J.M. Hall's Blog, page 2

Art VS Pornography

What's the difference between art and pornography?

This is a battle that's been waged for ages -- and we're not really any closer to an answer today than we were twenty years ago. One man's art is another's pornography. For instance, would anyone argue that Michelangelo's David is anything but a work of art?



Here he is, in all his full-frontal glory. Tourists from around the world travel to Italy to take in his form and appreciate the Michelangelo's dedication to the human form.

Now, let's take another, more controversial debate. For decades, PLAYBOY magazine has featured playmates and celebrities alike in various states of undress. As a 90s kid myself, I remember the publicity that followed the likes of Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy, Carmen Electra and Anna Nicole Smith baring all in the pages of the magazine.



Now, what is the difference? One is a statue sculpted by an artist for the purpose of admiring his form. The other is a collection of nude photographs meant to titillate heterosexual men. One is certainly a bit more noble than the other -- but at the end of the day, are they really all that different?

At the end of the day, the nude human form -- male or female, stone or photograph -- is meant to be admired. And it's my prediction that as time goes on, the lines between art and pornography will become even blurrier than they are now.

Writing Sex Scenes

Sex scenes are a crucial part of any erotic romance -- and yet they remain difficult to write, even for some of the most seasoned authors in the genre.

How do I go about writing sex scenes? To b be honest, I often rely on films. Watching a well-produced sex scene on film can often "set the mood" for my writing, for lack of a better term.

Some films are certainly better than others. For instance, one of my favorite films is BASIC INSTINCT.



It's not just the chemistry between Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone that makes BASIC INSTINCT a success. The physical aesthetics -- the lightning, the score -- all create steamy, intimate love scenes that still resonate with viewers to this day, decades after the film's release.

I aim to achieve similar outcomes in my writing. I try to incorporate the five senses (touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell) when writing two characters getting it on. Doing so helps the scenes come alive for the reader.

(And to answer another often-asked question: No, I don't use any of my own experiences in my writing. I don't think of my sex partners would appreciate it, and sometimes, real life is best left off the page.)

All in all, I use film as a starting-off point for my writing -- but I often let my imagination fill in any blanks. That's truly one of the best parts about being a writer, actually.

It's not about being a Lothario in real life and translating that to the page. It's about letting your imagination wander into places other people wouldn't dare venture into.

Mirror Image: How I Created Jesse Lockhart

"Jesse sounds just like you!"

Since publishing PRIVATE RELATIONS, I've received this feedback on multiple occasions. In fact, close friends of mine have said that my main character, Jesse Lockhart, sounds so much like me that they've wondered if the novel itself is based on truth.

I've assured them that that's not the case, and for the most part they seem satisfied with my answer. However, their ongoing ribbing has me wondering: Do all novelists writing in the first-person inevitably inject their main characters with a hearty dose of their own personality?

In my friends' defense, Jesse and I do have quite a bit in common. We're both the same age; we both live in New York City; and we both hail from Philadelphia. To the uninformed reader, one might take a look at both of our backgrounds and assume we're one of the same. However, there are several important differences between Jesse and me.

In fact, that is how he as a character was born.

To be frank, Jesse and I are two sides of the same coin. He’s what I could have been if my life had turned out differently. As far as upbringings go, I had a pretty good one. My parents are still married to this day, living in the same pretty house in an even prettier suburb. We weren’t rich, but I never lacked any of the essentials, and enjoyed quite a few “extras” like frequent vacations as well.

Now, as for Jesse’s life? He had it rough. He grew up in a poor neighborhood in Philadelphia and, had it not been for his acceptance into a prestigious private school, he very well may have remained there. Now, I’ve certainly worked hard for the life I live now, but I’m not naïve enough to think that fate and luck played a part in everything as well.

And for those wondering what Jesse looks like, here's a visual. (Yes, Paul Wesley from THE VAMPIRE DIARIES)

Should Prostitution be Legal?

Whenever one writes about sex work -- specifically, escorting and/or prostitution -- the question of legality will inevitably come up. It's a tense topic rife with controversy and heated debate on both sides of the aisle.

On one hand, there are what I like to call the "realists." These are people who realize that prostitution truly is the world's oldest profession and isn't going away anytime soon. Only by legalizing and regulating the trade can we hope to keep everyone involved safe.

