tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43905348168571177.post5192207208264309226..comments2023-08-20T17:36:35.914+10:00Comments on Soooz Says Stuff: Topic: The Relevance of Sex In Literature in 2011." My Guest Author Michael J. PollackSoooz Burkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02390489724415063410noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43905348168571177.post-84629288034440673902011-07-26T23:47:34.615+10:002011-07-26T23:47:34.615+10:00Thanks, eden. That's a good point, and I wrest...Thanks, eden. That's a good point, and I wrestle with it all the time.Michael Pollackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556475624256977258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43905348168571177.post-82813652626453713042011-07-24T08:05:16.606+10:002011-07-24T08:05:16.606+10:00Hi Michael, good post and sorry I'm late to co...Hi Michael, good post and sorry I'm late to commenting - I write erotica - definitely not for young adults...however, accessibility to all books today regardless of genre seems so much easier.<br /><br />At age 11, I bought my first adult book in a store, and that was 30+ years ago. Kids today can get them online, or even in stores. Are there watchdogs for what young adults read outside of the school systems and their parents? And how closely can they be watched?<br /><br />If kids don't get enough sex in the books that are deemed appropriate for their age group , won't they seek what they are looking for elsewhere?<br /><br />I'm not saying for you to write more sex in your books as I concur with your thought : " If sex is not relevant to the story, it doesn’t belong in the story, and it can only damage the craft of the story itself. If it is relevant to the story, it will elevate the characters and themes to a higher level and bring the reader to a deeper level of understanding. " This applies to EVERY genre, not just YA. <br /><br />Like Max, I respect how difficult it must be for you to write in your genre, perhaps because of questions like mine. I couldn't do it, so I'm certainly happy you can. ;)<br /><br />eden<br /><br /><br /><br />Whether it's YA or erotica, I perfectily agree with you thatEden Bayleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08043540142363106345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43905348168571177.post-90854846793101689962011-07-22T15:13:52.954+10:002011-07-22T15:13:52.954+10:00Thanks for your comment, Maxwell. The lives of you...Thanks for your comment, Maxwell. The lives of young adults contain enough emotional and physical pyrotechnics that no artificial ingredients need be added for the sake of sensationalism. Conflict permeates the lives of teens... desperately wanting the rights and privileges of adulthood (often without the responsibility) but also clinging to the frivolous things of childhood. It's a wonderful and terrifying time to be a human, which is why I choose to write about people straddling both of those modes. In my fictional worlds to-date, teen readers can escape sexual pressures and enjoy a good story.Michael Pollackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16556475624256977258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43905348168571177.post-58522583707172437262011-07-22T08:55:02.044+10:002011-07-22T08:55:02.044+10:00Very well stated, Michael. I don't write YA fo...Very well stated, Michael. I don't write YA for some of the reasons/fears you pointed out. I often write very intimate, emotional, and yes physically romantic scenes. I've found comfort in my audience being adult. Even when I am not writing sexually charged scenes, I tend to drift into sketchy philosophical/ethical questions which are likely not teen appropriate either. But I enjoy that freedom.<br /><br />I take my hat off to those who are able to walk the tightrope of appropriateness (over a pit of angry parental alligators) and even more to those who take their responsibility to our youth seriously. It is indeed a grave responsibility for authors to present sex to our young in a positive, healthy, and emotional way - not the sensationalism of pop culture.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14255711715506662271noreply@blogger.com