Librarian IAC Member Offline I may be blonde but... Posts: 657 Location: Washington (not DC) Squick Factor Nov 23rd, 2011 at 5:54pm Print Post As you all know, some people have low tolerances for mayhem, violence, death and whatever in fiction. Some people like (demand) to be warned that there are 'squick factors' in a particular piece of 'amateur' fiction. (And it appears the list of possible squicks is endless.) As writers, how do you choose to handle this? Or is this even a consideration in your writing? Would you ever avoid a plot line simply because it requires that something happen that somebody else might object to? If you only have one solution to a problem - you're not trying. IP Logged
Yuchtar Lieutenant Offline Where are my glasses? Posts: 82 Location: Earth Re: Squick Factor Reply #1 - Nov 24th, 2011 at 3:12am Print Post Quote:Would you ever avoid a plot line simply because it requires that something happen that somebody else might object to? Heh heh heheheheheh (snort) Funny. No, I would absolutely not avoid something that someone else might object to - unless I was writing for a particular forum that had particular rules. (And unless they're paying, I probably wouldn't bother except as a challenge) But I generally write for myself, so - Tthhhsssspppp! Hmm, we don't seem to have a smiley that's blowing a raspberry ... Yeah, I'm a smutty-minded perv - what of it? WWW IP Logged
Librarian IAC Member Offline I may be blonde but... Posts: 657 Location: Washington (not DC) Re: Squick Factor Reply #2 - Nov 24th, 2011 at 3:31am Print Post After the holidays I'll be looking for more smilies - and arranging the one's we have a little better. I'll definitely be looking for a raspberry for you. If you only have one solution to a problem - you're not trying. IP Logged
Yuchtar Lieutenant Offline Where are my glasses? Posts: 82 Location: Earth Re: Squick Factor Reply #3 - Nov 24th, 2011 at 4:48am Print Post Quote:I'll definitely be looking for a raspberry for you. Here's one: Buahahahahahaha! Yeah, I'm a smutty-minded perv - what of it? WWW IP Logged
Neesierie Colonel Offline Straker, somehow it's always about you. Posts: 990 Location: Fulton, MO Re: Squick Factor Reply #4 - Nov 26th, 2011 at 4:43am Print Post I didn't know there was such a thing as a squick factor! (So I guess that tells you how much thought I've given it, doesn't it?) No, I don't worry if anyone will object to anything questionable I write, but since I'm squeamish, I don't write gore anyway. So it's a non-issue. [You're right, Yuchy. We need a raspberry smilie.] The sky is not the limit; nor are the stars. WWW IP Logged
Matt Colonel Offline Everyone at SHADO drinks coffee! Posts: 2391 Location: Coventry, RI Re: Squick Factor Reply #5 - Nov 26th, 2011 at 5:14pm Print Post Matt wrote on Oct 18th, 2011 at 1:58pm:My stories, that deal with history, all point to a faction of the Nazi's, colaborating with the aliens. Most of the stuff I focus on is the alien tech, and how some of it may have been used to get SHADO up and running so quickly. The Nazi/Alien alliance opens other possibilities, some of which I vaguely allude to, but I am somewhat reluctant to go down that path, for fear of how it might affect those who still remember those times. It's like incorporating the events of 9-11 into a story. A few writers have done it tastefully and found a balance that works, but I'm not sure of my ability to strike that balance, especially with an event as frightening and painful as the Holocaust. My initial reaction was to say no, but as you can see, I do have reservations about certain real historical events. I wouldn't worry about members of the guild, you guys all know my heart, but someone that doesn't know me could be offended. I love intertwining history with fiction, but, it can be a slippery slope with some people. What do you mean, we're out of coffee! WWW IP Logged