Peeve

[alexisjane]

I've been tempted, I admit it, but I work long at hard at avoiding doing this - it does probably take more effort than all the plotting and porning combined to avoid it - which is why it's probably a pet peeve of mine.

I don't actually know many writers that do this in or out of fanfic. But if you're tempted, just...please for the love of God...read this...

#epithets #makeitstop

Comments

[wings128.livejournal.com]

Ha! This explains with clarity why I've always HATED "The elder Winchester" and "The younger Winchester" in fics. I'm not one for knowing what particular things in writing are called, I just write, and it's not until someone says "hey, that's wonderful personalization" etc that I think, "Cool!" :D

This is a peeve I can add to my list, along with every single "as he did so". Uggh!

Thanks for sharing this one, hun :)

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I think the depersonalization thing really hit home to me. Phrasing like that really takes me out of the story. Plus it does sound too unnatural. I couldn't not!! : ) xx

[saltandburnboys.livejournal.com]

I don't think this is as cut and dry as ppl make out though. Because I also can't stand fics that only use names coz it's so repetitive, or fics with too many 'hims', especially in gay fanfic. I don't use 'the blond' or 'the green eyed man' or 'the taller man' or anything like that, but I've got no problem with ppl using 'the other man' or 'his younger brother' because I find it boring to have 'Jared' and 'Jensen' overused. *Shrugs*

xx

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

For me, if I find I have a section with too many Jared or Jensen's or hims, I rewrite the thing so that naming someone every time becomes unnecessary. To me it's a big flag that I'm not thinking about narrative enough, just making a list of actions. I think, like the article said, having 'the younger brother" or whatever sometimes makes sense and actually helps the story along, but when it's just to avoid repetition, I think it stands out too much. It just bugs me *shrugs* xx

[saltandburnboys.livejournal.com]

I guess it all comes down to the skill of the writer. Some of my favourite fan fic writers have used 'the Alpha' or 'the younger man' in fics and it's always worked for me coz they know how to make it work, if that makes sense. I've just kind of learned over the years that most of the rules in writing aren't as rigid as I always thought they were.

xx

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Definitely a peeve of mine, and unfortunately, something I've seen entirely too much in fanfic. If there's anything that will throw me right out of a story, it's "the older brother," "the taller man," "the green-eyed man," etc. It's a sign of bad writing that pretty much guarantees that I won't be reading that person's work again. :(

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I have to say I haven't seen it that much in fanfic, but yeah, it don't half break your concentration! I was kinda surprised to find it in m/m too xx

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Pet peeve of mine, and not limited to fanfic. Once it starts to annoy you, you notice it everywhere!

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I really thought that editors would pick up on it but I guess not. Hard to know where 'personal style' ends and bad writing begins sometimes as is clearly doesn't bother some people x

[ephermeralk.livejournal.com]

Yup. Huge pet peeve of mine. It makes me run away screaming.

Ps, how are you and lily, bb?

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I can be so disappointing too, when a fic is going great and then that starts happening : ( Ah well.

We're doing okay, Hun!! The last few months have been henious, getting overwhelmed with work and health stuff with both of us, but right now I'm feeling really good about everything, and once Lily's eye ulcer clears up, I think the New Year should be a good one...for a change : ) Missing being around fandom though, so I'm hoping to make more time for that now : )

Thinking about you and Mr W a lot. The new job sounds excellent! Hope you're doing alright, Darling! Xxx

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

*Hides* *reads comments* Okay I have done that and still do occasionally. Not quite sure if I use it/them in the same context though...*slinks off* xx

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

If it informs the story, or is relevant, then it reads fine, but plucking random physical descriptions that have nothing to do with what's going on, out of the air is distracting...I really have never noticed you doing that though, Hun. No fretting xx

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

No, no fretting :) Hey, you remember yesterday I said I tried to work out how many posts I'd done all year, well I'm almost done adding it up O_O! lol! xx

[dawnmay.livejournal.com]

I may be guilty of doing this is in my current WIP. I use 'the man in front of him' or 'he looks at the man he loves' on occasion, thinking it sounds romantic or worshipful. But maybe it isn't?

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Both of those sound like they're informing the story to me. And yes, very romantic : ) I think it's more if it's a descriptor that adds nothing to the story but is just randomly picking out a physical description that irks me x

[dawnmay.livejournal.com]

OK, good! I wasn't sure XD

Yeah, there's this Captain America fic that's like 100K words and she uses 'the blonde' over and over. But still a good read. For me, I guess as long as the story is entertaining, it's forgivable. Otherwise, yes, it must be stopped!

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

Peeve of mine too. I agree with the article that there are appropriate places to use epithets, but that they're too often used in awkward or cringe-worthy ways. I like to think I'm discriminating in my own uses. Although, that's not to say I haven't lazily let a bad one slip by - if you think wrangling two men is difficult, try wrangling a foursome!

Since you brought this topic up, I'd like an opinion on something I've been internally debating for a couple of months. If you have a friend guilty of this on so many levels, would you say something? And how? Particular if this friend writes for fun and doesn't seem troubled with editing.

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I think it is hard to resist on occasion but, like saltandburnboys was saying, there are people that can pull it off and people who can't, so it's not always inappropriate. I'm not gonna risk it if I can help it though : )

Oooo, that's a tricky one. Personally, I welcome all the concrit, as my goal is always to become a better writer and I don't get offended, but I don't know about other people.

I guess it depends on a] how well you know them, b] how you think they might take it, and c] how much it bugs you.

I guess you could always offer your beta services and point it out then? IDK.
That's a tricky one : / I don't always support anon comments but there's always that...if you're nice about it : ) xxx

[runedgirl.livejournal.com]

Total pet peeve of mine too - always throws me right out of the story :/

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I can maybe stand a couple if it's relevant but generally, no xx

[masja-17.livejournal.com]

Yes to this! It really throws me off. Don't like, don't read!

<3

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly! : ) xx

[trendykitty.livejournal.com]

YES!!! This drives me nuts. I find myself losing interest in reading stories where it's being done, and thank heaven none of the writers I'm betaing for are doing it because, damn! it's awful.

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I don't mind it when it actually pertains to something relevant but yeah, when it's just all the time, I just can't...x