Tamlin, a grown-up human || profesional dabbler || avidly committing the sin of empathy || space, science, science fiction, hope, gym, gay stuff || they/she/elle
11literally have not heard of some of thesere prev: I think they just mean the books are available to an English speaking audience? still an odd qualifier for a list including worksin translation
on “the blond,” “the older man,” and other crimes against third-person limited
You know that thing where a story is written in tight third person limited — we’re meant to be inside someone’s head, seeing the world through their thoughts — and then suddenly the narration says “the blond frowned” or “the shorter woman sighed” about a person the POV character knows really well?
That’s called antonomasia — using a descriptive label instead of a name. And it’s fine when we’re talking about strangers: “the cashier handed her the receipt,” “the tall guy blocked the door.” The POV character doesn’t know their names, and we just need a quick way to tell people apart.
But the moment it’s used for someone the POV character already knows, it breaks immersion. Because that’s not how our minds work. We don’t think “the older man smiled at me.” We think “Mark smiled.” Or maybe “my boss” if that relationship matters in the moment.
Third person limited means the narration sits inside someone’s perception. Their inner monologue is the story’s voice. So when you switch from “Mark smiled” to “the blond smiled,” you’ve pulled the camera away from their mind and turned it into an outside shot.
If you want to create distance or irritation, you can do it on purpose —
“The idiot from accounting emailed again.”
That’s character voice. That’s judgment. That works.
But otherwise?
As soon as your POV character knows someone’s name, use it. While we do tend to worry about repetitions, names rarely register as such to the readers.
If you need variety for rhythm, use relational or emotional identifiers that make sense in their head: her friend, his partner, their teacher, the person they loved.
Because inside someone’s thoughts, there are no “blonds” or “brunettes.”
There are only people they know.
Really good explanation of the fundamental problem with this type of writing.
the other night he brought it to bed then PAWED AT MY FACE until I played with himwhat have we wroughtmandated to Play Toy. Toy In Bed. What's next?!Sputnik cat
rolled over this morning, went “why am I lying on something hard?”, and discovered that Sputnik had dragged his fishing rod toy into bed and placed it between my partner and I
I include myself in this. first suggestion was too hard to find.second wasn't actually a space stationthird almost got shot down for being a stand alone book later in a series but I had Precedent on my sidemultiple other people confused about how to define a space stationthere's been so much back and forth I don't even have the heart to point out that Red Shirts isn't technically on a space stationwe all pick books on the theme then use a randomizer to choose. we have 20+ active members and more on discord.it's been an enthusiastic mess
you would not believe how difficult it’s been to get our book club to suggest appropriate books for the theme “set primarily on a space station”.
A second illustration for the Swords Without Master ttrpg, so much good art is being made for this thing. I’m very happy to contribute to it, I’m in good company.
I was so scared they were heading for a romance subplot but congrats to Project Hail Mary for going for the far funnier option of ‘Trolley Operator’ and 'Guy She Is Actively Tying To The Tracks’. What a dynamic. Movie of the year.
the guys at my gym are fine but I am grateful this woman who usually works out when I doasked me to spot her the other day. we're bench buddies now.the men are GREAT spots don't get me wrong I just run the risk of one of them saying something Weirdanyway I failed 105 today. I think I might need to ramp up the volume if I want to put any more lbs on my benchdid 220 deadlift for multiple singles today though and didn't fail any of them :)225 was my previous max and that was a struggletamlin's gym tag
bench pressing is such a comedically vulnerable activity it’s really best not to think about it too hard. “Hi, we’ve never met before, can you stand over me and make sure I don’t die?”
Love all the posts I’m seeing about Grace getting various mobility aids and other disability supports during his life on Erid but I think we can go deeper. Rocky had a traumatic near-fatal exposure to the oxygenated atmosphere which could absolutely lead to a bunch of long-term complications, plus he was in space for decades and who knows what effects that could have on Eridian biology. We need to disable that rock.
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