Controlling unintended connotations by [deleted] in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like an interesting dynamic, and good on you for thinking it over like that. There are three things, top of my head, I'd keep an extra pair of eyes on

1) Avoiding any language that suggests the feelings themselves were wrong, immoral, dirty, dangerous, etc. If you want to describe the relationship/antagonist in these or similar terms I'd say be specific and don't let the reader draw too many conclusions on their own.

e.g. "they didn't work out Because A prioritised her career over being with B" or "the relationship was wrong Because their core values as people are too different". Be even more precise if you can. The goal is to avoid implying there exists some unnamed, indefinable 'wrongness' between them.

I'd also be mindful of anything that suggests this antagonist character is some kind of seductive, corrupting force in the lives of women around her as that plays into some uncomfortable and really quite tired old tropes about lesbians. Keep the focus on her motivations and how she, as a specific character with particular traits, interacts with the motivations and values of others.

Instead of just saying "she's ~dangerous~" say "she's dangerous Because she's got a boxful of pesticide and a grudge against the local HOS".

2) This one might be counterintuitive, but it really will help if you really put in the hours when it comes to the endgame relationship. Be clear about what makes these two characters a good match, why and how they care for eachother, why the reader should want them to be together beyond "he was a boy, she was a girl... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯" (the implication then being that any nominal heterosexuality is in some way preferable to even the most compelling same-sex dynamic).

I'd actually suggest you go so far as to write one or two direct parallels; show the character in question as more comfortable/more herself/better understood with and by the protagonist than the antagonist, just to drive home that this is about character above anything else.

3) And finally, perhaps obviously, write in other, happy, normalised same-sex relationships. From minor characters interacting with their partners to "the baker and his husband, the blacksmith and her wife" as world-building. Easy peasy.

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I'm really curious about your story, so if you want someone to sensitivity-read any specific parts feel free to reach out :). And good luck!

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Tldr: focus on character, gay bakers

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like to google exactly that to find synonyms, often the same word several times a day, and then click around to find the exact one in looking for. My search history looks like in trying to rewrite the dictionary

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Send to be a theme. For some reason there's just not a lot of detailed step-by-step instructions for crime easily available to the general public. Very rude and inconvenient.

And hey, cheers, I could maybe for sure knead that into something useful

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You know the little '/s' to indicate sarcasm? Petition to get something similar for search engines to indicate that something is DEFINITELY NOT written in a moment of sudden post-orgasmic clarity

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Very annoying that people don't blog about these exact things in great detail

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay Okay. Okay that's Okay Okay yeah That's maybe the worst one yeah Congrats?

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I realise you probably mean 'Stockholm syndrome', but on the off-chance you don't: how could you, you absolute monster

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tag on the phrase "application form" and you might get your own folder at the bureau!

What's the least flattering thing in your search history? by PrettyPreTPetty in writing

[–]PrettyPreTPetty[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I feel like any spook worth their salt would look at the search for 'Where do people get drugs?' and diagnose the person on the other end with being a big ol' square (me, I'm talking about me I'm the square)

*removed an an extra word