Thursday, June 4, 2009

Graphically Speaking: Annoy-o-Meter

12 comments:

  1. EilisFlynnJune 9, 2009 at 8:15 PM

    So would it be as annoying if the dance reference were a specific dance? A waltz as old as time ... no, that would be annoying too. A tap-dance as ... no, I just rolled my eyes typing that. A polka as old as time! Are there different kinds of polka?

    Seriously, a reference to a dance should be on a list of cliches to be avoided somewhere.

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  2. Ann BruceJune 9, 2009 at 9:26 PM

    So where's America's Best Dance Crew?

    Seriously, I must be reading the right books because I haven't seen those phrases in a long time.

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  3. AnonymousJune 9, 2009 at 9:59 PM

    I don't know, Eilis..I'm liking the polka idea. Let's run with that.

    Ann, I have no doubt you read only the best books. Though even I couldn't bring myself to mention ABDC. *wink*

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  4. Ann BruceJune 10, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    KK, just for you, I might be willing to work one of those lines into the current WIP (which I swear I will reach your inbox this month).

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  5. Ann BruceJune 10, 2009 at 2:12 AM

    Ack! The last "I" shouldn't be there. It's way past my bedtime.

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  6. Belle ScarlettJune 10, 2009 at 2:21 AM

    I call dibs on, "Dancing with the stars as old as time..."

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  7. Barbara ElsborgJune 10, 2009 at 4:37 AM

    You know, I wonder if reading so many erotic romances is jading? Phrases that sound okay to the writer must aggravate when read over and over by editors. There are only so many ways to describe - er - stuff. Try too hard and it sounds ridiculous. Use cliches and it sounds tired. I think, like the last post - it's only repitition of the same phrases that grates. I don't mind any sort of dance but I only need to hear it once per book. I can see that if every book has it, an editor will be ready to strangle someone but as a reader I don't mind.I can easily forgive a few cliches if the story is good and the men are yummy.

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  8. Wylie KinsonJune 10, 2009 at 10:20 AM

    Well CRAP. My entire wip is about dance and *insert cliche here* just can't be avoided!
    The delete key is becoming my new best friend *sob*

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  9. Kimber LiJune 10, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    "Dance as old as time?" How can that be erotic? I mean, who wants to do it the same way over and over and over again?

    I don't think I'd be annoyed so much as I'd be bored.

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  10. AnonymousJune 10, 2009 at 5:48 PM

    LOL. I love these graphs. Keep them coming!

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  11. EilisFlynnJune 10, 2009 at 8:12 PM

    "The polka of love." Really?? So if I submit that, my editor Shannon won't make fun of it and slash it to bits? I'm sort of scared now!

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  12. Amber GreenJune 10, 2009 at 9:33 PM

    So, would that be OOM-pah-pah! or OOMPH-ah-ah! do you think?

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