#they're not good just because the storyteller decided to make the protagonist gay | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thevalleyisjolly · 2 years ago

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I recognize that I have extremely picky reading tastes, but if I pick up a book and the author’s idea of introducing the characters is to have them deliver a carrd monologue about themselves, I’m gonna hurl first the book and then myself into the sun.

#the valley is posting #why. why is your character blithely listing out every aspect of their identity to the reader.#1) show don't tell #2) you can have pov characters who talk to the reader but they need to build a rapport first #and just listing off facts about yourself does not a rapport build #if in real life; someone came up to you and just started listing off personal details about themselves; you'd find it odd #3) i'm begging writers of queer lit to stop assuming that queerness by itself makes a story or character good #there are many good stories about queer people; there are many good queer stories; but they aren't good by sole virtue of being queer #they're good because the stories and characters are compelling or well composed or speak to meaningful experiences #they're not good just because the storyteller decided to make the protagonist gay #4) show don't fucking tell #5) the absolute cognitive dissonance of a character announcing to the reader that they're awkward and introverted #while also telling the reader. a stranger. every personal detail about yourself.#6) also. pet peeve as a front-line library worker but. if you don't like interacting with people; you're in the wrong fucking job.#even if you work behind the scenes in a library; 90% of your job is interacting with people #7) not to reiterate points but SHOW DON'T TELL

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