Sounds like a lecture your mom might give
you, right? Not so sure I want to read a book where the hero and/or heroine is
thinking and acting like a thirty year old.
The interesting thing is, while I started
writing Kitt’s story when I was her age in the story, I still knew what she was
doing was wrong. You don’t have to be an adult to understand manipulating
someone with sex is pretty messed up. Teenagers aren’t stupid and I believe
they can take a story for what it is.
Still, writing porn-style sex in a book
about teenagers would be kind of gross. So how do you find a good balance?
Well, for starters, your characters just
don’t have sex. There are times when getting naked is just out of character or
doesn’t make sense because when you’re being chased by zombies you’re raging
hormones can’t compete against your survival instincts. Come to think of it,
you’re trying to survive and probably haven’t had a chance to wash and neither
has that guy you’ve been eying. The mutual stink might cancel out the general
nastiness, but…yuck.
Anyway, the plot itself might prevent any
bump and grind, which is a very good reason for characters to keep their
clothes on. Absolutely no issues with that. There’s also the possibility that the characters themselves just don't wanna go there. I've read some awesome books with characters you can actually believe are tempted, but just ain't gonna go there. Which is fine. Actually, that happens in The Token in a combination of plot and characters driving the story. It's their story, so I'm not gonna argue with them! lol!
But the books that I usually can't finish are the ones so thick with the writer's opinion you can't see the story anymore. You might see some preachy narrative, characters you thought you knew suddenly looking down on their friends for being 'easy', and some real strained dialogue between a couple of seventeen year olds who've decided to 'Wait until they get married'.
Look, I'm cool with suspending belief for most things in books. I won't even complain if your heroine develops convenient super powers in the middle of a fight, or your hero dodges a spray of bullets from a machine gun. But if they both stop in the middle of a chaste kiss to let the reader know abstinence is godliness, I'm probably gonna get pulled out of the story. You might as well have done that incredible awesome thing where authors write themselves into the story. It's my favorite! *rme*
I'd love to know what you all think on the subject, so make sure to comment! Also, check out cool stuff I've giving away to one lucky winner! Fill out the rafflecopter to participate and if there's enough comments I'll pick a couple to receive gift cards!
A Breed Apart: THE TOKEN now available for Pre-order: http://amzn.com/B00PYBJHTA
But the books that I usually can't finish are the ones so thick with the writer's opinion you can't see the story anymore. You might see some preachy narrative, characters you thought you knew suddenly looking down on their friends for being 'easy', and some real strained dialogue between a couple of seventeen year olds who've decided to 'Wait until they get married'.
Look, I'm cool with suspending belief for most things in books. I won't even complain if your heroine develops convenient super powers in the middle of a fight, or your hero dodges a spray of bullets from a machine gun. But if they both stop in the middle of a chaste kiss to let the reader know abstinence is godliness, I'm probably gonna get pulled out of the story. You might as well have done that incredible awesome thing where authors write themselves into the story. It's my favorite! *rme*
I'd love to know what you all think on the subject, so make sure to comment! Also, check out cool stuff I've giving away to one lucky winner! Fill out the rafflecopter to participate and if there's enough comments I'll pick a couple to receive gift cards!
A Breed Apart: THE TOKEN now available for Pre-order: http://amzn.com/B00PYBJHTA
I get turned off by a story that bounces you off into so many directions that you come out confused if they were intimate or not. I also get turned off by scenes stopped to add the authors belief and then started up again. By then the mood is cracked and I don't want to finish reading.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you Natasha. I think that if you want a YA without sex there are those out there. I also know that when I was younger I wish I had been able to find a book that "showed" a little more. You do not have to go into detail on the scene that would be porn but the way you did it AND at the same age as your characters is impressive. You do NOT have to give EVERY detail to get what is happening across. I know that when my own daughter get to be that age I will allow them to read this and other books like it cause they will already be hearing it from every where else.
ReplyDeleteI like to believe in the author and their capability to tell the story as they see fit. The characters talking to them is how the story is told. If anyone knows how they should act, it's the characters.
ReplyDeleteThere are other books out there for young readers when they are ready for more sex scenes.
ReplyDeleteI don't like when an author forces their abstinence beliefs down my throat, because while that's great for an individual, the reality is a lot different. I'm fine with sex in the story, even if the character is making a mistake, it only allows them to grow and learn. I've actually picked up great tips from books on how better to address an issue or problem. That said, I don't think it should be as graphic as an adult book and I don't think sex should be thrown in just for the sake of having sex in the book. If we are honest kids are maturing, or at least they are forcing adult decisions on themselves, a lot earlier than kids were 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI know personally I didn't have sex until I just turned 17 and honestly it was a rebellion on my part because I had gotten into a fight with a good guy friend who mad some really crude comments to me so sleeping with the older guy I went out with was my flipping him the middle finger. While it wasn't the wisest decision on my part, I did have a relationship on and off for the next 10 years with the guy. I've talked with kids though that start dating at 12 and having sex. I know personally my mom would have murdered me and was WAY too oversight for me to do more than chase a boy I liked through the backyard with a plastic funnel, but it was a different time.
I was reading Harlequin when I was 10 as I had already read every children's book in my public library. I think it is up to the parents to decide what their children can read. But I also agree with Caroline that children today are growing up much faster than my generation.
ReplyDeleteYour books are awesome and thanks for the giveaway. I would love to have that tiger he is adorable
This article is an appealing wealth of informative data that is interesting and well-written. I commend your hard work on this and thank you for this information. You’ve got what it takes to get attention. top free porn sites
ReplyDeleteI wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the new stuff you post. שירותי ליווי רעננה
ReplyDeleteA very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. Toronto Escort Agency
ReplyDeleteI have bookmarked your blog, the articles are way better than other similar blogs.. thanks for a great blog! xxx porn videos
ReplyDeleteThumbs up guys your doing a really good job. หนังโป๊ไทย
ReplyDeleteI really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike other blogs I have read which are really not that good.Thanks alot! หนังโป๊ไทย
ReplyDelete