sex in books and Christianity

 Sex. It is why you exist and why you are sitting reading this blog, believe it or not. It is a natural thing for humans to do. We were built for it. Should it be depicted in fiction? Let's take a look at the pros and cons. 

I'm looking at this from a Christian perspective. I am also going to define some things right out of the gate. 

Erotica - literature written with the intended purpose of arousing the audience

Pornography - representations in word or image that are designed to arouse the audience

I'm going to make a point in saying that erotica and porn are purposely trying to turn on their audience. It is not accidental. It will not be a subtle one-paragraph of sex that does this. Fifty Shades of Gray is a whole book of sex, as an example (which I have never read and think it's trash all the same). I do not endorse a display that purposely tries to arouse your reader. You have to understand that most romantic suspense and romance novels that have a real plot and have historical context are not porn or erotica by the standards above (but if you think that the above definition fits any book you are probably reading one of the above).

One to two pages of a sex scene show up in lots of adult suspense and romances. Like I said, it doesn't fit the definition of erotica and porn in most cases. One vague sex scene is not erotica - but several detailed and obnoxiously corny sex scenes (cough cough, Fifty Shades of Gray, cough cough) are pornographic. I'd like you to know this for the rest of this blog. 

Also, I don't plan to write any sex scenes, as a writer, but wanted to know what the Christian views were. In general, it kind of surprised me. Below you will find what I found. This is all research.

The Christian Perspective for Readers

Readers, I have heard both sides of the coin on reading sex scenes. I am actually going to focus on writers for most of the blog, so here is your part of this. It is your choice to open a book, correct? I have a list of questions to run through with books including sex, for guidance. Unfortunately, I run into discussions on Fifty Shades of Gray every time I ask the internet, but I'm not asking about that book.

1. Does it glorify unhealthy and dark sexual acts?  -  If yes, it might not be the best thing to read.

2. Is the whole book sex (good or otherwise)?  - If no, you are fine, if I understand correctly.

3. Does it fall under the erotica definition above?   - see above response. If no, you're fine. 

4. Lust or love?  -  If you are reading pure lust, I'd stop and put it back.

5. Do you feel controlled by the content? - Stop reading if this is true.

The problem I'm seeing is that if we say nothing about sex (as the church) we leave people ignorant and others can lead them to it the wrong way. On the same token, sex can become a trap for some individuals. What do you do? Consult God. If you have the Holy Spirit He will convict you and lead you in what to read and what to leave alone. 

God let Solomon write a sex poem. I take this as an omen that God isn't totally opposed to it - and that it matters what wording we read it in and our maturity. If you feel tempted by it to sin put it back on the shelf, but if not and there are only a few scenes there you might be fine. The problem is that every source labels any sex erotica in Christian sources (all or nothing perspective), so is Song of Solomon automatically erotica? If so, how did it get into our bible if erotica is all sex in books and not to be read? It doesn't make sense to say Song of Solomon is sinful to read when it is in our Bible. I think you see my dilemma. I have no clear answer to give. God created sex, yes, but I think that addressing lust and sexual addiction is the problem. It only becomes a problem if it controls you. Discern carefully. Give it to God first, then go from there. I wish I had a clearer answer, but I don't. Read the verse below and I hope it helps you discern. 

Mark 7:18-23 NIV

18“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 20He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

For the Writers in the Room

Yes, there are Christian authors who don't write in the Christian fiction section. Yes, they do write love scenes. Yes, God did create us for sex. No, a steamy sex scene does not belong in every book in the library. Use it only when it is believable if you feel comfortable writing it. I found some guidelines from an author that outlines when to use it and why. The reasons below are from Sherrie Hansen's blog (a link will be in the sources below). She believes that sexual desire in characters is honesty about the human race. She is also Christian.

1. It has to have a point and reveal relevant details about the characters themselves. It has to have a point. It has to be relevant to the plot. If you can cut it out of the book and not have to edit anything else, you need to delete that entire scene.

