dom, sub and authorship

[lobelia321]

thejennabides's recent snippets have made me think about whether the role of the author is more dommy or more subby.

I joked to Jenn that I didn't want to hem her in in her authorial, dominatricial role. But then I immediately thought, 'Hm. Is the authorial role of necessity a dom role?'

How it's dom: I the Author control the story and the plot. I invent the characters, put words and cocks in their mouths, make them move and walk and fuck. I manipulate reader response, make readers weak at the knees or hoot with laughter or die with suspense.

It's why I love writing. I can control fic in a way I cannot control rl.

How it's sub: Characters take over. They demand to be written in a certain way. The muses or whatever they are come to transport me away. I've had times where I've written in a swoon, as if something else was writing through me. I've had times where I've tried to make the story go one way but it just wouldn't; I needed to let go and allow the story to find its own riverbed to flow along.

It's why I love writing. The characters and situations I invent come alive and take me places I had not imagined.

Comments

[msilverstar]

oh yes.

I hadn't thought of it that way. Thank you.

Re:

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Heh. *I* hadn't thought of it that way until 5 minutes ago.

[gabbyhope.livejournal.com]

It's not unless it's come from the RPG sense do I think about characters taking me over. Otherwise, I'm under the impression that I am in complete control. I created them, dammit, and so they're completely under my thumb, man.

If it's RPG characters, or fic characters that stemmed from RPG characters, then I see them in a different light. I've "lived with them," so to speak, and so the line between me and them seems to blur. And sometimes I think their hold on things is stronger. If that makes any sense.

Re:

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I've never played an RPG, and I don't think I ever will. I don't think RPG is compatible with my mental health.