#establishing rules

[aikoiya]

Writing Sins - The Importance of Establishing the Rules of Your Fanfic

Pardon me, ya'll, while I vent.

Because oh my gosh...

I just read a story a while ago... An admittedly well-written story for the most part... but the Fem!Reader in it was after another woman. Now, if that was the end of it, then whatever. She's gay, now let's move on. (Well, technically, she was bi. The whole point of the story was that she'd eventually get together with this one mafia bossman, but I digress.)

But it wasn't. The narrative was that she expected to have "plenty of cute little babies" with this woman &...

Already this was delusional, but to top it all off, the setting was in a place inspired by Victorian England & she was not only a rich girl, but the heiress & only child of her family.

This... entire situation... was patently impossible!

I asked how this was supposed to be possible & the reply I got was something along the lines of "anything's possible for lesbians 😃" & I was like "No, it's not! In fact, this specifically, is not possible for lesbians! The entire reason they are considered lesbians is because neither have the necessary equipment to make it possible! If they did, then they wouldn't be lesbians! Because lesbianism is a sexuality, which the entire point of sexuality is that they are based on a person's preference for a certain, specific biological sex!!"

I just... the thing is... if this were an A/B/O situation then at least then there'd be a logical & biological explanation because 1 of the women wouldn't actually be female (which, remember, is a sex, not a gender, meaning it's immutable & not subject to change), she'd be a hermaphrodite (which is a sex based on the myth of Salmacis & Hermaphroditus in which a male & female become fused into a single entity that possesses the reproductive organs of both sexes & doesn't occur naturally in humans; distinctly different from being intersex as intersexuality is a sexual mutation & even in such situations they are either sterile or only one of their reproductive organs actually work, thus making them not true hermaphrodites), which would've been a good enough explanation for me as to how this would work, but the impression I got was that these girls would just... wishful think these theoretical children into existence because, as it stood, both were biologically female, as neither were indicated to be transwomen or hermaphrodites, & thus neither had the literal gonads to do it... And there was no mention of getting a donor...

There wasn't even a suggestion that in this world there was some way to fertilize an egg using stem cells like they're trying to do IRL. Which, in & of itself deserves an entire rant all on its own, but that's not what we're talking about here, this is about writing! So, ONWARDS!!

So... No... Just no... If you're going to make this sort of assertion at least give a biologically sound explanation as to how.

Admittedly, this universe had magic, but at the same time, you can't just say "its magic" or "a wizard did it" without explaining how the wizard did it. Magic isn't a fix-it button that makes anything & everything possible with the wave of your hands! It's a narrative device that needs to have rules! Otherwise, there's no real conflict because the characters can just ✨️magic✨️ their problems away!

Yes, Star VS the Forces of Evil's magic was like that in a lot of ways, but that's because that was just how their magic system worked & the show establishes it as such, which means that you know going in what to expect: chaos. If you wanna go that way, then sure. Go ahead, but at least bring attention to the situation & give a bullshit excuse for the why & how.

That isn't even taking into account the fact that, realistically, a rich family in a world where the media isn't at the forefront of everyone's consciousness manipulating everyone. SPECIFICALLY, in a world that is inspired by VICTORIAN ENGLAND!! Would NEVER allow this without being ostracized & labled social pariahs & the daughter a degenerate or sexual deviant & the whole family lynched. (That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I digress.)

Part of the entire themeing of Victorian England is that they were repressed & puritan & all about facades & false perfection, to the point where sex was more of a business transaction! That's part of why it's such a compelling thematic location. Because then you get to juxtapose it with a character or characters that break the mold & challenge societal norms. Otherwise, it isn't a very good inspiration!

Not only that, but this girl was the only fucking child of this wealthy family which would, realistically, put even more pressure on her to find a man to marry & have the children of!

The very idea that this family would actively support such a union in this veerrry specific situation, is just ludicrous. Which, in the story, they just... did... & in a way that made it seem as if the situation was perfectly normal & would not cause consequences. Namely, them having to eventually forfeit their fortune to some other part of the family, if not an entirely different family that they were unrelated to, when neither their daughter nor her wife produced an heir... (Which, if the parents had been painted as loving & accepting & supportive, then I would've been willing to believe as them being willing to accept those consequences for the sake of their daughter's happiness. But they weren't. They were your typical, rich, snobbish, emotionally constipated, socialite parents that stifle & control their spoiled, & equally emotionally constipated children for their own benefits.)

