Writing Mature Scenes (Nsfw)

[yaziroburrows]

I’m working on a story that involves several sexually mature scenes, all of which are integral to the plot. These scenes are not just about the act itself, but rather how they affect the characters' choices and development. Removing or skipping these scenes would significantly alter the story and leave out important context for readers.

I understand that Tapas has a mature toggle, and I’ve used it for certain scenes before, but I’m still unclear about where exactly the line is when it comes to mature writing. I know that in comics, explicit content is okay as long as it’s sanitized (no penetration, no full nudity), but I’m curious if there’s a similar guideline for writing.

Would using more “flowery” or vague language be enough to censor the content for writing, or would that still be considered crossing the line? Are there any specific dos and don’ts for mature writing that I should be aware of?

I'm trying to figure out if this is a story I can share publically, or just one where certains parts have to be read off site

[NGChloe]

When i have sex scenes I just show maybe bits at the start and cut away or cut away entirely. Best to play it safe on that front, since graphic violence and strong language tend to go under the radar in novel form

[Lensing]

Write the story in the way like you want it to be written and then do this

, or just one where certains parts have to be read off site

[Crusoe]

Yes, the line with novels is a bit more blurred than with comics and so it's more subjective. But one thing that helps me decide is by asking the question: would I let a 13 y/o read this? Because really, that's what it means to not mark your chapter as mature. That's why a skip with some hinting might be alright but anything more needs to be marked as mature.

With writing, on Tapas you can get away with almost anything except NSFW without plot but you do need to mark it as mature. Saying this as someone who has written multiple NSFW scenes in their stories and has had a story with mature scenes featured.

[yaziroburrows]

I'm not really asking if the chapters have to be marked as Mature but how mature is considered too mature.

Like with comic, i know sex scenes are okay as long as no penetration or genitals are shown and its marked as mature and I have written basically sexual charged scenes and not had issue, but there is no sex implied in the scene either.

My question is more, if I need to write out the whole scene, just not using crass language, which I don't use anyway, would that be censored enough to be allowed, or does it cross the line of what is allowed even if marked mature?

[yaziroburrows]

like I explained I can't really do that, because what happens during the sex is important and affects what the characters do/how they act.
If I did this, then readers would be confused as to why the characters went into the act one way, but came out of it acting differently and with new tension.

[Crusoe]

Yes, basically everything is allowed in writing as long as your overall story is not solely NSFW.

[yaziroburrows]

My story isn't, so I should be okay! Thank you for helping me understand where the line is!

[kyupol]

I won't do explicit details...

Like... I didn't draw the excruciating details of what she did to him... that's up to your imagination...

Another example...

[GothickangelStudios]

For mine, I have a whole other manga Knightshade, not PG13 friendly that sub plots the more adult stuff.
I linked them that way, so the main Darknight storyline is PG13 US ratings Censored (14+ Cdn Uncensored). And the extra bits alt 18+ Knightshade manga not on Tapas, does the explicit stuff.
Its how I get around the US rating system platforms. In a way it works great, because readers get funneled in by both of them.
I have changed out some speech bubbles for Tapas to be censored to not imply the enuendos. So it changes the story a bit. However, the 14+ uncensored version has the original script.

[yaziroburrows]

Comic standards don't really apply, which why I asked where the line was for Novels.

If I was doing a comic, I would have known where the line was. From what was explained, for Novels the line is just "Don't do Porn w/ Plot."

[bumblebeelz]

Pulling this info from here:
Question: I’m writing a novel that contains sexual scenes, is that okay?
Answer: Yes, that is okay! Novels have more leeway. Depiction of genitals or sex acts including penetration is permitted for novels, as long as its primary narrative purpose is something other than erotic satisfaction (Basically, your novel needs to have a plot other than sexual scenes). You will still have to mark your spicy episodes with the mature filter. Please refer to the “Mature Content” section for more information.

[yaziroburrows]

OH thats even better! thank you so much!