Writing the Difficult Scenes (warning graphic content)

Little Ming · May 5, 2011

So how do you write the difficult scenes? You know, the scenes that make you physically uncomfortable, the scenes that make your family and friends wonder if they need to commit you somewhere safer. You know, the murders, the rapes, the tortures. Do you skim over the details? Fade to black? Point to a rabbit with a pancake on its head and hope your readers won't notice you've run out of the room?

In my current WIP (an epic fantasy, if it matters) I have a character who was kidnapped and raped when she was about 5-6 years old. The memory was (magically) erased, but comes back in the form of an extensive and graphic flashback. Worse yet, the story is in limited-third POV, so the flashback will be told through the eyes and voice of a child that just until a few moments ago didn't even know there was an anatomical difference between men and women.

My first option was to use a fade to black, but that really seemed like a cop out, especially since not too far back in the story one of my other MCs gets his arm cut off in equally disturbing detail. He's conscious for the whole incident and kicking and screaming his way through it. So it felt disingenuous to describe all the pain and suffering for a male character, but use fade to black, or skim the details for a female character.

My second option was to make it a near-rape (she escapes or is rescued somehow). But that seemed to have the same problem as option one.

So... any tips? Hints? Help? Scape the whole thing? Quit writing altogether?

P.S. Yes, I am a new member. :hi:

I decided to forgo the usual introductory post because if I "told" you about myself that would be "telling" instead of "showing" (haha). Bad writing humor aside, feel free to call my Ming for short, or Ming Ming if you want to be cute, or Xiao Ming is you know Chinese and want to showoff. :tongue

jmarkbyrnes · May 5, 2011

I don't write something that makes me uncomfortable.

There are many ways to write a rape scene. You can get the point across without going into a lot of graphic detail and then let the damage done play out in the rest of the book, or you can describe it in all it's graphic detail. I would choose the first way, because reading a graphic rape scene, let along writing one, is not something i would enjoy doing. Furthermore, a high level of graphic detail with a rape scene is not needed to get the point across.

-J. Mark Byrnes

AKyber36 · May 5, 2011

Hi, Xiao Ming! (I'm Chinese but pronunciation will have to be in my head for now). XD

Well, this is an issue I often run into. I've written a lot of squicky scenes (murder, torture, and rape) for fanfiction and I find the easiest way to approach it is to get across the pain or fright without being too explicit. As in, I don't need to describe that the men are too big for her or stuff like that. I tend to go the route of the pain's too much, what the hell is happening, why oh why, and where's mommy and daddy? Stuff like that. I find that if I go too graphic, I squick myself out and then get very close to that physically ill boundary.

What you can do is start introducing the flashback in segments throughout the story. Start off vague but then give the final punch in the final reveal, where the emotions come through strongest. That's where you can write the most graphic parts you need to knock the bejeebuz out of your character and your readers.

Hope that helps.

cwfgal · May 5, 2011

First ask yourself if you really need to describe the scene in any detail...what purpose does it serve? How does including it further develop your plot/story? Can stating that it happened do the same thing without the detail?

And if you decide you need some detail, I'd hit on a few vivid flashes of memory. People tend to try to stop those bad memories when they spring up so they only relive or recall snippets of what happened, not long drawn out scenes. People often do the same thing during such an act, disconnecting their minds from reality for parts of it.

You can also mediate the intensity of memories some by interspersing those flashbacks with current activity/dialogue/thought.

Beth

Little Ming · May 5, 2011

AKyber36 said:
Well, this is an issue I often run into. I've written a lot of squicky scenes (murder, torture, and rape) for fanfiction and I find the easiest way to approach it is to get across the pain or fright without being too explicit. As in, I don't need to describe that the men are too big for her or stuff like that. I tend to go the route of the pain's too much, what the hell is happening, why oh why, and where's mommy and daddy? Stuff like that. I find that if I go too graphic, I squick myself out and then get very close to that physically ill boundary.

Thanks! That's actually something I hadn't thought about before. Describe her emotions, feelings, pain, thoughts, panic, etc. But maybe skim over the actually physical stuff, maybe even have her blindfolded... Might actually work!

I thought about excluding this scene, or maybe not going into detail... but it's an important piece of my character's development and her relationship with the person who erased her memories and whether she will erase them again... so, yeah, important. Also, it helps set up what a fucked up world it is that they live in. Rape, child abuse, torture, etc, while frowned upon and usually illegal, is not uncommon in this world.

estyles · May 5, 2011

I'd say if you can't get away with not writing the scene, make it move fast and make it fairly shallow. This isn't a moment when your character's going to be pausing to reflect on what it's like or what other characters elsewhere might be doing or much beyond OMG WHAT OH NO OW. I see it as sort of like ripping off a really sticky bandage--it's not going to be fun no matter what you do, but it's less bad when you rip it all off at once instead of pulling it back slowly and poking at the little bald spot where it's pulled out your arm hairs.

