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[SurelyForth]

LupusYondergirl wrote...

I have the worst writing habits. I skim over everything in word, skim again in the ffnet document editor, and post. Usually within moments of finishing the chapter.

That's what I do, too.

I then spend the next 24 hours checking back to re-read and correct the GLARING typos the hard way. I've tried a more traditional approach, but I can't seem to motivate my brain to process mistakes unless I know other people are seeing them, too. Or maybe I'm just freakishly impatient.

[dpMeggers]

SurelyForth wrote...

LupusYondergirl wrote...

I have the worst writing habits. I skim over everything in word, skim again in the ffnet document editor, and post. Usually within moments of finishing the chapter.

That's what I do, too.

I then spend the next 24 hours checking back to re-read and correct the GLARING typos the hard way. I've tried a more traditional approach, but I can't seem to motivate my brain to process mistakes unless I know other people are seeing them, too. Or maybe I'm just freakishly impatient.

I think it was years of treble-checking essays that made me so nitpicky with my own work. That said, I still only wait max 3 hours to do the final edits and post them. I get to the point where I think "if I don't post this RIGHT NOW I'm going to spend the next week editing it, and it won't get any better." And then I post it and realize I forgot to make a noun plural or something equally stupid. 

Edit: like leave out an entire line of dialogue like I just did with my last chapter. *facepalm*

Modifié par dpMeggers, 07 mai 2011 - 08:44 .

[LupusYondergirl]

I've got the opposite problem.
Years of "oh **** oh **** I've got a ten page paper on Lady Macbeth and the politics of sexual manipulation due tomorrow at eleven am!" has made me an expert at editing while I go along.

[Sialater]

LupusYondergirl wrote...

I've got the opposite problem.
Years of "oh **** oh **** I've got a ten page paper on Lady Macbeth and the politics of sexual manipulation due tomorrow at eleven am!" has made me an expert at editing while I go along.

I've only been able to master that to a certain extent.  There's always going to be crap I miss.

[Bekkael]

*sees thread*

Hello folks. I just wanted to come bask in the presence of other people who have had their brain gobbled up by DA2.

And also, to complain about the lack of Qunari info. It makes writing about the Arishok more of an original fiction endeavor than I had hoped.

[lizzbee]

SurelyForth wrote...

LupusYondergirl wrote...

I have the worst writing habits. I skim over everything in word, skim again in the ffnet document editor, and post. Usually within moments of finishing the chapter.

That's what I do, too.

I then spend the next 24 hours checking back to re-read and correct the GLARING typos the hard way. I've tried a more traditional approach, but I can't seem to motivate my brain to process mistakes unless I know other people are seeing them, too. Or maybe I'm just freakishly impatient.

I do that, except I skip the skimming in Word part.  Then I spend the next day or so tweaking and tweaking in the editor and relinking new, supposedly typo-free documents from the editor.  Then a month later, I'll come back and see ten more glaring things I missed the first ten-relinkings.

[Rattsu]

Bekkael wrote...

And also, to complain about the lack of Qunari info. It makes writing about the Arishok more of an original fiction endeavor than I had hoped.

Tell me about it, I had to cobble together things from next to nothing when set two chapters of my post-game fic in Par Vollen...

[Bekkael]

Rattsu wrote...

Bekkael wrote...

And also, to complain about the lack of Qunari info. It makes writing about the Arishok more of an original fiction endeavor than I had hoped.

Tell me about it, I had to cobble together things from next to nothing when set two chapters of my post-game fic in Par Vollen...

I think there would be lots more Arishok fic (or Qun fic) if they would just release The Encyclopedia of Qunari Culture. It's desperately needed.

[Sialater]

There's tons of information we still need. Like, greater detail about some locations in Thedas.

[legbamel]

lizzbee wrote...

SurelyForth wrote...

LupusYondergirl wrote...
I have the worst writing habits. I skim over everything in word, skim again in the ffnet document editor, and post. Usually within moments of finishing the chapter.

That's what I do, too.

I then spend the next 24 hours checking back to re-read and correct the GLARING typos the hard way. I've tried a more traditional approach, but I can't seem to motivate my brain to process mistakes unless I know other people are seeing them, too. Or maybe I'm just freakishly impatient.

I do that, except I skip the skimming in Word part.  Then I spend the next day or so tweaking and tweaking in the editor and relinking new, supposedly typo-free documents from the editor.  Then a month later, I'll come back and see ten more glaring things I missed the first ten-relinkings.

Because I have so many fics going at the same time I tend to go back and reread portions to get myself back into the tone I want for a particular story.  In doing so I often find things that make me facepalm, either glaring typos or dialogue that came from Mars and is thus totally OOC.  <_<  Most of my chapters have been tweaked and edited a dozen times at least.

I do tend to refrain from posting the beginning of a fic until I've got a few chapters, now.  I've learned the hard way that sometimes I write myself into a corner and I have to go back to add a scene or even an entire chapter earlier.  I suck at starting stories.  Usually I begin them with a scene that's stuck in my head and I have to go back to explain how the characters got there.

