Technology in Stories

[Djmac1031]

but my characters all happen to share the distinction of having the time and inclination to write out words like 'you' and 'are.'

I'm with you there to a degree. When I do have characters text in stories, I try and find balance. Yes, people use shorthand, like U instead of You.

And yes, that's annoying as fuck to read in the context of a proper story.

I think balance is key.

Here's a quick example from my recent collaboration with @EmilyMiller , from our story, Traffic 2.

Context: Natalie is hiding in a gas station restroom, nude after getting gasoline all over her dress.

I used italics for the dialog but it won't copy over here.

She did at least have her cell phone with her and texted Jim. "Can u go in the shop? See if they have shirts or something?"

Jim texted back quickly. "Already checked. No clothing."

Nat: "No towels? A blanket? Anything???"

Jim: "Nada."

"Fuck," Natalie swore. "Can u at least pull the car around to the ladies room door? Bring me something?"

Jim: "Paying 4 the gas. Be right there."

 

[Lifestyle66]

I don't really know, but I know I don't like it. All of my stories take place in vague worlds that are slightly more whimsical than ours, their tech usually akin to the 70s or 80s. I'm not saying it can't work - the right author can make anything work. But for me there is some sort of buffer to enjoying tech in books.

What do others think about the modern day conundrum?

When you understand the technology, it can be used to enhance and develop new erotic scenarios.

In "A Dare at the Nude Resort", I used cellphone texts between a husband and wife sitting just twenty feet apart to allow them to covertly communicate his approval of her seducing a young man.

In "What Were You Thinking?", I used the husband's tech knowledge of remote servers and video cameras to catch his wife's deception when meeting her lover.

And in "Amorous Goods: The Anklet Pair", there's a scene when they use cellphones and videos to engage the husband in her remote tryst with two young guys.

Sex doesn't always need to be face-to-face.

But if you are adamantly opposed to new technology, you'll probably never connect with characters in such stories to understand how other might see them as erotic.

 

[samhasstories]

I'm with you there to a degree. When I do have characters text in stories, I try and find balance. Yes, people use shorthand, like U instead of You.

And yes, that's annoying as fuck to read in the context of a proper story.

I think balance is key.

Here's a quick example from my recent collaboration with @EmilyMiller , from our story, Traffic 2.

Context: Natalie is hiding in a gas station restroom, nude after getting gasoline all over her dress.

I used italics for the dialog but it won't copy over here.

I can see there being a use case for it. In your example there's a certain amount of urgency, it seems, and the shorthand adds to that feel. So I guess if I had a similar tone to convey I'd consider it for that reason. Still, though, I do find it annoying in general, so my natural inclination is to resist it.

 

[yowser]

Modern technology like cellphones and computers are no longer luxuries. They're necessities for most people to even function at their jobs.

And simply to stay in touch with people. Any staunch holdout who refused to own a cellphone or laptop would probably be a recluse with little to no family or friends. Because for better or worse, this is how people communicate now.

You don't have to like it. But it's not going away either.

Here's a recluse then. No family. No friends. Guess I'll have to shoot myself.

 

[Djmac1031]

Here's a recluse then. No family. No friends. Guess I'll have to shoot myself.

Hey, if it's working for you, awesome.

Although I suppose I must ask, what are you using to browse and comment on this site then?

 

[KeithD]

Here's a recluse then. No family. No friends. Guess I'll have to shoot myself.

The same. Except also no gun (and I do have computers, which I suspect yowser must have as well).

