McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Boingy boingy boingy
Matrix Refugee (formerly Morraeon):
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on June 21, 2009, 03:59:08 PM ---me thinks his agent got him drunk or he lost a poker bet or something. obvious not in his chemical/genetic makeup.
--- End quote ---
The whole story about the incident is in the introduction to his short story collection "Smoke and Mirrors".
KarlTenBrew:
Got to admit it's a classic, but it's also a great commentary. If you want to do something that goes into the same amount of detail as a Dresden book or a Blake book (I'm using those as contrasts, not suggesting they're the same), it becomes almost easy. It's trying to be inbetween/your-own comfort level that sucks. If you're actually writing a 'real-time' erotic scene and trying to set the mood, your choice of adjectives [and choice of where to use them all] can really set you apart.
To expand upon the given article: 'Pulsing' and 'Throbbing' are used. Thing is, word connotation and synonyms are you friends, so maybe consider gentler things like 'trembling' or a more time-distinct thing like 'tremor'. But, no mattr what main adjective you use, throw in a 'gently' in front of it and you have a, er, better image. I can't say I've seen such in the real world, and must admit I hope never to, but take it for what it is. The idea is that the occasional addition of an extra flavor adjective, or concious choice not to use it, can help set the mood without ruining it with strictly accurate scientific descriptions :P
A conscious style choice actively uses the referred to 'cop out' but doesn't make that the end of it. Without actually describing the erotic [or smut ::)] scene there are many fun ways to tell what happens through character interaction that can be erotic in a different way. A specific example I'm thinking of comes from the "Wheel of Time" series. Without spoiling things in case you haven't read them and are into epic fantasy like me, one of the male characters references how he'd enjoy staying to have his back clawed again with a pointed heat in his eyes. This brings a profound blush and fidget from his partner who quickly changes the subject. Without once having an actual bedroom scene between them, a moment of definite heat (and possible humor, depending on the reader) has been introduced. You'll notice this is also a Hamilton writing trick, and doesn't have to even hold a hint of humor. The erotic mood is set simply by Anita imagining/remembering sensations that don't require a full explanation of the nasty.
In case you can't tell, work is WAY boring right now. So there's my $2 : ;)
NothingWicked:
Gotta love Mat... anyways. I have to say I just can't really anything really explicit. It just gets annoying and kinda ooky for me. I guess I'm just old fashioned by I like the vague references and fill in you're own blacks scenes in my reading. Although smut does make for some laughs.
thausgt:
--- Quote from: NothingWicked on June 24, 2009, 05:39:02 AM ---Gotta love Mat... anyways. I have to say I just can't really anything really explicit. It just gets annoying and kinda ooky for me. I guess I'm just old fashioned by I like the vague references and fill in you're own blacks scenes in my reading.
--- End quote ---
Gaiman wrote a preface for a recent reprint of "The Stars My Destination" pointing out that, had that venerable book been written in the past decade, there are several scenes that would have been written out completely, rather than allowing the reader to, as you say, "fill in their own blanks". I, too, subscribe to the theory that readers' own imagination can hook themselves rather effectively when the writer uses the technique properly. Unfortunately, if the story is in an anthology of erotic fiction, there isn't much room to use that dodge.
--- Quote from: NothingWicked on June 24, 2009, 05:39:02 AM ---Although smut does make for some laughs.
--- End quote ---
To quote Mike Pondsmith: "By itself, sex just isn't funny enough, even if you are wearing a clown suit at the time. Frustration, on the other hand, can be hilarious." I'm probably missing a few details. Would anyone with a copy of the "Teenagers From Outer Space" RPG care to post the exact phrase?
meg_evonne:
--- Quote from: thausgt on August 29, 2009, 04:58:40 AM ---To quote Mike Pondsmith: "By itself, sex just isn't funny enough, even if you are wearing a clown suit at the time. Frustration, on the other hand, can be hilarious."
--- End quote ---
This is great and so true!
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