How far should a writer go with ... doing it?

[reynardo]

I'm a fond reader of various types of literature, including a large amount of what can loosely be described as "Romantic" literature. And yes, it varies from "Classic" to "Shlock".

Of course, a main part of many of these is when the couple finally get together. Get *it* together. Meet in a clashing of lips and the murmured words of "My love, my darling, how could I have ever mistaken your love for a global financial plot designed to take over the world. Also, thank you for Austria - I'm sure I can find a use for it."

Ahem.

So my question is: When reading romance, when the couple have sorted their differences and are getting the act together, how far do you like the writing to take it?

[Poll #2053762]

(And that last one should read "Without tripping the 'naughty' filters")

Comments

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

It depends on the story. Sometimes, a gentle fade to black feels more right than explicit sex, and for me, a Regency romance, for example, wouldn't be the same without heaving bosoms and illicit hand presses. I like erotic content to arise from the story's context and its needs—unless smutty romance is what I'm looking for.

Of course, if I am looking for explicit sex, I turn to fandom; the sex is better here—no coyness or guilt! :P

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

Hehe. I'm either/or. Either fade to black, with no detail at all, or really graphic with crude words, body fluids and heavy action. No trembling bosoms or hardening manhoods. No euphemisms.

[kerravonsen]

Answer #1 is so coy, you can't tell that it's romance (as distinct from friendship) unless it happens to be a Regency romance. So I prefer #2. I mean, obviously in fanfic, you get the whole gamut, and I don't object to fairly explicit stories if the sex has a point; that is, if it is part of the characterisation, part of the development of the relationship, rather than an end in itself. (For example, "Care of Magical Creatures" by miamadwyn) Some fanfic which I've otherwise enjoyed, felt as if the last chapter was tacked on in order to finish the story with a sex scene.

Basically, my favourite part of romance is the emotional intimacy rather than the physical intimacy.

[madeleone]

I clicked other because I don't really have one specific choice. Generally I do like more smut in my fic but sometimes, depending on the tone of the story, a lead up to sex and fade to black is okay. For the most part though I do like to read pretty explicit smut so I'd go with #6 or 7 most of the time. But I do want what I read to actually have a plot, not just something running from one sex scene to the next with no real story, believe it or not that gets boring after awhile.

[nocturnus33]

All the answers, as it depends on the plot.

[christev.livejournal.com]

My own preference is to not see all the skinses, but great romance can happen with clothes-ripping, wall-banging, lip-biting ferocity or with no touching at all.

Are you familiar with that wonderful offscreen kiss in the classic An Affair to Remember? Our couple meet and fall in love on a ship crossing from UK to US, both engaged to others, so their love is forbidden. All you see is their legs as they begin to descend a staircase, then hesitate as he leans back up for a moment. You don't see anything at all, but doggone, that's a hot kiss!

Even though I tend toward more off-screen sex these days, now and then I read a great hot smutty scene that is perfectly right for the story. Oh - I also separate out romance from PWP, so if there's any button-popping going on, my own preference is that there's real feeling there; it's not just a one-off. :)

I think great writing can push our limits. I don't like adultery, for instance, but have read some heartrendingly beautiful fics that contain it.

[manna]

I agree with the responses that say it depends on the style, plot and characters. I love a good sex scene in the right place, but they need to fit smoothly into the rest of the book. If nothing in the style has led me to expect graphic sex, it's jarring to suddenly switch styles.

If it had been a ticky-box poll, I would've picked everything but 5. That's just because I'm just not a fan of a lot of metaphors in sex scenes. BUT, that said, if it was in a book with a lot of metaphors in other scenes, I'd prefer staying with that style in the sex scenes too.