Now this isn’t just writers, I want to make it clear up front, but they’re the people I’m talking to and therefore, they’re going to get called out for it.
Recently, there was a thread on a writing forum about sex scenes. One person was asserting that there were no sex scenes in sci-fi and fantasy and others were telling them that they were wrong.
I threw my hat in the ring and said that, in my very subjective, personal opinion, graphic sex scenes in sci-fi and fantasy were largely unnecessary and done for titillation, not telling a good story.
Then everyone shit themselves.
Sadly, this is not uncommon these days. Lots of people can’t handle anyone having an opinion that differs, even slightly, from their own. They’re right, everyone else is wrong, so there!
Yet that’s not how this works, sorry. You are entitled to your own point of view, just as I am. Mine doesn’t happen to coincide with yours. Big deal. That’s where conversations start! Far too many people can’t handle having rational conversations though, which is when the torches and pitchforks come out.
Seriously, lots of people just need to grow up.
Here’s my issue, at least. In the realm of science fiction and fantasy, I haven’t seen a single graphic sex scene which actually added anything to the story itself. Not once, not ever. In thousands and thousands and thousands of books that I’ve read, I haven’t come across any that I thought were essential to the plot. Luke Skywalker wouldn’t have failed to blow up the Death Star had there not been a graphic scene of Han Solo and Princess Leia having sex. That’s nonsense. No such scene was necessary, period. Had it existed, it would have been pure filler and fan service.
Now that’s not to say that people can’t do whatever they want. As I said in the thread, I’m a free-speech purist. What you do or don’t do is between you and your audience. There’s never going to be a hint of censorship coming from my side of the aisle. I never suggested at all that people shouldn’t do it, I only said that, in my personal, purely subjective opinion, I don’t find it useful.
I used Prison Ship, a 1989 book by Martin Caidin, as an example. Martin went to town in that book, writing very graphic violence and sex, often at the same time, so much so that the publishers balked and marked those sections specifically so that the more squeamish could just skip over them entirely. Guess what that proves? That those scenes were utterly meaningless to the story! If you can read the book and not ever read any of those scenes, and still get the same enjoyment out of it, then what’s the point of those scenes? It’s filler! It’s not part of a tightly written plot.
Of course, that didn’t change anyone’s mind because this is a wholly emotional thing, not a rational one. I seem to run into this all the time.
People started, passive-aggressively of course, demanding that books of the past that had “sex” in them, they couldn’t have been wrong, could they? Of course, they were entirely ignoring what I was saying, on purpose because they wouldn’t have a point otherwise. I’m not saying that you can’t have sex in your book. Go for it. I do all the time. It’s just that when it comes to the actual act, that happens off-screen. Fade to black. The reader never sees it, they can just imagine whatever they’d like. There is nothing added to the book, in my opinion, by showing parts in action. It’s just… why did I read that? What was the purpose? I’m not reading sci-fi for titillation. I’m reading it to be entertained and that isn’t entertaining, at least not to me.
See, there are lots of people out there who effectively want to write porn. Then, they realized that Amazon won’t advertise erotica and they started calling their books “steamy” to get around it. Mostly, it’s the same thing. I don’t read any of that and I don’t respect it. If I want to get laid, I’ve got a wife. I don’t need your book. I’m not saying that you can’t do it though, I don’t give a damn. I’m just not part of your target audience and never will be. That’s fine. Sell to the people who are! Both sides can coexist. But that’s not how most people, especially young people, seem to think these days. If everyone doesn’t think exactly as you do, then somehow, you’re being oppressed!
Yeah, fuck you.
It’s no wonder we can’t have decent conversations anymore because everyone is so ready to “cancel” anyone who dares disagree. There was an intelligent conversation to be had there but nobody was interested. What is it that the action adds, demonstrably, to the book. How could the story not be told without showing all the parts in action in the middle? Describe that for me. Justify it. Nobody wants to have to think critically or rationally justify anything anymore. It’s all “but it makes me happy!” and that’s as far as they can get. It’s really stupid.
The audience that I’m writing for, they don’t want it. I’m writing for actual adults, not teenagers who can’t get laid and are living vicariously through PornHub. In fact, I’ve read enough of this stuff to know that most people writing it, they don’t have a clue either. It’s the blind leading the blind, virgins writing for virgins, none of whom know any better. I’m not saying anything about anyone in that thread, but everyone seems terrified to even broach the subject and discuss the “why”. Why are you doing it? Is it for a solid, plot-based reason or is it because you think you can get people to pick up your book if you write about boobies? I’m willing to bet most of them are in the latter camp.
That’s kind of sad, isn’t it?
