Sex and Violence
(The below is a reprint of an article I wrote for a blog last year. I found it while cleaning up my hard drive recently and thought you guys might find it interesting.)
Let's talk about sex and violence.
For example, let's talk about the immediate reactions various people had upon reading that. Some probably perked up, immediately interested. Some have probably already moved on (goodbye!) and some have sighed or crinkled their noses, continuing to read in the hopes that something tasteless and unnecessary isn't about to follow.
Tasteless and unnecessary, are, of course, the watchwords by which sex and violence in books are judged. Many purport to know exactly where those lines should be drawn. They know it with 100% certainty, no doubt allowed. But for every person who thinks one way, someone else thinks another.
I write a tiny bit of sex in my books, but quite a bit of violence. I figure I'm writing about serial killers, and I'm not writing dark comedies, so some violence is due. In the real world, people are hunted down by the kinds of men (and women) I write about. They die horribly and violently, and the reality is far, far, far worse than anything I've ever written.
Even so, opinion is always polarized. I've gotten hate mail about the violence in my books. I had a woman, one time, come up to me and tell me she knew (knew!) I was personally getting off writing in the first person about a female protagonist who'd been assaulted. These are always going to be passionate subjects for people.
So where does that leave us as writers?
Well, I guess every writer has to answer that question for themselves, and I imagine it's a mutable answer.
First and foremost, the work should stand on its own, irrespective of who wrote it. There's the old debate about men vs women when it comes to writing violence, which I think should be a null issue. David Herbert Lawrence said "Never trust the artist. Trust the tale." When I write a book, I'm not running for office. I'm not an actor. Who I am or how I look isn't relevant to the work. The book is the book. So, in my opinion, don't ever start down the road of thinking: 'I wonder what they'll think about my writing this, being that I'm a man... or a woman...' It either belongs in the book or it doesn't, end of story.
Next, I'm of the opinion that you let it all hang out in your first draft. You can always carve off the fat. Some of the violence I've written in first drafts will (thankfully) never see the light of day. If it did, there would probably be people building bonfires with those books. Writing is a visceral act for me, and your first instinct is usually your most honest. So put it down there, uncensored, horrific and all, in that first draft. Then, go back, and get rid of what doesn't belong. You'll likely be left with something powerful.
Next, trust your editor. I guess there's bad editing out there, but I've been lucky enough not to have experienced it. We all develop blind spots, or fall in love with things in our books that need to be cut away, and it's the editor that helps us to see what those are. Editors are like... you know how you sometimes wish you had four arms, or eyes in the back of your head? That's what editors are for a book. More eyes and arms. Remember, you've lived with the book, and that uber-violent scene that makes you yawn now is going to be new to them. If they say 'dear God, that has to go or no one will ever read another book you write', well, I'm not saying you have to take the advice, but you should probably consider it.
As for sex, well, if you never want controversy about sex, then never write about it. That's the only sure way. Because the moment the clothes come off, someone somewhere isn't going to like it, guaranteed.
In the final analysis, though, I'm afraid it all comes down to you. No one else's name is going to end up on that novel. I've found that the hardest part of writing isn't writing, but writing after being published. Going from a bell jar to a madding crowd of opinions. People telling you they love it, people telling you they hate it, people telling you 'if you just tweak that' or 'a little less of this...' you're going to have to learn how to create the bell jar again, and in the end, write what you know is right. For the book, I mean. We'll leave the morality up to the priests and politicians and our private lives.
Because that's the real bottom line, isn't it? I mean, I have definite views on right and wrong, and to some degree those views will inform my books. But I'm not writing philosophical treatises. I'm writing thrillers. I don't want to tell you how to live your life-I just want to entertain you.
Let's talk about sex and violence.
For example, let's talk about the immediate reactions various people had upon reading that. Some probably perked up, immediately interested. Some have probably already moved on (goodbye!) and some have sighed or crinkled their noses, continuing to read in the hopes that something tasteless and unnecessary isn't about to follow.
Tasteless and unnecessary, are, of course, the watchwords by which sex and violence in books are judged. Many purport to know exactly where those lines should be drawn. They know it with 100% certainty, no doubt allowed. But for every person who thinks one way, someone else thinks another.
