Dear Fanfic Writers
Dear Sherlock Fanfic Writers,
Okay, this is really for ALL writers, but as I'm currently obsessed with mostly reading Sherlock fic these days, Immagonna take it out on you.
Writer's Craft 101: NAMES ARE OKAY. "The flatmates", "the consulting detective", "the taller man", "the younger man" or (DEAR GODS MAKE IT STOP) "his lover" ARE NOT NECESSARY as an alternative to the names "Sherlock" and "John". OR ANY OTHER NAMES IN ANY OTHER FANDOM. OR ORIGINAL FICTION. I know that while you're writing the story, it sounds weird or repetitious or awkward or boring to repeat names, but when you're READING the fic, it's actually more forced and awkward to come across any of those ... what are they? Epithets? I forget what they're called. Anyway, if they're used in substitution of names to avoid repetition, you don't need them. You WANT the names to fade into the background.
It's okay to use that kind of descriptive language in certain circumstances. For example, if you don't know the characters' names. Sherlock and John peered cautiously around the corner, but there was no sign of the two thieves. That is perfectly all right. The thief peered around the corner, but there was no sign of the consulting detective and his flatmate IS NOT ALL RIGHT. NOT EVEN A BIT. Would the thief really call Sherlock and John that? Does the thief even know that John is a doctor? DID YOU EVEN NOTICE that I repeated the names Sherlock and John in those sentences?
This is like the word "said". Again, "said" is a word you WANT to fade into the background. If you need a different specific word to describe how your character said something, it MAY be okay, but you probably don't need it. "I... I don't know what you mean," John stammered... well that's not horrid, but if you take a moment to realize that John is stammering IN THE SENTENCE, perhaps you might reconsider the need for a descriptive verb. It's a sign that the writer doesn't trust zir own talent and craft to get the meaning across. This goes double for "I... I don't know what you mean," John said uncertainly. Again, you don't need the adverb. REALLY. DO. NOT. NEED. That kind of thing can with astonishing ease descend into a rash of Tom Swifties that will turn your fic into a laughingstock.
The moral of this story, my children, is: TRUST YOUR CRAFT. TRUST YOUR ABILITIES AS A WRITER. And most important, GET A FUCKING COMPETENT BETA.
"Thus endeth the lesson," she said pedantically.
This entry was originally posted at http://spiderine.dreamwidth.org/469364.html. There are
comments over there. I've disabled LJ's Facebook and Twitter cross-posting idiocy as much as I can, but if you're especially concerned, feel free to comment there.
Okay, this is really for ALL writers, but as I'm currently obsessed with mostly reading Sherlock fic these days, Immagonna take it out on you.
Writer's Craft 101: NAMES ARE OKAY. "The flatmates", "the consulting detective", "the taller man", "the younger man" or (DEAR GODS MAKE IT STOP) "his lover" ARE NOT NECESSARY as an alternative to the names "Sherlock" and "John". OR ANY OTHER NAMES IN ANY OTHER FANDOM. OR ORIGINAL FICTION. I know that while you're writing the story, it sounds weird or repetitious or awkward or boring to repeat names, but when you're READING the fic, it's actually more forced and awkward to come across any of those ... what are they? Epithets? I forget what they're called. Anyway, if they're used in substitution of names to avoid repetition, you don't need them. You WANT the names to fade into the background.
It's okay to use that kind of descriptive language in certain circumstances. For example, if you don't know the characters' names. Sherlock and John peered cautiously around the corner, but there was no sign of the two thieves. That is perfectly all right. The thief peered around the corner, but there was no sign of the consulting detective and his flatmate IS NOT ALL RIGHT. NOT EVEN A BIT. Would the thief really call Sherlock and John that? Does the thief even know that John is a doctor? DID YOU EVEN NOTICE that I repeated the names Sherlock and John in those sentences?
This is like the word "said". Again, "said" is a word you WANT to fade into the background. If you need a different specific word to describe how your character said something, it MAY be okay, but you probably don't need it. "I... I don't know what you mean," John stammered... well that's not horrid, but if you take a moment to realize that John is stammering IN THE SENTENCE, perhaps you might reconsider the need for a descriptive verb. It's a sign that the writer doesn't trust zir own talent and craft to get the meaning across. This goes double for "I... I don't know what you mean," John said uncertainly. Again, you don't need the adverb. REALLY. DO. NOT. NEED. That kind of thing can with astonishing ease descend into a rash of Tom Swifties that will turn your fic into a laughingstock.
The moral of this story, my children, is: TRUST YOUR CRAFT. TRUST YOUR ABILITIES AS A WRITER. And most important, GET A FUCKING COMPETENT BETA.
"Thus endeth the lesson," she said pedantically.
This entry was originally posted at http://spiderine.dreamwidth.org/469364.html. There are
comments over there. I've disabled LJ's Facebook and Twitter cross-posting idiocy as much as I can, but if you're especially concerned, feel free to comment there.