Controversy in writing; any experiences?

[jurched]

Being excoriated over a sexist remark on another thread immediately brought to mind "Controversial Writing."

Anyone ever get rejected by an agent or receive requests for rewrites on the basis of a controversial scene or topic?

In my case, I have three different stories that feature the shedding of innocent blood (fantasty, thriller, mystery). The MC in each one is tempted by an antagonist into shedding innocent blood in order to avert a perceived threat.

Even though the subject is handled by the villains and the MC resists the temptation, still the narration and dialogue might cause a reader to wonder why a character is so condoning acts of violence.

In this age of terrorists baiting, it may be something of a stumbling block.

Any other similar experiences out there?

J!

[DeadlyAccurate]

Anyone ever get rejected by an agent or receive requests for rewrites on the basis of a controversial scene or topic?

Nope. I signed with an agent in January with a book in which the MC kills a man who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That scene came after she broke into a house and assassinated the owner.

My next one opens with a hired killing. And it's still my MC doing the dirty work. Be as controversial as you want. Just be interesting.

[dclary]

I got a lot of nasty letters when I wrote that a women's-only martial arts tournament had a low turnout, when in fact (in comparison to previous years) it had had a large turnout. I'd meant in comparison to the larger tournaments I'd covered, but I'd made a mistake in not taking their attendance in context.

[CaroGirl]

I think the latest rejection I received was somewhat based on an aspect of my story that the agent didn't think she could sell. Basically, I think she rejected my lesbians.

[Hillary]

Basically, I think she rejected my lesbians.

Pffft, they're better off without her! (I just loved that line, you rock.)

[allenparker]

I write nudist humor where the MC is a Christian nudist. Now, I've had publishers tell me they couldn't sell it on a bet. One editor called me the devil himself. And several well meaning Christian groups have decided I needed a computer virus.

Is that what you meant?

[jurched]

I write nudist humor where the MC is a Christian nudist. Now, I've had publishers tell me they couldn't sell it on a bet. One editor called me the devil himself. And several well meaning Christian groups have decided I needed a computer virus.

Is that what you meant?

Yeah, that'll do!!

Are you thinking about revisions or are you proceeding with the queries?

J!

[Siddow]

Yeah, that'll do!!

Are you thinking about revisions or are you proceeding with the queries?

J!

Click the picture of his book and you can buy it on Amazon.

[jurched]

I meant to sat, "Have you been compelled to make revisions to the text or did you query till you got a sell?"

J!

[JoNightshade]

This isn't really controversial, I guess, but I'm pretty sure the main reason I haven't been able to sell my romance (mainstream, not Harlequin or whatever with all the guidelines you have to follow) is because my MC has spina bifida. I've gotten good responses all around from agents-- they like my writing, like my style, invite me to submit any other novels I have, etc-- but they all say that they don't think they could sell "this kind of romance." Even the full I sent out got read completely and the agent loved it... just didn't know how to sell it. Are people that freaked out? It's not even that central to the story. OMG, disabled person falling in love! Nobody will want to read it! Oh, please.

Sometimes it pisses me off that interesting characters with interesting problems always have to be the sidekicks of the MC. You know, like, the fat guy or the guy who's half-robot or the clumsy girl with bad teeth or WHATEVER. If it's a romance, the main guy and the main girl always have to be pretty (even if they don't know it) and they always have to be amazing.

This is a weird example, but there was an animated movie a few years back about Sinbad the sailor. In the beginning the main girl is engaged to a "straight man" who has taken responsibility for his city upon himself. He has the weight of the world upon his shoulders and CAN'T go adventuring because of his responsibilities. But the girl is all adventurous and ends up falling for Sinbad because he's all reckless and cool. I was like, WTF? I want to know this guy's story. HE'S the one with the interesting burdens to bear. The girl and Sinbad are just tossing away their committments and doing whatever they want-- so what? Everyone does that. Not everyone sacrifices love for responsibility.

/rant

[veinglory]

I was waiting to see if my latest (with male pregnancy and depending on how you define it also bestiality) would cause a stir. But.... no. I think that in fantasy all things are allowed.

[Shane Fitzsimmons]

This isn't related to publication, but I posted a short story once that got a lot of flack by animal rights activists because the main character sawed the head off of a little spider-monkey because he was jealous that it was dressed better than he was, and he felt the little guy was always a real snob about it.

[PeeDee]

Depends on your scale, I guess. I've written a few short stories now and then which horrified all members of my immediate and extended family alike. I'm writing one now, in fact.

I don't change it, though. Nah. My theory is "don't like it, don't read it."