Morals? Yeah, I've got them. I may put them on hold when writing a nice death scene. But what almost buried my revision... SEX!
It's been over two years since I've written an adult novel. I forgot what words to use to describe the anatomy without sounding like a genecologist: Member, throbbing, pulsing, shaft, heat ... ack!
Gag me with a spoon.
Uh huh, I took it 80's style since that's the last time I read a romance novel. I'm sure things have changed over the years. I had to do some research. *grin* I also forgot how much I enjoy romance novels. Not so much for the sex, but the romantic tension. I love falling in love through the characters.
Romance is key. I don't like having a gratuitous sex scene with no real reason for it being there. I want sex to be a logical extension of the character's relationship. Anyway, the revision has an increase in sexual tension and exploration based on the needs of the character's relationship.
Whether I did it right ... meaning made it HOT! God, I hope so. Who wants tepid. As a reader you want to live vicariously through the characters, right? Steamy, heart racing, hide the book in a file so you can read it at work, spicy. Only, not so spicy that I feel like I'm corrupting innocent minds with it since it's New Adult. Hence the dilemma I spoke about earlier.
I sent the story off to my critique partners, and I didn't feel a twinge of guilt. They're adults. The problem came from the one beta reader I have who is under 18. Grief.
I don't and didn't write erotica, but I still couldn't reconcile myself with sending it to him with the sexualized scenes intact. Maybe because he's a boy.
No, that's not altogether accurate. I'm not letting my daughter read it either.
I don't have a problem with teens reading about sex. Heck, like I mentioned, I was reading romance novels in 9th grade. My mom gave me the "talk" when I was six. I did the same with my kids. I want them educated.
I'll even be fine with Kiwi reading my book when she's older, but I think thirteen is still too young. Fifteen or sixteen seems like an age where I'll feel okay with it. However, if I'm keeping it real, she's had a library card for years. She's probably read books exploring burgeoning sexuality and she hasn't been mentally scarred by what she's read.
I guess letting her read my book feels different because I'm the one who wrote it. I know it's not something I feel comfortable allowing her to read at her age.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I trimmed those more adult scenes to PG-13 before I sent it to my young beta.
Why did I freak out over a 17-year-old reading the revision? Maybe because I'm not his parent. To me, buying the book in the store gives an implied consent. Sure kids will buy things their parents don't approve of, but it's the parents responsiblity to monitor what their child purchases if they choose to.
Still, I can also see why some of the New Adult books are being rewritten without the sexual content for Young Adults. I think it's easier for a parent to make an informed choice that way.
My reaction probably doesn't even make a whole lot of sense. I know I'm confused. I think it's because of the duality of my dilemma. Which is why I'm having a hard time reconciling it within myself. I'll keep thinking on it.
Maybe you can give me your opinions?
It's been over two years since I've written an adult novel. I forgot what words to use to describe the anatomy without sounding like a genecologist: Member, throbbing, pulsing, shaft, heat ... ack!
Gag me with a spoon.
Uh huh, I took it 80's style since that's the last time I read a romance novel. I'm sure things have changed over the years. I had to do some research. *grin* I also forgot how much I enjoy romance novels. Not so much for the sex, but the romantic tension. I love falling in love through the characters.
Romance is key. I don't like having a gratuitous sex scene with no real reason for it being there. I want sex to be a logical extension of the character's relationship. Anyway, the revision has an increase in sexual tension and exploration based on the needs of the character's relationship.
Whether I did it right ... meaning made it HOT! God, I hope so. Who wants tepid. As a reader you want to live vicariously through the characters, right? Steamy, heart racing, hide the book in a file so you can read it at work, spicy. Only, not so spicy that I feel like I'm corrupting innocent minds with it since it's New Adult. Hence the dilemma I spoke about earlier.
I sent the story off to my critique partners, and I didn't feel a twinge of guilt. They're adults. The problem came from the one beta reader I have who is under 18. Grief.
I don't and didn't write erotica, but I still couldn't reconcile myself with sending it to him with the sexualized scenes intact. Maybe because he's a boy.
No, that's not altogether accurate. I'm not letting my daughter read it either.
I don't have a problem with teens reading about sex. Heck, like I mentioned, I was reading romance novels in 9th grade. My mom gave me the "talk" when I was six. I did the same with my kids. I want them educated.
I'll even be fine with Kiwi reading my book when she's older, but I think thirteen is still too young. Fifteen or sixteen seems like an age where I'll feel okay with it. However, if I'm keeping it real, she's had a library card for years. She's probably read books exploring burgeoning sexuality and she hasn't been mentally scarred by what she's read.
I guess letting her read my book feels different because I'm the one who wrote it. I know it's not something I feel comfortable allowing her to read at her age.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I trimmed those more adult scenes to PG-13 before I sent it to my young beta.
Why did I freak out over a 17-year-old reading the revision? Maybe because I'm not his parent. To me, buying the book in the store gives an implied consent. Sure kids will buy things their parents don't approve of, but it's the parents responsiblity to monitor what their child purchases if they choose to.
Still, I can also see why some of the New Adult books are being rewritten without the sexual content for Young Adults. I think it's easier for a parent to make an informed choice that way.
My reaction probably doesn't even make a whole lot of sense. I know I'm confused. I think it's because of the duality of my dilemma. Which is why I'm having a hard time reconciling it within myself. I'll keep thinking on it.
Maybe you can give me your opinions?