Conversely, another group of people recognize that prostitution has been around for centuries -- but that it is not a legitimate profession and must be stopped at all costs.

In my novel PRIVATE RELATIONS, Jesse Lockhart enjoys a life that most sex workers can only dream of: high wages, his choice of clientele, and a college education that enables him to walk away from sex work any time he pleases.



I recognize that Jesse's experience in escorting is the minority, and that many people -- men and women -- in the profession are routinely mistreated at the hands of pimps and johns alike.

So, do I believe that prostitution should be legal?

This won't win me any points with conservatives or feminists... but yes, I do. It's not about encouraging a free market economy or surrendering to a sense of apathy. Rather, it's about supporting those who turn to sex work to begin with.

Imagine now the worst-case scenario you can think of regarding sex work. A single mother who sleeps with men to support her kids. A teenage runaway who's forced to sleep with men to keep a roof over his head. These situations are awful, and they happen all too often.

So, pray tell: How does throwing the single mom or teenage runaway in jail help either of their situations?

Let's stop demonizing those who turn to escorting to make a living. Offer a helping hand, not a closed fist. And for those like Jesse who truly have sex for money under their own volition...

Leave them be. There are far greater evils in the world to deal with.

Addressing the Gender Gap in Erotica & Romance

"So, what kind of books do you write? Crime fiction? Horror? Young Adult?"

"No, actually. My novel is an erotic romance."

"WHAT?! But... you're a guy!"

This is the typical conversation I'll find myself having whenever I tell people I've written a novel. While crime fiction, horror and YA are among my favorite genres to read, my own novel PRIVATE RELATIONS is decidedly erotic in nature. Sex scenes are steamy and plentiful, and the fact that my protagonist Jesse Lockhart is a male escort only strengthens my cause.

So, why is it so unusual for a man to write erotic romance?

To be honest, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps people -- and that includes fellow novelists -- assume that men only care about sex in its most basic and prurient form. Delving into the emotional and psychological aspects of erotica is one of my favorite parts about writing in this genre, yet many assume men aren't capable of doing it.

In my opinion, that's no different than saying women can't write crime fiction because they're too soft, or that a woman could never hope to get inside the mind of a killer. Sexist bullshit, plain and simple.

And yet, even in the midst of these stereotypes, there appears to be an appetite for erotica written from the male POV. Fans have been clamoring to read FIFTY SHADES OF GREY from Christian's perspective, and Sylvia Day's latest Crossfire novel, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, includes passages from Gideon's perspective as well.

In time, I hope that we will move beyond gender stereotypes, and that erotic romance will be evenly split between male and female authors.

Or, at the very least, people will stop asking why I write in a "women's genre" as if I could be doing something better.

Writing About Sex

So, what better topic to mark my first blog post than sex?

While I should be downstairs socializing with family, I thought I'd use the downtime Thanksgiving provides to answer a question I'm constantly asked.

"Why do your books have so much sex in them?"

To be honest, I'm not sure I have a proper answer. Certainly my writing isn't for prudes -- but then again, I doubt that any "prude" would ever pick up a copy of my novel PRIVATE RELATIONS to begin with...



Furthermore, I'm not sure that my books focus so much on sex as much as they do sex workers. PRIVATE RELATIONS centers on the life of a 20-something escort in NYC, while another story I have floating in my mind is based on the life of a teenage stripper, also in NYC.

Sex workers in general provide a lot of food for thought for a writer like me. Not because their profession lends itself to writing steamy scenes. But rather, most sex workers are forced to live dual lives.

The stigma against sex workers is all too real -- especially for women. Subsequently, many women who work in the sex industry (be it pornography, stripping, escorting or even a spread or two in PLAYBOY or PENTHOUSE) adopt a kind of alter ego during their working hours.

This, my friends, is what truly fascinates me. How and why do people live double lives? What kind of psychological toll does it take on them over time? Is sex work a short-term fix or can people truly build a long-lasting career for themselves?

In conclusion, I feel that what interests me most is a writer are people who have hidden identities. Jesse Lockhart, the protagonist in PRIVATE RELATIONS, is a prime example of that.

Stay tuned for additional entries on writing, reading, and anything in between. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to all!