What is off-limits?

[Steerpike]

Inciting real world violence should be off limits.

Hard to imagine how a novel or short story could meet the test for real world incitement, however. At least in the U.S.

 

[Deleted member 5759]

Nothing is off limits. But you must understand that the more you delve into taboo subject matter, the fewer people will want to read it.

Yeah, seems the case... which is coming as a learning experience for me.

 

[Deleted member 5759]

I bought Throne of Bones due to this thread. I’ve only read the first story. Yeah, it’s very good. Looking looking forward to the rest.

Awesome! I'd love to hear what you think about the whole ball-o-wax

 

[Deleted member 5759]

Hard to imagine how a novel or short story could meet the test for real world incitement, however. At least in the U.S.

Agreed. I personally defend the artist at all costs when society blames KMFDM or Mary' Manson for Columbine, or Judas Priest for teen suicide, etc. To me, that is a cop-out almost as old as art itself.

 

[Deleted member 5759]

Anything that is gratuitous and there to gross the reader out. Whatever is the literary equivalent to the cinematic jump-cut or blood hitting the lens. Also anything that is boring. Too much description of how any/something is done [that doesn't move the plot along] should be avoided. This is also why I try not to write sex scenes. I haven't read an engaging sex scene. I ready several [what I consider to be] well written seduction scenes...

I like Lovecraftian Horror. And most of the time there, it is left at vague descriptions and then "to hideous for the human mind to comprehend". The reader has to join the dots. Let the reader add the colour to the scene. Their imagination will work better.

They didn't like what they read. as for the WHY of that? That is in the eye/mind of the reader.
No book is loved [or even liked] by everyone who reads it. Not a horror tale but I have a friend that thinks "To kill a Mockingbird" was "boring...", as that is one of my favourite books I can't comprehend why someone would think that and I an certain that he is WRONG. But he isn't. He found it boring.
It is up to your audience to decide what is they want to read.
That said [almost certainly] there will be laws about obscenity in any market you try to publish.
What is defined as obscene will vary.
Some will be very restrictive on violence [especially to women], pornography, drug use, hate speech, gender, sexuality issues or political ideologies [I think it is still illegal to own/display a swastika in Germany, for any purpose - but I guess that Hindus and Buddhists find a way around this?!?].
Long ago I read a book that started with the gang rape of a [barely] teenage girl on a Cathedral's steps. Page 1 para 1.
It was a graphic, violent and very detailed rape but it was suitable [even needed] for the tone and content of the story being told. In another tale I might have put the book down and walked away... Admittedly I haven't reread this tale...

I have to think if grossing a reader out is a real, strategic goal (give it up to Chuck Palahniuk here), than achieving that is good for use. It seems a grossed out reader can experience an arc from this low-point. Something to consider for sure, b/c I see "grossed out" as a common topic in this thread. At any rate, man oh man how right you are about sex scenes. I attended a workshop that used a book by Morrissey as a "what not to do." Not b/c it was vulgar, but b/c sex scenes are notoriously difficult to write. The guidance was use lead-ups via atmosphere and the reader knowing the characters so well that the reader will already know the characters will be attracted to the other. Anything but Morrissey's "penetrate her glorious mound with his love sword."