Words in all caps--What do you think?

[SeXy ReDHeD]

What is the overall impression of words in all caps (i.e. "YESSSSSS BABY! etc.) in stories?

Do the capital letters better portray the emotion of the character or are they just too reminiscent of a cyber experience?

What is your preference when reading/writing a story?

 

[Whispersecret]

I wouldn't use all caps. You don't see that in print books, which is how I judge what writing should be. If you want to emphasize what a character is saying:

a. Use an exclamation point. (Note that I said "an," not several, which is wrong too.)
b. Try italics, which is the more traditional and accepted way.
c. Try an emphatic tag. ("Oh, God," she wailed, "I'm coming!")

Hope that helps. It's only my opinion.

 

[Weird Harold]

What is the overall impression of words in all caps (i.e. "YESSSSSS BABY! etc.) in stories?

Do the capital letters better portray the emotion of the character or are they just too reminiscent of a cyber experience?

What is your preference when reading/writing a story?

I interpret all caps as a shout, whether it's in cyber-space or in print. (I do see it used occasionally in print.)

In Erotica, I find that it's seldom, if ever, appropriate. As it's normally used in erotica, a shout is usually not believable for me -- the sort of volume I associate with the need for all caps would result in a lot of deaf lovers. <G>

I reserve the use of all caps for a character shouting across a valley, or yelling for attention in a crowded room, or similar situations. All caps should be a last resort for indicating excitement or emphasis, WhisperSecret's wise suggestions are more than sufficient for the vast majority of sexual encounters.

 

[Closet Desire]

All caps are...

...sort of like a cat o nine tails...best used sparingly and at the right time.

 

[Whispersecret]

Okay, I'm changing my position, slightly.

J.K. Rowling, of "Harry Potter" fame, uses caps fabulously to indicate shouting. So, I agree with WH, as usual. Shouting has it's place, but I think it's overused in erotica.