I write a tiny bit of sex in my books, but quite a bit of violence. I figure I'm writing about serial killers, and I'm not writing dark comedies, so some violence is due. In the real world, people are hunted down by the kinds of men (and women) I write about. They die horribly and violently, and the reality is far, far, far worse than anything I've ever written.
Even so, opinion is always polarized. I've gotten hate mail about the violence in my books. I had a woman, one time, come up to me and tell me she knew (knew!) I was personally getting off writing in the first person about a female protagonist who'd been assaulted. These are always going to be passionate subjects for people.
So where does that leave us as writers?
Well, I guess every writer has to answer that question for themselves, and I imagine it's a mutable answer.
First and foremost, the work should stand on its own, irrespective of who wrote it. There's the old debate about men vs women when it comes to writing violence, which I think should be a null issue. David Herbert Lawrence said "Never trust the artist. Trust the tale." When I write a book, I'm not running for office. I'm not an actor. Who I am or how I look isn't relevant to the work. The book is the book. So, in my opinion, don't ever start down the road of thinking: 'I wonder what they'll think about my writing this, being that I'm a man... or a woman...' It either belongs in the book or it doesn't, end of story.
Next, I'm of the opinion that you let it all hang out in your first draft. You can always carve off the fat. Some of the violence I've written in first drafts will (thankfully) never see the light of day. If it did, there would probably be people building bonfires with those books. Writing is a visceral act for me, and your first instinct is usually your most honest. So put it down there, uncensored, horrific and all, in that first draft. Then, go back, and get rid of what doesn't belong. You'll likely be left with something powerful.
Next, trust your editor. I guess there's bad editing out there, but I've been lucky enough not to have experienced it. We all develop blind spots, or fall in love with things in our books that need to be cut away, and it's the editor that helps us to see what those are. Editors are like... you know how you sometimes wish you had four arms, or eyes in the back of your head? That's what editors are for a book. More eyes and arms. Remember, you've lived with the book, and that uber-violent scene that makes you yawn now is going to be new to them. If they say 'dear God, that has to go or no one will ever read another book you write', well, I'm not saying you have to take the advice, but you should probably consider it.
As for sex, well, if you never want controversy about sex, then never write about it. That's the only sure way. Because the moment the clothes come off, someone somewhere isn't going to like it, guaranteed.
In the final analysis, though, I'm afraid it all comes down to you. No one else's name is going to end up on that novel. I've found that the hardest part of writing isn't writing, but writing after being published. Going from a bell jar to a madding crowd of opinions. People telling you they love it, people telling you they hate it, people telling you 'if you just tweak that' or 'a little less of this...' you're going to have to learn how to create the bell jar again, and in the end, write what you know is right. For the book, I mean. We'll leave the morality up to the priests and politicians and our private lives.
Because that's the real bottom line, isn't it? I mean, I have definite views on right and wrong, and to some degree those views will inform my books. But I'm not writing philosophical treatises. I'm writing thrillers. I don't want to tell you how to live your life-I just want to entertain you.
posted by Cody McFadyen at
5:49 PM
11 Comments:
Cody, so glad I found you (or at least your books). I love the style as it's much like James Patterson and Stuart Woods, my other favorite authors! Can't wait for your next one!!!
There is a lot of violence in your books, but it feels like "honest violence", if that makes sense. You're showing a side of reality that makes a lot of us squirm, but it never seems like you're writing it just to produce that reaction, but simply to be truthful with us.
Anyway, just wanted to express my appreciation, and say how glad I am to have found your books.
And entertain you have. First and foremost... If someone doesn't like what's written they shouldn't read it. Me personally, I love your Smokey Barrett series. But I wouldn't suggest it to more than half my friends because first of all, I'm only in high school and most 17 year olds don't want to read about torture and murder or sex for that matter, but because I don't think my friends would be able to handle the book's contents maturally. Not that there is anything wrong with anything in the books. Again, my favorite series. And being judged for what you write isn't right. I wrote a book and write poetry and I tell people who read them NOT to judge me from what written in it. I write from my imagination, not experience. But nonetheless, I can't wait till book 4 comes out. Actually I accidentally read the series out of order. Ha ha! Yeah I read The Darker Side first not knowing it was part of a series. Then read The Face of Death, and am now reading Shadow Man. But I got the full experience of everything in the books nevertheless. Kind of exciting, seeing where everything starts out. So yeah, love your work. Keep it up =) In HUGE anticipation on book 4!