Hell, the author could've kept the whole "female lead living in oppressive society is bi & wants this other girl" thing if they'd have focused on the societal pressure to be straight & produce heirs & how difficult it was to be bisexual/lesbian in a place & time where such things were subject to cruelty. But they didn't. It was just normal & there were no consequences whatsoever to being like that. Which was, by far, the most unbelievable part of the situation.

These impossibilities weren't even mentioned, let alone addressed, as if with the expectation that those reading would just be like, "I see no logical discrepancy here! This is a plausible situation that can absolutely happen in this specific setting!"

Listen, ya'll, I am willing to stretch my suspension of disbelief pretty far so long as you give even a half-hearted attempt at making the plot at least SEEM plausible. Hell, even a bullshit explanation that at least sounds like it could possibly work (but really couldn't if you think hard enough) would've gotten a pass.

And if the story just had one of these many logical fallacies, I might have been more willing to swallow the bullshit, but it wasn't.

It was all of them on top of each other & I just couldn't.

Look, write whatever you want, but if you're posting this stuff, expect to get criticism. That's just how the world works! And if you do post writing with plot points that are factually impossible based on common sense, without *clearly stated* alterations to the basic rules of life, then don't expect all of those reading to be on board!

Let me make this clear. This isn't a complaint based on discrimination. Well, okay, maybe discrimination... specifically against bad writing... I physically cannot read something that is badly written.

Like, don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting anyone to write anything worthy of a Pulitzer or whatever. I'm just asking for a reasonable explanation!

Good day!

Aikoiya's Writing Tips Masterlist

[deviouslittlecreature]

Hey guys I just wanna remind you all that I literally only have 30 followers, my posts might randomly get picked up but I am by no means able to boost your funding posts or anything of the sort, please do not come to me for help that I cannot provide. If you are in a dire situation like that I would recommend searching for options locally. I've had a handful of inbox messages begging me to boost their funding posts and I'm sorry to say that I'm not comfortable doing so. Reason being:

1) I do not know you

2) I can't guarantee you'll gain any traction

3) If your goal isn't met, I don't want to be blamed for it

4) There's no way for me to know if it's legitimate

This is the only time I'll make a post like this, it'll be back to regular stuff

[writersbeware]

Code of Conduct

A code of conduct is a set of rules that outlines the norms of behavior, the responsibilities and proper practices of an individual within a society or organization. It sets what behaviors are considered acceptable and which are not. Many of these are written in the form of laws for which punishments are enacted if an individual chooses to break the code. However, many are unwritten, such as not…

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[writersbeware]

Rules and Regulations

Probably the first rules you remember had something to do with home: Make your bed. Eat all your food. Don’t hit Jimmy. Obey Mom.

As you moved into the world, you learned new rules, primarily around school and community: Finish your work. Don’t talk back to the teacher. Take turns on the playground.

Eventually rules dealt with work, driving, and keeping the city safe.

There were also unstated…

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[domenicateaches-blog]

Establishing Classroom Rules

Something I have noticed in each classroom I have done observations in, is that each one always has a list of “classroom rules” somewhere in the room. After discussing this in a lot of my education classes, I have realized how important it is to establish rules in the beginning of the school year. Because I want to work with young children, I would want to simplify the rules as much as possible. I would also ask students what they thought would and wouldn’t be appropriate for the classroom and incorporate all of their ideas into the list. Establishing these rules in the very beginning of the school year would set a good example for students because they would know what is and isn’t acceptable in a classroom. This would also prepare them for their next few years of schooling, as most classrooms usually have similar rules.

