My March release, Fancy Free featured a heroine who inherits a condom company.
Some of you will already be familiar with the behind-the-scenes story about how the idea for Fancy Free came to me. My husband and I were flying home from San Francisco aboard an Air New Zealand flight. I browsed the in-flight magazine and a new product article caught my attention. One of the new products was a vibrating condom, and immediately my mind seized on the idea. My husband shushed me when I tried to discuss condoms and the possibilities, so I went into daydream mode and by the time we landed in Auckland had a plot all mapped out.
That brings me directly back to condoms. In our personal lives we’re told to practice safe sex. I have no problem with that, after all, who wants to pick up a nasty disease while doing a horizontal tango?
Safe sex and the surrounding issues is something that authors need to consider each time they write a love scene. Back at the start of the safe sex campaign a lot of people went on record as saying using a condom in a fictional love scene destroyed all the spontaneity. Personally I’ve never understood the problem because if the scene is written properly, a condom can add an extra dimension. It says I care enough about my health to use one. It says I care enough about my partner to protect him or her. To me, writing a condom into a love scene makes plain common sense.
Over my years of writing I’ve developed a set of rules for fictional condom use. I’ll also add here that this is my opinion and this is what I like to see. I’m not going to bash you over the head if you disagree.
Contemporary romance:
My hero and heroine always use a condom in each love scene. Sometimes more, since I write erotic romance! If they don’t use a condom I give the reader a good reason. Sometimes in the heat of the moment our hero and heroine might forget. Our hero and heroine might be in the middle of nowhere and desperate to the point of crazed, or they might know each other’s sexual history and oral contraception is enough. In Fancy Free, condoms are part of the plot. My characters James and Alice make full use of their products. In Summer in the City of Sails, I even have a condom scene where the hero tells the heroine her glow-in-the-dark condoms remind him of a green ogre.
Historical romance:
I know from my research a form of condoms has been around since Egyptian times. During Roman times after the gladiators fought, they scored big time with the noble ladies. These noble ladies didn’t want children from the gladiators, merely a night of pleasure so they used condoms.
If I’m writing a historical, my heroes and heroines usually don’t use condoms. This was an era where good girls remained virgins until marriage, especially the women of the nobility so the use of condoms isn’t an issue. I look at the social mores when deciding whether my characters use birth control. In my Georgian-set historical, The Second Seduction the plot was a marriage of convenience and a condom wasn’t necessary. In Unforgettable, my World War II romance the couple use condoms.
Paranormal/futuristic romance:
Sometimes my hero and heroine use condoms and sometimes they don’t. It depends on the set-up. Often in my futuristic stories I’ll make a point of saying sexually transmitted diseases are eradicated. I did this in Sex Idol and Fallen Idol.
In my Middlemarch Mates feline shifter series condoms are used in some books and not in others, with the readers learning why condoms are absent.
It is my opinion that responsible romantic heroes use condoms.
What do you think about condoms in fiction? Should our heroes and heroines use them? Does it jerk you out of a scene if condoms are absent? If you’re a writer what rules of use do you like to apply?
Related posts:
In my contemporary romances, I use condoms. It’s the responsible thing to do.
With shapeshifter, paranormal, and time/travel books it’s a bit different. It really depends on the culture and the book.
by N.J. Walters April 21st, 2008 at 6:39 amWell, I’ve said it before I’m not fond of condoms in ficton. It’s FICTION, after all, and to me it reads like a political manisfesto.
But then, I scarcely read contemporary to begin with. And sure there are exceptions; if condoms are part of the PLOT, I don’t mind them in the sex scenes.
For fun, here are some words for it used in German speaking countries: Lümmeltüte, Verhüterli, Gummi (the last one refers to the material and isn’t erotic at all, imho).
by Gabriele April 21st, 2008 at 7:49 amI usually read historicals, so condom use has never been present in the books I’ve read. As for writing, I’ve only written historical and paranormal, and it never crossed my mind to include them. The types of characters I write would assume that their own virtuous behaviour excludes STD’s, whether that was true or not (LOL!)
by julia April 21st, 2008 at 10:11 amI don’t read many romances but I applaud books when they do include condoms or the consequences of not using them. For instance… Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward (not exactly a romance) deals in part with an unexpected pregnancy because of a previous condomless sex scene.
by pussreboots April 21st, 2008 at 10:55 amVery interesting topic, Shelley! For me, while I’ve included them a few times if I felt it would somehow enhance the scene, I prefer not to write or read about condoms at all. It jerks me right out of the story when they’re included, so I guess since I look at reading as a take-me-away fantasy, I just prefer to think of it as something I *assume* they’re using, yet a thing that’s not focused on as part of the mechanics of lovemaking. But with a story like FANCY FREE where condoms are part of the plot—now that’s a totally different thing.
I would definitely expect and want to read about them being used in the loves scenes in that case. Congrats on the release, by the way. Excellent premise! 
Titania
by Titania Ladley April 21st, 2008 at 12:45 pmI think condoms in fiction are appropriate and they don’t bother me. I do notice when there is no condom in the scene.
by Jane April 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pmIt depends on what you’re writing. Contemporaries yes. Historicals, no not really.
And it depends how you work it for a Sci Fi thriller. :D STD’s being eradicated is perfect. Zannie Adams in Hold quite simply mentioned in hers by the heroine saying “Thank god my yearly birth control shot was up to date” or something like that.
I have no issues, if it’s worked right and doesn’t pull you out of the story.
by Amy Ruttan April 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pmThe use of a condom in a scene doesn’t bother me, if it is written into the story well.
by Estella April 21st, 2008 at 1:16 pmWow, cool topic. I have to say I’m dead on with you as far as condoms go. (Might be why you’re one of my favorites!) In a contemporary romance I think it’s irresponsible of the author not to use one, there are occasions it’s ok, but more often than not I want them to be responsible. I mean if they aren’t man/woman enough to take responsibility, protect themselves and their partner then in my mind they aren’t hero/heroine worthy. Wonderful topic!
Oh swing by my blog when you get a chance I have an award for you!
by Amy W. April 21st, 2008 at 1:41 pmHugs,
-Amy W.
Gabriele – they words mean condom?
Julia – I’ve read quite a few erotic historical romances where condoms were used. Mr. Casanova used to use them, I believe.
Thanks, Titania. It’s funny how readers are different. I tend to get jerked out of the story if a condom isn’t used or mentioned, but I have to agree. Romances are fantasies that sweep us away from the real world or a bad day at work!
Pussreboots – There are quite a few Harlequin romances that use the secret baby/pregnancy plot where condoms fail or have been forgotten in the heat of the moment. It’s a great premise when handled well.
Jane – you’re a bit like me. I definitely notice the absence.
Amy – that’s the beauty of writing sci-fi – making up our own rules and worlds.
Hi Estella – I’ve read some very sexy condom scenes. Some erotic romance writers do this really well.
Amy W – wow, thank you for both the award and the compliment!
by Shelley Munro April 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 amYes, Shelley, they do. Of course, we have the word Kondom, too, but the others are more fun.
by Gabriele April 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 am