Tip of the Day: Freeze a bunch of your Easter candy so it will last longer (and you won’t eat it all!).
Remember that old Color Me Badd song? In case you are DYING to remember—here it is on you tube.
(Pausing for a brief 90210 flashback—anyone remember the episode when Brenda, Donna, Kelly, and David snuck in to see Color Me Badd at their hotel? Bonus tip of the day: 90210 is supposed to have a spin-off coming in the future.)
I thought it was the perfect lead in for today’s topic of SEX. More specifically, sex in books. How do you feel about it? Yay or nay? How do you feel about writing it? Me personally, I haven’t tried yet. I’m not sure if I even can. Ok wait, once I wrote a synopsis for a book mentioning that there could be some sex in the book. But I never actually sat down to write it. Maybe sex is too serious of a topic and I like to keep more towards lighter, funnier stuff? I’m not sure. Even when I go back and read scenes where I have my characters making out or something I get embarrassed. Am I the only one who feels like this?
And then, how do you handle it in a YA book? I don’t want mobs of angry parents beating down my door screaming that I’ve somehow corrupted their children. Which totally happens. I still remember an article I read in the Chicago Tribune (July 9, 2006) called “Gossip Girl books put parenting skills to the test” where a parent was furious because she had bought the entire series for her 12-year old who then passed them out to all of her friends and all the mommas were way ticked off. Others obviously agreed since the Gossip Girls series was listed as one of the “10 Most Challenged Books of 2006” by the ALA. And I’m sure by now everyone has seen John Green’s vlog about how he was called a pornographer for the sex scene in Looking for Alaska. Which really, was handled pretty well and actually more of a funny scene than anything else.
But this all makes for a good topic—how much sex, if any, can you write in a YA book? I’ve read some YA books full of sex scenes—like the MTV book, Bling Addiction comes to mind. But for me, I don’t think I’m ready to go there yet. Maybe I’m not “edgy” enough. What about you? Do you have sex scenes in your books?
Kristina, Miss Soon-to-Pub
4 comments:
Yeah, I don't think I'm ready for the sex scene writing yet, especially in a YA. I think I'd be mortified for anyone I know to read it, so I give props to any author that can get over this fear.
I don't really like sex in YA books, unless it serves a purpose.
Good question! I think it's done really tactfully in some books, but in others it isn't necessary. I can understand characters THINKING abt sex a lot, but not actually doing it all the time. And no, I haven't written a sex scene yet, though I DO like writing the First Kiss scenes!
PS -- I always hated that Color Me Badd song. HA!
I don't think I'm ready, either. I don't particularly enjoy reading sex scenes in adult books, unless there is a really poignant purpose.
Perhaps I will tackle it someday, but not just because I can. Know what I mean?
Anyway, ask me about my DH's book about porn, sometime!! (it's not a book of porn...)
In my latest book, they talk about it. He wants to, she's not ready. It's going to be interesting to see what my editor thinks about it all, and whether he wants me to change it. I think part of me feels like if I write about teens doing it, I'm supporting teens doing it. And I don't want to support them doing it, if that makes any sense.
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