[Sialater]

I've been having issues capturing characters' voices. My usual methods haven't worked. What do y'all do?

[dpMeggers]

I listen to all the character dialogue I can get my hands on (ears on?), to sort of get a feel for their speech patterns. I must admit though, I'm not entirely certain how well I actually DO capture the character's voices. So there's that.

Modifié par dpMeggers, 27 mai 2011 - 12:06 .

[Sialater]

I did that for Zevran and it helped. Whooo, boy did it ever.

Just doesn't seem to be working for Anders or Fenris.

[lizzbee]

Sialater wrote...

I did that for Zevran and it helped. Whooo, boy did it ever.

Just doesn't seem to be working for Anders or Fenris.

I haven't tried to write Anders at all-- there's something about him that just seems hard.  Usually if I'm feeling a little "off," I'll watch a youtube vid or two, especially if the uploader uses dialog options I've never tried.

Modifié par lizzbee, 28 mai 2011 - 09:37 .

[Sialater]

I think it's the insanity that makes it hard. You know... being only slightly crazy ourselves?

[Sialater]

That's not quite what I mean by voice.

A character has a certain pattern to their actions. A way that they, and only they, will do something. The issue with Anders is that there are essentially two characters stuck in one head here. It colors his actions and reflects in his relationships. And then there's the growing instability.

I'm figuring out Fenris. Just have to remember the PTSD angle and he's golden. Anders' brand of mental issues is far more complex.

[Sialater]

Yeah, but the problem is, he's purposely inconsistent. And there's a thread I'm just not getting.

[lizzbee]

Sialater wrote...

I think it's the insanity that makes it hard. You know... being only slightly crazy ourselves?

That, and the fact that he has this huge element of cheesiness to his character.  The sloganeering kills me and the clunker romantic lines.  "The Tranquil Solution..."  Just yikes.  He's really the perfect revolutionary, and I've honestly never been that good with writing such crystalline characters.  Then there's his utter dependency on Hawke's opinion.  I adore him, but I can't imagine trying to capture those aspects of his character properly, so I've never tried.

[jackkel dragon]

To be fair, I think the "Tranquil Solution" may have been Alrik's name for the plan (correct me if I'm wrong.) Though Anders does have his moments where I'll think "so when does the rioting and overturned governments start?" (Rivalry path's mid-stage relationship conversation is a big one here, where Anders force-reads one of the points from his manifesto and demands an opinion.)

I need to actually go write some Anders. For some reason, I think I'd be able to write him well... but I have no proof.

[lizzbee]

jackkel dragon wrote...

To be fair, I think the "Tranquil Solution" may have been Alrik's name for the plan (correct me if I'm wrong.) Though Anders does have his moments where I'll think "so when does the rioting and overturned governments start?" (Rivalry path's mid-stage relationship conversation is a big one here, where Anders force-reads one of the points from his manifesto and demands an opinion.)

I need to actually go write some Anders. For some reason, I think I'd be able to write him well... but I have no proof.

It probably was, but what always cracked me up in that quest is how Anders refers to it in ALL CAPS all the time.  The manifesto on the Rivalry path kind of cracks me up too, and tripped me up the first time I tried to Rivalmance him.  He's usually my best buddy in most of my playthroughs, so the Rivalry course with him was an interesting experience.

I have a really hard time writing completely single-minded characters (and there's nothing more single-minded than an unromanced Anders) without them turning into some kind of parody of themselves.  Which makes me curious-- can I make Anders into a parody?  Not that I'm going to try-- poor guy gets enough hate already.

Modifié par lizzbee, 28 mai 2011 - 09:21 .

[LupusYondergirl]

I actually have fun with writing those parts of him. But, I always thought Anders in DAOA had a strong sense of compassion and justice, and a lot of simmering anger below the surface, with the sort of charming playboy persona just sitting on top. So I basically reversed how I used to write him, and have the silliness and flirtatiousness come out on rare occasions with the more serious aspects as the dominant force in the personality.
I joked that after reading The Brothers Karamazov I had slowly turned Anders into middle-of-book Dmitri in AOA, and I suppose now he's firmly at the repentant end of book stage.

I'd like to think that a lot of mages always had this element of cluelessness to him when it came to women, since living among other social freaks in a tower doesn't exactly build social skills. I just imagine Justice broke his mental filter where his crap attempts at being what he thinks is romantic just spill out of his mouth before he can stop himself.
You have to figure, mages were never around couples... ever. They didn't have parents or aunts and uncles or anything like that to show them how normal people in relationships behaved. So whatever they know is based on conjecture and maybe books. That's going to lead to some screwed up and melodramatic ideas. (thinking of the over the top romances of the middle ages and early renaissance... Sir Gawain and the Green Knight or something along those lines.) Shoot, even now, if your ONLY guide to how people acted when they were interested in someone was books and movies, you'd probably end up slapped a lot. Or arrested.

