The Word Cloud

Blog insired by a few thoughts from the cloud.

Writing about sex is a thorny issue. Even talking about it can be, especialy in front of the vicar. My husband can't read the scenes I write of an adult nature, because he says he fears it would give him an inite into my psyce he might not want. Something might re-surface at a important moment, and bother him. He also slightly feels that I am mentaly cheating on him, if it's not about him, even though I explain neither is the female involved me ( I have yet to write a gay male love scene.) He knows this is wrong, but, like I say, it's an imotive issue. Maybe he's also terrfied that it won't be an aspect of me he recognises, but an aspect of him.

So often lumped in with violence in causing a censer reach for his pen or the reader to skim rapidly past - so hard to handle. Much of it is cringe worthy at best, laughable at worse. I am note sure if I have read anything I have found truly offensive in content, but I have often questioned the validity of it’s inclusion. Odd really, seeing as much of the road to publication involves removing prose like a demented woodpecker, sometimes one dreads to think what was in the original.

In most books, unless the sex is especially relevant to the plot, I would always go for the less, or indeed none, is more approach – along the lines of ‘They made love all night and slept until morning.’ That says it all really, who needs more? Who needs blow by blow stuff, if the point is not what they do, but that they do it together?

Almost the same approach for me, is preferred if the type of sex engaged in is especially unpleasant or violent. It’s a real toughie – if one writes about sexual monsters, does one really want to dwell overly on the manner of their monstrosity? There is, I regret to say, a ‘trade’ in sex offenders wings of prisons, in the ‘misery lit’ genre, where heartrending tales of abuse are read for titillation. An author always has to be aware of this danger – and as, with so many films, what truly shocks it not the act, but the aftermath – and although there probably needs to be some nuts and blots description, it’s such a thin line between narrative and prurience. So much more power in one deadly sentence, than three paragraphs which are barely readable.

Of course, some books need sex, like some Sunday afternoons when the kids are out; and then you’ve just got to get it right. My only musings on this are very personal – I detest metaphor and slimily at these times – that entire ‘blossoming flower, tumescent member’ type rubbish, not for me at all. Crashing waves, rising ecstasy, trembling hands – really, that will make me skim read far quicker than three good expletives. Let’s call a spade a spade shall we, and remember, this sometimes is the nearest we come to animals, and is glorious because of that.

Everyone’s experience is so different, yet ultimately the same, getting it right is hard. Writing which makes you feel like you are seeing real people in a physical exchange, is skilful; and the skill, as ever, comes in understanding why it scene is there, and making it work for you as much as a car chase. Always, always, always – if in doubt, leave it out. If it’s for your own pleasure…that’s fine, but don’t expect me to read it, I got my own thanks!

And should it be erotic? Sure it should, if it’s meant to be, just like a comedy scene should make you laugh, and a murder should make you gasp. And ultimately, they key to that, as with all good writing, must be to make sure that your characters are real, and that your reader is in their heads, swept along for the ride. However, erm, you do it?

Perception

Perception; I think that’s what writing may be all about; someone’s perception of a book/film can differ immensely.

For instance; we are told the importance of letter writing; especially anything that may have a legal consequence; the spelling; and punctuation must be spot on; or the letter may have numerous meanings; due to how it is percept.

We could for instance; get two people to read the same chapter of a book at the same time; in the same room; when they have finished ; ask them both to write down any thoughts they may have about the book; I can guarantee that they will be miles apart; so how can this be?

You have probably in the past put in for promotion at work; and in to days world you have to complete some form that is based on fairness; ethnic; etc; it is then marked using set criteria’s and don’t it make you mad when someone else gets the job and you know you are the right person.

I’m getting a bit lost in all of this; we are told how important the first chapter of a book is; so should our first chapter be written with the readers perception in mind; then once we have them hooked we can write this fantastic story we all have; and hopefully the reader will read the story that we want them to; and see it like we do; the best novel ever.

Now this gets a bit more complicated; our brain is divided into two hemispheres, the right and the left, just as we favour the right or left hand, we also favour the right, or left hemisphere of our brain, the left hemisphere interprets details and reasoning, while the right hemisphere interprets information through visual or creative cues; so; if we can write our book for the majority and not the minority; perhaps we can come up with a best seller; but how difficult and mind bending is that going to be?

Just a thought!