So you’ve decided to write a novel and you come to the question of sex. I’ve discussed how I feel about writing young adult, but what about everything else? Sex and romance come in all shapes and sizes…and genres. You don’t have to be writing for Harlequin to include some steamy scenes in your prose.
While these scenes may come in many forms, there are basically three levels of hotness. The first, I’ll call tame, is the PG Rated romance. There can be hugging, heavy breathing, clothes slipping to the floor, the scent of flowers, tangled in a weave of lovemaking, and reaching for Heaven. You most definitely cannot use any of the “adult” terms for actions or body parts. This is often acceptable for young adult when you want some sex in it.
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2000.