285 réponses à ce sujet

[J4N3_M3]

I use the wiki a lot myself. For other parts, when I'm not really sure, I dig through game dialogues and the codex. I guess it depends what you are writing about. If you have a story that's settled in the ME universe but has none of the game characters, I think you have way more freedom than when you write about existing characters. Personally, when I read about existing game characters, I prefer them to be in character. I don't really like it when they are too much OOC, unless it's crackfic. Then I don't really mind.

For one of my chapters I read for hours through the effects of hard vacuum on the human body and ended up with only like a couple of lines about it in the story itself.

[Terror_K]

J4N3_M3 wrote...

I use the wiki a lot myself. For other parts, when I'm not really sure, I dig through game dialogues and the codex. I guess it depends what you are writing about. If you have a story that's settled in the ME universe but has none of the game characters, I think you have way more freedom than when you write about existing characters. Personally, when I read about existing game characters, I prefer them to be in character. I don't really like it when they are too much OOC, unless it's crackfic. Then I don't really mind.
For one of my chapters I read for hours through the effects of hard vacuum on the human body and ended up with only like a couple of lines about it in the story itself.

How hard it is and how much freedom you have can vary depending on the type of story you're writing. In some ways authors who are writing about their own Shepard and them interacting with the characters have a bit more freedom and leeway because they deliberately take liberties with the characters and their Shepard(s) and create their own canon and versions of events and the like.

This isn't a bad thing, don't get me wrong, and it's kind of necessary in a way to even craft a story that uses existing characters and linking it to a personally crafted character. But I do believe one has a bit more freedom when it comes to altering events and choosing a particular canon than when one is trying to write an original story that fits into the canon for everybody without interfering with it so that everybody can enjoy it. When you write a story about a Shepard of yours you automatically set a canon yourself and aren't as restricted as somebody who is writing a story that isn't really allowed to contradict lore if it is to work.

I'm basing this on the fact that I'm actually working on a story designed to fit into the current lore and canon without interferece (like the official novels), that everybody can hopefully enjoy equally because it doesn't involve Shepard and (mostly) avoids any canon characters and is purposefully vague when it comes to any game-related details. I've personally found it quite a task to make sure you keep things interesting without too much interference and meddling with what we've already got canon wise, and also be on a scale to be somewhat epic without being so much so that the reader goes, "if something of this magnitude has been happening, wouldn't it have come up in the game somewhere?". I guess one could equate it to trying to keep some form of unoffical canon vs. writing an AU fic.

That said, readers can --as you said J4N3_M3-- be rather picky when it comes to characterisation when a writer is dealing with familiar characters, which is something a writer dealing with original creations doesn't have to deal with so much. They probably won't complain about how a writer's Shepard acts, but other characters need to be written correctly or fans will be put off (we've even seen a bit of this with regards to official Mass Effect with Liara in ME2 prior to LotSB, and even in Redemption). One of course also risks Shepard becoming a Mary Sue (or Gary Stu) in these type of stories, since Shepard is already pretty damn perfect in the games, and if a Shepard is a self-insertion on top of that one can be walking on shaky ground.

On top of it all the official canon is still in flux at the moment. People can write stories now and easily have them contradicted later on by another novel, a comic or (eventually) the third game itself.

[J.C. Blade]

My main reason for trying my hand in ME fic, and essentially moving away from fantasy and elves and into Sci-Fi, is the sheer dissatisfaction to me of Shepard as a personality in game. As the Bioware writers didn’t leave much room for wriggling and personality shaping within boundaries and context of the game, I had to get away from that and shape it into a story of my own. So yes, I suppose I fall into the category of fan fic writers who want to retell the tale of ME2 with their own Shepard.

That said my biggest problem when writing is keeping the cast of all other characters in, well, character. It’s what delays my writing the most. I dislike character bashing, and even if a character is not a personal favorite of mine I try my damn hardest to keep them as they are. I think doing otherwise would be a disservice to one’s own work and story.

Wiki helps of course, and especially these forums. Just looking around through character discussions pages here can give immense insight in who they are – or at least who the people think they are

Modifié par J.C. Blade, 21 décembre 2010 - 08:49 .