2. There has to be some sort of repercussions and change in the characters after the sex. People are bonded by it. Someone becomes pregnant. It has to affect the relationships of the people in the plot.

3. Write it respectfully, honestly, and portray it as the gift God gave us. Sex is beautiful in its own way and may be a sin outside of marriage, but it is still fun (I'm told). 

4. It should have a lesson. When done in the right way it will be beautiful. When done in the wrong circumstance it can be disastrous. 

Your audience will have entirely different tolerances to sex scenes and the level of emotional heat. Some, like me, tolerate it for the sake of the other content. Others don't want to read it at all. Some could read 15 pages of sex and not even blush. 15 pages of sex are too much and are probably crapola in general, but you get my point. No one person is the same. 

There is a cheat to sex scenes that lots of writers use - hinting about it. Put simply, you suggest that they are about to have sex or show them after sex, but never show the sex. It is easier than writing the actual steamy scene. I do this in my writing if I want to suggest that sex was had or was about to be done. Less is more allows the audience to use their own imagination without plunging them into a "Woah! That's not what I asked for!" description. It's nice if you didn't read the romance for a vivid sex scene and want more plot. However, if you want to write it please add emotional significance to it.

Your thought life is your thought life. Do not blame another human for your struggles. Fight your battles and decide whether it is okay to read it or not. If you open a book with sex in it (that you knew about already) you actively choose to read it. I don't believe that we should lie about the truths of life and human nature. People break and make mistakes or get married and have beautiful sex. We can't just lie about human nature. Besides, even the Bible itself talks about sex. It was in Eden. It is also noted that it was subtly put into poetry, where young children won't understand it. There is a responsibility to portray it correctly and like God intended, so Christian writers shouldn't be showing abusive sex as normal sex.

There are several other points when writing sex scenes. One of them is that sex is good and it may be misused, but God designed it. Another equally important thought is that it should be depicted appropriately. Christian authors of past times didn't shun sex - so we shouldn't, either. Audiences of different ages are also absorbing sex differently, so know your readers before you write the scene. It is to be considered that we are responsible to portray sex appropriately, but we are not responsible for the sin of our readers. Showing the brokenness of our world is not, in any way, something to avoid. Show the world a mirror to the face, by all means. We all need God's grace and we need to spread the word - and perfect protagonists don't reveal our brokenness and need for Jesus. Immorality is sin, so don't portray it as something without consequence. Sin is wrong. Write it as such.

Badly Written Sex 

Fifty Shades of Gray is so badly written that even without the pornographic content it is worth nothing. I have said so a few blogs before this. Sex that is horribly written is worse than an unnecessary sex scene and readers will throw the bad work in the trash or mock it with their friends (so, if you heard about the film The Room, that's an example of mocking a form of media). Some books have one awful 12-page sex scene that makes someone stop reading 70 percent through the book (me, I stopped reading). I commit to books and try to finish them, so that's pretty bad! A sex scene should not be 12 pages. 

But wait, there's more! You can earn an award for writing the worst sex scene of the year. The Bad Sex in Fiction Award is a real thing. The award is given for horrible sex scenes in otherwise good fiction. It began in 1993, given by the Literary Review, and was canceled in 2020 because nobody needs bad sex on top of the dumpster fire of 2020, according to the Literary Review.  

The link to the winning participants of past years (that can create good laughs later) is here: https://literaryreview.co.uk/bad-sex-in-fiction-award.

If you are a writer and want to be taken seriously, please don't win the above award. The advice below is how not to write a sex scene. If you can't do it well, take my word as an avid reader and don't do it at all. 

1. If it reveals nothing about your character, you failed. Delete it. 

2. If you ended tension too quickly, delete it.

3.  The quote below is brilliant. Listen to this advice! :

"Most of us take longer to eat a pizza than we do to have sex. So here's a tip:
Write the longest description of eating pizza that you can. Go on a little longer than you think you should. Include smells, tastes, temperature, everything you can.
Now cut it down to a tight paragraph or two.
Print this out, tape it to the wall, and if you’re writing a sex scene longer than that, you’re going on too long."

