Are Writers Shying Away From Sex Scenes?

Don't concentrate simply on the mechanics or you'll have an awkward "tab A in slot B" scene that will make readers collapse with laughter. – C. Margery Kempe

I have recently discovered that the one award in writing I don’t mind not winning has been awarded once again. It’s Britain’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award. I posted a blog on this last year, when the 2008 winner was Rachel Johnson for Shire Hell.

For those who don’t remember, the award (a plastic foot) was created in 1993 by literary critic, Rhoda Koenig and then editor of the Literary Review, Auberon Waugh, "to draw attention to the crude, tasteless, often perfunctory use of redundant passages of sexual description in the modern novel, and to discourage it."

The winner for 2009 was The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell. According to the Literary Review, “The judges used the occasion to praise an ambitious and impressive novel. They said: ‘It is in part a work of genius.’ However, a mythologically inspired passage and lines such as "I came suddenly, a jolt that emptied my head like a spoon scraping the inside of a soft-boiled egg" clinched the award.” The author was not available for comment, but the article said, “We hope he takes it in good humour.”

To read the entire winning exert, click here. You can also read clips by the runners up who included Paul Theroux, Nick Cave, Philip Roth, Amos Oz, Anthony Quinn, John Banville, Richard Milward, Sanjida O'Connell and Simon Van Booy.

According to a separate article I read on guardian.com by Tim Adams, “Sex disappears from the British novel as authors run scared of ridicule,” this award may be scaring authors from writing steamy scenes. The article states that former poet laureate, Andrew Motion, after reading through 138 novels to come up with the shortlist for the Booker Prize concluded that, “… no one was writing much about sex anymore.” Motion said, “It's as if they were paranoid about being nominated for the Bad Sex Award…” He is also quoted as saying that "there were a lot of people writing about taking drugs, as if that was a substitute for sex."

It’s an interesting article about the obscenity trial for Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence and “lust” highlights in literature. Adams says, “In 1961, the year after Lady Chatterley's Lover was allowed to be published in the UK, the book outsold the Bible, with two million copies bought (200,000 on the first day).” He goes on to list books on “Literary Lust: 10 Milestones,” such as Fanny Hill by John Cleland, Ulysses by James Joyce and Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth, which had a part in changing the history of acceptable sex in novels.

The articles left me wondering if authors are shying away from writing about sexual encounters because they’ve all been done before; they don’t have the shock value that they once did; they are too difficult to write; they’re worried about the Bad Sex in Fiction Award; society is reverting back to the puritanical values of our ancestors; drug scenes have become the new sex scene; or they aren’t backing away at all. What do you think?

If you have trouble writing sex scenes and want to be sure you don’t win the foot trophy, check out last year’s guest post by C. Margery Kempe for her tips on writing these difficult scenes.

Other helpful articles I found are:
20 Steps to Writing Great Love Scenes, by Karen Wiesner at writing-world.com
How to Write a Fictional Sex Scene, by Catherine Chant at eHow.com
How to Write Sex Scenes: The 12-Step Program by Steve Almond on Nerve.com

Do you have trouble writing sex scenes? Have you read a scene you think might deserve the Bad Sex in Fiction Award? Do you think drug scenes are surpassing sex scenes in fiction?

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope to see you again next Monday.


Tags: C. Margery Kemp, bad sex in fiction award, writing sex scenes, Jonathan Littell , Lady Chatterley’s Lover , D. H. Lawrence, Fanny Hill, John Cleland,Ulysses ,James Joyce, Philip Roth,

Is Fictional Fulfillment More Enticing the Real Thing?

“Writing can be hot without being explicit.” C. Margery Kempe

The article, “Daisy Goodwin: This is better than real sex” from the TimesOnLine was just too good to pass up, especially after Monday’s post by guest blogger C. Margery Kempe on writing sex scenes.

Here are some excerpts from the article, but if you have time, I recommend reading it for a few more good laughs.

"A survey confirms my belief that most women of a certain age are better off turning to their library card for erotic fulfilment.

According to a survey of women between the ages of 45 and 60 by the maker of Astral moisturiser, a good two-thirds of us like books “with plenty of sex scenes” because we find them “titillating”. And a raunchy 10% actively seek out books with sexual content.

There is only one explanation for this and I am afraid it has something to do with middle-aged men. Given the choice between a real encounter with a mate with significant nostril hair and a fictional romp with a man with all his own teeth who never gets a twinge down his left leg, is it really any wonder that ladies of a certain age would rather get to the end of the chapter than burrow under the duvet?

I would much rather read about a threesome in a museum courtesy of The Sexual Life of Catherine M, the bestselling erotic memoir of a French intellectual, than actually have a threesome in a museum (suppose the sprinkler system went off?).

