Two Things That I Do Not Think Work In Fic, Ever

[redbrunja]

"..."

In your fanfic "..." just looks dumb.

Yes, manga uses it all the time but manga is a visual medium. Fanfic is not. It works in manga because not only do you have dot dot dot, you also (usually) have the character's facial expression, posture, and (often) what they're reacting to in the very same panel as '...'.

When you're writing fanfic, using "..." makes me think you're a.) too dumb or b.) too lazy to tell us how the character reacted. Are they blinking in shock, is their mouth open, are they staring blank-faced ahead, what?

cum

I hate this word. A lot of smut writes who I otherwise enjoy use it and every time the misspelling comes up on my screen, I flinch inside.

First of all, it's just an ugly word.

'Cum' just reminds me too much of 'scum' which makes me think of something I should scrap off my boots after I visit a dive bar. And hey, maybe that's your intention - gritty, dirty, ugly sex between characters who hate each other. To which I say, please show me through setting and action that it's gritty, dirty, ugly sex (and also, vocabulary like fuck, rough, and cunt which, while not exclusively the province of gritty, dirty, ugly sex is definitely on the 'realistic' side of the metaphor/realistic smut scale).

Besides which, whenever I see the word 'cum' I am invariable reminded of fanfics with lines like, "'So, do you like it Ruff, Hermione," said Draco.' Which 1.) is a direct quote from a fanfic I read long, long ago and 2.) I'm very sorry for making you read that.

Lastly, misspelling 'come' to make it clear we're referring to someone's climax is unnecessary.

I am very good at context clues. For example, I can easily tell the difference between 'Sasuke comes into the entryway' and 'Sasuke arrives home in time to see Kakashi pounding himself into Sakura as they fuck against the wall; Kakashi's fingers digging into her hips and face contorting as he comes.'

Comments

[nimblnymph.livejournal.com]

I'm impartial to ellipses abuse. I use ellipses a lot when I write, but it's usually for dramatic effect and NEVER as a character's response. Whenever I read that in fanfiction, I just assume the author is using it to mark a pregnate pause... which seems rather silly to do.

Cum... This is one of those words I can't stand the sight of. I'm also not big on cunt for some reason either. Both words just look ugly to me. However, I DO use them on ocassion. Like if I'm writing some anonymous kink and I don't want people to guess it's mine, I purposely change up some of the words I use as well as the writing style (as much as I can considering how ingrained it is in me) just to keep people from guessing. But 90% of the time? It's "come".

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I think ellipses abuse (which I do as well) is far, far different when the ellipses is supposed to be their entire response.

'Cunt' has actually grown on me, because I think it matches 'cock' so nicely, which is another word I've always liked.

[cynchick.livejournal.com]

See, I dont equate 'cock' with the other C word. I think that word is one of the worst (and most insulting) in our language. If I ever say that word it means I really hate your guts and want you to DIAF.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

See, and that really annoys me - how 'pussy' and 'cunt' are such vicious insults in our culture, and they're slang for female genetalia. While we do use terms for male as insults, they're typically less severe, and there is just MORE words for penis, imho.

[goldengrimoire.livejournal.com]

'Cum' also makes me cringe whenever I see it in a fic because it's so juvenile; I also dislike use of the word 'cunt' except when it's used in dialogue. I like keeping the descriptive parts a little more vague/metaphorical so that when a character uses dirty talk it has more impact, but I've read some great stuff where the writer was explicit throughout.

I'm also frustrated that words that refer to female body parts are considered so insulting versus the male ones. 'Pussy' is such a cute word; it really shouldn't be relegated to an insult. I am also rather fond of the word 'cock' as well.

I'm having a hard time finding a short euphemism for 'clit' that I like. I've played too many online games so 'nub' makes me think of idiot 12-year-old boys, and 'pearl' is a little flowery. 'Hypersenstive bundle of nerves' gets a little old after awhile. ;)

Also, the first thing that came to mind when I read that hilariously bad 'ruff' quote was McGruff the Crime Dog.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I like keeping the descriptive parts a little more vague/metaphorical so that when a character uses dirty talk it has more impact,

Oooh, that's a good trick.

I'm also frustrated that words that refer to female body parts are considered so insulting versus the male ones. 'Pussy' is such a cute word; it really shouldn't be relegated to an insult.

So. Much. Word.

Also, the first thing that came to mind when I read that hilariously bad 'ruff' quote was McGruff the Crime Dog.

I call rule 34: someone I'm sure is McGruff talking dirty.