My novel does not give graphic details of sex between the leading characters although they do have sex from time to time, which I do mention without going into the details. What do you guys think I should do…. mention the details or keep it as it is.. I am uncomfy giving sex details, plus my novel is about two very simple, nice and sweet people... I feel sex will take that niceness away from them, if I mention it explicitly.... so guys please help me out with this one... Thanks!
2006-06-11 09:58:46 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You probably want to shoot for 250-400 (finished) pages for an adult novel, and 150-200 pages for a young adult novel. This don't translate directly to "pages in Microsoft Word," so you may need to research how many words are in an average-length novel and go from there.
Different romance publishers have different guidelines on sex in their books. In general, you want to write two versions - one with the sex scenes, and one without. Read a few romance novels from each publisher before you submit your manuscript, and follow what they do - if they publish novels meant to be erotic fiction, leave the scenes in, and if the examples you read don't involve explicit sex, leave them out. Chances are, if your novel is accepted, you will be asked to do some heavy revisions of the "erotic" sections anyway - editors know which euphamisms work and which don't, and all it takes is one bad one to ruin the whole scene (be it actual sex or just foreplay).
2006-06-11 16:29:37 · answer #1 · answered by theycallmewendy 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My novel does not give graphic details of sex between the leading characters although they do have sex from time to time, which I do mention without going into the details. What do you guys think I should do…. mention the details or keep it as it is.. I am uncomfy giving sex details, plus my novel is about two very simple, nice and sweet people... I feel sex will take that niceness away from them, if I mention it explicitly.... so guys please help me out with this one... Thanks!
2006-06-11 10:01:01 · answer #2 · answered by vinay4599 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not have to write graphic sex scenes in order for your characters to make love. Try using the "closed door" technique. Example: a man and a woman on the couch are feeling amorous. They kiss, touch, giggle and look lovingly into each others eyes. He picks her up, carries her upstairs to the bedroom, enters the room with her in his arms, and shuts the door. The reader is left outside. It is obvious what happens next. You can be very creative and use different variations on that technique. Also, a good novel is about 45,000 to 80,000 words, give or take a few thousand. many agents and publishers won't consider a novel at 110,000 words because they feel that no one will read the novel, and because publishing costs are too high. Brevity is the souls of wit, and a good novel is not what you put into it, but what you take out of it. There. I have no more quotes to steal; but I do have one more piece of advice. As a writer, do not edit yourself. Let your characters speak for themselves. If you are worried about what you are writing and how you will be viewed, then you are holding back creativity. You don't have to be vulgar, just true to your characters, and to yourself as a writer. Good Luck!
2006-06-11 10:55:31 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Grudge 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're uncomfortable giving details, then don't that'll come across in the writing and then it wouldn't be enjoyable for the reader. 310 pages is a little long, but not too bad. If you decide that's too much, after you're done writing go back through and edit out the stuff that's repeated or that stuff that doesn't add to the story as a whole. Good luck!
2006-06-11 10:04:19 · answer #4 · answered by virgo82676 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to write a romance having 310 pages - the history must be interesting really and catch the reader, otherwise, it tires the person.
I am a writer and reader and this is one of the things that suck - long books with nothing or too much unnecessary points in order to have more pages.
I prefer to read a good content book with fifty pages (and write one like that) or have short and appealing chapters in other to keep the reader interested.
Hope to be useful.
2006-06-11 10:02:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An ideal novel is between 60,000 and 100,000 pages. It cannot be less then 40,000. it can go to however many, but people tend to shy away after 120,000. i wouldn't add a lot of sex details...
OK, maybe I would. It would depend on a few things. But here is the major one; what is your intended audience? think who they are. If you are after pimply faced teen-aged boys, then add all of it you can, and maybe delete the rest of the book while you are at it.
If you are aimed at middle aged Christian women, then maybe delete the reference to sex if it isn't crucial to the story's main plot.
But it really depends on your intended audience. Good luck with your book.
2006-06-11 10:04:19 · answer #6 · answered by bradley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
310 pages is a good length for a novel. Also, I agree about skipping the sex scenes...the very best authors don't need them for their book to be interesting. And you really shouldn't put your name on a book that makes you uncomfortable.
Sol
2006-06-11 10:04:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
How do you plan to market the book? Will it be an adult novel for pleasure, or a romance for teens? Etc. Decide which audience you want to target and then go from there.
2006-06-11 10:01:23 · answer #8 · answered by janey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes novels are supposed to be around 250 and 400 pages
2006-06-11 10:01:41 · answer #9 · answered by babiigiirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you could mention it once, so people can get a feel of the sex scene I guess.
2006-06-11 10:27:46 · answer #10 · answered by dreamee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