[Sable Rhapsody]

J.C. Blade wrote...

My main reason for trying my hand in ME fic, and essentially moving away from fantasy and elves and into Sci-Fi, is the sheer dissatisfaction to me of Shepard as a personality in game. As the Bioware writers didn’t leave much room for wriggling and personality shaping within boundaries and context of the game, I had to get away from that and shape it into a story of my own. So yes, I suppose I fall into the category of fan fic writers who want to retell the tale of ME2 with their own Shepard.

That said my biggest problem when writing is keeping the cast of all other characters in, well, character. It’s what delays my writing the most. I dislike character bashing, and even if a character is not a personal favorite of mine I try my damn hardest to keep them as they are. I think doing otherwise would be a disservice to one’s own work and story.

Wiki helps of course, and especially these forums. Just looking around through character discussions pages here can give immense insight in who they are – or at least who the people think they are

One of the most effective ways I've found for keeping true to a character's "voice" by either listening to or (ideally) playing a conversation of theirs right after I write any original or tweaked dialogue for them.  Then I go over what I've written, and see if I can "hear" it in the character's voice.  It's surprising how quickly you can get sidetracked from what a character actually sounds/acts like in game over just a few pages of story.  So every couple of pages, listen to a conversation with that character.  Or better yet, play one yourself.  It works surprisingly well, and it takes maybe ten minutes tops.

As you get more accustomed to each character's "voice," this kind of constant check-up becomes a lot less necessary.  For example, I write a fair amount of Garrus.  I think I've pretty much worked out keeping him in character.  But I'm just starting to write more for Miranda, and every time I do, I go back and replay little bits of the game to make sure she sounds right.

It's also easier to fix dialogue that doesn't sound right than it is to fix ACTIONS that are out of character.  So if you have characters doing things that aren't in the game, think--"Would Miranda actually do this?  Would Mordin actually do this?"  See if you can actually picture them doing it, and see if you can envision Shepard's response.

[Severyx]

Sable Rhapsody wrote...

J.C. Blade wrote...

My main reason for trying my hand in ME fic, and essentially moving away from fantasy and elves and into Sci-Fi, is the sheer dissatisfaction to me of Shepard as a personality in game. As the Bioware writers didn’t leave much room for wriggling and personality shaping within boundaries and context of the game, I had to get away from that and shape it into a story of my own. So yes, I suppose I fall into the category of fan fic writers who want to retell the tale of ME2 with their own Shepard.

That said my biggest problem when writing is keeping the cast of all other characters in, well, character. It’s what delays my writing the most. I dislike character bashing, and even if a character is not a personal favorite of mine I try my damn hardest to keep them as they are. I think doing otherwise would be a disservice to one’s own work and story.

Wiki helps of course, and especially these forums. Just looking around through character discussions pages here can give immense insight in who they are – or at least who the people think they are

One of the most effective ways I've found for keeping true to a character's "voice" by either listening to or (ideally) playing a conversation of theirs right after I write any original or tweaked dialogue for them.  Then I go over what I've written, and see if I can "hear" it in the character's voice.  It's surprising how quickly you can get sidetracked from what a character actually sounds/acts like in game over just a few pages of story.  So every couple of pages, listen to a conversation with that character.  Or better yet, play one yourself.  It works surprisingly well, and it takes maybe ten minutes tops.

As you get more accustomed to each character's "voice," this kind of constant check-up becomes a lot less necessary.  For example, I write a fair amount of Garrus.  I think I've pretty much worked out keeping him in character.  But I'm just starting to write more for Miranda, and every time I do, I go back and replay little bits of the game to make sure she sounds right.

It's also easier to fix dialogue that doesn't sound right than it is to fix ACTIONS that are out of character.  So if you have characters doing things that aren't in the game, think--"Would Miranda actually do this?  Would Mordin actually do this?"  See if you can actually picture them doing it, and see if you can envision Shepard's response.

I just had to go through with this very recently, actually, and did (almost) that very thing. While my fic is OC, it still has a small bit of interaction between my characters and characters from the game. Not a whole lot, but enough for me to base how I write them to who they were established as. Character consistency is a huge deal to me (for both my own as well as pre-established ones), so I play the conversation back in my head and if I can hear the voice of that established character, I know I've at least got the dialogue down.