4. Is it boring and the audience is not close enough? Delete it. 

5. Did you write it because you think you have to? Delete it.

6. Is it more "tell" than "show" (show vs tell is an editing checkpoint in anything, btw)? Rewrite it or delete it.

7. Lastly, sex is not a way to show love by itself - you can do better. It is not the go-to show of attraction you need. I repeat - you can do better.

When writing Young Adult sex scenes (because in some individual cases and situations it is appropriate, if worded correctly and if it is part of the plot) the link here is helpful: https://theconversation.com/honest-and-subtle-writing-about-sex-in-young-adult-literature-48002

Remember your audience, every time, or you may be showing too much or not enough. Someone who is younger will not understand or will see the vaguest sex scene as too awkward. If you are going to insist on sex scenes in young adult fiction, be as vague as you possibly can and don't be graphic. In this case over one paragraph is too much. Word it correctly and carefully. Don't write an adult scene for a young adult reader. The portrayal is everything here. Click the link above. Less is more is an established rule here. Hinting is enough!

Closing Remarks

I am seeing a problem with how some Christian writers view writing sex and what readers are told. Something isn't adding up. Readers are told all sex in books is bad, in some cases, even if the characters are redeemed and face real consequences, or are married. Honestly, it is part of the reason Christian authors don't always end up in the Christian genre of the library. Sometimes we can't talk about touchy subjects in some Christian fiction and it doesn't help. People will only find inaccurate portrayals of sex in other books later, so why aren't we talking about the truthful, beautiful picture of sex in Christian context in our fiction? I understand that if you have lust and porn addiction you shouldn't be reading any sex in books, but not everyone has that problem. Go to God first, above all, before reading. Know your thought life and make a decision with that in mind. 

Writers, I have never written a sex scene (so, all of this is researched). I cheat and show the before or after, but not the sex. I do think that less is more, but I will tolerate a necessary sex scene in my fiction reading to get to the rest of the plot. Christian bubble thinking does not always make some writers and readers feel okay with sex in fiction. "Know your audience" is the best advice any writer can ever get when it comes to touchy subjects. If you want it to be put in your church library you might want to avoid it. It depends if you care. 

I will kindly point out that CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien are not all put into the Christian section, nor do they include sex. It does not make you less Christian to have a book in the mystery, fantasy, or romance section instead of the Christian section. You can still portray Christ's love and grace in a book including sex, if this research is proof of anything, but it isn't a license to put sex in everything. Tolkien and Lewis did just fine without it. If you are going to write it and are determined to do so make it truthful. Do not add to the world's sensual crapola. Christian perspectives on sex need to be put out there; the world's view of sex needs to be challenged should you write a portrayal of sex.

In case you are curious, Tolkien's views of sex are in these links here: https://www.christianunion.org/the-magazine/1240-man-does-not-live-on-sex-alone-tolkiens-words-of-wisdom

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/jrr-tolkien-sex-and-love/

https://ansereg.com/warm_beds_are_good.htm

Should your book be wonderful without sex do not add a steamy scene. Unnecessary sex scenes create trashy novels. Spread the word! 

Pictures:

Pedestrian TV

Nothing in the Rulebook

Sources:

https://sherriehansen.wordpress.com/2016/04/20/is-there-such-a-thing-as-christian-love-scenes/

https://prismaticprospects.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/romance-in-christian-fiction-how-much-heat-is-too-much/

https://barbaraleeharper.com/2010/08/19/sexuality-in-christian-fiction/

https://charitysplace.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/sex-the-christian-writer/

https://storyembers.org/how-should-christian-authors-depict-sex/

https://litreactor.com/columns/what-good-are-sex-scenes

https://theconversation.com/honest-and-subtle-writing-about-sex-in-young-adult-literature-48002

writers and the editing process

 Writers and their written work have a special bond. We write something to life, but then to edit our work, we tear it apart without mercy. After that, it is beautiful again. It isn't easy to criticize the story you spent months writing. Let's talk about it. Join me in discussing the hardships of editing. 