Hi Mr. MyFayden,
First, be patient with my English I'm writing from Spain where your second book "Face of Death" has just arrived.
http://umbrieleditores.blogspot.com/2009/02/el-rostro-de-la-muerte-cody-mcfadyen.html
I think like you about sex and violence. The question, one question not "the question", is why your way of write about violence will be so hard for some people?.
I think your style is a ... I don´t know the words... in Spanish we said "un paso adelante" something like one step below the style of Sade, Marquis de Sade, wait wait not in the libertine way, just because he push readers to mental implication with the text but your one´s are one step below because you write about real violence.
All of us know that these violence, and worst, is in our streets.
But we don´t like to see it.
We don´t want to know it.
We think than these will happen to other people, but not to us.
Just like an ostrich, yes.
So, soon we had a comment in our Black literature blog and I would comment you more about what our people think, but I´m afraid that much of them are not going up to page 100, mainly those that have children.
http://negraycriminal.blogcindario.com/
Thanks, continue working, we wait for the translation of your last book.
Best regards,
Víctor
What a pleasant surprise when I went to visit one of my favorite websites. There was an interview with you on it!
I did not know the Dutch version of the book came out today, that is probably since I already have the American version. The Dutch cover is indeed (always) so much nicer than the American cover ;).
You never know if the things they put in interviews have really been said, but if it's true that you like Criminal Minds. I used to watch that show all the time and talked about it on a message board. On that board I 'met' an American woman from Texas. She and I had a lot of different opinions. She supports death penalty, never in a million years I will etc. etc. but we talked a lot and now I consider her one of my best friends. She came to Amsterdam last year with her sister and I had an awesome time showing them around. I took them to Dutch restaurants and we went to a small village named 'Weesp' where I showed them two windmills. Next year I'm going to Texas to stay with her.
Unbelievable how a tv show can bring people together!
We both don't enjoy the series as much as we used to do. It went downhill after the lead actor left. Such a shame!
CSI Las Vegas is the best one. The other ones are just so implausible. A gun that can vamporize you.. are they serious??
The interview mentioned that the fourth book is coming out end March. That confused me a little because the third book came out not so long ago. Is it true?
Greetings from Brigitte.
Interesting comments here, and all I have to add is that I doubt you can write books as fast as I would like to read them! I was given your first book by a friend in the U.K., I am originally from there, but now live in Alberta, Canada, and enjoyed it very much. I have now read all three, finished The Darker Side about 10 minutes ago and was not disappointed.
I have found my new favourite author, I hope you write fast, and many more.
Thank you, Carolyn.
Entertain me? Indeed you do!
Just got LONG LOST and GONE FOR GOOD. Can't wait to get started!
I have to agree with pretty much everybody here, I don't think you should even spend one second thinking about the people that don't like your books. Like it was said before me, if you don't like it don't read it...same goes for everything else in life!
I personally think you are an amazing writer, not only because I lovve Smokey Barrett but also for the reason that I am not a huge book fan. I'm 17 and can honestly say that most books bore me to death, I just stop reading them not even half way through...This series on the other hand is just breathtaking, exiting, arousing...really you guys don't have a good word for it in German you would say "mitreissend". Well anyway I think these are the best books I've ever read, so can't wait for the next ones:)
Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments. And I apologize for being absent for so long. I'm mortified, I promise. :)
Cody-
YOu are hands down one of the best writers out there today! I have many books. I read more than I watch T.V. and your novels are the only ones that I pre-order! I hope you continue to stay true to your work! After all, the truth is this world isn't always candy-canes and lollipops! Thank you! You are by far the best thriller writer out there! Keep up the great work!
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