So while I was going over my comic script and story with a fine comb to make sure that everything made sense, I kinda realized that Kiasun and Rani (two of my characters) had a slashable quality to them, in how they interacted.

if you are wondering what the fuck I'm going on about, I'll explain right now.
Slash is slang for homosexual relationships, most commonly used in the world of Fanfiction. I.E LOTR Slash--See Arogon and Legolas get it on together! There's also "Femslash" meaning Lesbain slash.

Slashable is basically where people and characters are just so easy to pair up with each other due to how they interact with each other.

As an fan of yaoi (a japanese term for male gay activies), the idea of Kiasun and Rani together of course appeals to me...

but I was thinking it might be a little bit much... conidsering that Kiasun becomes a father later on, and that Rani still contuines to pose as a high-school teenager even though he's an immortal half-god being..
which might make for a slightly odd relationship...

Not to metion I already had at least one semi-gay relationship in the works being planned... where this one certian girl explores her sexuality as she works though her very strong crush on a certain woman.

This certain girl will also be the daughter of Kiasun.

I think it would be a little bit over the top to have the daughter most likely gay and have Kiasun gay too...

After all, There isn't a gay gene out there that passes on the "gay" to the children.

Not to metion I was also planning to have Rani have a thing for the Daughter, which of course pisses off Kiasun.. which would be a very disfuntioncal love story if they were actually together, you know?

So do you think I should pair them up because the idea appeals to me, or just leave them Slashable?

or even remove the possiblity that they could even easily get together if the two of them wanted it, even though I love throwing in all those innuendos about them?

Thanks to Confusianism, in Asia there's a distinct attitude towards homosexuality, especially in Japan. Gay is just fine - but doesn't mean you don't still have a responsibility to marry and raise a family. The married man with the same sex lover on the side is more the rule than the exception.

I once dated a Chinese man who saw his future in such terms - He'd marry and raise a family and I'd be his lover on the side. Needless to say, the relationship was brief.

I'm not sure this is the right forum area for what you're asking for Aurora.
What you really need is help and advice on your story and as far as I can see there currently IS no forum for writing... It looks like they've forgotten to put it in.

As far as it goes here, Mykill has offered a good real world solution. My advice for your story though would be to stick with the last option you mention. Try not to have too many complications and innuendos to begin with, that sort of thing can really strangle your writing if you're not careful: they seem like fun possibilities to start with, but you may end up tangling things around yourself, like a kitten with too much wool.

If I were you, I'd write the broad outline of the story out to start with, from beginning to end, with all the major plot points and characters, and all their relationships to each other all properly defined. Only then should you go back into it and work on the interesting possibilities. That way you won't tangle up, you can keep the writing strong.

they don't really have a writing forum here, they should. This is why I put it here.

Yeah, now that I think of it, it's proably better to not have the characters in actual relationships or even hinting at it no matter what their feelings are.

unless it's really imporant to the plot and not just some filler thing.

MyKill, I'm very aware of Asian attudies towards that sort of thing.

However, my story isn't really set in Japan. it's actually set in an made-up conitent in an alerate earth. I do have a japanese character in there, but she's not really one of the main characters, just more like a supporting role. ^_^

Thanks for your input, it helps keep the yaoi fangirl in me from clouding my jugdement. ^^;

Glad to have helped out a little Aurora. ^_^
We now have a writer's forum for just this sort of question, thanks to the Ronson. So if you'd like to discuss more story related ideas, that's the place:
http://www.drunkduck.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=28

FinbarReilly

Aurora Moon
Yeah, now that I think of it, it's proably better to not have the characters in actual relationships or even hinting at it no matter what their feelings are.

Why not? Yoiu don't just develop plot, you develop characters as well. Or would you just rather not deal with it?

PS: Weird; I thought slash referred to gay fiction using well-known characters....

FR

Well, by that I meant like there could be some sexual tension there, but they wouldn't really acknowledge it....
like they weren't aware of the sexual tension between them, you know?

That's what I meant. @_@

Aurora Moon
Yeah, now that I think of it, it's proably better to not have the characters in actual relationships or even hinting at it no matter what their feelings are.

It killed "who's the boss". :)

.: SpANG! :.

SpANG!

Aurora Moon
Yeah, now that I think of it, it's proably better to not have the characters in actual relationships or even hinting at it no matter what their feelings are.

It killed "who's the boss". :)

*thinks of the tv show* err, what do you mean?

Aurora Moon

SpANG!

Aurora Moon
Yeah, now that I think of it, it's proably better to not have the characters in actual relationships or even hinting at it no matter what their feelings are.

It killed "who's the boss". :)

*thinks of the tv show* err, what do you mean?

Yeah, I was talking about the TV show. Gay or not gay, writing relationships into storylines just deflate them. Sexual tension is always best. :)

.: SpANG! :.

Like my Ronson-Claremont-Kerrimachus storyline. Lots of sexual tension there.

Actually, I disagree. "Who's the Boss" flopped because it was poorly written by third rate writers who probably didn't even have anything to do with the creation of the characters in the first place.

