forum Touchy subject I am curious for your opninion on....

Started February 26, 2018 by @Paperok

tune

How would you portray a rape scene?

It depends on whose perspective you are narrating it from. Message me with some details and I might be able to help

Very carefully. I wouldn't add much detail, just describe the emotional trauma I guess

@Jensenbear yeah I agree. @Paperok Unless your book is really graphic you should probably avoid the experience and focus more on the psychological effect.

Read the Kite Runner rape scene. That is an example of 'a bit far'
It should be traumatizing to the character, but just disturbing to the reader.
Less traumatization, more consternation.

It depends on how you want to write it. If you want to focus on the event, capture the intensity of it but don't go into too much detail. If you want to focus on the emotions and psychological impact, introducing the scene through the victim talking about it is a good way to go. Either way, going into too much graphic detail is a no-go and being matter of fact about it is dull. The intensity and the emotional impact of it are what matter.

You know, one of the most well written (not that I liked reading it, I cried) was the rape scene in the book "The Lovely Bones". It was written from the main character's perspective, and it didn't go into too much detail, using lots of metaphors. I'd paste it here, however it's extremely sensitive content and I don't want somebody to stumble upon it unwillingly and be scarred by it.

If you are looking for a good example of a rape scene from a child's perspective, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou has a very interesting example. It could give you some other ideas, both about how to depict it, and about the impact on the character.