There's been a bit of discussion in the comments on my story Double Time (Book 2 in The Transmogrification of Jacob Hopkins) regarding the lack of detail in some of my sex scenes that apparently leaves some readers frustrated. Others have come to the defense of the story, indicating that it has plenty of sex. It isn't the first time one of my stories has been criticized for lack of sex or lack of 'real sex.'
I don't usually engage in the comments unless asked a specific question because I prefer to think of them as a place for readers to express their thoughts, not for me to justify mine. But since this issue has come up before, I find it somewhat compelling to open a broader discussion on the subject. You can respond to me either through email or in the comments section of Double Time. I'll do a recap here next week.
So, I thought I'd start this discussion, or fuel the other one, with my thoughts about sex in a story. First, let's review the codes here on SOL. According to the definitions made available for authors on SOL, the following five 'Sex Contents Definitions' are offered.
1. Stroke Story: Story is mostly sex.
2. Much Sex: Story contains plenty of sex.
3. Some Sex: Story contains Some sex.
4. Minimal Sex: Story contains just a bit of sex.
5. No Sex: Don't expect any sex.
My stories are coded "Some Sex." To me, that means that the story is about the characters and sex is a part of what makes that work as opposed to "Much Sex" in which the story is about the sex and the characters sort of hold it together. I don't consider the definition to mean that there is some sex in every chapter, though sometimes I think I've really gone overboard with it. I often think of the sex as being just ancillary to the story and only go into detail when it feels like the story just demands more explicit detail.
Apparently, that's where I disagree with many readers who felt the story demanded more detail than I gave a particular instance. Well, for that, we just have to figure out a way to coexist and hope they can enjoy the story with both hands instead of just one.
I think there is a fundamental problem with writing detailed sex scenes every time they come up. I'm reminded of one popular writer on SOL in which every sex scene sounds the same. Each couple-and there are several-makes love in the same progression and often with the same phrases, endearments, and sequence. The scenes are nearly copied and pasted. Even I get bored with copy and paste sex scenes. I could go back a chapter and just reread the last one.
The Transmogrification of Jacob Hopkins is five books and 237 chapters long. On average-and the average always has exceptions-there is a sexual situation in most chapters. There is a sexual tease in about one out of three chapters. There is an explicit description of the sex in about one out of seven chapters. Like I said, those are averages. I could go ten or twelve chapters without getting into explicit detail. Then when I spend a chapter (yes, an entire chapter) on a sex scene, I get email that says, "I kind of skimmed over this chapter because it was all sex."
In my highest rated story series, Living Next Door to Heaven, we get to nearly the end of Book 4 before anyone has penetration sex. "Real sex" as one reader suggested. Yet there are scenes of great descriptive teases that end in orgasms-for the characters as well as some readers.
I appreciate your response to the issue regarding how much sex is enough sex in a "Some Sex" story. It's always possible that I should recode the stories. And believe me when I say I would recode the stories and not rewrite them.
Opinions please?