Why my story will unintentionally offend lots of people! =D

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lostonearth35
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08 Aug 2014, 9:01 pm

I just finished writing and illustrating a short story I entitled "Cory And Company", and actually enjoyed doing it. Usually I work at a story on-and-off for weeks or even months with little motivation, but it took me less than two days to finish creating this "little gem". However, I know it will offend a lot of people even though I didn't mean for it to be that way. First of all, it contains "furries" - a family of humanized cartoon-like animals. Second, the "furries" are cougars. I do not live in an area where puma or mountain lion is the common name for such animals, and I don't wish to call them anything else just because of that other derogatory and stupid meaning of the word. Third, the wife of the Cougar family (who is the SAME age as her titular husband) is rather attractive, and people will think that's wrong or even "bestial". I can almost hear the Beavis and Butthead-like snickering of teen males and the gasps of prudish parents everywhere... or at least I would if I could get this story published, which I can't along with all the other stories I've written and illustrated. Epic Fail... I guess if it amused and entertained me that's the main thing... right? :?



progaspie
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08 Aug 2014, 9:19 pm

I don't quite follow the gist of what you are writing. However, if the aim of the writer is not to offend anyone, then nothing would ever be written.



Humanaut
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08 Aug 2014, 9:30 pm

You can use the term feline instead of p****.



Kraichgauer
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09 Aug 2014, 12:51 am

Screw worrying about offending people - I let some guys from my church read a short horror story I had written, as I wanted the most critical audience to tell me their opinions - and two out of three thought it was too offensive. But I figured, if I disturbed people by what I wrote, then I accomplished what I had set out to do!


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IncredibleFrog
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09 Aug 2014, 3:25 am

It doesn't sound particularly offensive to me. Are they actual furries (people who cosplay as animals), or anthropomorphic animals (like Mickey Mouse, or Roger Rabbit)? Some people are offended by furries, but hardly any one is offended by an anthropomorphic character.

Also, is your book aimed at children or adults? Animal characters are abundant in children's books, though less so in adults.

And you said the husband is attractive, and that might be offensive... By "attractive", do you mean he is actually having sex in the book, or is he just good looking? Fantastic Mr. Fox and many other animal characters were described as "handsome" or "dashing", and no one thought that was creepy. Depending on the tone of the book (humorous, or serious), people may or may not find a sexually active anthropomorphized cat offensive. Surely some people will, but you can't please everyone...

David Sedaris wrote book about animals, that was quite popular, and even featured topics such as dating.

If you can't find a publisher, maybe self publish? Quite a few people are doing it now, with the advent of e-books.