Do M/M romance books need to have explicit sex scenes? I'm writing a M/M fantasy and tend to avert being explicit...
I had an explicit sex scene. Not rape, but one finishes really hurt. I just cut it out, and it doesn't change much to the impact...
But so far, I don't think I haven't read a single M/M romance without at least one explicit scene...
As I don't really know how to write them I'll just won't, then, if it's not mandatory...
thanks.
If things come to it, I'll always be able to ad descriptions of the sex scenes (there are several). I think I'll also have other issues, as two of my MC have sex (more than once) not for love but kind of because they have to, and they're okay with it. I'm not sure that "free sex" is politically correct.
I actually seek out the romantic/sweet ones. I'm a prude, and I love a great love story. They are out there. I don't think you would have a problem.
See, the thing is, with m/m romance, how do you find the sweeter stories among the many popular steamy ones? With m/m, I don't know if the story is one of those that have lots of explicit sex or if it will just have one sex scene, etc. The steamy ones tend to be lumped in together with the less steamy ones.
At least with m/f romances, there are imprints (or genres: some historical and inspirational fiction) dedicated to various heat levels, and I have no trouble finding less explicit ones.
With m/m, I have no clue. I know some fantasy ones are more focused on the non-sexual plot, and YA LGBT stuff tends to be less explicit.
I tried looking at blurbs and covers... but they don't always help.
It also doesn't help when many Amazon and Goodreads reviews talk about how HOT HOT HOT and SEXY the leads are in bed (or various other sex places). Sex is not bad, but some comments like that makes me feel that some m/m stories feel like they are just sexdolls for the female audience.
I'm one of those who's more for internal emotions than the sex, so it's tough to find less sexual stories. (I'm not interested in sex at all in real life, but I'm still romantic.) And some m/m don't feel...romantic, either. Other stories go the other extreme and focus on the non-romantic plots (ex: epic fantasy or mystery) to the point where I am missing the romantic elements.
At least with m/f (and YA LGBT and slash fanfiction), I can easily find stories with less explicit sex, but still contain the gooey (or gentler) romance, ya know?
Personally, I think the world needs more F/F romance.
Fixed.
Reading this thread, and others, I'm kind of curious as to why you all, and a lot of others seem to be seeking M/M a lot. It seems that's what a lot of people are looking for. I must be in the 5% seeking F/F and avoiding M/M.
With that said... I want to mention that I'm Bisexual, with more attraction to females. I feel really terrible for saying that I don't really like reading about M/M. Though something is changing about that, for some reason. I have no experience with F/F in real life, so I guess that's why I seek it out in fiction.
So um, what about M/M is so intriguing to you all? o.o