Writing is energizing and fun for me. Editing, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. It takes energy to do it. While necessary, it also means I need to edit in a way that gives me breaks periodically. Good editing shouldn't be rushed. Good editors also cost some money. I have found, personally, that you should edit your work yourself - to the point that you can't see anything wrong with it - and then hire an editor. From there you give an editor a better manuscript to look over. 

There are many ways you can go about editing your writing. Whatever you do, make sure you show it to someone else for a fresh edit. Entrust it to a human who doesn't know it backward and forward. This blog post is all about the many ways you can put your work through the wringer to make it polished and pretty. 

Tips and Tricks

There are editing programs all over the internet. Some can even give you human editors to work with. You can get a free version with less features or the premium version that gives you fancy stuff. You determine if that is worth your money and if you can afford it. Grammarly is very nice and I use it often in the free version. I am still deciding if I want to pay for premium, but the free version is quite nice by itself. 

Line by line will take a long time. This can be done in sections, where you can take breaks in between. If you are going insane doing this stop and rest. Come back later. You can learn a lot by going line by line. You may find common mistakes this way. Along with this you should have a style guide, which will help your manuscript be uniform. 

Don't rely on your computer to catch everything. This applies to every part of editing. Your computer will flag stuff that isn't wrong or won't catch something that is wrong. Be aware of this. In this spirit, it is suggested you read it backwards to catch the spelling errors. Make your brain think twice and it will catch stuff you don't see when reading it in order. 

Reading out loud also catches words you thought you typed - but didn't type - before. We all do it. Our brain autocorrects in ways that make us unaware of our mistakes or wordiness. If you read it from a piece of paper it might make a difference (especially if you change font). Even ask a friend or use a text reader to find awkward wording or missed words. Computers will only see what you typed, in this case, so use a computer to find the mistake here.

Phone a friend. Hire an editor. Have someone else look at your work (if only to give yourself a break). I know it is hard to give your precious book to someone else, lest they hate it, but do it anyway. It will still be beautiful in the end. If you must hear it is awful, hear it when you can fix it - not when you released it into the world and it can hurt your reputation. Reward anyone who volunteers to help - because they are worth more than gold!!!!!!!

                                                

Let it sit in a drawer or be ignored for a bit. Why? Because you need to not stare at it daily. The more time spent away from it, the more mistakes you can spot. Do take a break from it to work on something else. It helps immensely. Fresh perspective after a month or two weeks away from your manuscript is important. A fresh mind sees more than a stressed mind. 

Editing in rounds is a good way to hit the big things and small things. I, personally, go through the plot holes first, then the small grammar and spelling mistakes last, and each type of mistake is one round. Between the rounds take a short writing break and reward yourself with something you enjoy doing, that isn't stressful. Again, a fresh mind is better than a stressed mind when editing. Stressed minds miss mistakes. 

Make sure you correct wordiness on one of your rounds. Readers are not fond of wordiness - at least, some of them aren't, anyway. Please look at the audience when figuring out what words you don't need and what details your plot doesn't need. Your first draft may have some wordiness in it. Your choice of how wordy your sentences are is yours, as long your readers understand you. Cliches are also something to cut out. 

Print it out. Break out the red pens and highlighters. Get your eyes off the screen and onto paper. Mark it up however you like. The old fashioned way is sometimes the best way to mark mistakes. If you are helping a friend edit give them a printed draft that is marked with red pen and page numbers, so that they can go through the electronic copy with the editing marks and page references. 

