Read on Twitter
the only time u should use these descriptions is when ur introducing a character ur pov character doesn’t know yet!!!!!! https://twitter.com/pageandpetals/status/1278078076149211140
the overuse of epithets in fic is one of my biggest pet peeves lol ur writing will be SO MUCH CLEARER if u just use the character’s name!!!!
these descriptions also extend to occupations like “the chef” or “the dancer” as well as other physical indicators like “the brunette” or “the blond.” don’t use these!!!!! just use names!!!!!
if u default to using epithets a lot i think u should ask urself why? why are u using a descriptor instead of a name in this moment? what does it add to the fic?
if ur sentences are like "the taller grabbed a glass from the cupboard and handed to the shorter" ur distancing ur reader from the characters. ur making it harder for ur readers to connect.
a character's name should hold the weight of all their feelings and thoughts and personality traits that u give them as the writer. if u repeatedly replace their name with a descriptor, ur stripping away the rest of their identity.
with fanfic it might seem easy to just use "the taller" or "the shorter" bc if someone looked at the pairing they'd kNOW who was who bc we all like exo and we know who is taller and who is shorter. but u should write as if someone who doesn't know exo is also reading ur fics.
ur writing should be clear and concise enough that anyone could pick it up and follow along and be able to connect to the characters without already having to know who is the taller person or who is blond
anyway those are my thoughts!! epithets bad unless ur introducing a new character the end
