So I went to my local RWA meeting yesterday (shout out to the Prairie Hearts! :D) and the topic of the appropriate amount of smexy that one should use in their writing came up during a presentation by one of my Prairie sisters, Robyn. It was a great presentation and it got me thinking . . . what is the acceptable level and how often should the smexy, smexy occur?
I write New Adult of course and this may come as a surprise to some, but college students-- now pull in really close so you can hear this---have sex *whispers* I know it's insane! This fact is indeed true. Some more than others, but it is occurring just the same.
Now when I think about the high level romance YA novels I have read, basically anything by Simone Elkeles or Jennifer Echols, they have STEAMY scenes and these kids are in high school, so what's good for a New Adult?
I want to be conscious of the reader, but at the same time put the level that I enjoy reading as well. You would think that when writing a novel about 20 somethings! there are no rules for this, but there really are. You don't want to offend anyone, but at the same time you don't want to be unrealistic.
New Adult is not Adult fiction writing. These 20 somethings! have different worries and responsibilities and graphic sex is not necessarily what people want to read or see, but sweet "close door" isn't necessarily it either.
I enjoy Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster and S.C. Stephens' Thoughtless as far as a good example for our New Adults, but some might think it's a little too smexy.
I guess it's all subjective, but I am curious about all you readers and writers out there. What's your "smexy" level? Do you enjoy "close door," Euphemism City smexy scenes, partially descriptive smexy, no holds barred, or do you just breeze over them entirely?