Most of all, get your first sentence right and learn from the mistakes that you make. Don't make them over and over again (in life and writing!). Learn from your writing journey and study the writers you love, how they write and their style. Mimic what you like and experiment (even if you never intend to send it to publishing). Free-write and edit that for practice, if you like. Proofread last, for sure.

Uncommon words can confuse an audience. Our modern audience is not going to know archaic words (use them if you like - just have them defined in some way). If you use a word make sure the readers in your sights know the word. You can lose readers that get confused. Writers have bigger vocabulary than average, much like avid readers. Know your target audience. 

Passive voice is to be avoided. Also, describe as much as possible. Put your reader in the scene. Make passive voice and description a round of editing by itself. That's the best way to target this type of mistake. Don't be passive or dull. Readers stop reading when they get bored. Another round of editing is repetition, which can get tiring, too. Find synonyms. 

You can get a free editing checklist here: https://jerryjenkins.com/self-editing/ 

Writing in general 

For general writing advice, click this link: https://becomeawritertoday.com/improve-your-writing/

As a writer, I know that your manuscript is practically your child. Editing is hard. You need the time and a peaceful place to write, edit, and research (three different tasks that are not the same). Research often comes before writing. Writing always comes before editing. Do not edit while your write or you will go insane. Do not research while you write or you will face the same thing. Create a structure and place for yourself to do all three things. Writers need this. Even if you are sitting in a coffee shop with a laptop, you need a private space. 

Since editing is the focus of the blog today, I'll let you click the link in this section. I hope I helped my fellow writers and have a good day!

Sources:

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/advice-on-editing/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_2MRPdm2OVApH2Uw2_Xrda5btI77zE9MDKtLTYR0rjKIWYIUN7QCt8aAuHJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joeescobedo/2017/07/24/forbes-new-york-times-the-10-best-ways-to-edit-your-copy/?sh=5ccb69fe253e

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-editing-your-own-writing

Pictures:

Memes Monkey Discovery Engine

The Mom Who Runs

Write Life

Celadon Books

Your Tango

Gaming and Intellect

Some people think you waste time by gaming. Well, let's look at the research and see how it affects you intellectually. They might be wrong. 

Photo courtesy of Call of Duty

First of all, plenty of games require intellect to even finish. Legend of Zelda has logic and critical thinking puzzles riddled through it, with some side quests that open hidden areas. Try to tell me that this game doesn't need a thinking brain and you will be lying. The same points can be made for Nancy Drew Herinteractive games, any game with logic puzzles, and the interactive ds game novels of Hotel Dusk and Last Window. 

Another point to make here is that it requires the ability to multitask to fight in games. Many enemies coming toward you at once takes the thought to move and hit the right combos, especially in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. It is not easy to play to the point of the last boss. I am only on level 2. There are no checkpoints in level - only at the beginning and end of each level. It is incredibly frustrating to die at Lucas Lee's hands and have to start over.

                                                        Responsible Adult Gaming

Photo courtesy of Game Reviews

With this topic, I need to say that adulting comes first. Do not neglect adult or student responsibilities to game in your room for hours. That is called obsession. You need to control that. Also, our eyes need a break from screens and it can be a health hazard to game day and night at a constant pace. Please exercise. Please take mental breaks for snacks and water. I care about you, readers. Take care of your eyes and body. 

Sometimes responsible leisure time means taking a break from a game for two weeks until you can make sure you have a handle on life's necessary tasks. I've had to do that before. Obsession is not healthy. Frustration also creates muddled thoughts, so if you get too frustrated back off the game for a day or so to avoid distressing yourself and your family and roommates (by cussing, screaming....etc). Keep stress levels low. It makes a difference in how you play (and clear minds beat games faster and kill Toon Link, in my case, less).

When it has become an obsession it will get in the way of your family, friendships, relationships, and adult tasks. Addiction is a point where someone else has to help you, but keep yourself in check. Anything can become an addiction. This is not exclusive to gaming. If you see that you are not in balance with leisure and adult tasks take the opportunity to take responsibility. Police this yourself. Be the responsible adult I know you are, especially if you have kids. You model good gaming and behavior for your offspring. Your kids do not need to hear you cussing out video game characters out of frustration. 

