[FFML] Question about manga style

[Jared Waddell]

Visually, I remember these being called 'wild takes' in years past. My co-writer through one into TGE. The best use of them in fanfiction that I have at least read, and maybe used once or twice, is where the over-the-top reaction is read literally. Playing off of it, such as having another character react to first character's wild take, is not usually necessary, but can be done if also played straight.


Example:


Batting his eyes for effect, "Ah, but who else would I take the ball?"

He was taking her! He was taking her! He was taking _her_! Rina melted on the spot, the realization playing through her mind over and over again, like a record skipping on the best part of her favorite song.

Mikami went from giving the knight his best Evil Eye to watching Rina dissolve in the face of his charm. He jabbed her with his toe. "Rina!" he hissed, standing his ground. "Pull yourself together!"



In this case, the gag isn't played literally--Mikami doesn't necessary poke a Rina puddle, but the audience is free to imagine that if they wish. Either way, the scene convey's Rina's response precisely. This is an application of metaphor, if I'm remembering English courses of long past correctly, and is the sort of thing that is bedrock to good fiction (there's another metaphor, just to show I'm in practice).

Later,
Rick Spiff
Who should be doing some gosh-durned writin' of his own, or else!