Forget all those shades of grey. This class will focus, not on erotica, but on literary sex scenes that function in various ways to propel a larger narrative. Writing good fictional sex means writing good fiction that has something to do with sex — from the bawdy bacchanal to the subtlest of verbal seductions.

As a springboard for discussion, guests will examine short story and novel excerpts, ranging from the classics to such contemporary writers as Lorrie Moore, John Updike,and Charles Baxter. The class will conclude with writing exercises and include a handout/bibliography.