sex scenes in YA

emsuniverse · Sep 30, 2006

I'm sure that there's a thread about this somewhere, but I decided to ask anyway.

How graphic do you display sex scenes in YA? This is for older YA. I'm not sure how far I want to go. I want to go somewhere in between "he led me to the bedroom" and fully describing every little detail.

Got any advice?

Bea.

Grey Malkin · Oct 1, 2006

Just go for it. Why adhere to what people think you should and shouldn't do? If you think it's what a YA audience want to read (and it probably is) then write it. Who knows, you might be the one to break new ground.

moondance · Oct 1, 2006

To me, it depends on the purpose of the scene. The MC in my current WIP sleeps around. The sex isn't described beyond the bare essentials because it's not a fulfilling experience and it doesn't touch the character emotionally. However I describe in more explicit detail what it feels like when she kisses a boy she falls in love with. Holding hands etc suddenly becomes a lot more erotic than the 'shagging' she's been doing.

Grey Malkin · Oct 1, 2006

In doing really explicit sex scenes you run the risk of that being the focus of the book. This could even be the motive behind writing it that way because sex sells, but you have to choose whether that is really what you want: are you writing teen erotica? I'm sure there is a market for this, but as soon as you cross a certain line, that is how your novel will be categorised, and you as a writer.

Remember, people don't buy porn movies in the hope of a ripping storyline.

Grey

Deleted member 42 · Oct 1, 2006

One of the best I've ever seen was in Will Shetterly's Bordertown novel whose name, naturally, escapes me right now . . .

KimJo · Oct 1, 2006

Elsewhere?

ixchel · Oct 1, 2006

I think less is more. In my first novel I show the bedroom but leave it up to the reader's imagination on what happened there.

I've read some YA's that were explicit and it bothered me. One new YA is about an oral sex party. In the book CANDY DARLINGS, it's very suggestive of oral sex and violence. One of the main characters tells stories that involve candy. One of her very explicit stories bothered me so much that I took the book back. But that's just me. And of course there's the one book, DOING IT, that leaves nothing for the reader's imagination.

piscesgirl80 · Oct 1, 2006

Although frankly, it's been too long since I've read it for me to offer specifics or my own opinion on it, I know Judy Blume's "Forever" is regarded by many to be a tasteful, yet honest look at adolescent sexuality.

For the most part, I think you can use your own good sense. Think if how you would feel with a teen you know reading the passages, and adjust accordingly.

Deleted member 42 · Oct 1, 2006

KimJo said:
Elsewhere?

Yes, thank you! Shetterly's Elsewhere.

Soccer Mom · Oct 1, 2006

I think sex is fine as long as it's appropriate for your target level. Since you are targeting upper level YA, do whatever seems right for the book.

Personally, I don't care to read too explicit sex scenes. I like enough for the flavor and let me use my imagination for the rest. But use as much as you need to convey the scene.

Aubrey · Oct 1, 2006

I'd mostly describe the feelings, the awkwardness, and the pain (or mild twinges). Otherwise it might startle the reader and sound like something from a romance novel. Most teenagers know the ABCs of it all. They want to know what you can't find in books, like "His face looks pained when the grand finale is near" or "You're a little sore the next day".

You also want to keep it realistic so you aren't selling them on the idea that it's this magical, perfect experience that'll forge an eternal bond with your signifigant other. But don't take it too far so you look like you're preaching about the evils of teenage pre-marital sex.

Deleted member 42 · Oct 1, 2006

You know really, like anything else, whether in adult or YA fiction, the question is:

1. Does it serve the story?
2. Is it necessary?

If both are yes, then go ahead and write, keeping both questions firmly in mind.

stephblake24 · Oct 2, 2006

Easy is a good one.

emsuniverse · Oct 2, 2006

I wrote it three times, and I ended up not exactly doing it graphically - I somehow made it funny. It's the first time for both of them, so I described the awkwardness, the confusion, the fact they accidently rolled off the couch... and then the last line of the scene - the MC (female) thinks "That was it?"

ChaosTitan · Oct 3, 2006

I'm a little late to the thread, but have you read any of Norma Klein's YA novels? In It's Okay If You Don't Love Me, in particular, she handles sex scenes rather tastefully. And realistically.

Soccer Mom · Oct 3, 2006

bea914 said:
I wrote it three times, and I ended up not exactly doing it graphically - I somehow made it funny. It's the first time for both of them, so I described the awkwardness, the confusion, the fact they accidently rolled off the couch... and then the last line of the scene - the MC (female) thinks "That was it?"

Lol. That sounds frighteningly familiar.

popmuze · Oct 3, 2006

From what I've heard, the major market for YA books is public schools. If this is the case, I'm not sure any of them would bust their budget for a book with explicit sex scenes.

Not saying you shouldn't put it in there, but don't expect big sales, unless you get a movie deal.

AnneMarble · Oct 3, 2006

ixchel said:
I've read some YA's that were explicit and it bothered me. One new YA is about an oral sex party. In the book CANDY DARLINGS, it's very suggestive of oral sex and violence. One of the main characters tells stories that involve candy. One of her very explicit stories bothered me so much that I took the book back. But that's just me. ...

Is this the book by Christine Walde? I just saw the listing on Amazon, but there are no professional or reader reviews. It sounds weird. I like problem novels, but some of them give me, well, problems. :tongue

What is it about YA books about oral sex parties, anyway? The book Rainbow Party made a big stink, but from what I have read about it, no one actually liked it. IIRC major chains such as Borders and Barnes & Noble refused to carry it. It came out in paperback ages ago, and I never saw a copy. Though from what I've read of it, I would only want to read it as an example of how not to write a YA novel about Issues.

eleniandthecards · Oct 6, 2006

Well, my question to you is how much does the scene contribute to the plot?

sex scenes in YA

emsuniverse

Back to freelancing again...

Grey Malkin

Moody Member

moondance

Grey Malkin

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Deleted member 42

KimJo

Outside the box, with the werewolves

ixchel

piscesgirl80

Friendly Neighborhood Fish

Deleted member 42

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Aubrey

Deleted member 42

stephblake24

emsuniverse

Back to freelancing again...

ChaosTitan

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Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

AnneMarble

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eleniandthecards

What are capers made from?