Warning Signs on your Stories?

[SimonDoom]

WARNING: THIS STORY IS SET IN AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND AND WRITTEN BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS FROM AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND. THERE MIGHT BE MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FLORA, FAUNA, GEOGRAPHY, LANDMARKS OR CULTURE OF THESE FAR AWAY LANDS THAN ONE MIGHT FIND IN OTHER STORIES.

This type of warning might be necessary given some negative feedback about how Aussies (including me) and our Kiwi cousins across the ditch put too much detail about non-erotic things in our stories, sort of like excessive world building in science fiction or fantasy stories.

Although at the other end of the scale, a reader said that while he disliked my story set in Sydney earlier this year, he liked the detailed descriptions of Sydney and other cities and towns in New South Wales, so there you go.

I think you owe it to your non-Aussie readers to point out that all the fauna in Australia want to kill them.

 

[Bramblethorn]

We once had a student enroll in a course entitled "Erotic Literature." He then complained when he found sex in the works assigned. His parents complained as well, and, after some lengthy and heated debate, the Dean insisted that the student be allowed to stay in the course but be assigned romance novels to read instead of the required erotic works.

Did the Dean specify which romance novels? If not, I see plenty of scope for malicious compliance.

I issued a caveat to my department members when it was time to submit course proposals: "Warning: the Dean may change the readings for your course if anyone complains about them." The Dean was not happy about it, and neither was he happy about the fact that my tenured position kept him from administering the punishment for insubordination he insisted I was due.

Excellent use of tenure.

 

[Bramblethorn]

WARNING
May contain Science Facts, emotions and/or puns
​

and occasionally:

EGO HAZARD
Contains virulent hate directed against the entire male gender
or possibly just brief negative mentions of a few male characters but apparently that's enough​

 

[Bramblethorn]

I think you owe it to your non-Aussie readers to point out that all the fauna in Australia want to kill them.

View attachment 2455279

 

[Tio_Narratore]

That would be quite a challenge. I read Washington Square in college and got through it; I don't remember much about it. Then somebody recommended The Spoils of Poynton and that did me in. It seemed that a character would have a thought and James would stretch two seconds into a page and a half.

If anybody disagrees with my assessment, let me know.

I've been RPing via email with a woman for over a year now, and at 90,000 words we've just reached day eight of our tryst at a beach resort.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'm a big fan of Henry James, but I completely agree with your assessment. I'm not sure why I like James, because he violates every canon of writing economy I can think of and tramples all over the popular idea that you should "show, not tell." When I read him I slow down and adopt a whole different mindset from the one I usually take when I read. I like his way with words. But he can be frustrating to read, no doubt.

I imagine a Henry James-style erotic story would be very strange, because there would be almost no physical description of anything and almost no physical passion. It would all be a matter of describing what the characters are endlessly noodling about in their heads and their elliptical conversations with one another, implying everything and never getting to the point. It could be quite amusing if done right.

I assume you'd have to tell the readers at the beginning what you're doing. I doubt many of them could figure it out on their own. Frankly, I don't think I would get it either.

 

[Britva415]

I assume you'd have to tell the readers at the beginning what you're doing. I doubt many of them could figure it out on their own. Frankly, I don't think I would get it either.

Sounds like that other James.

Joyce

 

[gunhilltrain]

WARNING: THIS STORY IS SET IN AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND AND WRITTEN BY AN AUTHOR WHO IS FROM AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND. THERE MIGHT BE MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FLORA, FAUNA, GEOGRAPHY, LANDMARKS OR CULTURE OF THESE FAR AWAY LANDS THAN ONE MIGHT FIND IN OTHER STORIES.

This type of warning might be necessary given some negative feedback about how Aussies (including me) and our Kiwi cousins across the ditch put too much detail about non-erotic things in our stories, sort of like excessive world building in science fiction or fantasy stories.

Although at the other end of the scale, a reader said that while he disliked my story set in Sydney earlier this year, he liked the detailed descriptions of Sydney and other cities and towns in New South Wales, so there you go.

I have to be careful about putting too many such details into a story. That goes particularly true for New York and New Jersey. Most people don't care what kind of subway train the characters are riding. In the one case where a guy notices that, he keeps it to himself to avoid appearing like a geek to the girl he just met on a train. It just happens to be the same model that appears in my avatar.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I've been RPing via email with a woman for over a year now, and at 90,000 words we've just reached day eight of our tryst at a beach resort.

That does sound like fun. However, I would also like a real woman who was geographically compatible and not just imagining things with me. The real beach resort could be Jones Beach or even Orchard Beach and that would be fine.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Sounds like that other James.

Joyce

If it was set in Ireland, that would be a big clue.

 

[SimonDoom]

I assume you'd have to tell the readers at the beginning what you're doing. I doubt many of them could figure it out on their own. Frankly, I don't think I would get it either.

Yes, it would probably be an EXTREMELY inside joke. My off the cuff idea: an erotic spin on The Aspern Papers called The Porno Papers.

I'd have to preface it with this warning: This story will make no sense unless you've read a lot of Henry James. And even then, it probably won't make sense.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

quotations from Nickelback songs

Oh dear God, no! (slams book shut and tosses in the bin)

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Sounds like that other James.

Joyce

The funferall is in fig a ring it all outside and inside the Via Vico!