We are talking about a generation of women whose sexual fantasies almost certainly include Colin Firth emerging damply from the lake at Pemberley — with nothing more explicit than a brooding stare. Suggestion is definitely all.

In the interests of full disclosure I have to admit that when I gave the first draft of the novel I am writing to my editor, she said she was worried that some of the sex scenes were perhaps “a bit too graphic”. As I am a woman who can’t type “throbbing member” or “glistening manhood” without blushing crimson, I can assure you that my purple passages were the palest mauve.

There were many headlines last week suggesting that since scientists are close to being able to manufacture sperm, men are no longer necessary; I would suggest that for novel-reading women of a certain age this has long been the case."

The Independent, ie also ran a similar article, “Middle-aged women want to read about sex,” listing the top 10 books women would take to a desert island. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding was number 1 and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, was number 10. The one that really surprised me though was, The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel. Though I enjoyed the book, it’s not one I’d think falls into the “better than real sex” category. I haven’t read Harry Potter, but since they are written for kids, I wouldn’t think they fall into this category either. I guess this proves middle aged women do think about topics other than sex.

What book would you take to a desert island? Readers, do you actively seek out books with plenty of sex scenes? Writers, after reading these articles, are you thinking about adding more spice to your writing?

Thanks for stopping by.

Tags: C. Margery Kempe, Daisy Goodwin, Bridget Jones’s Diary , Memoirs of a Geisha, Life of Pi, Fielding, Golden, Martel,

Writing a Sex Scene

“If the sex scene doesn't make you want to do it - whatever it is they're doing - it hasn't been written right.” - Sloan Wilson

I decided, after posting the “Bad Sex in Fiction Awards,” I wasn’t the only one who found writing sex scenes difficult. C. Margery Kempe is quite accomplished in this area, so I asked if she’d consider doing a guest blog to give us all some pointers. I’m excited to say she agreed. Even if you are not a writer, I think you’ll find the information interesting.

C. Margery Kempe is the author of the erotic thriller Chastity Flame and a bunch of short stories. Coffee Time Romance has called her novel “…one thrill ride after another” and Wetwork author Philip Nutman says, " I wish I'd created this character… Erotic and witty, this is a page-turner."

I’ll turn the blog over to Ms. Kempe without further ado.

Thanks, Jane, for inviting me along to your blog! I offered to share my experience for writing a sex scene that won't make your readers cringe. It is a difficult thing to do, as the very existence of the Bad Sex Awards demonstrate. I think in large part this comes from the very writerly habit of going to metaphor when covering sensitive subjects. For a good sex scene, that often invites hyperbole if not outright guffaws. I'm going to show this while keeping everything PG-13, too, as Jane requested. Writing can be hot without being explicit.

The real key to a good sex scene is sensuality. This might seem obvious, but it's also something that our rather Puritanical society shies away from. Yes, I know we're bombarded with sexualized images constantly in the media, but they're teasing and usually rather sterile ones, too. Airbrushed and posed perfections stimulate without satisfaction.

When you start thinking about a sex scene, think about the set up. With characters who engage us, we're already interested in who they are, so we want to feel the attraction that draws them together. A sex scene isn't just a physical encounter: it's part of your character building. Don't concentrate simply on the mechanics or you'll have an awkward "tab A in slot B" scene that will make readers collapse with laughter. Consider how your characters would act at a moment like this. How do they make their first moves and what does it reveal? Does she go for an immediate, deep and lingering kiss? Or does he want to bury his hands in her hair first and nuzzle her cheek. Every move should add to the picture we've been building all along.

In chapter 3 of Chastity Flame, our heroine has an encounter on a train which tells us a lot about her life, her job and her attitudes toward sexual opportunities. When an older man offers to buy her a coffee on the Eurostar, it immediately turns into an opportunity for flirting:

Her gallant returned with coffee and all the accoutrements and she gratefully added a helping of cream to the rich black brew.

"Simon Chalk," he said by way of introduction, offering her a smartly manicured and surprisingly large hand to shake.

"Masie Diamond," Chastity offered, picking one of her stock names at random and reminding herself to keep to it. It was not, however, the name on her passport.

"Do you make this trip often? Or is that far too dull of a question?"

"How about 'what did you want to be when you grew up?'" Chastity asked with a smile. It was always one of her favourites.

As expected, he laughed and blinked a little at her. "I wanted to be a milkman," he said, his grin betraying a good bit of embarrassment at his sudden revelation. Chastity was sure he had expected to be the one leading the conversation.

From this exchange we find out that Chastity has done this many times, uses many aliases, and that she reads people quickly. As the conversation continues, they each reveal personal information that allows for the introduction of more overtly sexual innuendo:

"I wanted to be a circus performer," Chastity said, no longer sure if it was a lie or the truth. "I wanted to ride bareback on a horse and do pirouettes and stand on one leg."