I thought the way they made him so over the top camp when discussing his manifesto and the tranquil solution was spot on with hardcore political activists I've known in my life. (we're not talking anti-war rally level activism, here. We're taking "Here, let me give you the current issue of Worker's World and we can discuss the growing threat of American Imperialism over tea" level activism.) So I guess in that aspect I just channel the hardcore communist I dated a few years ago.
"The Income Gap is not the problem, Lupus! The wealth gap is merely a symptom of the true crisis in America! You don't understand, our obsession with Material Goods and Property Ownership will Destroy Us All! The growing rift between the Working class and the Bourgeoisie is indicative of a society in Crisis! It is only a matter of times before something snaps!!" *insert fist slamming into palm here*
Ah... but he was passionate. *ahem*
But, that sort of intensity is easy to Thedasify...
"The Circle is not the problem, Hawke! The Circle is merely a symptom of the true crisis in Thedas! You don't understand, the Chantry's obsession with Control and Power will Destroy Us All! The growing rift between the common people who rely on healers like me and the Priests and Templars ignoring their practical needs while sitting in their golden Chantries is indicative of a society in Crisis! It is only a matter of time before something snaps!" *insert fist slamming into palm here*

So... I guess just hang out with more extreme left wing would-be revolutionaries?

[lizzbee]

LupusYondergirl wrote...

I actually have fun with writing those parts of him. But, I always thought Anders in DAOA had a strong sense of compassion and justice, and a lot of simmering anger below the surface, with the sort of charming playboy persona just sitting on top. So I basically reversed how I used to write him, and have the silliness and flirtatiousness come out on rare occasions with the more serious aspects as the dominant force in the personality.
I joked that after reading The Brothers Karamazov I had slowly turned Anders into middle-of-book Dmitri in AOA, and I suppose now he's firmly at the repentant end of book stage.

I'd like to think that a lot of mages always had this element of cluelessness to him when it came to women, since living among other social freaks in a tower doesn't exactly build social skills. I just imagine Justice broke his mental filter where his crap attempts at being what he thinks is romantic just spill out of his mouth before he can stop himself.
You have to figure, mages were never around couples... ever. They didn't have parents or aunts and uncles or anything like that to show them how normal people in relationships behaved. So whatever they know is based on conjecture and maybe books. That's going to lead to some screwed up and melodramatic ideas. (thinking of the over the top romances of the middle ages and early renaissance... Sir Gawain and the Green Knight or something along those lines.) Shoot, even now, if your ONLY guide to how people acted when they were interested in someone was books and movies, you'd probably end up slapped a lot. Or arrested.

I thought the way they made him so over the top camp when discussing his manifesto and the tranquil solution was spot on with hardcore political activists I've known in my life. (we're not talking anti-war rally level activism, here. We're taking "Here, let me give you the current issue of Worker's World and we can discuss the growing threat of American Imperialism over tea" level activism.) So I guess in that aspect I just channel the hardcore communist I dated a few years ago.
"The Income Gap is not the problem, Lupus! The wealth gap is merely a symptom of the true crisis in America! You don't understand, our obsession with Material Goods and Property Ownership will Destroy Us All! The growing rift between the Working class and the Bourgeoisie is indicative of a society in Crisis! It is only a matter of times before something snaps!!" *insert fist slamming into palm here*
Ah... but he was passionate. *ahem*
But, that sort of intensity is easy to Thedasify...
"The Circle is not the problem, Hawke! The Circle is merely a symptom of the true crisis in Thedas! You don't understand, the Chantry's obsession with Control and Power will Destroy Us All! The growing rift between the common people who rely on healers like me and the Priests and Templars ignoring their practical needs while sitting in their golden Chantries is indicative of a society in Crisis! It is only a matter of time before something snaps!" *insert fist slamming into palm here*

So... I guess just hang out with more extreme left wing would-be revolutionaries?

Kind of funny, but one of my personal projects is a world filled with whackjob fundies of various stripes.  Contact brings out a hint of moderation in some of them, but my worst characters (at least in my opinion), are those that never show the slightest sign of empathy once they're confronted with something outside their realm of experience.  I find it oddly amusing, since I'd consider myself almost a borderline lefty radical-- at least by U.S. standards-- and I live in one of the few left-wing meccas here.  I've read way too much Chomsky and Zinn for my own good.  Yet, I still don't feel much of a kinship for those who veer way off into revolutionary la-la land

You're right about the mage cluelessness regarding relationships.  It always cracks me up when Anders talks about Emile De Launcet's utter idiocy as if he's far more experienced.

[legbamel]

I generally don't have too much trouble getting people to ACT in character but I suck at dialogue. When I'm really unsure about a line I try hearing it in my head as read by the voice actor. Usually that reveals major flaws pretty quickly, like something too informal or stilted.