Conveying emotions in writing

[teknight]

Hi, folks,
I'm curious: How do you guys convey your emotions when you're chatting with someone, or when you're writing your stories/ SRPs?

I'm asking cause I acknowledge that a lot is lost when you go from real life conversation to online message writing, and there have been times when I've would up with my foot in my mouth, because I thought I was saying one thing (with one emotion or state of mind), but the reader got a completely different message...and I don't have a foot fetish, so, foot-in-mouth does not work for me .
How do you cope? Do you mention stuff explicitly or....?


Thanks for reading...and for sharing, if it tickles your fancy.

 

[SpecialKay62]

Interesting Question

I'm going to assume that you're trying to convey...ahem...sexual feelings and not the feelings you get when you, may, perhaps watch the evening sun setting over a mountain.

Now, I was feeling a little sarcastic. How did I do conveying THAT? I guess some people have a knack for getting a feeling across in words and others not so much. One thing you could try is stating how you feel in this format:

"When I see your naked body, I feel like__________." Insert feeling. Noun/verb style ("fucking you" fits nicely there, don't you think?

Seriously, just state what you mean in as few words as possible, then get more creative as you progress. Also, keep in mind that communication is a part of chemistry. In this new-fangled on-line reality we have, if you're not communicating with someone, maybe there's no chemistry.

Sorry for all the words! Good luck.

 

[teknight]

I'm going to assume that you're trying to convey...ahem...sexual feelings and not the feelings you get when you, may, perhaps watch the evening sun setting over a mountain.

Now, I was feeling a little sarcastic. How did I do conveying THAT? I guess some people have a knack for getting a feeling across in words and others not so much. One thing you could try is stating how you feel in this format:

"When I see your naked body, I feel like__________." Insert feeling. Noun/verb style ("fucking you" fits nicely there, don't you think?

Seriously, just state what you mean in as few words as possible, then get more creative as you progress. Also, keep in mind that communication is a part of chemistry. In this new-fangled on-line reality we have, if you're not communicating with someone, maybe there's no chemistry.

Sorry for all the words! Good luck.

Go figure, a post on lit would send the readers' minds into the gutter. It's not the sexual stuff that I have issues with. It's the sarcasm, mostly...especially to strangers unaccustomed to my humor, it might seem anything but....

Thanks for your reply, and don't worry, I don't charge per word.

 

[satindesire]

Go figure, a post on lit would send the readers' minds into the gutter. It's not the sexual stuff that I have issues with. It's the sarcasm, mostly...especially to strangers unaccustomed to my humor, it might seem anything but....

Thanks for your reply, and don't worry, I don't charge per word.

There are a few ways you can express sarcasm in your RP.

For one, you can make sure you're deliberately telling the reader that the tone of your character's voice is sarcastic, or by cuing in on their expressions.

Jenny handed the paper back to him with a wry look. "This is a real piece of literature, Drake. I think we're looking at the next Harry Potter series."

--or--

Jenny handed the paper back to him. "This is a real piece of literature, Drake. I think we're looking at the next Harry Potter series." her tone was dry, full of sarcasm.

**********

In the end, there are several key words that express the idea of sarcasm, such as "dry, wry, wit, derision, disparagement, irony, mockery, satire, scorn.." etc. Using these words when expressing your character is a good way to make sure the reader knows the character is being sarcastic.

 

[teknight]

In the end, there are several key words that express the idea of sarcasm, such as "dry, wry, wit, derision, disparagement, irony, mockery, satire, scorn.." etc. Using these words when expressing your character is a good way to make sure the reader knows the character is being sarcastic.

Thank you for that.

But what about something like PMs, or IMs (and not just on Lit, you pervs!)....for something like that, I'd be inclined to use HTML tags i.e. <sarcasm> </sarcasm>...alas, since I don't know how many people speak fluent HTML, that's a dud...or something that I have to make explicit before I start using my notation.

So, how do you handle IMs and the like (on lit and away from lit)

 

[satindesire]

Thank you for that.

But what about something like PMs, or IMs (and not just on Lit, you pervs!)....for something like that, I'd be inclined to use HTML tags i.e. <sarcasm> </sarcasm>...alas, since I don't know how many people speak fluent HTML, that's a dud...or something that I have to make explicit before I start using my notation.

