong in some books that it disgusts me. Richard Matheson's "Hell House" had the potential to be scary, but he filled it up with so much debasement of sex that he ruined it. I don't know how people consider it scary.

The question I would ask, if one is considering what to put in a book, and how graphic to make it, is this:

Does it contribute to the story, character development, and most importantly, does it convey a deeper meaning to the reader? This is the heart of literature. If the answer is no, then why are you putting it in? And if the answer to that is to just stand out, or appeal to a "hardcore" demographic, or just have fun shocking people, then it's a bad idea. And my probably controversial opinion is that if you do it for the latter reasons, you've failed as an author and your books will be forgotten. I truly can't imagine a single instance where a good writer can't convey the points a bad writer could with simple graphic content. For which is easier, making anyone uncomfortable with graphic violence or sex, or finding a creative way around that? And whatever takes more talent makes for a better book.

Sorry, I've sort of ranted on this subject, but I feel it's important, especially in the modern American cultural degradation we're seeing. (See Scott Hughes' topic "Why people read less and less" in general discussion, I'm not alone.)

[Doug_Brunell]

Most of my fiction is explicit in language, violence and sometimes sex. I write horror, thrillers and the like. If the story calls for it, I use it. What I find interesting, however, is what some editors have to say about it.

I was once asked to write some "dark" fiction for a magazine that is no longer around. I turned in the piece and had it rejected. Why? It was too dark. I couldn't imagine someone turning down a comedic piece because it was too funny, so this bothered me. The editor, when questioned, told me he'd rather I'd been more explicit because what I left up to the reader to picture (instead of painting the picture for the reader), made the story far too effective.

That drove me nuts. Absolutely nuts.

Violence, sex, language -- these are things that make us human. Not every story needs them. Not every story needs to have them be explicit. But when they are called for, they must be used and used well. One of my favorite movies is the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." This film is often described as explicit, and it is actually not. If a writer can trick the reader the same way Tobe Hooper did with his film, then the writer has done his/her job. And if he/she can't -- go for the gore. Sad, but true.

As writers, we should not steer away from things that are distasteful. You're doing yourself and your readers a disservice with that. However, as writers we need to do our job properly. Sex for sex's sake will be seen as such and is weak. Blood drawn simply to invoke a gasp is child's play. The true artist is the one who can make the reader see more than was ever pictured, and that's where the power and weakness of the explicit lies.

[shadylady]

I think anything is alright, as long as it isn't explicit just for the sake of being expicit. If an author is just randomly throwing in violence and sex because they think it will sell better, it doesn't work.
Then again, I dislike reading a book where you can tell that the author is using euphamism and glossing over reality.

[tinyViolin]

Do I? Do I? Don't mind if I do!

To me, "explicit" doesn't equate "porno". I'm working on something now that has a couple very, ahem, sexually explicit scenes in them. The most explicit word in either one has to be "nipple". Yet it made my married best friend blush.

And no, I didn't replace "vagina" with "glistening lotus flower." And yes, the scenes are very revelant to the main story. Which is about sex.

However, there is a line that's crossed sometimes. In a screenplay writing class, I listened while a guy read aloud an incredibly detailed description of a violent rape that literally had no other effect on the story except that it was there, between the last scene and the next. There was so much detail to to the rape that I'm convinced it got him off while he wrote it. Very, very uncomfortable to listen to under fluorescent lights in a crowded room. It crossed a line. It had nothing to do with the rest of the story.

So, I guess as long as it's not gratuitous, then explicit material is fine.