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Post by spiritmage234 on Jul 8, 2007 18:26:48 GMT -5
@para: Yes! People who write dialogue in foreign languages without the experience of speaking/writing in that langauge is rather annoying. Besides, if you state that you're story takes place in a foreign langauge, I don't think it's really necessary to write lines of dialogue in that tongue. Arthur Golden didn't do it in Memoirs of a Geisha, neither should you. @sarii: I hope she won't be writing for very longer. Not if she want's to be taken seriously. Writing in |33r or [33|> or whatever the hell it is is annoying enough. If you don't even know what you're writing, you don't deserve to be taken seriously as a writer. Eh. I'll give you a karma anyway. You too Para.
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Wilderness Writer
Wolf Sokka
Zutarian Propaganda Writer
~Weaver of Words~
Posts: 2,802
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Post by Wilderness Writer on Jul 8, 2007 19:43:59 GMT -5
ooohhh.. I like this place! *snuggles in*
My biggest pet peeve in fanfiction is the dreaded "Author's Note". That pesky little interruption of the story's flow as the author inserts his or her two cents. They range from technical/cultural explanations (for example: "The reason I've given Zuko a red coat is that in Japanese history, red was symbolic of blah blah blah) to the downright aggravating (Example: "OMG!!!1!ONE I CAN"T BULEEEEEV ZUCKO SED TAHT!! IMEAN, HE'S SOOOO KAWAIIIIIIIII!!!)
There is never a need for author's notes. If you feel there is need of one, then the situation either needs to be explained better in the story or cut out altogether. If you feel that something does need a little explanation, the best thing to do is make a small note at the end of the chapter.
When you're writing a story, you want to give the reader a sense of escape. You want them to become so engrossed in the writing that they actually feel that they are a part of the world you are writing about. Once you manage to attain that, the last thing you want to do is break up the flow of the story and remind the reader that they are reading a story, ripping them out of the world.
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Gandalan
Casual Zuko
Wavemaster
Posts: 979
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Post by Gandalan on Jul 8, 2007 20:17:13 GMT -5
If only I was good enough to do that... Does anybody here like poetry?
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Post by Chibi Chan-o on Jul 8, 2007 20:29:05 GMT -5
I usually put author's notes at the beginning of the story. They don't really have anything to do with the story. They're just little, "Hi there!!" type things. And if anything needs to be explained, I put the explanations after the chapter is over.
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pirateliz
Avatar Aang
Co-creator of A Far Cry From Home.
Posts: 1,153
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Post by pirateliz on Jul 8, 2007 20:29:51 GMT -5
I wanted to ask, has any writer here experinced the fact that their characters...well...disobey them and just do what they want? I've noticed that when I write characters take on a life of their own and if I try yo write them to do something it just doesn't work and it seems out of character. Such as I wanted someone in an old old story to fall in love with someone...but she fell in love with someone else. ...Does any of this make sense?
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Post by Chibi Chan-o on Jul 8, 2007 20:36:45 GMT -5
I usually don't write stories with original characters. I used to draw comics for my friend, though, and my character was supposed to be shy and quiet. After a month of drawing those comics, my character became headstrong and wasn't really all that quiet. XD
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femaleairbender
Blue Spirit
Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs...She's like the wind...
Posts: 2,165
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Post by femaleairbender on Jul 8, 2007 20:37:52 GMT -5
If you write a fanfiction, don't beg for reviews. It just proves that you're writing for attention, not writing for the sake of writing.
Also, don't go into a rantfit if you get constructive criticism. That makes you look immature and you won't be taken seriously as a writer.
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Post by Chibi Chan-o on Jul 8, 2007 20:49:13 GMT -5
Plus, a little criticism is good for you. It helps you improve.
And if you don't get many reviews, it might mean there's something about your story that doesn't click with some people. For example, your writing might be too bland or maybe your plot isn't very original and it's something that's been written about a million times. Lack of reviews could be a chance for more improvement.
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Zink
Ty Lee
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8
Posts: 4,279
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Post by Zink on Jul 8, 2007 21:32:50 GMT -5
I wanted to ask, has any writer here experinced the fact that their characters...well...disobey them and just do what they want? I've noticed that when I write characters take on a life of their own and if I try yo write them to do something it just doesn't work and it seems out of character. Such as I wanted someone in an old old story to fall in love with someone...but she fell in love with someone else. ...Does any of this make sense? Oh, yes. A lot. My problem was when my circa-1870's-Asia MC managed to get in a remark on gun control. And it was contrary to mine. Well, it proves they're "alive", at least.
I don't mind an author's note before and after a chapter in fanfiction, but IN the meat of the story is just wrong, and unproffesional. I realize that fanfiction, naturally, doesn't have the same quality level as published fiction, but, sheesh, respect the conventions of storytelling!
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Post by Paraiba Ocean on Jul 8, 2007 21:33:54 GMT -5
I usually put author's notes at the beginning of the story. They don't really have anything to do with the story. They're just little, "Hi there!!" type things. And if anything needs to be explained, I put the explanations after the chapter is over. Typically I do that too. It's a bad habit, but now that you mention it, WW, that makes a lot of sense. Usually, I'll just post them now when I come back from hiatus. I go on hiatus because of vacation so I just apologize like an idiot and move on.
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Post by Chibi Chan-o on Jul 8, 2007 21:34:59 GMT -5
Yeah, having one on the middle is annoying, but before or after the main part is okay.
And you'd be surprised about fanfic quality!! I've read many that are very professional. They explain everything clearly, have lush details, and the characters are in character all the time. Plus, the plots are very well thought out.
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Post by Paraiba Ocean on Jul 8, 2007 22:03:01 GMT -5
If it's before the chapter or after, I have no problem. If they just interrupt with something, then it's chopping up the story and needs to be excluded.
That's a very good point. However, a lot of the time, I do come across well written and good stories with a lack of reviews and it just seems to me like the majority of the fandom is lazy. XD
Oh, here's one of my biggest pet peeves:
I'm reading summaries for a good story to read during my off-writing time. And I see this.
"*insert name* and *insert name* blah blah blah. I SUCK AT SUMMARIES!"
Wtf? Never say you suck at summaries. It's just a condensed space about what the story is about, maybe with the name of the two main characters (or just one main) and a listing of any pairings. The end. It can be two sentences. There's no need to say "I suck at summaries". If you do, then perhaps you need more practice writing. XD
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Post by neodee on Jul 8, 2007 22:05:41 GMT -5
I wanted to ask, has any writer here experinced the fact that their characters...well...disobey them and just do what they want? I've noticed that when I write characters take on a life of their own and if I try yo write them to do something it just doesn't work and it seems out of character. Such as I wanted someone in an old old story to fall in love with someone...but she fell in love with someone else. ...Does any of this make sense? Yeah I hear ya. I usually go with the flow. When that happens to me, it usually ends better. It's like I'm so in-sync with my characters that my mind splits into different thought processes. Spooky! ;D Should we make another thread for our material? Or what?
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Post by Paraiba Ocean on Jul 8, 2007 22:18:20 GMT -5
I think it should totally be appropriate for people to post links to works they want critiqued. Of course...critiques will have to be civilized...and the works should have warnings if they're a bit dirty... xD
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Post by neodee on Jul 8, 2007 22:22:40 GMT -5
^Alright cool. I think I've written one story with like two cuss words in it. Hell and dang. lol.
I'm gonna post old junk, but watever. I'll have it up in a minute.
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