Love scenes: Responsible adults or free-wheeling horny toads
February 24, 2009By Tamara Hughes
I’m in the process of writing a love scene in my new book, and I’m contemplating whether my couple should be responsible with contraception or if I should let their hormones get the best of them and avoid the topic altogether.
This really hasn’t been an issue for me in the past. When writing historicals, you don’t have quite as many options. Sure, I suppose there were a few ways to avoid pregnancy (among other things) during that time, but unless I want my story to get overly-complicated, it comes down to either they have sex or they don’t.
This new novel is current day, however, and as such comes with modern day issues and problems I have to either choose to ignore or find some way to incorporate.
I’ve heard different opinions about this, both for and against. On one hand, in today’s world of diseases and unplanned pregnancies, should two adults really have sex without the issue of protection coming up? I mean, I like to think of my characters as smart, responsible people. Heck, I’ve even heard the argument that as a writer, I have a responsibility to my readers to address issues responsibly. I’m not sure I agree with that.
On the other hand, there are those readers who like to pretend. They like to be absorbed in the fantasy, and not have the distractions that exist in reality. Many see whipping out a condom in the middle of a love scene as distracting, something that pulls them from the story.
So what do you think? Do you have more respect for characters that deal with today’s issues or do you prefer the fantasy?
While I find nothing wrong with either choice, I see myself making my characters grapple a bit with reality. Even in my historical, I have the possibility of pregnancy come up after the big moment.
The trick I suppose is finding a way to make reality more romantic than it sounds. We’ll see.
Have a great day.
Tami
Tami, this is one I fumble with when I write contemporary. When I read a book and they get after it without protection, my mind jumps into figuring out what’s going to happen. Will she be pregnant now? Is that what’s going to bring them together? Do I even WANT to finish the book now if the only thing bringing the couple together is a baby?
When protection first started showing up in books, they bothered me and halted the, uh, emotions. But now that I’ve read them so much, I don’t notice it as much.
Since it’s the hero/heroine together, and I expect them to have a HEA (I do read romance!), the question of STDs never come up in my mind.
I usually have my hero use a condom, but I don’t describe it. A quick, short mention. I don’t want to stop the story.
Good luck with your sex scene!
Interesting Topic. Brought me to the blog and I should be writing.
Responsibility is always an issue with my characters. While I may not dwell on the mechanics, I do something similar to what Edie mentioned as I don’t want to slow the pace.
Even in the historical I did have my heroine attend a women’s meeting where pregnancy prevention was discussed. Fortunately that worked as the timing was 1870s.
I have to agree. If I ignore the topic completely, I feel like my characters are not acting like they really should. And yet I’ve read many books that don’t broach the subject, and it never bothered me. Tricky.
As has been said, an interesting topic. I find now that if a hero/heroine in a contemporary don’t use protection that draws me out of the story. They’re responsible adults, plus the guy ought to feel enough for the heroine to want to take care of her, even in the height of passion. I’ve also exploited the comic possibilities of them having to stop and hunt – but that’s just me
Contemps are not my forte, but I’d have to jump on the “quick mention” bandwagon. “S/he grabbed a condom and…” is about all you need, depending on the surrounding style/level of detail.
I’ve seen it handled really well with just a word or two. I think it depends a lot on your story and where it’s going . . . nine months later. I know we’re all responsible and intelligent. But even the most intelligent people get carried away from time to time, especially when they weren’t planning to do the deed in the first place and life conspires against them. I can remember a few times . . .
Barbara Longley