[Alassante]

I am written a pretty good love scene and I was thinking about putting in some song lyrics in between transitional parts. I haven't decided if I plan to do this just during the love scene or throughout. I know other people have done this but I didn't know if people like it or if it irritates the snot out of them. Get me your opinon - don't hold back!!!

[VanatheEverYoung]

Remember how I told you I have one pet peeve in fanfic? Make that two. I'm not a big fan of modern songs or quotes thrown into stories. Anywhere. Beginning, middle, end. It bugs the crap out of me. But, that's just me. And I have strange pet peeves.

[SpaceWeavil]

I'm not too keen on it, I must say. I've seen 'song fics', where there are lyrics spread out through the story, and I've never really got the point of it. I know it's supposed to be as though you're listening to the song as the scene plays out or something, but I could actually get that if the author just said 'such and such a scene was writtern with this song in mind...'. Saying that, I know some people do like them and write them. That's just personal opinion.

[Elennare]

Putting in some traditional poetry or lyrics can really help, especially if you are using historical festivals such as Yule or Midsummer's Night. But I do also agree with Vana that modern music tends to fit in like a Rottweiler in a cattery.

[ghettoelleth]

GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!!

All my transitions are headed with quotes, lyrics, or some shit I made up. But ya know what? I kinda enjoy them so now I'm in a quandry. WHAT TA DO WHAT TA DO????

[Alassante]

I must be honest - there was one story I read that interjected into the story and I kinda started ignoring them. So I guess I will just put a "lyrical" tilt on the wording.

Space or Vana you around right now? PM me if you are.

[ghettoelleth]

She says that like its a bad thing.... Lemme clarify sumpin here cuz...well, because I have nothing better to do at the moment. My fic is not based on any poem or lyric, neither is any poem or lyric included in the body of my fic, NOR does any character at any moment recite a lyric or quote. I meanedededed that when I'm transitioning from one event or time period to another (she said with authority, knowing damn well that Thur, Yavanie, Elliska, Viv, Space and others who actually know the term for what I am trying to say here, are snickering at her as you read) I sometimes insert a quote or a little snippet of a lyric. And sometimes I just make the shit up to fit the scenario, ie. Balrog's wet dream.

Big Pimpin' xxx

[Thuriniel]

In my one and only "monster of a fic" I've used quotes from the book Trilogy at the beginning of each chapter. I also have a couple of chapters where I've used song lyrics (always giving the original artist credit for them). One of the songs I used was "Thank You" by Led Zepellin. I translated a couple of verses in Sindarin:

"If the Sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you. When mountains crumble to the Sea, there will still be you and me."

I didn't know what reaction I would get ... but everyone loved it ! (I thought it sounded pretty Elven and that it was quite perfect).

I personally don't have a problem with authors using lyrics as long as they don't overwhelm the chapter, the original author is recognized, and the lyrics fit the mood and help to produce the desired reaction in the reader.

[SpaceWeavil]

[ghettoelleth]

On top of everything else Thur, you are a lovely and generous human being. Cuz I just told everyone that I wrote the lyrics to Kashmir. And that's why satan has an autographed poster of me in his gym locker.

(I really should have two glasses of wine before I come in here and start posting every day, shouldn't I?)

baby Eru wept.....

Big Pimpin'xx

[Thuriniel]

[SpaceWeavil]

[LuthienTinuviel]

Hey, having songs in between story lines usually add more to the meaningfulness of the emotive background in the story.

Then again, I was a member of the ochestra, so having music anywhere, even lyrics is my kind of thang.

Regardless of that, I believe everyone has different tastes, but gimme poetry, prose, song lyrics, etc in-between the lines any day!

[Viv]

Having song lyrics introduce a chapter is accepted. Stephen King does this all the time (among other authors). However, in fanfic, a lot of writers insert song lyrics *within the text of the story*... as if it were part of the story. The worst offenders have story characters *sing* modern songs. Any time you insert song lyrics within the text, you stand a good chance of having the readers skip them (which is what I generally do; some of those stories are damn good, once you start ignoring the inevitable Evanescence lyrics).

Worst-case scenario is you'd be heckled by hobbyist hecklers. But then, just having an OFC can sometimes solicit heckling. So don't cringe in fear over that.

Just be sure, if you're basing a fic around a song, review the OSA guidlines for songfics. If it's a songfic, PLEASE categorize it in the Green Dragon archive. Readers will appreciate that.

[ellisk]