I agree about the notion that porn sells, and it is not just in literature. 50 Shades of Grey was very successful, despite being written terribly. I mean, I haven't read the book myself, but I have asked around and people tell me that the writing is shoddy at best - tacky even. But they continued to read on for the taboo subject of the sex. Personally, I really enjoy tackling subjects that are poorly done by other authors, and I make sure that they are written to the best of my ability. I recently began a story about a dominatrix and her submissive. I feel I did that a lot of justice. To make the impact that the taboo topic is supposed to, it is to be written properly. But then again, who is to say what is proper and what is not? I have always been attracted to the darker topics, in life and in my writing, and I think that that is because of the notion that to experience light, you have to know darkness? LOL. It may have something to do with that. I love the journey from dark to light. Never gets old for me.
I let the 'fear' for critique of my close friends/family hold me back and when I think about it it's in a way stupid. I haven't even told anyone but a very good friend and my boyfriend that I am writing a book... most don't even know I want to be a writer.
I think it's good to consider how an audience might accept something you wrote or whether you can stand by the way you handled a difficult topic in your novel.
I agree with what my fellow forum members have said just because certain things are taboo does not mean they should be ignored they should be written about the writer just has to make sure they have there facts straight and do plenty of research before they write about the subject.
I agree with what my fellow forum members have said just because certain things are taboo does not mean they should be ignored they should be written about the writer just has to make sure that they have their facts straight and thoroughly research the subject that they want to write about before they write it.
Think Wreybies has it. and in that case, you are alone to answer that question my friend...there are many of us who can help. but you likely will not get a person that knows you enough to tell you right from left.
Definitely. Art and writing have both been great outlets for me. Haha I do that too! I get overloaded by it and I need to distract myself. I don't like being sad just for the sake of it and writing about darker things when I'm already having a rough day with it just makes it worse. Adventure Time and Spongebob are my pick me up cartoons. I am such an adult! haha
Here is my take on this. I include stuff like this in my writing, and for a good reason. It's a reality to our current times and our history, and should we as writers duck away from a subject just because it may offend people? Yes it may do, but we don’t fear writing about violence, murder and any number of other things we may consider a crime or distasteful to others. The OP talked about fantasy fiction, and I think it’s common there because often some of this genre can be set in a time period where in our own history underage sex and incest were normal, and in the past it wasn’t even something illegal. It's not like it’s not going on today, and I don't think covering these topics will hurt your chances of book sales, as many top selling writers have gone to these touchy subjects. I recently read some of Brent Weeks books and child sex, including prostitution and rape is included in it. The book is set in a time that would have been similar to our middle ages. Life was hard, people grew up often way too fast because they had to, and often life was cheap. The main thing if you do touch these subjects is to do so because it fits with your books setting and how life is, and not as a tool to shock readers, and definitely never to glamourize this type of behaviour.
Definitely something I'd advice you to work on; the opinion (or fear of their opinion) of others shouldn't limit your way of expression. It can get really frustrating to feel "caged"; unable to let one's imagination roam free because of the fear of the feedback one may receive from e.g. parents or friends. Of course one can always write under a pseudonym and remain hush-hush about their dubious side-career as a writer Bolding added. I agree with this, that in the end one should be able to stand behind their words and vision (controversial or not). And if they can, there's really nothing to fear. Finn and Jake FTW
In my country 7 generations is the moral limit - meaning to have sex with someone with whom you share your great-great-great-great-grandfather is considered incest-ious-ish... Of course, in real life most people don't know more than 4 generations of their families, so the idea falls into folklore nowadays... However, legally, the only marriage strictly prohibited is that between direct siblings (including step-brothers/sisters). Not that anyone would enjoy marrying their uncle's daughter
