Question on minor (in both senses) character

[theredheadboy]

Hi all,

Wanted to float a particular scene in a story I'm writing, so as not to waste mine or the submission editor's time if it's not going to pass censorship.

Put simply, married couple having sex, young daughter walks in room, awkward moment as she asks what she came in for, then leaves. No mention is made of daughter's feelings, so has no sexual angle, and her brief interruption doesn't enhance the mood for the married parents, who stop what they're doing and freeze in embarrassment. Otherwise, beyond this passage, daughter isn't really in the story other than as a described element along with work etc. as to why the couple's sex life is in need of a boost.

The passage in question is only a few lines long.

So, would this be flagged as underage sexuality, or not? I hope the latter, but not my site, or my rules

Thanks in advance for any guidance!

Red

 

[ElectricBlue]

In terms of the Lit policy, you have an underage character near a scene with sexual content - the girl needs to be a long way away from that. Maybe just hint that they hear a noise in the corridor, and one of them gets out of bed to care for the child - in another room, so there's no connection between the child and the sex. That would have the same function, plot wise.

 

[Charrla]

Agreed with above. The problem is, this site has a lot of stories that start with (young adult) children seeing their parents getting it on, and go from there. So even though this child does not know what she's seeing, that's where peoples' minds will go. It might be accidentally implied. And that's the issue. Not what it is, but what kind of thinking it leads to.

You could get around this, I think, with having the child request something from outside of the door. It would be an easy fix. But yes, I think you do run the risk of running afoul of site editors with this, though your intentions are not bad.

 

[Todger65]

I edited a story with similar content a couple of years back where an under 18 witnessed but wasn’t involved in a sex act. I advised the writer to alter it and they refused and it was rejected, an appeal also failed. The ruling basically is they can be in the same room or outside a room where they could see in through an open door or window.

Apparently it is ok to make a historical reference to underage sex, if it is needed in the plot, as long as there isn’t any description of that act included. Example being a mum explaining to son/daughter why she is only 16 years older than them and no further information given about the act.

Bottom line, no under 18 can be within sight of a sex act and that includes peering through keyholes, cracked open doors or windows.

 

[theredheadboy]

Thanks all, suspicions confirmed, will rework or likely remove the passage. Cheers for the feedback!