Outside that, gauging how canon an established character turns out in a fanfic is very subjective. This is one of the reasons I prefer original stories (and why I'm writing original content), as getting too deep into the 'would so and so do that?' conversation could be a muse-killer. I took a heavy risk with the established character I brought in, but the priiiiize...

Anyways, I thought it turned out okay in the end, but I blame that on my being a walking elitist codex.

Modifié par Severyx, 21 décembre 2010 - 01:46 .

[Sialater]

I've replayed the game 5 times, I read the wiki when I need a refresher. I treat my fics like I'm writing a real novel, just without the luxury of going back and fixing anything, so I'd better have it RIGHT the first time.



It's kinda freeing.

[pacer90]

Sialater I sort of like the challenge of having to do things right the first time. It's because you won't be 100% right and you sort of have to work around your own mistakes which often lead to hilarious results!

[Sialater]

LOL, I hope I stay consistent and avoid unintentional hilarity.

[JediSoth]

I just wanted to write a bit in the world of Mass Effect. I wasn't really interested in exploring new things with established characters. Anything I write using established character is going to be purely self-serving anyway, and only an ardent fan (of mine) would want to read that.



I've got some other ideas I might get around to trying the ME-verse, but part of me wants to see how ME3 will shake out before I commit them to paper.

[Sialater]

Why I write about ME, by Sia:

I began with what happened in Meghan Shepard's head on Horizon.  That whole scene bugged me.  Shepard can't explain anything. 

So, the very first part of Loved hit me upside the head.  I had to write out what was going through her mind.  And then, in response, I had to write my Shep's funeral.  It was necessary.  If I didn't it would drive me nuts.

So... Loved was born.  The behind the scenes retelling of Meghan Shepard's journey to defeat the Collectors.  

And then another idea hit me, what if Cerberus wanted the Normandy back?  I already had a story with one Shepard in it, thankfully, I had two.  So, Avery Shepard got to reunite with Kaidan to find her ship. 

And then, from an idle conversation with my Betas, we decided to collaborate on our AU project:  The Shepard Project: Phoenix Rising.   We wondered what our three Vanguards would do if they ever met.  So, we're retelling ME 1 & 2 from that perspective and avoiding in-game dialogue when possible.

So, mostly, it's just ideas that took of me and wouldn't let go.

[PiEman]

I've been looking for a place like this on this site...



Here's mine



It's a one shot, and possibly the start of a series of one shots revolving mostly around my Adept Shepard. Tell me if it's worth continuing.

[Sialater]

PiEman wrote...

I've been looking for a place like this on this site...

Here's mine

It's a one shot, and possibly the start of a series of one shots revolving mostly around my Adept Shepard. Tell me if it's worth continuing.

Write because you want to write it.  Who cares what anyone else thinks?

[PiEman]

Sialater wrote...

PiEman wrote...

I've been looking for a place like this on this site...

Here's mine

It's a one shot, and possibly the start of a series of one shots revolving mostly around my Adept Shepard. Tell me if it's worth continuing.

Write because you want to write it.  Who cares what anyone else thinks?

Here's the thing though:

I really want to improve my writing. It's very difficult to know how well I'm doing based only on my opinion. 

[Aeowyn]

I have this idea of a Mass Effect fic I'm currently working on but what I find difficult is putting it down so it actually sounds good. English isn't my first language, and while I've been writing in English for years, and recently actually published some DA one-shots on ff.net for the first time, I get more nervous when I know that I actually plan to have others read my work. Anyone have any advice on how to find a somewhat good beta?

[Sialater]

PiEman wrote...

Sialater wrote...

PiEman wrote...

I've been looking for a place like this on this site...

Here's mine

It's a one shot, and possibly the start of a series of one shots revolving mostly around my Adept Shepard. Tell me if it's worth continuing.

Write because you want to write it.  Who cares what anyone else thinks?

Here's the thing though:

I really want to improve my writing. It's very difficult to know how well I'm doing based only on my opinion. 