This post made me think of the scene in "The Princess Bride" where Wesley's being held on the fifth level of the Zoo of Death, and skimming through my copy, Goldman doesn't spend more than half a page at time describing what Count Rugen is doing to him. For example, the scene with Wesley in the Machine: three pages of talking about how horrible it's going to be, two paragraphs for the Machine in action and his reaction to it. Because seriously, no one wants to see that ick.

Also there's the thing where doing these kind of scenes slow and describing exactly what's happening and how terrible it is in detail tends to go over the top and become ridiculous really easily. If the reader doesn't already sympathize with them, doing the whole Mel Gibson "WATCH MY CHARACTER SUFFER!" thing isn't going to make the reader sympathize with your character. Cliche as it is to say, less is more.

gothicangel · May 6, 2011

estyles said:
Also there's the thing where doing these kind of scenes slow and describing exactly what's happening and how terrible it is in detail tends to go over the top and become ridiculous really easily. If the reader doesn't already sympathize with them, doing the whole Mel Gibson "WATCH MY CHARACTER SUFFER!" thing isn't going to make the reader sympathize with your character. Cliche as it is to say, less is more.

I disagree, that's what writers should be doing - making their characters suffer. Who wants to read about a character that doesn't suffer.

It's actually the scenes when characters suffer the most are the scenes that I enjoy the most. The kind of scene I find the hardest is when characters are put through the emotional wringer, without venturing into the realms of melodrama.

Also, readers of horror and some crime/thriller and historicals demand over the top details. :evil

Jonathan Dalar · May 6, 2011

Interesting topic. And I'd say it depends on the type of novel you're writing. I've had a few uncomfortable scenes - scenes that made me all oogy myself. And I wrote the hell out of them. I wrote them as first-person, in focus as I could. My stuff was horror, however, and that deep an application really hit it home for the story. It made me feel uncomfortable, but damn was it a wild read!

I suppose it depends though, on the type of stuff you're writing. You'll have to pull your punches to a certain extent, depending on genre and audience. Look at that and determine how much into the weeds you can get with it and run with that.

estyles · May 6, 2011

gothicangel said:
I disagree, that's what writers should be doing - making their characters suffer. Who wants to read about a character that doesn't suffer.

Well sure, but what I meant was the big set pieces where the audience has to sit through ages and ages of gory suffering that don't drive the plot forward and seem to be put there more for the creator's satisfaction than the audiences. You know, the scenes that are the literary equivalent of the ending of "Braveheart" or "Passion of the Christ."

TheMurf · May 6, 2011

Little Ming, I sympathise. I am struggling with a similar difficulty at the moment and the best advice I can give you is the following:

make a first try and then post it on the SYW board for your genre.

My first attempt was ripped to bits, constructively. This helped me to understand why I was having problems and made the second version much better.

Good luck with the scene and, from my point of view, stay away from the physical and stick to thoughts and feelings

gothicangel · May 6, 2011

estyles said:
Well sure, but what I meant was the big set pieces where the audience has to sit through ages and ages of gory suffering that don't drive the plot forward and seem to be put there more for the creator's satisfaction than the audiences. You know, the scenes that are the literary equivalent of the ending of "Braveheart" or "Passion of the Christ."

I actually disagree. If it was more for the director/writer's satisfaction over the audience's then the the studio/publisher would put the block on it. Audiences do love gore.

I can't comment on Passion as I have never seen it, but I thought the ending of Braveheart great. It showed the realism of medieval society, I didn't think it was gratituous. The reason it worked was that the emphasis was not on the gore, but on whether Wallace would stay true to his ideal or beg for mercy in exchange for a quick death. It was a very character focused ending.

What I found interesting in a recent film, is in The Eagle the US didn't show the beheading of a Roman soldier, where the UK version did. I think that shows something very interesting about the difference in audiences. They are quiet happy to show several scenes of 'children' having their throats slit, but cut away from the beheading.

MMConway · May 6, 2011

If you are that physically uncomfortable with the scenes you feel you need to write, then maybe you should try writing in another genre.

Just an idea.

megan_d · May 6, 2011

You might try reading The Lovely Bones and seeing how the author handles a similar scene.

seun · May 6, 2011

jmarkbyrnes said:
Furthermore, a high level of graphic detail with a rape scene is not needed to get the point across.