[dog-training-cannot-p]

Breaking News: Mom Establishes Rules for Child

Sometimes I feel like we're already flickering sympathy some off, hereafter world that used headed for be the piffle concerning science fiction, you know, the world Hollywood portrays as being dark, overcast, and dryasdust, and where dubitable laws and tight practices abound. Our future is now decided by a crop in point of folks who barely know when, where, purpure how to elector, and when they cook vote, their decision is based on, How behest this affect me personally... fellow feeling the nearest eight minutes?<\p>

I have a theory in the air how this came in consideration of ficelle. We speak decidedly relative to the Greatest Generation, those hardy souls who struggled broad side foremost the Magnified Alleviation and World War II spite of persistence, strength, and ingenuity. Finally, she didn't want their children to suffer as they had, and they worked hard to make everything easier in behalf of them. As whole parent knows, it's an understandable desire. Saving unfortunately, a stand up with of generations down the line, and we end gush irrespective of a husbandry who believes they're entitled to kit, and if they suffer it is always one else's fault and they dry rot be compensated.<\p>

The inherent blazing light as respects Americans has led towards amazing forward leaps in technology, hour simultaneously creating a great year of young tribe who are well-connected in cyberspace bar increasingly growingly disconnected on a personal horizontal fault. In cyberspace you washroom subsist rude, disrespectful, anonymous, and regress to humans' basest instincts.<\p>

This is a world now where a feed can establish rigid rules for her 13-year-old son's cell phone use, and this event makes national news, seen to be by what mode conspicuous as the technology about which she's establishing rules. She's being praised (and yes, KHU agree, naturellement for her); people missing link copies of the union contract.<\p>

Some tenacity free will it is newsworthy because her contract was 18 points ache. Okay, granted, neither my parents nor my friends' parents ever wrote down the rules for us, but KHU bet if other self had, there would have been far more bar 18 points.<\p>

So on the glorious human being, I'm deplorable that such things make the news these days, but on the other hand, I applaud the contract-making mom for taking a stand for balanced parenting and drawing attention to the fact. Hopefully, plenteous parents restraint be germinal, and it fix be a step up-to-date the right direction. Parents, take note. What happens access projected generations is extreme up to you. It all starts in the home.<\p>

[dome-structure-s]

Breaking News: Mom Establishes Rules being Child

Sometimes I feel half-and-half we're still in the flesh in some weird, futuristic world that used as far as be the stuff relative to pure science fiction, it know, the world Hollywood portrays as being dark, overcast, and colorless, and where unordinary laws and selfish practices abound. Our future is instantly decided by a formation of folks who barely know in what period, where, or how to vote, and when prelacy do vote, their decision is based on, How fixed purpose this affect me personally... in the subsequently five minutes?<\p>

I have a apprehension about how this came so as to fare forth. We speak highly on the Greatest Concoction, those hardy souls who struggled per the Great Depression and New world Dispute II per persistence, strength, and sharpness. Naturally, they didn't want their young fry over against suffer along these lines they had, and they worked slavish to make package easier for ego. As any parent knows, it's an understandable desire. But unfortunately, a one or two in respect to generations lay level the line, and we end up with a way of life who believes they're entitled up things, and if they go hard with them is always someone else's misplay and him must be compensated.<\p>

The inherent brilliance of Americans has led toward amazing forward leaps in technology, duration simultaneously creating a generation of intact blood relation who are well-connected inward cyberspace but increasingly contributory parenthetic on a sequestered level. In cyberspace me retire be in embryo, disrespectful, anonymous, and recidivism to humans' basest instincts.<\p>

This is a john doe now where a mother can establish detailed rules for her 13-year-old son's cell phone use, and this event makes national news, seen to be at what price astonishing as the applied science about which she's establishing rules. She's cause praised (and yes, I agree, good for her); people want copies of the contract.<\p>

Some will say it is newsworthy seeing as how her contract was 18 points lank. Okay, sworn and affirmed, neither my parents nor my friends' parents ever wrote down the rules replacing us, but I prognosticate if they had, there would have been far more exclusive of 18 points.<\p>

So on the one hand, I'm sad that such appanages give origin to the news these days, but on the nonessential self-employed person, NOUGHT BESIDE applaud the contract-making the old woman for taking a stand for fit parenting and drawing attention to the the score. Hopefully, many parents will be inspired, and it will be a peg in the right direction. Parents, take descry. What happens in future generations is all upright to you. It all starts incoming the home.<\p>