That's a little different.  Wanting to improve is a more specific goal than asking if it's "worth continuing."  If you're having fun writing it, it's worth continuing. 

The best way to improve is just to keep doing it.  Ask yourself on your rereads, "Is this what I want to say?  Did I get this idea/image/action/event across the way it played out in my mind?  Does this even make sense?"

Also, getting a good beta is essential. 

[Sialater]

Aeowyn wrote...

I have this idea of a Mass Effect fic I'm currently working on but what I find difficult is putting it down so it actually sounds good. English isn't my first language, and while I've been writing in English for years, and recently actually published some DA one-shots on ff.net for the first time, I get more nervous when I know that I actually plan to have others read my work. Anyone have any advice on how to find a somewhat good beta?

Ask in this thread, I'd guess.  Ask around the community...

I'd offer my services but I'm already Beta'ing for four people plus I have four fics of my own on-going.

[JaerWolfe]

Sialater wrote...
Snip

The best way to improve is just to keep doing it.  Ask yourself on your rereads, "Is this what I want to say?  Did I get this idea/image/action/event across the way it played out in my mind?  Does this even make sense?"

Also, getting a good beta is essential. 

I both agree and disagree with this bolded statement. While editing it is important to ask yourself this, yes, but as a writer, you will never know the truth of the answers unless you have someone who is giving you truthful feedback. My BFF has been betaing my work since we were 14 and knows my skin is thick enough to hear a "What the Hell were you thinking?" in regards to some of what I write.
Which is where Sia's comment about a good beta comes in. My BFF also is very good at "Okay, I can see what you were trying to do, but it's coming across wrong."

It also makes it a squee of delight...if I actually squeed, lol...when she tells me something is very good because I trust her to give me more than what I want to hear.

[Sialater]

JaerWolfe wrote...

Sialater wrote...
Snip

The best way to improve is just to keep doing it.  Ask yourself on your rereads, "Is this what I want to say?  Did I get this idea/image/action/event across the way it played out in my mind?  Does this even make sense?"

Also, getting a good beta is essential. 

I both agree and disagree with this bolded statement. While editing it is important to ask yourself this, yes, but as a writer, you will never know the truth of the answers unless you have someone who is giving you truthful feedback. My BFF has been betaing my work since we were 14 and knows my skin is thick enough to hear a "What the Hell were you thinking?" in regards to some of what I write.
Which is where Sia's comment about a good beta comes in. My BFF also is very good at "Okay, I can see what you were trying to do, but it's coming across wrong."

It also makes it a squee of delight...if I actually squeed, lol...when she tells me something is very good because I trust her to give me more than what I want to hear.

Ah, but I ask myself those questions before they go to Beta.  If I can fix it, why waste their time?  Then I ask them to look at it in that light as well.

And yes, not much is better than a Beta going, "Dayum, that was good!"

Modifié par Sialater, 21 décembre 2010 - 06:23 .

[pacer90]

I'm another person who is in desperate need of a beta. I'm more than willing to help someone else in theirs.

[Bourne Endeavor]

PiEman wrote...

Sialater wrote...

PiEman wrote...

I've been looking for a place like this on this site...

Here's mine

It's a one shot, and possibly the start of a series of one shots revolving mostly around my Adept Shepard. Tell me if it's worth continuing.

Write because you want to write it. Who cares what anyone else thinks?

Here's the thing though:

I really want to improve my writing. It's very difficult to know how well I'm doing based only on my opinion.

There is something you have to accept as a writer. You will probably never believe your work is above adequate. We have a tendency to be most vicious to our own creations because we see them in their most basic components, when they are mere thoughts or disjointed paragraphs. Sialater is correct. If you enjoyed writing your fanfic and desire to expand the story further, then by all means. Sialater more or less covers what else I would have said.

Modifié par Bourne Endeavor, 21 décembre 2010 - 06:24 .

[Sialater]

pacer90 wrote...

I'm another person who is in desperate need of a beta. I'm more than willing to help someone else in theirs.

That's another good way to get a Beta.  Offer your services in return.

[JaerWolfe]

Sialater wrote...

Snip



Ah, but I ask myself those questions before they go to Beta. If I can fix it, why waste their time? Then I ask them to look at it in that light as well.



