a dream too tired to come true

[musesfool]

There are few things more disappointing, in fannish terms, than reading a story that's been pretty good and then hitting that first "taller man" (or "smaller man" or even the so awfully generic "other man"). It's not an automatic click-out for me (though I may actually groan out loud in dismay when I hit it), at least not in smaller fandoms or

Comments

[destina]

Yesterday I started reading a Merlin story, in which the blond royal and the raven-hared [sic] sorcerer made an appearance in the first paragraph. I really wanted to weep; I'm that desperate for new stories. But alas, I could not go on.

[musesfool]

See, that early on I would definitely click out. In today's particular case, it didn't start until the sex started, and then it was just really confusing and awful.

So Merlin has a black rabbit?

[ignipes]

I always groan out loud too. The worst it when it is genuinely confusing--like when people use "the younger man" and "the older man" for characters whose ages are not established, because I have absolutely no idea who they are talking about. Or "the agent" when everybody in the room is an agent. It would be so much more entertaining if I could believe the authors were deliberately fucking with us, because at this point it just sounds like self-parody.

[musesfool]

Yes. Or suddenly there are extra people involved. You've already got the blond man and the dark-haired man. Who are the smaller man and the taller man and why are they involved now?

It would be so much more entertaining if I could believe the authors were deliberately fucking with us, because at this point it just sounds like self-parody.

Hee! Would that this were the case!

[writingpathways]

I hate "smaller man, taller man" in the fandom I'm currently obsessed with I get "his second command and best friend" a lot. Or the lanky man. Or the captain.

Sigh.

Why do so many people who are otherwise great writers do this? Sometimes I think I feel like I found so many amazing writers via fandom that I've become way to much of a writing snob. Then again, what is wrong with wanting it to be great.

[musesfool]

See, the captain doesn't bother me so much, because that's something that you'd actually call someone, and in certain scenarios it might work. But the others are all... no. Just no.

It was in fashion in old school slash back in the 90s I think, and some people have never chosen to move away from it, I guess.

[writingpathways]

What I'm reading right now, isn't even slash. Well, some of it is but most it is gen/het.

Drives me a bit batty, but otherwise the writing of what I read is good. Mostly, I don't mind the word He or She and I love the use the person's name :D Names are awesome.

[musesfool]

If it's not slash, then they have no excuse because he and she are perfectly good, non-confusing pronouns*, and yes, I like it when people use names. Names are good.

*for people who identify as men and women, respectively

[estrella30]

UGH UGH UGH. younger man, curly haired man, BLUE EYED MAN. it is an INSTANT window close for me as well. so sad!!

[musesfool]

I just don't understand why they don't use NAMES. NAMES ARE GOOD. Also, reword the sentence so it is not as confusing! Do a little fucking work!