They did it because they wanted to "shake things up".

But when a writer who knows everything about these characters feels it's a natural development to develop a relationship between two characters, they will be able to do it because it will make sense in the context of the story.

Ronson
Like my Ronson-Claremont-Kerrimachus storyline. Lots of sexual tension there.

Ew! I didn't say it was the ONLY working formula.

Ronson
Actually, I disagree. "Who's the Boss" flopped because it was poorly written by third rate writers who probably didn't even have anything to do with the creation of the characters in the first place.

They did it because they wanted to "shake things up".

But when a writer who knows everything about these characters feels it's a natural development to develop a relationship between two characters, they will be able to do it because it will make sense in the context of the story.

Moonlighting
Alias
Cheers
Happy Days

Should I go on?

.: SpANG! :.

SpANG!
Moonlighting
Alias
Cheers
Happy Days

Should I go on?

Which only proves my point. When a new - and mediocre - writer steps in and tries to twist the characters into different behavior, the audience loses interest.

It's actually the problem with sitcoms and tv in general. Popular characters aren't allowed to change. So two people who fight and disagree all the time aren't believable when they start a serious relationship because you can't fight like that and actually HAVE a real relationship.

So what you have to do is change the character to fit the relationship. If it isn't natural, it'll be awkward and unconvincing.

But when you read something that develops the relationship over time, Same Vimes and Lady Sybil from the Discworld novels come to mind ... a natural progression occurs.

... aaaand makes it boring. That's all I'm saying.

But feel free to disagree! :smt062

.: SpANG! :.

Well, there are different ideas of "story". In its simplest form, it's the introduction of a conflict and the resolution thereof.

A more sophisticated form, avoided by television, is to have a character 'grow' and change.

SpANG!
... aaaand makes it boring. That's all I'm saying.

But feel free to disagree! :smt062

It's only boring if it is the basis of the story. Let's face it, Sam and Diane's relationship was interesting, but not the focus of the stories they fought through. Once the relationship started getting serious, the stories stopped being as funny because the story was about the relationship and not the wacky events around it.

that's bad writing, not a bad idea.

And relationships aren't the only thing that ruin a story. For example, the original Battlestar Galactica got ruined with the retooling event of them finding Earth.

What distinguishes a plot from a story is the characters involved. A revenge story featuring an embitterred soldier of fortune is completely different from the revenge story of a meek overweight housewife. The latter proposition is frankly, more interesting because the character must grow and evolve to even be able to exact 'revenge'.

Television presents a formula that is the antithesis of story really - the ongoing character that is likeable and watchable and therefore must NEVER CHANGE or grow. If you pay attention, television DOES present stories - but the characters that do the growing and transformation are not regular characters, but tertiary characters or temporary characters.

Superman is a comic with a profound character formula that is also profoundly rigid. No clay feet for Mr. Superman. But the comic has been VERY good - by telling good stories in which Superman is promiantly featured, but the story is really about the villain or a non main character.

There was a reason why the Superman Animated Series ended after Superman lost his memory and hurt some people. He wasn't all 'Mister Nice Guy' anymore. Now he was set in the role of someone who could almost kill. Oops. No more happy go lucky stories there. And most of the Justice League animated stories have been at least a little less 'human' since then.

Anyway people have joked that my comic's characters have sexual tension between them because they define them as 'pretty boys' or just because it's funny.

...I can exploit this.

Ah, please don't Ccs, because that would just be annoying.

I strongly dislike comics that just randomly puts two male characters together just because they are "pretty boys," even when there was absolutely no sexual tension to begin with! Augh! It's a pet peeve of mine. Anytime two unlikely characters are paired, gay or not, up just bugs me. Yeah, sure, you're the artist/author, you can do what you want, but that won't make it a good story.

Anyway, to the topic at hand.

I would encourage you not to muddle things up with series drama like that. Drama is fine, but not too much. I agree with Ozoneocean, it would just make things way too complex and take attention away from the storyline.

As for exploring sexual tension or not, I let the characters tell me what they'd do.

If these characters are attracted to each other but dancing around it - what's going on? Are they both closeted? Is the environment hostile to same sex affection? Are they both meek, frightened and cowardly?

If a character is strong and outgoing - guess what, he's not going to be closeted and he's going to come on to the person he's attracted explicitly.

I personally believe in 'human' characterization rather than having a great plot being acted out by eunichs. Eunichs are the rule for prime time TV. Why assess your comic by the crippled standards of television? -Blecch!

Your comic isn't TV, it can be better than TV. TV has to be safe for yahoos concerned about TV damaging the fragile psyche of an infant. If there's drama in your story, a romantic subplot does a LOT to establish strong motives people can relate to.

Mazoo
Ah, please don't Ccs, because that would just be annoying.

I strongly dislike comics that just randomly puts two male characters together just because they are "pretty boys," even when there was absolutely no sexual tension to begin with! Augh! It's a pet peeve of mine. Anytime two unlikely characters are paired, gay or not, up just bugs me. Yeah, sure, you're the artist/author, you can do what you want, but that won't make it a good story.