And yes, not much is better than a Beta going, "Dayum, that was good!"

Because if they're a good beta, you'll trust their opinion on the story as a whole? I don't ask my beta to look at my work the first time in any other light other than "Did you enjoy this? Is this something you would enjoy reading more than once?" If the answers to that are no there is no point in continuing the story. Spellchecking, fact checking, sentence structure, all of that becomes unimportant if the story is lame.

[Sialater]

JaerWolfe wrote...

Sialater wrote...
Snip

Ah, but I ask myself those questions before they go to Beta. If I can fix it, why waste their time? Then I ask them to look at it in that light as well.

And yes, not much is better than a Beta going, "Dayum, that was good!"

Because if they're a good beta, you'll trust their opinion on the story as a whole? I don't ask my beta to look at my work the first time in any other light other than "Did you enjoy this? Is this something you would enjoy reading more than once?" If the answers to that are no there is no point in continuing the story. Spellchecking, fact checking, sentence structure, all of that becomes unimportant if the story is lame.

Hehe, different methods are interesting , aren't they?  I don't write it if I think it sucks.  I won't waste MY time on it.  When my Betas get something, they know they only have to look for the stray typos and grammar mistakes I myself have missed.  They let me know if what I've done works.    If it still only works for me, then it's back to the drawing board.

For instance the Illium section of Loved has been nothing but a pain in the butt to write.  (And I'm STILL stuck on Samara's RM.)  I wrote the thing once and they both said, eh.... not working.  Back to the drawing board.  I ended up making Illium a four chapter stop, including Miranda's LM.

[JaerWolfe]

Sialater wrote...

Hehe, different methods are interesting , aren't they? I don't write it if I think it sucks. I won't waste MY time on it. When my Betas get something, they know they only have to look for the stray typos and grammar mistakes I myself have missed. They let me know if what I've done works. If it still only works for me, then it's back to the drawing board.



For instance the Illium section of Loved has been nothing but a pain in the butt to write. (And I'm STILL stuck on Samara's RM.) I wrote the thing once and they both said, eh.... not working. Back to the drawing board. I ended up making Illium a four chapter stop, including Miranda's LM.

Very interesting. When I send something to a beta, stray typos and grammar mistakes are the last thing I want them checking for. A decent editing program can point those out. Story is my concern first and foremost. Am I using too many cliches when I write? Did I remember that I frickin' had a character dismount from a horse and then have him ride away without having him remount? Are the character's eyes consistently the same color? Does the overall feel of the story evoke emotion or does it leave you 'meh'? I think too many writers get caught up in making certain things are grammatically correct and lose the heart of their story.

[Sialater]

JaerWolfe wrote...

Sialater wrote...
Hehe, different methods are interesting , aren't they? I don't write it if I think it sucks. I won't waste MY time on it. When my Betas get something, they know they only have to look for the stray typos and grammar mistakes I myself have missed. They let me know if what I've done works. If it still only works for me, then it's back to the drawing board.

For instance the Illium section of Loved has been nothing but a pain in the butt to write. (And I'm STILL stuck on Samara's RM.) I wrote the thing once and they both said, eh.... not working. Back to the drawing board. I ended up making Illium a four chapter stop, including Miranda's LM.

Very interesting. When I send something to a beta, stray typos and grammar mistakes are the last thing I want them checking for. A decent editing program can point those out. Story is my concern first and foremost. Am I using too many cliches when I write? Did I remember that I frickin' had a character dismount from a horse and then have him ride away without having him remount? Are the character's eyes consistently the same color? Does the overall feel of the story evoke emotion or does it leave you 'meh'? I think too many writers get caught up in making certain things are grammatically correct and lose the heart of their story.

Oh, believe me, I'm having them check for consistencies like that.  I'm just not going to have them check for things I can do myself.  You have the luxury of a lifelong Beta.  As wonderful as my Betas are, they're busy women.  The last thing I want to do is make it hard for them to read my stuff.

But as a semi-pro writer, I treat my Betas like they were editors.  The less work they have to do, the better, IMHO.  I want them to concentrate on my story and not be distracted by accidental dangling participles.