Do books or novels need "R" or "X" ratings, or anything similar anymore?

hmm...well, I know the erotica genre still has the "Warning: adult content/sex. !8 and over only" ..I'm not too sure of the exact wording but it did have a warning on the back cover. That was recently.

As for the restriction of the f word and s word I don't think they restrict so much as discourage it now. I've read some published works that had them in but it was only once. The f word I've only seen in the erotica genre but even then it's rare as well.

In regards to if they need ratings...hmm...I don't really think so. Unlike movies, books aren't exactly advertised in explicit ways so unless you go seeking out for a specific books, you'll more likely than not stick to what you know.

I remember when I was in my teens and middle school years, I never ventured into the 'adult' section of the library. I stayed in the young adult section with the rare cases of needing to check out a classic for school. It wasn't until i felt like i've had enough of the young adult section that i ventured into the adult fiction or just the 'fiction' aisle.

I chanced upon erotica by accident o.O and eh, i've already read my share of romance books so it wasn't like "woah! where'd that come from."

And I think, for the most of us, we stay within our comfort zone unless something makes us want to venture out. And also...I think by now we all kinda know what to expect from certain genres. And besides, the vast majority do tend to stay within works meant for their age groups, some a bit above and some below but more or less, you won't be as likely to see an elementary school kid reading stephen's king books instead of twilight and even twilight is an iffy might. o:

So...I don't think there is a 'need' per say for novels to have a rating. And actually, i think it might be better that there isn't because then there's the "oh..you're 21 and your reading a pg13 book' or a "ooooo, you're reading an x-rated book. You're so dirty minded." Having them classified in genres and as 'adult' or 'young adult' is already enough I blv.

No. And there's swearing and vulgar words in YA novels (I've read them in quite a few), including the word for male genitals, lol. And, no, not in self-published books, but in trade published books for YA. But, those words are used sporadically as are cuss words. for younger children (younger than teens) you're not going to find the language so...perverse. This is for trade published books. If you self-published then of course you can add any kind of language you want. But, trade publishers (depending on the publisher) might have restrictions on how much graphic content you can have.

If you're writing an adult book, then write as hard and trashy as your hearts desire, haha. The types of words used in some adult books never cease to amaze me (and no, I'm not talking about erotica). But of course, how vulgar and graphic you can get will depend on the publisher.

Yes, some publishers restrict it. It depends on the imprint. A publisher's Christian imprint, for example, wouldn't allow that kind of language in any of it's books. Some publisher have imprints that only publish 'clean' YA. It really depends on the publisher and the imprint.

I don't think books or novels do need a "R" or "X" rating, or anything similar anymore because children (14) and older love to read horror books with gruesome parts in it that make people light headed and weak because I am 14 myself and I know what I am on about. You can't have a book restricted from a 14 year old child which they shouldn't read because it will be to high for them. I am making myself sound awkward because I ain't American and it is hard to cope with what does "R" and "X" mean. In England we have "12a" "15" "18" that makes it less awkward and more easier to understand.

I don't think they should. Things that have ratings—games and movies, for example—are visual mediums, while books depend on reading level, comprehension skills, and interpretation. So I think a person's ability to handle a more "explicit" book is more subjective than just chalking it up to age, like movies.

Also, books are already divided in book stores and libraries between young adult and adult. If they want to put warnings on books, then let them, I suppose, but if you mean to prevent someone from buying a book based on their age, then that'd be silly.

In the writing/creation of a novel, not at all. You can cuss, denounce humanity, have sexual depravity and anything else you care to write about, and it's all freedom of expression. But the libraries, bookstores, etc; categorize them accordingly. So, feel free to express yourself. <3<3<3

Well, I've seen 15 and up on the back of the A-List books, but that's the only time I've seen anything remotely close.

Books never needed a rating.

Movies, TV shows, and games do.

As far as I know there's never been a requirement. But if I self-publish my crap as an e-book, I'll be putting an advisory in my description. The kiddies don't need to read about teachers committing assorted fraud, two misdemeanors, and six felonies.

No, but in bookstores and libraries, they are arranged in places marked "Adult", "Young Adult", and "Children" or something similar to that.

I had no idea it used to be that way.

/btw, is that analass publisher still on the job? Or did you drop kick his butt into a black hole?

//when is the book coming out? huh? huh?

*popdonks*