Date: May 29, 2022 05:58 am Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
Yes yes yes, there should definitely be warnings for sensitive issues, that way readers can brace themselves and not be roped into something that turns their stomach or causes any kind of discomfort. I know I personally hate to be roped into reading stuff. When it comes to things like emotional and physical abuse, I'm knowledgeable enough to write about since I've watched enough of it on Maury Povich, Dr. Phil and I also have friends who endured it. Just as I was typing this I remember I neglected to leave a warning for chapter 2 on my Ghostly Attraction fanfic when Irina has a run in with her absuive ex..I'm facepalming myself now..guess I'd better get on that. Also if I were to write about a toxic roommate in any of my stories, I've been there and done that, so it's something I can tackle with confidence. Eating disorders is another one, keeping in mind the plights of Karen Carpenter and the gymnast Christina Hencrich. I also do research on these topics when necessary, which is also imperative.
Any unpleasant topic should have a warning ahead of time..I know I did when there was underaged drinking, destruction of property in my Betrayed Trust story (which is actually my baby).
Overall, experiencing and witnessing these sensitive topics, along with research does well to educate people enough to write about them.
[Report This]Date: Sep 03, 2015 01:49 pm Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
I miss this so much and it's not even a story.
Author's Response:
💜 I do, too. My life needs to slow down and people need to stop creating duplicate accounts.
Date: Jul 11, 2015 12:43 pm Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
Sensitive issues make me sad and a little scared.
Date: May 17, 2015 06:08 am Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
"it was popular to write characters cutting themselves to music in full emo fashion"
Well... my character is different, cos she cuts to upbeat 80s pop rock..... SHES GOT THE LOOK! na na na na na naaaa.
Author's Response:
And cartoons on tv, right?
[Report This]Date: May 14, 2015 05:56 am Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
This was a great chapter. It's going to come in handy for me in the upcoming parts of CTTG. I already have the how fleshed out but Ive been trying to figure out the most delicate way to approach the scenes without them being convoluted. I want to be subtle yet not loose the severity of the scene of that makes any sense at all. I don't want to be graphic but I want the sinister nature of it to be echoed fully. It's getting closer to that part of the story so I'm sure I'll pop in here to get your advice on a few things.
I agree with you because I too find it strange that in a story one could kill another and then it's business as usual. Even if they're a psychopath they tend to mull over the act. Some times for months if not years for satiation.
Ill come back if I have any questions.
more soon I was happy to see you posted!! <333
Author's Response:
Hey Girl! I like to think that the most genuinely suspenseful scenes are the ones in which it doesn't feel as though the author is trying to layer it on. Ideally, by the time the scene happens, the plot should have created enough tension that the scene doesn't need 'extras' such as storming weather, a raging overly dramatic character, or in movies, loud music. Definitely feel free to pop back in here.<3
[Report This]Date: May 11, 2015 08:02 pm Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
When I first started writing I would use these in inappropriate ways only because the stories I read would use them and shrug them off as it was nothing. I didn't develope the situation like I would if I was writing a scene like that now. It actually isn't my cup of tea and after my Giavanni and Michael story (the rape situation in that story was poorly developed/ dealth with) I choose to stay clear of that one. I never really tried touching on self-harm/suicide and I attempted once at physical abuse in one of my Michael and Stacey's story. Just like the rape situation that one was also poorly devolped and didn't have a good closing like it should've. I just kind of shrugged it off, but since then I've learned that if I can't write it, then stay clear of it. Just like you mentioned. I'll probably (most likely) never really touch on child abuse to a heavy extent, or murder (unless I'm writing a mystery). Good points!
Author's Response:
That's a good point - a lot of this is learned. I think what I want to emphasize is that none of this is intentional. Also, that there is always room to learn more.
I vaguely remember the rape in that story...but it's now missing from the site.
I respect your limit there. I think knowing one's limits is critical as it also means knowing one's strengths. For instance, I'd suck at writing a super heartwarming, less complicated, love story as I inevitably add twists to things. I blame Hitchcock, countless authors, and life in general, for that. I also can't write about cheating without getting upset, so I'd be unable to include that in a story. That doesn't mean I can't write, just that I know what subject matters I'd rather leave to others to write about.
[Report This]Date: May 11, 2015 02:42 pm Title: Writing about Sensitive Issues
Hey there! Sorry I haven't reviewed the past few chapters!! Since I've been lame about updating my own story I've hardly come on here other than to check out the RP nonsense, haha.
Really, really good points about writing within your skill set here. I think Ego's self-harm scenes are some of the best I've seen in ff by far. It's really pretty obvious when people are romanticizing it all in their own head, which is really sad if you think about any potential real-life implications...
I've now read two stories where a rape occurs and is either a) really casually mentioned and not a big deal at all or b) just dealt with horribly afterwards. I liked both stories a lot so I pushed forward, but damn I got close to just exiting. The worst was where the OG gets raped and Michael automatically assumes that she was cheating on him. Even when it all got "figured out" he was just like oh well it was you're fault for putting yourself in that situation! Nah. I'll pass on that bs....
Referring to the previous chapter now, supporting characters are so tempting! It's fun to write and develop a whole bunch, but more often than not they serve very little true purpose in a story. *sigh* The other day I wrote a whole mini-chapter arc about Julia and Michael meeting Janelle's parents. It was honestly pretty funny, but I restrained myself in the end. Just because something's fun to write doesn't mean it's necessary to the story!
That being said, I think I've done an ok job keeping my characters to a minimum for the most part. Janelle's really the only long-term secondary character I can think of.
I think we've talked about this in other posts, but it just drives me crazy when all a character does is serve the OG/Michael. Sometimes it's necessary, but I always feel bad when poor Janelle has to put up with everyone else's bullshit. What would you say is the line between writing unnecessary plot lines for 2ndary characters and having them be slaves to the main ones?
Author's Response:
NP. I hope finals went well <3
She does an excellent job at portraying S/H and Hurt/Comfort, in general. I 100% agree with you.
Those two cases you describe frustrate me. I mean, I can see how someone who isn't all that aware of how it is experienced might avoid going into detail. That discomfort can appear to readers as trivializing it, when they don't really mean to, as I'm going to assume is the case of the first example you mention. The second, with Michael perpetuating rape-culture? I get the confusion at first (depending on the circumstances), but blaming her after she's told him.....smfh. I hope the author at least ended that well. Some guys will do that, but I don't know if I want to read about a "Michael" who would.
I could see him accidentally meeting them, when they stop by the apartment for graduation (yes, I'm egging you on lol). I agree with your reflection on your balance of characters.
I think that if a secondary character has full chapters dedicated to them/their separate plotline, it's too much. I think sub sections within a chapter and/or the supporting character popping in to vent to a main character about their own life circumstances, adds dimension to a story without taking over the plot. For instance, HoneyToTheBee does a good job of this in her My Brother's Best Friend... Chivonn's brother and friend have subplots so that they don't revolve around her, but those subplots are weaved in when they interact with Chivonn and Michael.
I may be stating this too broadly, so feel free to set me straight if I'm not adequately addressing your question.