For you. Not for all writers or all readers.

Bufty · May 6, 2011

Strange comment not to have thought about ~~describing~~ revealing the character's emotions, feelings, pain, thoughts, panic, etc., stuff... these are the POV elements through which readers connect with characters.

Little Ming said:
Thanks! That's actually something I hadn't thought about before. Describe her emotions, feelings, pain, thoughts, panic, etc. But maybe skim over the actually physical stuff, maybe even have her blindfolded... Might actually work!

I thought about excluding this scene, or maybe not going into detail... but it's an important piece of my character's development and her relationship with the person who erased her memories and whether she will erase them again... so, yeah, important. Also, it helps set up what a fucked up world it is that they live in. Rape, child abuse, torture, etc, while frowned upon and usually illegal, is not uncommon in this world.

Sentosa · May 6, 2011

MMConway said:
If you are that physically uncomfortable with the scenes you feel you need to write, then maybe you should try writing in another genre.

Just an idea.

Definitely agree

Sentosa · May 6, 2011

megan_d said:
You might try reading The Lovely Bones and seeing how the author handles a similar scene.

Also by same author: Alice Sebold "Lucky" -- 1st person. The whole book deals with the author's rape as a teenager at college, and considers it's effect on her during the following years.

Sentosa · May 6, 2011

seun said:
For you. Not for all writers or all readers.

Well said.

I'm having an unusual day -- I'm not usually in so much agreement with other posters. :tongue

AmsterdamAssassin · May 6, 2011

The difficult scenes for me are the scenes where nothing much happens. Rape, torture, murder, those are the easy scenes.

Jettica · May 6, 2011

MMConway said:
If you are that physically uncomfortable with the scenes you feel you need to write, then maybe you should try writing in another genre.

Just an idea.

Surely no one would feel comfortable writing a rape scene...

The point of literature (and films, TV etc.) is to evoke an emotional response in the reader (viewer). Don't go so far to put people off the book but write just enough that people feel uncomfortable, sympathise with your character and want to know how it will affect her. If it's making you feel uncomfortable then you're probably doing it right.

gothicangel · May 6, 2011

Bufty said:
Strange comment not to have thought about ~~describing~~ revealing the character's emotions, feelings, pain, thoughts, panic, etc., stuff... these are the POV elements through which readers connect with characters.

A caveat to that would be: from whos persepective is this being told from. Being in the antagonists head would create a very different narrative to the protaganists.

One that note, American Psycho comes highly recommended.

Anninyn · May 6, 2011

I have to admit, I tend to avoid writing the actual event; and just go for writing the after effects. Imagination is a powerful tool, and with only a few well-chosen words can bring the required emotions in the reader.

I will second (third?) the advice to read The Lovely Bones- the rape in there is very well described, disturbing and obvious, without being melodramatic.

gothicangel · May 6, 2011

For me, if I don't find myself writing something that I feel uncomfortable with, then I won't progress as a writer. I've written acts of murder, torture and male rape and it's taught me things I wouldn't have discovered otherwise.

My new novel involves writing Roman battle scenes, I've never written a battle scene before. It's a challenge, I'm watching a lot of contemporary war documentaries and films to make sure I get the emotions and character right.

Isn't that why we read or watch movies, to be made to feel uncomfortable? To ask ourselves do we agree with this?

scarletpeaches · May 6, 2011

Little Ming said:
So how do you write the difficult scenes?

One word at a time.

scarletpeaches · May 6, 2011

Sentosa said:
Also by same author: Alice Sebold "Lucky" -- 1st person. The whole book deals with the author's rape as a teenager at college, and considers it's effect on her during the following years.

Yes, and doesn't she just bang on about it.

Okay, Alice, we get it. You were raped.

Honestly, it takes a special kind of writer to make me not care about that sort of thing. I've never managed to finish a Sebold book out of sheer, mind-numbing boredom. I just. Don't. Care.

Writing the Difficult Scenes (warning graphic content)

Little Ming

jmarkbyrnes

Nobody and Nothin'

AKyber36

cwfgal

On the rocks

Little Ming

estyles

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Jonathan Dalar

Science fiction, horror and fantasy

estyles

TheMurf

I have opinions and I share them :)

gothicangel

Toughen up.

MMConway

megan_d

Falling in the milk

seun

Horror Man

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Sentosa

Sentosa

Sentosa

AmsterdamAssassin

Jettica

Superfluously multisyllabic

gothicangel

Toughen up.

Anninyn

Stealing your twiglets.

gothicangel

Toughen up.

scarletpeaches

scarletpeaches