I have heard of fall-back hobbies and agree with the concept wholeheartedly. Ready Player One makes a point that you shouldn't live in a fantasy world your whole life. We shouldn't be staring at screens for days on end. We need sunlight, people, basic nutrition, and exercise. Fall-back hobbies are any pastimes that don't include gaming, such as creating art, sports, writing, etc... These make it possible to engage your brain without too much screen time. Keep this in mind if you are easily bored. Branch out into other hobbies if you need more stimulation. This will also help you control obsessions over gaming (no guarantees on anything else, though).

Gaming Makes You Smarter

If you are of the older generation you probably have your doubts about this. I don't. I have the research to prove that gaming helps your brain. Should you still feel that a game is negatively impacting someone you know please get them help. Anything can be an addiction (for reference), so please make sure you actually understand what is going on as much as you possibly can. That said, the research below is how games positively impact gamers. The video below explains the actual gaming addiction disorder. Listen to it before you decide your friend or relative is in danger.

Action video games are proven to improve attentional control, which is paying attention to specific things. Spatial awareness is also improved when compared to nongamers. Response times are also faster in gamers, and they anticipated the event that was happening. Action games also improve memory and tasks that use memory retention. Gamers are primed to be sensitive to visual cues and remember more accurately. 3D video games boost memory forming and improve hand-eye coordination and reaction times. Strategy games help older people avoid Dementia and Alzheimers. Games train your brain to expand memory capacity. Strategy games also make grades improve in school, which involves problem-solving skills. Gaming also sparks creativity in a way that doesn't correlate with the internet and technology or the game content.

But wait, there's more!

Extensive gaming has some benefits, which is creating complexities in your brain that allow you to multitask. You become more efficient. Extensive is not addictive - do not make that mistake. Action gamers make faster decisions, and gamers in general have long and short term decisions made faster. Gamers also have higher IQs, in general, because they game for the intellectual stimulation that school or work doesn't give them. Video games actually seek out intelligent people.

All this evidence is proof of improved brain activity. It is still important to remember that gamers are usually nerds and geeks, and these people are usually high in intelligence. We gamers want more stimulation in our entertainment. If someone is bored with an average activity that is a sign of intelligence (especially if they demonstrate that they can do it in less time than their classmates). This is why we need the challenge of a game. In some ways it seeks out the intelligent and improves their brain function simultaneously.

Game Content Matters

I play a variety of games - from Nintendogs to Legend of Zelda to Nancy Drew - and I'm sure other gamers do, too. Some days you want to play with bunnies and watch them do tricks. Other days you want to play an action game. Sometimes you feel like replaying your favorite mystery games. Does content matter? Let's talk about it.

The game categories include strategy, action, first person shooter, stimulation, sports, puzzle, and RPG (role playing games). All of them are different in nature. a Petz game is not the same as a James Bond shooter game when it comes to skills. The list below is the short version of what I researched. 

Strategy - involves flexibility, decision making, fast analysis, managing limited resources, logic

improves working memory and reasoning

Photo courtesy of Syfy Wire

shooter games - involves hand-eye coordination, fast thinking and decisions, quick reactions

improves spatial navigation, reasoning, memory, perception

downside- might be too violent for some people 

stimulation - mimics real world, includes decision making and managing resources

puzzle - involves patterns, logic, time pressured decisions

often played on tablets and phones out of boredom and while waiting for something

sports- fast paced, requires hand-eye coordination, fast analysis and decisions

action - problem solving, fast paced decisions, linear and nonlinear plotlines

improves problem solving, strategic thinking, teamwork, creativity

RPG - involves creativity, decision making, fast analysis and decisions, ability to think ahead

improves reasoning and logic, creativity

Closing Thoughts

Guess what? People make money off of gaming! Esports is the competitive gaming competition that makes it possible to game for a living. Also, doing game walkthroughs on youtube can make you some money, as well. Teams will work together to beat another team (which builds communication skills and empathy, as well as community support). They show these competitions live. Schools can actually do this, too, so this isn't just for adults. Basically, gaming is not for the bums in the basement - it can be beneficial to your brain. The video below will explain what you should consider in competitive gaming.

