I’ve been hornswoggled!
3 Likes
I do agree with this, and don’t plan on (or think anyone really ought to) use these terms as a substitute for just “fat” or other generic terms. But I also mainly asked this question thinking about how to write options for a heavier character that have variation.
Like for example, for slimmer characters I might have the option to be toned/lean, slender, small but curvy, etc. I don’t want to just write “fat” as the sole heavy option, because there are great variations in what heavier bodies look like and I want my writing to reflect that. If that makes sense.
Anyway, all that to say instead of just a “fat” catch all, I am leaning towards heavyset and strong, large and curvy, etc. Not because being fat is somehow a bad thing (because it’s simply not), but because heavy characters should have the option to have variations in their specific body type, too.
Hopefully that makes my initial question make a little more sense. Definitely not trying to dance around fatness, just trying to create variation that’s interesting and body inclusive.
9 Likes
I think the specificity is really helpful - both for representation/respect reasons, and for clarity.
5 Likes
Is body type absolutely essential here? I suspect many people would be put off if they could not imagine themselves as they would like to be. Its bad enough that I am short, and live in a country where other women tower over me, without having to add curvy or another euphemism for the solid flesh that miraculously appears whenever I see cheesecake! In a world where models are still too thin isn’t it better to gloss over body size beyond height and let us keep our imaginary selves as near as possible to perfect?
There’s no rule that says you have to choose the body type you have instead of the body type you wish you had. But some players may want the experience of feeling desired in the kind of body they actually have. In a world where models are still too thin, I would prefer to normalize the idea that bodies come in a variety of sizes and shapes and there’s nothing shameful about having one.
9 Likes
I, too am of the “who’s that standing behind me? Oh, it’s just my ass” persuasion and I enjoy playing at various sizes and shapes as the whims take me. The project OP is currently working on is a romance that I believe is going to get fairly explicit and for that well…bodies are needed. I’m just glad there’s asking and answering going around rather than an author being left to flounder now and catching hell later.
5 Likes
yes for real! i def don’t mind leaving appearances ambiguous at times but for this project there’s going to be intimate scenes, so wanted to get some good thoughts early on 
2 Likes
You know, if you’ve got time, maybe talk to CC Hill? Lots of projects with lots of intimate scenes from that one. Maybe some things you haven’t gotten to yet that you can iron out ahead of time with a little advice from another author with the same kind of content?
Pretty sure that’s a general Tumblr, or links to one.
3 Likes