--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone seems agreed that writing about…" description: "\"Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly individualised characters in a generic, featurele..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png" --- # Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous… ![“Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly individualised characters in a generic, featureless activity (much like coffee-cup dialogue, during which everyone sounds the same), and partly because it feels... tacky.” quote by Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png) > “Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly individualised characters in a generic, featureless activity (much like coffee-cup dialogue, during which everyone sounds the same), and partly because it feels... tacky.” [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing about sex risks reducing distinct characters to generic activity, making dialogue feel uniform and potentially vulgar. **In simple terms:** Sex scenes can flatten character uniqueness and seem crass. Key Takeaway Avoid generic sexual content that erodes individuality. Themes character development dialogue authenticity sexuality in literature cliché avoidance tone management Mood reflective cautious critical Type observation advice When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - creative workshops - editorial reviews - literary criticism Key Concepts characterization voice intimacy narrative style Practical Applications - refine sexual scenes to reveal character traits - use intimacy to deepen plot Questions to Reflect On - How can sexual content enhance rather than diminish character depth? - What techniques preserve individuality in intimate scenes? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I had a dream about you last night. I was writing a ‘Sex for dummies-Christians That Secretly What to be Porn Stars- 1st edition.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-hudson/i-had-a-dream-about-you-last-night-i-was-writing-a-sex-for-dummies/) [Crystal Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-hudson/) > [“Writing Vampire Erotica is like writing sex scenes for porcupines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-r-smith/writing-vampire-erotica-is-like-writing-sex-scenes-for-porcupines/) [Benjamin R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-r-smith/) > [“Huddled in her mink in the Kansas City airport, she had a vision of women writing about sex as openly as male writers, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/huddled-in-her-mink-in-the-kansas-city-airport-she-had-a-vision-of/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [I'd really like to see smart sex writing, writing that can take sex apart and try to put it back together, that doesn't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kramer-bussel/i-d-really-like-to-see-smart-sex-writing-writing-that-can-take-sex/) [Rachel Kramer Bussel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kramer-bussel/) > [Writers have problems writing sex scenes, because writing one really well is pornography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/writers-have-problems-writing-sex-scenes-because-writing-one-really/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [in writing, sex doesn't matter; it's the writing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/in-writing-sex-doesn-t-matter-it-s-the-writing-that-matters/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [My Irish Catholic mother loved romantic movies, provided they ended with a kiss before the screen went dark. If things went any further than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-brady/my-irish-catholic-mother-loved-romantic-movies-provided-they-ended/) [Catherine Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-brady/) > [Writing about sex turns out to be just writing about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/writing-about-sex-turns-out-to-be-just-writing-about-life/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Writing about sex at length is a bit like describing mastication at length. It's the causes and the consequences and the meaning of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/writing-about-sex-at-length-is-a-bit-like-describing-mastication-at/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I have even taught classes on writing about sex, and I've looked closely at different writers' sex scenes. On the level of craft I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-soehnlein/i-have-even-taught-classes-on-writing-about-sex-and-i-ve-looked/) [K. M. Soehnlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-soehnlein/) > [“Writing about sex is not as personally revealing as one might think, because like anything else you write about, the words are not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-baingana/writing-about-sex-is-not-as-personally-revealing-as-one-might-think/) Doreen Baingana > [“Writing about sex is a challenge for the same reason sex is a challenge. Because it’s complicated. Because it doesn’t always make sense and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/writing-about-sex-is-a-challenge-for-the-same-reason-sex-is-a/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [When writing sex scenes, there is often no pleasing anyone, except perhaps the writer herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-coady/when-writing-sex-scenes-there-is-often-no-pleasing-anyone-except/) [Lynn Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-coady/) > [“She was also sure that having experienced the act first hand would probably benefit her writing. If anything she should have sex for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/she-was-also-sure-that-having-experienced-the-act-first-hand-would/) [R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/) > [The difficulty of writing about sex, for women, is that sex is best when not thought about, not analysed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/the-difficulty-of-writing-about-sex-for-women-is-that-sex-is-best/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) ## More by Edmund White > [The talk shows in the States want celebrities, not authors. In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-talk-shows-in-the-states-want-celebrities-not-authors-in-france/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [In 'A Boy's Own Story' and 'Jack Holmes and His Friend,' my idea was to take someone totally different from my real self and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/in-a-boy-s-own-story-and-jack-holmes-and-his-friend-my-idea-was-to/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > ['The Sound of Things Falling' may be a page turner, but it's also a deep meditation on fate and death. Even in translation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-sound-of-things-falling-may-be-a-page-turner-but-it-s-also-a-deep/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [If you're a beach person or a golfer, Key West is not for you. Most of the sand has been imported, and the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/if-you-re-a-beach-person-or-a-golfer-key-west-is-not-for-you-most-of/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [First, I was opposed to gay marriage because it seemed like one more way that gays were wanting to assimilate. When I realized the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/first-i-was-opposed-to-gay-marriage-because-it-seemed-like-one-more/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [From my mother I learned just how violent and unquenchable a woman's loneliness can be. She had been sheltered excessively by her husband and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/from-my-mother-i-learned-just-how-violent-and-unquenchable-a-woman-s/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [From an early age, I had the idea that writing was truth-telling. It's on the record. Everybody can see it. Maybe it goes back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/from-an-early-age-i-had-the-idea-that-writing-was-truth-telling-it-s/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [Since, in the best Southern tradition, I was named Edmund Valentine White III, sometimes when people look up my books on Amazon they find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/since-in-the-best-southern-tradition-i-was-named-edmund-valentine/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [When I was young, I despised old people. I was provincial and narrow-minded. It's the reason I stayed stupid so long. If you only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/when-i-was-young-i-despised-old-people-i-was-provincial-and-narrow/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [Key West is the place where your sickly house plant back in New York grows to 10 ft. It's also the place where an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/key-west-is-the-place-where-your-sickly-house-plant-back-in-new-york/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“In the past, when gays were very flamboyant as drag queens or as leather queens or whatever, that just amused people. And most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/in-the-past-when-gays-were-very-flamboyant-as-drag-queens-or-as/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [When a woman falls in love with me, I feel guilty. I am convinced that it's pure obstinacy that keeps me from reciprocating her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/when-a-woman-falls-in-love-with-me-i-feel-guilty-i-am-convinced-that/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [While writing 'City Boy,' I relied mainly on my own memories. In particular, I was able to describe the effect of gay liberation on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/while-writing-city-boy-i-relied-mainly-on-my-own-memories-in/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [Tennessee Williams recognized that great theater begins with great talkers, and that great talkers obey two rules: they never sound like anyone else and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/tennessee-williams-recognized-that-great-theater-begins-with-great/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) [Explore all 166 Edmund White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly individualised characters in a generic, featureless activity (much like coffee-cup dialogue, during which everyone sounds the same), and partly because it feels... tacky.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund White" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about-sex-is-perilous-partly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about-sex-is-perilous-partly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/edmund-white-2376_about_everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about_65665.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly…” — Edmund White", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edmund White", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everyone seems agreed that writing about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about-sex-is-perilous-partly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about-sex-is-perilous-partly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```