So, how do you handle IMs and the like (on lit and away from lit)

Generally, I convey emotions in OOC writing via HTML emoticons. Sarcasm is generally shown in my text by the sideways mouth ( :/ ) or the 'straight face' ( :-l ) or for humorous sarcasm, the sticking-out-tongue ( ) or the pointed mouth smilie ( :-> ). However, not everyone is as internet-savvy as others, and you may need to occasionally explain what your smilies mean. The "Hilarious Laughter" smilie of the clenched eyes and open laughing mouth ( XD ) many people have asked me about. So be prepared to explain yourself should your smilies not be understood.

 

[AlmostAlice]

There are a few ways you can express sarcasm in your RP.

For one, you can make sure you're deliberately telling the reader that the tone of your character's voice is sarcastic, or by cuing in on their expressions.

Jenny handed the paper back to him with a wry look. "This is a real piece of literature, Drake. I think we're looking at the next Harry Potter series."

--or--

Jenny handed the paper back to him. "This is a real piece of literature, Drake. I think we're looking at the next Harry Potter series." her tone was dry, full of sarcasm.

Pauses can also work:

Jenny handed the paper back to him, hesitating. "This is a... real piece of literature, Drake. I, ah, think we're looking at the next Harry Potter series."

 

[NippleMuncher]

For general message posting and PM's, I recommend a strong dose of emoticons. Humorous sarcasm is taken as such when followed by a wink and a grin or the tongue. Messages with a strong tone that are not followed by lighthearted emoticons, or conversely by angry faces are quickly taken at mean, insulting, or whatever the tone of the written word conveys. You can also use punctuation, capital letters, bolding, underlining, or italics to emphasize words or phrases to give them special import.

Probably the most important thing when you don't know your audience or they don't know you, is to be as respectful as possible with your postings until everyone gets to know each other better. The more you post, the faster we all get acquainted, the more leeway you'll get with your post tone. Once your general demeanor is understood by everyone, your posts will be taken in that vein rather than misconstrued.

Now, get your ass out there and get posting, this instant!

 

[teknight]

Pauses can also work:

Jenny handed the paper back to him, hesitating. "This is a... real piece of literature, Drake. I, ah, think we're looking at the next Harry Potter series."

Oooh! I do that!

 

[teknight]

For general message posting and PM's, I recommend a strong dose of emoticons. Humorous sarcasm is taken as such when followed by a wink and a grin or the tongue. Messages with a strong tone that are not followed by lighthearted emoticons, or conversely by angry faces are quickly taken at mean, insulting, or whatever the tone of the written word conveys. You can also use punctuation, capital letters, bolding, underlining, or italics to emphasize words or phrases to give them special import.

Probably the most important thing when you don't know your audience or they don't know you, is to be as respectful as possible with your postings until everyone gets to know each other better. The more you post, the faster we all get acquainted, the more leeway you'll get with your post tone. Once your general demeanor is understood by everyone, your posts will be taken in that vein rather than misconstrued.

Now, get your ass out there and get posting, this instant!

Wait a second! You're saying you wanna get all up in my bidness? Hmmph!

 

[littlebabyclit]

When in doubt if your sarcasm and humor is being understood, or worse, being taken the wrong way, the simplest thing to make sure your true intentions have not been misconstrued is to follow your remarks with "I'm only kidding" or something to that effect. Or, ask to see if you're being understood, as with "you know I'm only joking, right?" I do believe in being explicitly clear with people. It is necessary much of the time, unless you're dealing with someone very lighthearted who is on the rare side of taking little offense at anything.

I am a very humorous person and I have teased and mocked all kinds of people and rarely have a problem because I ALWAYS make sure the recipient of my humor GETS that I'm joking. The only time this has misfired is if the person you're dealing with is just too goddamned sensitive in the first place and lacking a decent sense of humor. In that case, all conversations tend to become a lot of work and get ready to explain yourself a lot.

Edited to add: I'm with everyone else about using friendly emoticons to convey humor, that is essential. Also agree that if you get to know a person well it should follow that your sense of humor will be understood after a while but that isn't always the case. You can't always be sure how the tone of words in print will be interpreted. I, for one, don't want to have to work to understand if I'm being teased or not and I consider that being jerked around if the intentions behind alleged humor are left unclear.