Simon smiled at her. Unlike his initial predatory grin, there was a genuine warmth to it. "I can see you doing that. On a white horse with bells and shiny silver buckles on its bridle."

Chastity sipped her coffee and regarded him closely. "Maybe that's why I like leather… and straps and buckles."

His intake of breath was audible.

She's thrown out a nakedly sexual remark in order to gauge his interest and it has surprised him. Will he be intimidated by this or intrigued? Chastity watches him closely to see. Of course, he can't resist, but they’re on a train with other people, so at this point they can only talk about what they might do together. Simon knows that he has to prove himself to her and labours to do so, trying to prove what kind of lover he would be:

"I would start with the toes, yes, I'm sure of that," he said, his eyes caressing what his hands were denied. His voice lowered in both tone and register. "I would start with your toes in my mouth, happy to suck each one and enjoy the salty savour of them. And then I would run each fingertip along the muscles of your calf, needing to feel the interplay of the flexing tendons. I would caress your knees until I was sure I had memorized their shape. Only then would I consider your thighs. All right so far?"

Not surprisingly, Chastity is impressed. Why? Attention to detail, the kind of thing that makes a sex scene work, too. Simon concentrates on the sensations -- his and hers -- as he envisions the scene. He creates both a sense of urgency and a leisurely appreciation of their encounter. Arousal makes his voice change. We see what he's concentrating on, too. As the scene goes along, we see, hear, and feel Chastity's warm response to him.

Too often people pull back from a sex scene and then it feels impersonal. Picture every step, imagine every sensation: what does a kiss really feel like? Don't think of the ways you've read it described. Close your eyes and remember a really good one. Write it exactly as it was. Consider the rest of your body: What are the sensitive parts of your skin? What gets you going? If you feel embarrassed because writing a sex scene turns you on, DON'T. It probably means it's going well, because I can assure you, if you're not excited by your description, no one else will be either. That's the real secret!

Thank you C. Margery Kempe. I not only learned from this post, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. You make writing these scenes seem so easy with the wonderful examples from Chastity Flame. I have a feeling it may take some practice on my part to progress from “an awkward "tab A in slot B" scene” to “embarrassed because writing a sex scene turns you on,” but I’m looking forward to trying.

Please feel free to leave questions and/or comments for Ms. Kempe. Also be sure to visit her website.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tags: Sloan Wilson, Bad Sex in Fiction Awards, C. Margery Kempe,how to write a sex scene

Stunts or Research?

"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose." – Zora Neale Hurston

Authors who write non-fiction generally love the research involved. The writers who made the "10 Top Literary Stunts" list in Time.com, however, may have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their efforts to be published. Still, I’m not sure if all ten are examples of stunts or legitimate research.

I think Douglas Brown may have had the most fun doing research for his book Just Do It How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned On Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses!) Mr. Brown “…talked his wife into having intimate relations for 101 consecutive days in a quest to find out if such an endeavor is possible even with the pressures of parenthood and work looming over them daily…”

Research for The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs struck me as the funniest. “For one year, Jacobs lived according to each and every rule in the Old Testament. Everything upon which [a woman] lies during her impurity (meaning, menstruation) shall be unclean; everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean. During a certain time of the month, Jacobs can't touch or sit on anything his wife has occupied, not even in their own apartment. His wife finds this so irritating (apparently women don't like to be called unclean) that she makes a point to sit on every conceivable surface in their home, and Jacobs is forced to purchase a portable stool.”

I think, the greatest sacrifice in the name of research was done by Barbara Ehrenreich, in her book Nickel and Dimed, where she gave up her successful writer’s life to experience the struggle of working-class life in jobs where she earned around $6 per hour. “Although constantly exhausted and abused, Ehrenreich manages to support herself — thanks for the advice for her co-workers (waitresses, house cleaners, nurses' assistants) — but it's not easy. She nearly becomes homeless, even though she starts her project with $1,000 in seed money.”

Other books on the list included, Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; Word Freak Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble by Stefan Fatsis; Newjack, Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover; Paper Lion by George Plimpton; Hell’s Angels by Hunter S. Thompson;Ten Days in a Mad House by Nellie Bly; and, The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose. More details about these ‘stunts’ are listed in the article.

What do you think—stunts or research? What lengths will you go to for publication?

Coming Attraction: Some of you may remember the blog I wrote about the Bad Sex in Fiction Awards. I admitted I had a difficult time writing sex scenes and according the comments on that post, I’m not alone. Fortunately, C. Margery Kempe, author of the sexy thriller CHASTITY FLAME! Has agreed to do a guest post on Monday, with helpful hints on how to write a sex scene. Don’t miss it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Tags: Zora Neale Hurston, 10 Top Literary Stunts, Just Do It , The Year of Living Biblically , Kingsolver, Ehrenreich, C. Margery Kempe,