Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Let's talk a little bit about unintended (or maybe they were intended after all) double entendres or things that just sound odd to our ear. I was thinking about this after lying around post visiting a friend (more on that tomorrow) and feeling poorly (I'm still trying to get sick). I was watching Star Trek TOS S2 episode The Immunity Syndrome and it offered up this gem of dialogue

KIRK [OC]: When do you estimate penetration?
SPOCK: Slowing now. Contact in eighteen point three seconds. Brace yourselves. The area of penetration will no doubt be sensitive.

Now I'm not a fan of Kock/Spirk or whatever else you wanna call it but damn if I didn't see it right there. I'm like ...it's 1967. They probably did NOT intend that (or maybe they did) but I'm over here trying not to fall off the couch laughing. Then again I'm the same dirty mind who walked into my hotel room last year and saw this lamp and my first thought was NOT nice lamp.



Three guesses what I thought (hint, the balls on this lamp go larger to smaller which isn't as obvious in the picture)


Whether or not they meant it, matters little. We've all written things (or said them) that we didn't intend to be taken that way. This is where alpha/beta readers come in handy (but they are hard to come by). Another way to catch them is to read your stuff out loud. You can find a lot of weirdness that way, awkwardly written sentences, stuff that sounds not like you intended etc. I recommend reading it out loud if you have something you know is wrong but can't figure out what it is.

Another a piece of older advice that works is changing the font. Your brain is trained to read in things like Times New Roman. Making it a weird font forces your brain to process things differently and you can catch other issues.

Or just let the double entendres fly! The area of penetration will no doubt be sensitive....


Open Calls

Radon Journal January 2025 Issue Stories and poetry containing elements of science fiction, anarchism, transhumanism, or dystopia.

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The Green Sheaf Fall 2024 Issue Anansi stories. Submissions for this issue will be reserved for Black female-identifying and Black gender-fluid writers. To learn more, scroll below to our Fall 2024 information.

Dulcet: Now Seeking Submissions

78 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Authors in August 2024


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From Betty

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Comments

[justphoenix]

Thanks for sharing the flaws post; it was a thought-provoking read.

We were just discussing character flaws in our last critique group meeting. I was asked about one of my characters, generally a nice, albeit dorky, person. One of the ways I described them was "introverted, to the point hanging out with the cat at a party." That's not necessarily a horrible thing, but I would say inability to make small talk with other adults causes them discomfort, and it's something they're not good at doing. Is this plot relevant? Yes, at one point. But it's not the only weakness or liability they have.

[cornerofmadness]

You're welcome. I think flaws or personality quirks can work and work well (Your introverted one would be something a lot of people could relate to for instance). For me I think the balance is what is important and how organically they grow with the story. Just finished one that suddenly at 50% the protagonist develops 3 flaws and makes her do stupid things. That was annoying