Exactly how much sex would would most publishers allow to be in a today's novel? Does it vary from publisher to a publisher? I'm not talking about romance novels where apparently everything goes. I think explicit scenes could be cut if needed by a publisher, because I don't think they can advance the storyline in most cases.
But say, for example, that a thug character in a crime novel goes on to solicit services of a prostitute - how much detail can go into the act to be considered publishable?
Honestly, outside of romance novels, things like this are best left to the reader's imagination. There are exceptions (a traumatic rape being one that I can think of, and even then you would want to focus on the emotions rather than the actions), but for the most part, the scene will come out better having left it vague than being explicit.
I know this doesn't answer your question as to how much different publishers allow, but as far as the actual content of your writing, it will be stronger if you only hint at it than if you go over the sexual acts in great detail.
Why not just write the story the way the story needs to be written, and then worry (if at all) about if it's palatable to some hypothetical publisher?
For specific publishers, you can use:
For the general case, it depends on the novel. If you take Chuck Palahniuk's Choke as an example, you can have lots of descriptions of (often weird) sex - and it's definitely not a romance novel. But the characters are recovering (or not!) sex addicts, so in this case having details fit with the characters.
How much detail can go into the act to be considered publishable?
How much of the detail is relevant to the plot? If the answer is all of it you probably have a romance novel. If you can cut the whole thing out and have the same novel, it probably isn't necessary.
It's all about the story, my friend. The level of detail in your sex scenes doesn't matter. Just write the scenes how you need to write them.
The story is the only thing that matters.
Taking your example:
But say, for example, that a thug character in a crime novel goes on to solicit services of a prostitute - how much detail can go into the act to be considered publishable?
I would expect the important parts for story development would be the initial solicitation and the aftermath of the sexual act (the payoff, the brushoff, the sendoff) rather than the actual sex unless there is something revealing about the manner in which the thug goes about it that develops the thug character or the plot. End a chapter at the door and start another when they are getting dressed.
I would also add to the advice above ; most unpublished or unsigned authors send their manuscripts to agents trying to get taken on. One agent will not baulk at heavily graphic sex while another will consider it crass or gauche. The same is true of publishing houses. By making the novel extremely graphic you risk marginalizing yourself especially unless the rest of the elements of your novel from characterisation to originality are excellent.
There are many factors to this question. Does the sex enhance the novel? If it does, most likely it will be kept. If it doesn't, it'll be up to each individual publisher. Some don't mind explicit scenes, others would rather not have them. It's also going to depend on the genre of the book and who you're targeting. If you're writing YA, Middle Grade or Children's books, it'll be nixed right off the bat. While sex may occur in these books, it is 99% of the time fade-to-black. Similarly, if you're targeting old ladies or heavily religious people, it'll most likely get nixed. If you're targeting adults, however, you have much more leeway.
Your best bet is to check each publisher's submission guidelines. If their guidelines don't mention anything or are unclear, don't hesitate to send them an email and ask. 99% of the time they won't have any problems answering questions from authors who are considering their house. And as far as I know, unless the book is extremely heavy on sex, they most likely won't reject it just for that. If they do have a problem with explicit scenes, they'll work with you on that in the editing phase of things.
It's a hard question to answer, it will vary based on your genre. Young teen fiction, probably none or very vague scenes left mostly up to the imagination, there have been many answers to this effect already though.
Are you asking for the maximum amount? Well it varies, with adult fiction as much as is necessary but there's a reasonable ceiling to this.
As far as your circumstance goes I would say it depends on how important it is to the story. Is it necessary to say how the sex went down between the thug and the prostitute or is it enough that he went to a prostitute. In the second case, gloss over details, in the first case I can still recommend vagueness, but if your story calls for explicit sex then that is what you have to write.
It all comes down to the story and what you want to achieve with this scene.
If you want to put it in there, then put it in there. Writing is an art form, its YOUR work- I'm not happy with people giving answers about "well only if the actual details are integral to your plot... if you put sex in it then it must be a romance novel anyway...". You can't create boundaries like this for somebody else's work, healthy suggestions are okay but asserting that certain aspects of someones work may be unneccessary in terms of their own "plot" is confusing to me. It's subjective, if it's part of your vision for your writing then leave it in- don't censor yourself, your work, to fit the mould of some imaginary publisher. Your main concern should be your own integrity as a writer (and don't spit at me with that SHOW DON'T TELL b.s.- its thrown around too much and it reeks).
