Comments | riina2504: Words I don't get, pt 1

riina2504

Words I don't get, pt 1

Aug 03, 2009 09:15

My latest fandom, Supernatural, has a word very often used in feedback: visceral. I've looked this up in a dictionary and thesaurus, and I still have no idea what it means in terms of a story. How can a story/writing be visceral?

Comments 8

morgulq August 3 2009, 07:06:04 UTC

I usually only use it in terms of cinema but in that situation visceral is when the character does something and it's like it's happening to you. Like when a character drags their knuckles along the stone of a building and you can almost feel every bump, hear and feel every thump and scratch and grind against the stone - that's visceral.

So, nails on chalkboard but without the cringeworthyness, one hopes.

A story can be visceral if it drags you in to the extent that you feel everything along with the characters.

At least, that's my opinion. $0.02 please!

riina2504 August 3 2009, 13:03:10 UTC

It's gonna be a bit difficult to get that 0.02 dollars to you, but that doesn't mean I'm not grateful :D I'm usually pretty ok with all things English, but this one just left me blank. And it's used *so* much. Well, from now on, I'll be nodding my head knowingly :) Thanks!

koulagirl666 August 3 2009, 09:20:11 UTC

When the writing is such that the reader can visualise clearly what is happening on the screen.

SPN attracts the word because not many readers have heard of 'mood', which is I think what they're getting at.

riina2504 August 3 2009, 13:04:48 UTC

*laughs* I was thinking it's one of those 'fine' words someone uses once and everyone thinks it's awesome and then is spreads like a wildfire! At least I know now what it means when I come across it next. Thanks, hon *squishes*

koulagirl666 August 3 2009, 21:35:17 UTC

Probably. =) And yes, next time you see it you don't have to go 'this story is reminiscent of innards'. Generally, that's a good thing.

riina2504 August 4 2009, 03:57:35 UTC

:D I hadn't thought about innards. So, at least there's that. Lol.

keiliss August 3 2009, 13:23:29 UTC

My mental translation on that - it gets you in the gut, you really feel it. Which can be a good thing or a quite bad thing :D

I'm not a SPN person so I don't know the quality of fiction in that fandom, but I usually associate it with damn good, strong writing.

riina2504 August 3 2009, 22:58:40 UTC

In spn this usually is good. I've been so amazed at the quality of stuff in that fandom. They actually have a brilliant lj group where the mods shift through stuff that's been posted 'lately' and they post recs everyday according to categories. It's a huge service to us readers. We could have used something like that in the LotR hayday.

Thanks for your explanation :) I like how you put it.