“Writing is like sex. First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends, and then you do it for money.” ― Virginia Woolf

Is there any word in the English language that grabs the reader’s attention more than the word sex?  The only one I can think of might be death, but I doubt it. Sex is on my mind this morning because of the reading frenzy around E L James’ trilogy, Shades of Grey.

A little more than a month ago, I posted about the first book, Fifty Shades of Grey, on my Facebook page. I asked who was reading it. Only a couple of my Facebook friends had heard of it.

Fifty Shades of Grey made the top of the New York Times Bestseller List this morning with the second and third book in the trilogy occupying slots two and three. So a lot of people are reading it now or at least buying it.

A self-published novel that was quickly labeled “mommy porn”, Fifty Shades of Grey centers on BDSM (bondage and sadomasochism) – in essence SEX, albeit a very specific type. I believe the phenomenal success of this book is tied to the fact that it was originally published as an e-book. This made it possible for readers to download it privately. Many of these readers would never dream of carrying the physical book through their local Barnes and Noble and sliding it across the counter or having the book in their homes. You can buy the books now at Barnes and Noble. I saw a huge stack of all three there last week. Social media drove the success of the first book by sending out the clear message: “You have to read this book!”

Let me tell you about my experience with sex. I enjoy it but I don’t like writing about it. It’s not easy to do it well. If you don’t believe me, try it. Everything that you put on the page comes into question. “Do you think she does that?” or “Nobody does that!” When I write about sex, I immediately see the faces of a number of people I would prefer didn’t know I was even engaging in it, never mind writing about it for all the world to see.

Why do it then? The flip answer is that it sells books as has just been proven by Fifty Shades of Grey. The more thoughtful one is that I believe it is a huge part of most women’s lives and deserves its place in the books that women are reading. The question remains. What is the best way to actually write it?

MacCullough’s Women has a sex scene in it. I like to think of it as a love scene where two characters are enjoying some pretty good sex. The first time I had to read that scene to my writers’ group we were still meeting in my living room. The only way I was able to do it was to turn my back to the group. Now we meet on the phone and  the next time will be easier. I have had three specific compliments from readers on this scene but I have also had a number of requests to put MORE sex in the next book. I don’t treat sex like commas and sprinkle it everywhere, so we will have to see what the characters decide they want to do.

As far as Fifty Shades of Grey is concerned, the impact of its success in terms of sales and buzz generated cannot be understated. Once again, despite disclaimers, we are reminded that social media marketing is a force to be reckoned with and that self-publishing, like sex, is here to stay.

Okay, I will dare to ask. Who’s read Fifty Shades of Grey and what did you think of it?