Sources:

https://www.healthygamer.gg/video-games-make-you-smarter-backed-up-by-research/#:~:text=A%20study%20conducted%20at%20the,Legends)%20and%20high%20intelligence%20levels.&text=The%20first%20group%20found%20that,strategy%20games%2

https://www.raisesmartkid.com/6-to-10-years-old/5-articles/57-what-video-games-are-good-for-the-brain

https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/what-is-esports-and-how-does-it-work-in-education#:~:text=Esports%2C%20or%20Electronic%20Sports%2C%20is,used%20for%20communication%20between%20gamers.

movies that slaughtered good books

We all know that some book series were fantastic, but the movies and TV Shows were awful (but only if you read the books). Avid readers know the pain of a badly adapted novel, when the directors take creative liberties and change the ending or plot in a bad way. Here we have a list of bad adaptations that were good books.

In the defense of directors and filmmakers, movies are not easy to make. Not everything in the book can fit into a movie timeframe or be made possible. Between scriptwriting, budgets, and what actors are available it is not an easy feat to create a beautiful film. Not all special effects can be put into action and look good. Some actors won't do certain actions. Grace is in order for the directors who tried to make an accurate film. Even so, here are some badly adapted ones that made the connected fandoms scream in frustration.

Twilight

The memes are abundant and the general verdict on the movies themselves are horrible. I think the movies probably slaughtered a good book series. Have I read it? No, but others have and say the books are actually good. 

How is it different? Well, timeline for starters. Book 1 is 5 months of relationship, not 3 months. Another thing to take into account is the deeper relationships in the book that didn't translate as well into film. As some other directors have done before, we also lose a few characters to make up for time and reduce complexity to further main plots. Books have a luxury of subplots, but the film industry generally doesn't use all of it for the sake of budget. Speaking of plot, Bella's decision to become a vampire is more fleshed out in words and not movie. Additional plot includes an introduction to three characters who begin to hunt Bella, which doesn't come out of left field in the book plot, but does in the movie. The relationship dynamics and conversations are somewhat stronger toward Jacob in the books, by the way, so consider that if you are team Edward and never read the book. The books are also from Bella's point of view.

Problems in filming real actors, who are portraying vampires (which don't age), can't be helped. This is one place we need to give grace in abundance. Special effects are hard to achieve sometimes. Filmmakers know this well. The supernatural isn't simple to show on stage or screen, so be nice if you know it is hard to do. 

The Hobbit

Okay, so you liked this one and so did I, but Tolkien's son did not. Tolkiens followers are avid and sticklers for accuracy. What went wrong here? Let's dive into it. 

At the top of the list is the fact that one book became three movies. Part of the issue with inconsistency was time (because the LOTR series was a long project with pre-production work). Another large part of this was production wasn't as controlled and Peter Jackson never felt on top of the process like he'd been before. Material was added to connect it to LOTR, thus it made things a bit more confusing. Overuse of CGI made some dislike the film, too. 

The truth about Tolkien anything is that the storyline is complicated, connected, and beautifully intricate. Fans of the series can easily and casually tell you all about it. If you aren't studied in it already you may get lost. It has to be thought out carefully and executed with care, not haste. This film trilogy was done too quickly. 

Percy Jackson

With this series I caution you to have grace. Special effects can only take you so far where mythology is concerned. I liked both movies, but if you are a purist in this series you know how much they changed. I have not read the books. They made mythology mistakes, including Persephone being in the underworld in the summer (when the story clearly states she should be in the living world during that time) The first and second movies had two different screenwriters. Apparently, the second one was better and stuck to real mythology, but the first messed up their mythology. 