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I use single quotes (as opposed to double quotes for dialogue) and mention that it's a text:

(Dan met up with someone with the username 'irishwhiskylover', 10 years older than him)

And it's a text from Dan. 'U OK?'
'I'm good. I can spell, too.'
'Ooh, you supercilious wanker!'
'Spellcheck help you with that?' Shit, that's just nasty, isn't it? Too late, it's sent. Ah well, he was too good to last.
Then another text comes through.
'Yes actually. But just realised, ur username. Not a mistake.'
'Well done. Not many people get that. Most who notice are just tossers about it.'
My phone rings, and I answer him.
"Yeah, usually if a guy notices the spelling, they show themselves up as a total Billy Two-Shits, going ooh, didn't you know, Irish whiskey is always spelt with an E, your spelling is only for Scotch whisky... Fuckers."
Dan laughs in my ear. "As opposed to thinking for a minute that you might be right, and it's irishwhiskylover because you're Irish and loving your Scotch? You'd think the accent would be a blatant clue!"

Whereas this guy texting is 10 years younger still:
'can me an J come lie in yr swing sometime?' The emoji at the end is probably meant to be pleading, but looks constipated.

Texting is a conversation, so I treat it like one as much as possible, not a playscript.

 

[TakeItOrLeaveIt]

What do others think about the modern day conundrum?

I think it is a conundrum because, if done poorly, it can appear super-janky: replicating text-speak, in particular, is a tricky thing to get right.

However, if you're writing a story in a contemporary setting, it really is difficult to avoid. Not only is it the principle form of communication, but it also informs plot points. Cheaters get caught through text messages, cheaters get exposed through social media, compromising photos and videos taken on mobile phones get leaked to PornHub.

And, if you're writing a thriller, well, a lot of time can be saved through making that desperate call for rescue via mobile phone.

But, as you say, where an author has an aversion to tackling modern technology, situating the story in different time or different world is often the most elegant solution.

 

[AchtungNight]

I've used texts, and chat messages, and various means of communication. It's part of our world, it's a part of how people communicate. I don't find it to be awkward or cumbersome at all. I suppose my readers could disagree, but I haven't received that feedback.

One thing I am unlikely to do is to render these communications in textspeak. People can suspend their disbelief as needed, but my characters all happen to share the distinction of having the time and inclination to write out words like 'you' and 'are.'

Same here. Either that or they mentally translate texts into normal English after reading them and I don’t bother showing the original texts. Emojis are vague or described instead of shown.

 

[MrPixel]

I had someone point out my 19 year old character Jenna didn't really speak or behave like a modern 19 year old.

It just dawned on me that I wrote a minor character into Barstow - Another Road Trip! Pt. 04, one of three college seniors the core characters picked-up for a hotel orgy, that had the affectation of "...like..." every third word. A little bit of serious lovemaking seemed to temper the problem a little.

 

[intim8]

I just use italics.

Yeah, but I still like having the names on each message. It feels a little more... texty?

And so far, I've gotten away with doing all my submissions in plain text. Because I'm a luddite. If I were to do HTML, I'd try embedding some styles so I could have the different speakers offset left and right. Don't know if that would work here.

<span style="margin-left:100px; border:2px solid blue; background-color:light-blue;">Hi, Brian!</span>

Edit: didn't really think so, in the forums at least

 

[Bramblethorn]

Yeah, but I still like having the names on each message. It feels a little more... texty?

And so far, I've gotten away with doing all my submissions in plain text. Because I'm a luddite. If I were to do HTML, I'd try embedding some styles so I could have the different speakers offset left and right. Don't know if that would work here.

<span style="margin-left:100px; border:2px solid blue; background-color:light-blue;">Hi, Brian!</span>

Edit: didn't really think so, in the forums at least

https://www.literotica.com/s/orchid-ch-01-1?page=3
https://forum.literotica.com/thread...write-texts-in-a-story.1498184/#post-90583747

 

[M_K_Babalon]

I've used texts, and chat messages, and various means of communication. It's part of our world, it's a part of how people communicate. I don't find it to be awkward or cumbersome at all. I suppose my readers could disagree, but I haven't received that feedback.

One thing I am unlikely to do is to render these communications in textspeak. People can suspend their disbelief as needed, but my characters all happen to share the distinction of having the time and inclination to write out words like 'you' and 'are.'

This. I don't use text speek.