Don't worry, it was a joke. Though people DO see some connection. For example I have someone by the name of "yaoifan477" who lists my comic as one of their favorites on OnlineComics.net.

But anyway, I'll leave the 'male relationship' stuff to people like this. [caryss.net]

Heeeeeeey... I wasn't advocating having no relationships or tension at all between the characters here! What I suggested was to work out all the concrete stuff about relationships beforehand, beginning to end, then go back into the story, play around, tweak it, expand on fun ideas, whatever.

From what Aurora wrote, I assumed she was working a ‘relationship possibility’ into the characters for possible fun later on, in an open ended storyline framework. In my opinion that kind of thing just makes the story writing process too tangled in the end, (unless you’re doing something like Ink Monkey’s “Elija and Azuu”). It seems like a fun and easy way to do it to start with, but I don’t think it works very well over the course of the project.

So, my advice again: Write out the story framework, map the plot points, decide on the characters, their motivations and relationships… And only then write the actual story; exploiting sexual tensions or whatever else takes your fancy as you’re writing it.
If you do it that way you won’t tangle because you’ve always got the big picture well in mind.

-It's like drawing: If you concentrate on the fine details first, the finished product comes out deformed. But if you sketch it all out and then work in the details, things turn out nicely. ^_^

Every character in penis has the possibility of being slashable. Theres the ninja/bossman stories I get a lot of. The tranny/mad bomber story I got was god awful. I once got one about the poorly drawn walrus/one boobed coked out star girl that was pure literary brilliance, becuase when I think of great writing, I think of faggot fan fiction.

marine
Every character in penis has the possibility of being slashable. Theres the ninja/bossman stories I get a lot of. The tranny/mad bomber story I got was god awful. I once got one about the poorly drawn walrus/one boobed coked out star girl that was pure literary brilliance, becuase when I think of great writing, I think of faggot fan fiction.

God, how do you manage to be so offensive yet so entertaining at the same time? If I didn't have any self-respect and a sense of common sense, I would totally worship you for your artistry of vulgar entertainment.

I know some people reading my comic are waiting for Jack and Orlock (or mainly them) to make out for no reason...but it's never going to happen. Why the hell would it? Knowing the characters personally it just wouldn't make sense.

Orlock, well....I don't have much to say about him. He is definitely twisted enough that he is umm....done weird things, to Jack and others, but he doesn't care about sex all that much. (Yeah, you heard me.) He is a rather...'numb' guy and only gets 'aroused' by pain if anything. So yes...you want a word for him? Erm..."bi-sadist"? :?

Jack....just no. I hate it when any story that involves someone being enslaved by another...ends up LIKING the person who made their life hell. "Oh you killed my family and tortured me for a century or two, but I still love you! I'ma SOO gonna do you cuz you're so CUTE!!" :)

SarahN
I hate it when any story that involves someone being enslaved by another...ends up LIKING the person who made their life hell.

Isn't that called "Stockholm Syndrome" or something? :?

Mazoo

SarahN
I hate it when any story that involves someone being enslaved by another...ends up LIKING the person who made their life hell.

Isn't that called "Stockholm Syndrome" or something? :?

I guess it's sort of like that.

Yeah I know what you mean Sarah.

But sadly, that actually happens in real life at times. Ever heard of some women who married their own rapist?

You see, it's a psychological effect...in order to survive an ordeal, the kidnapped, the raped people actually start to sympathize with the kidnapper/rapist if they're the only people around the abused people for a long length of time.

and then they start to actually believe that the people who did this to them were good people, they didn't just mean to do this thing. :roll:

But... I don't really think it would really be real love. It's just simply a psychological effect, and a very disturbing one too at that.

So yes, I find it annoying too whenever people who write about this sort of thing tries to write it as if it was a perfectly normal, consenting loving relationship. Honestly, please do research on this kind of thing if you want to write about it!

I've been in a similar position to you. After getting a lot of email about 'slash' innuendo between two of our comic's male characters, I thought I could try adding a past slash relationship between them. The artist, however, said no. She was completely right about this - the comical sexual tension you can get out of an unrequited or suggested relationship, slash or otherwise, is a lot more fun to play with than the reality - at least that's what we've found. If you really want to see them visually together, you can always work in dreams or awkward moments - that's not hard.

That said, it really depends on your style of comic. If you're writing an epic-style comic where the relationship will have a potential to be a plot-point, then by all means go for it. But a relationship for the sake of there being a relationship is only going to weigh down your narrative and side-track things.

Mind you, I know plenty of families where more than one child is gay, so I don't see this as being a major reason not to do it.

So do it. Or don't do it. Or kind of do it but don't. Gosh, I'm so conflicted.

the comical sexual tension you can get out of an unrequited or suggested relationship, slash or otherwise, is a lot more fun to play with than the reality - at least that's what we've found.

I agree with this that Blackaby said, and have had quite a few jokes/humorous situations based around a 'slash' type situation in my comic... but at the same time, I know exactly the direction the characters are heading in, and so having a bit of fun with them on the way there is easy :P