teen sex addict

Hmmm....

The title of the thread made me say "wow" and raise my eyebrows, so you know this story would have a hook that would get attention, both positive and negative.

Regarding sex addiction in a teen as a believable condition, the DSM-IV says a mental disorder is "conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or disability (i.e. impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom." So if the way you develop the character and his story fit within this characterization, then I think it could ring true. Also, there are mental illnesses that have as a part of them risky sexual behavior, such as bipolar disorder. What does the expert you talked to say about it?

I think the trick in this topic's success would be completely in how you handle it. If you make him a sympathetic protagonist, as you said above, and make us really feel for the pain this addiction causes him and others, and show us his struggle in addressing it, then it could be eye opening and really connect with the reader on a deep level. On the other hand, there would be the opportunity to make it more of a salacious and wacky story (with Dane Cook starring in the movie version), which would be a completely different project.

That's just my thoughts on it - what do others think? Let us know what you decide to do!

well being a teenager (15 same as ur character) i would agree. lol.
still tho, it would seem a little more likely that he'd be 16 or 17 and be a sex addict.

I think, as the last poster said, it's all about how you handle it. It's realistic for a 15 year old to be a sex addict, sure -- rare, but realistic. And I think that, written the right way, he can absolutely be a sympathetic character. The thing about addictions is that almost everyone either has one or knows someone who does. Your best bet is to craft a character that people really *want* to get better; somebody they can root for.

As far as crazy or controversial, it's all in how you handle it. It's a mature theme, for sure, but no more so than a lot of those explored in modern YA fiction. As long as you're tasteful, and make sure to steer clear of anything that could be perceived as pornographic, I think you should be okay.

I don't really have an opinion on whether or not that's an appropriate YA subject. That's your call. But if you do decide to do this, you absolutely must read a book called "Go Ask Alice." It's not about a teen sex addict specifically, but there's a LOT in that book that will give you amazing perspective on what you're writing.

Wow. Talk about diving into the deep end of the pool. I kind of think of the concept of sex and young adult lit. as being nitro and a bucking bronco......bad mixture. That being said, I think it would really grab an audience if done right.

Working in the school system and dealing with kids at the age you are targeting, I have seen some character types that would raise the hair on the back of your head. However, I've not seen a typical teenager at that age that could be diagnosed as a sex addict, not to say that many should not have been diagnosed just that. One thing I should say here, most of those that show this type of behavior tend to be aggressive, amoral and unable to view themselves as anything but invincible. STDs are not considered important and mentioning HIV to them just illicts a laugh. Most of the kids that I've watched or talked to tend to be very rude and hurtful, especially to the opposite sex.

So what does all that stuff above mean, really....nothing. It means that having someone in recovery from that addiction would be dealing with the remorse of his/her actions and fears of disease. Others that have been on the receiving end of this person's actions would be resentful and even possibly violent in return.

Lots of thoughts and possiblities. The good thing is that I really believe that kids would read it, if for nothing more than to see others dealing with emotions that they are dealing with. And believe me, they really want to know that others are in the same boat. Most that I have talked to have told me the same thing...they are to embarrassed to talk to even their friends about what they are feeling, so they go to characters in books or movies to feel some sort of bond/camaraderie.

Sorry for the rambling. Hope it helps. Good luck.

I definitely appreciate the responses. In the first book, he was kind of an antagonist that had this side to him that ppl liked. It's v hard to do. I'm trying to show the ugliness of the addiciton, but still elicit sympathy for the person struggling with it. I did have him do a couple of things that were semi-aggressive, that he absolutely hated himself for and made him go seek help-- not rape, but verbal abuse, pushiness, and opportunism. Keep responding if u think of anything else. These responses definitely helped:)

glad to help. Don't forget, that any advise that is given is simply that....advice. In the end, just write and then go back and see if it works. I find it easier to simply do what I think and then go back and fix what doesn't work. That way you are not always staring at the page wondering if you are ever going to get pass "Once Upon a Time..". So don't worry too much about whether or not it would be real, you can always fix that later with a little tweaking. Once Nov 1 starts, just write...period, end of discussion.

And good luck. It should be great.

Try watching the movie called, "Kids.' its pretty explicit.