Sex In Fiction, Thoughts?

[crazyparakiss]

Fiction. Right so I'm compiling my thoughts and feels on things before I actually start, seriously, outlining my characters and my question to you guys is this:

How do you feel about sex in fiction?

Personally, I'm not against it but I'm against sex being the only key plot point. I don't particularly want to write a romance novel, on one hand but on another I want a realistic adult world with the many trials and tribulations of adult life...and that does include sex. After puberty it seems to me that most people are working their asses off for one basic need, sex. I don't want a key plot point to be sex but I want it to be a key factor in a character's personality. A sexualized creature without that being all that this character's life is about.

So I ask you good people (because you all write much better porn than I could ever dream of) how do you find the balance and how do you find a way to make porn more than what it is?

I apologize if it seems like I am being vague and still wanting answers. By now you guys know I fail at coherent thought XD

Comments

[aki-hoshi.livejournal.com]

Weeellll.... I'm fine with it myself, I guess I think it depends on the angle you're taking on the character, and what the rest of the plot is about. While Nora Roberts is usually in the romance section of the bookstore, the first time I read a little trilogy of hers, I didn't know that, and was kind of shocked to find it over there. I guess upon reflection, I don't know where else it could have gone besides fiction or possible the fantasy section, but the central plot was not about the sex the characters had, though it was in there, it was about the other relationships going on and the antagonist showing up in the picture and how that was dealt with. I think there was one major sex scene in each book. And that was it. But it displayed the sexual side of the characters without it being some sweeping romancy piece of crap. I think the trilogy was the "Three Island Sisters" trilogy, and a lot of her other novels follow this same kind of pattern. "Blue Smoke" is one of my favourites. Lots of plot, good amount of sexuality - it's realistic and intriguing. I'm trying to think of some other authors I've read that do something similar, but nothing's coming to mind right this second. I still need to finish my first cup of coffee. :P

But, other than those examples you could check out, my advice would be to not ignore the sexuality of adult life, but not have it be the driving point of the character's development or the plot. I'm not exactly sure what your story is about, so I'm sorry I can't be a little more specific, but if you have a series of events that are going to get the characters from point A to point B, then focus on that, and let the sex come naturally, as a part of the story-telling process. Don't force it in there, but don't ignore it, either. You don't have to be uber graphic to get your point across, either. You can have "porn" without it being overly descriptive, and you could even stay more inside the character's head, if you prefer. Or even just allude to what happened, and have the characters deal with the aftermath. Depends on the type of story you're concocting.

All of that was probably no help at all. lol.

LJ Hasn't been alerting me, late reply is late

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

Yeah my sex scenes are usually more about WHY the sex is happening, if that makes sense. Sex is a big part of my life, and I don't mean to say that I want sex in the book, because that's not what it'd be about, but it would be a developmental point for my character(s). Because for me sex is always the answer. Sad/mad/happy/ready to end the world ;) but maybe I'm weird and perverted, nah not me ;)

Your input is so appreciated. Thank you hon! I will definitely check out Nora Roberts. The trilogy you mentioned is at my mother's and she's always going on about it.