A layered plot doesn't work perfectly into a screenplay and movie. With settings all over the place and scenes missing from the movies that were in the books, it can confuse an audience. CGI can't portray all the weird mythology that is in the books (like the sea horses in the sea being ridden). Frankly, they are not the easiest YA books to transfer to film. Depth in book characters didn't make it to the film, in some cases. The layered storyline is not complete without that character depth, so it doesn't work as well as it should in the books. 

Nancy Drew and Riverdale CW Series

I am an absolute nerd about Nancy Drew and like several of the adaptations. I didn't like this one. It is not the Nancy of the books or the games. She is not in Riverheights. Ned Nickerson is nothing like the books. The ghost in the books, believe it or not, are seldom real. Bess is not the same. George is not the same. Carson Drew and his daughter were close and not estranged. It is almost all wrong. They made it what they wanted, and much like Riverdale, created a drama that wasn't anything like the source material.

Riverdale is based on Archie Comics. The fans of these comics were not pleased, much like Nancy Drew fans. It was as unrecognizable as many CW adaptations seem to be. Archie comics are innocent and light humor. First of all, there was no murder in it. Jughead is not the main character in the comics, nor is he all dark and gang leader. Betty and Veronica were also in competition for Archie all throughout, so there's that, and it was all about Archie. The crossovers were also abundant. Reggie is a bully in the comics, too - definitely not the one we see on our TV screen. I could go on, really, so look at my sources to see more. 

CW has a habit of making something dark, raunchy, and nothing like the source. I did watch Riverdale and like it for a while, but I caught the drama pattern (which is ramping up the drama, continue the tension, and release with a hint of new tension). I only looked into it for Cole Sprouse, really, so I wasn't disappointed. Nancy Drew is a beloved character to me, so that was different. Frankly, I also see homosexual characters in every single CW series, too, so that wasn't my jam. CW is not my go-to channel.

Maximum Ride

I lived and breathed Maximum Ride in my Jr High years. I read them all. They are complicated, complex characters and plots. Some people are both good and bad at different times - like Ari. It would take a lot of money to do this movie right. All the same, it doesn't truly need one. It would be another Percy Jackson situation. The movie they made for this one was a failure. It had no budget at all, according to reviews. The actors did badly, too, but that may just be the directing and script's fault. 

Maximum Ride is a James Patterson book series directed at teens that are about genetically modified teenagers imprisoned in an illegal science facility. After that the plot gets complicated and layered - and swiftly so. They fight, hide like fugitives, are betrayed, betray each other, and discover abilities on the way. It all ends with a bang in the last book. Can all this be contained in a PG13 movie? Heck to the no! It needs a rated R movie to portray all this stuff. One of the characters is forced to watch a surgery that is forced upon her friend years before - surgery with no drugs - for the purpose of night vision (which failed, but he can see if there is an all white background). Is that PG13 or PG14? Definitely not. This is why I advocate we try not to film this one. My friends and I thought they'd bungle it and we were right.

Conclusion

If you liked these I am not shaming you. It is likely you didn't read the books connected to them, or maybe you did and you are open-minded. At any rate, these didn't follow the books at all or only loosely followed them. The actors are probably not at fault in these cases. Directors and scripts tell an actor how to portray these characters. I ask that you don't blame actors here. The best actors in the world, directed badly, will not look good, so I give these people grace in a big way. 

Sources:

https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/books-ruined-by-movies-389095.html
https://screenrant.com/hobbit-trilogy-lord-rings-peter-jackson-problems/
https://screenrant.com/twilight-books-movies-comparison/
https://atlanticmolly.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/percy-jackson-the-movies-vs-the-books/
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8540678/does-cw-nancy-drew-follow-the-books
https://www.cbr.com/archie-riverdale-comics-comparison/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/maximum-ride-review-934238

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