Some help please

[A.L.]

So my books have... shall we say scenes of an adult nature in them (yes ok nookie) they are not overdone or vulgar (unless you think such practices are so and they are within the characterisation of the stories.

It is a fantasy series, but within that is romance and sex, as the characters build relationships with one another. The MFC is, amongst other things, very sexy and very sexual, she likes to please and be pleased in that way. However this is NOT the basis of the adventures and the over arching story line, but it is important as that partly what makes her, her. If that makes sense. The bedroom relationship she has is important to her.

Anyway, I have a scene where they are travelling through a nasty area, it is cold, wet and miserable. The MMC is tired and sore (they are having to travel by boat and so someone has to pole the boat and he takes his turn) I have a scene where she... shall we say makes him feel better :)

I keep changing my mind about it. It is NOT out of characterisation for those concerned but I am worried it might be gratuitous, although I suppose the same could be said of any of the described erotic scenes.
I like the scene, I think it is the sort of thing they would do, to ease the tension as it were but I keep wondering if it is too much.

Every time I take it out I stuff it back in (*snigger)

[Eric]

Sounds like you're asking whether you should keep the scene in the story or not. I think the answer depends on who your audience is. Sex scenes are by nature gratuitous, because they don't serve the plot. But there is an audience out there who wants to read those kind of scenes. It's been awhile since I've read the Sookie Stackhouse novels, but I know there were some graphic sex scenes there; I'm not sure how graphic those scenes were.
If a sex scene appeals to your audience, keep it, but there is a risk in being too graphic. I would take a look at the True Blood books and maybe some others and get a feel for how those authors integrate sex and plot.

[A.L.]

Well there are other such scenes in the book and in book 1 so I am not worried about it being gratuitous in that way, as you say all sex scenes are by nature gratuitous. I state the book contains adult scenes, if you don;t like em, don't read it. :)

It is not I think people will be offended. Not much I can do if they are. I state the age rating and the book is marketed to those who like an erotica element. It is more simply does the scene work THERE. Oddly though I removed it, and thought "hmm well actually it does seem to work," so I re-added it, now I am not sure.

[Eric]

I see. I'd say, if adding the scene doesn't brake the momentum of the plot, then keep it in. Based on your description, it sounds like a good lull point.

[A.L.]

Yes I decided to leave it, I think it is within the characterisation and it is a fun little scene. They spend most of the scenes before and after cold, wet and trying not to get eaten by monsters.

[Alice]

I don't think sex scenes are necessarily gratuitous. I have read books where they felt tacked on and found that annoying. If it is the natural inclination of the character, then it is perfectly fine for it to be there. But, make sure it doesn't bring any other story lines skidding to a halt. It sounds like this bit might be a good quiet scene between 2 action scenes. Take a look at the tension levels before and after. If the tension is low, then another quiet scene won't be as interesting.

The sex might be a subplot that presents its own conflicts and growth. If it happens often enough through the book, weave it together with a theme. Then it won't feel gratuitous, imho.

[Ian]

I personally feel like any scene can seem gratuitous...sex scenes just get a bad wrap because it's easy to make them so.

In general, if a scene adds something to the story than it should stay in. If it doesn't keep it out. It seems from your description that it does add, so keeping it was the right choice.

Of course there are exceptions...you wouldn't have a sex scene in a toddler picture book for example, but in general the addition or subtraction to the overall story is what should matter most.

[A.L.]

hehehe true.

[Christopher]

A great deal of it depends on your reading audience, as mentioned before. I would say that if you have teenagers reading the book, it's probably best to edit such stuff out. There are other ways to leaven a story.

[A.L.]

It has an 18 plus rating. I am not aiming it at anyone below that age. If they read it below that age hey have been warned and not much I can do.

[Pauline]

I really enjoy a book where the author doesn't shy away from sex scenes. Sex is a perfectly normal part of human life, after all, and it's great to see that incorporated into a story in an organic way (that is, it fits the characters and the plot, and it isn't just titillation or unrealistic supersex). So much fantasy is either fade-to-black primness as far as sex is concerned, or if it does occur, it's rape or attempted rape, rather than normal healthy adult behaviour. So I would say - go for it!

[A.L.]

I did remove a later scene simply because it didn't fit where it was.

Thanks for the support though.

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

If you think it fits the story, or else sounds good there, and you've provided the typical disclaimers that warns the reader what lies ahead (so to speak), then I think you should keep it in there.

Just my own opinion.

Big J