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I have a question. . .let me preface it. I wrote a novel, Cherry. I've posted some on SYW. The mc is a guy, not such a nice guy. He's twice-divorced, drinks, blah blah. He ends up picking up a kid one night (the "kid" is 18, fyi), a male prostitute, and winds up having sex, then he's enamored with the kid. He can't figure it out.
Anyway.
At one point, he rapes this person. This is how I handled it: He's drunk. It's after the fact. He recounts, in his journal, the events that led it up to it. He's pretty explicit about what he wanted to do, but the actual rape isn't described. He says, "And I. . .and then I. . .my God."
Later, he finds out the kid cried and cried, had to use laxatives for a week. . .
The guy really regrets what he did. The kid still loves him.
Anyway, here's the thing: I've had a few people read the novel and one comment is, Your mc is despicable and what he did is unforgiveable. He should die at the end. Kill the son-of-a-bitch. Or. . .take out the rape, totally. Take it out because "I know somebody who was raped," or "I was raped" (I understand the visceral responses) or "Agents won't touch that with a ten foot pole. . ." (Some, I’m sure; but all?)
I’m cognizant of how reading about a rape might really affect some people. I certainly don’t want to cause anybody pain. I did my best to handle it with restraint. . .
Still. . .
I think it’s important to keep it in my story. It defines the mc, it’s integral to the story and shaping the relationship between him and the kid.
So, my question is: what does the AW community think?
Anyway.
At one point, he rapes this person. This is how I handled it: He's drunk. It's after the fact. He recounts, in his journal, the events that led it up to it. He's pretty explicit about what he wanted to do, but the actual rape isn't described. He says, "And I. . .and then I. . .my God."
Later, he finds out the kid cried and cried, had to use laxatives for a week. . .
The guy really regrets what he did. The kid still loves him.
Anyway, here's the thing: I've had a few people read the novel and one comment is, Your mc is despicable and what he did is unforgiveable. He should die at the end. Kill the son-of-a-bitch. Or. . .take out the rape, totally. Take it out because "I know somebody who was raped," or "I was raped" (I understand the visceral responses) or "Agents won't touch that with a ten foot pole. . ." (Some, I’m sure; but all?)
I’m cognizant of how reading about a rape might really affect some people. I certainly don’t want to cause anybody pain. I did my best to handle it with restraint. . .
Still. . .
I think it’s important to keep it in my story. It defines the mc, it’s integral to the story and shaping the relationship between him and the kid.
So, my question is: what does the AW community think?
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