973 réponses à ce sujet

[Klidi]

Corker, I love your idea!
And the companions and LI could bring interesting moral dilemma to it - if the PC originally picked up the companion only because it would help with his pretense, but then fell in love (oh I know, terrible cliche ^^), would it change their opinion? And what if the LI found out?

[Rinshikai10]

This is off topic but I would like to get the groups option on this. Overall I have not been writing as long as some of you have, but for roughly two years I have been working an a evolving story that started out as a fantasy world based on the closing era of the western roman empire. Which later the setting become that said era using historical reference.

I guess my question would be when writing do you create your own world or set your story in a world that already exists. I'm asking this because when I'm writing a story in the real world, I'm constantly trying to make as accurate as possible.

[Corker]

The closest I've come to historical fiction is an AU DA2 story set in magical legendary Britain, c. 450. So Hawke is Ambrosius Aurelianus, Carver is Uther Pendragon, Bethany does some Merlinical prophecizing, Anders is Vortigern; Hengist and Horsa have big horned helmets to evoke the qunari; Merrill's clan, descended from Joseph of Arimethea, lives at Glastonbury tor and she's exiled for learning kabbalah (it's not for women) rather than blood magic, and she's working on a golem instead of a mirror; Fenris is a former gladiator from Ereboreum (sp? Modern York). It turns out Jews were drummed out of the Roman army in about the mid-fifth century, but he had a big old bar bill he needed to pay, so he took to the arena. (Even though the York arena closed probably a century before.) Donnic is Goloris, Aveline will be Igraine. The events of Beowulf and the Ring cycle have happened/are happening, legends walk the earth, magic is real (but it's like the magic of those stories, not fireballs and paralysis spells), yadda yadda.

It seems to work pretty well for me. I occasionally get hung up on some bit of trivia, like whether or not Carver could have hobnail boots, and sometimes I spend much more like chasing down details than I probably should. But I can generally limit myself to Wikipedia and the first page of Google results instead of making a full-up research project of things.  (Edit: Because I am already an Arthuriana/Roman Britain/Anglo-Saxon England geek and come with some of the information pre-loaded. Starting from scratch, this would be harder.)

I do try to tread extra-carefully around the portrayal of Jewish people in this era, because I don't want to be a jerk about an IRL religion that isn't mine. So I do a bit more research there, and have tried to find betas who are very familiar with Jewish history.

Modifié par Corker, 13 juillet 2012 - 04:45 .

[Tryynity]

Rinshikai10 wrote...

This is off topic but I would like to get the groups option on this. Overall I have not been writing as long as some of you have, but for roughly two years I have been working an a evolving story that started out as a fantasy world based on the closing era of the western roman empire. Which later the setting become that said era using historical reference.

I guess my question would be when writing do you create your own world or set your story in a world that already exists. I'm asking this because when I'm writing a story in the real world, I'm constantly trying to make as accurate as possible.

I am doing something similar at present. I am using a pre-history time (pre-biblical flood) reason is it is very open in regard to what is fact.  I am very familiar with Genesis but I need to research other sources of pre-history information.

In fantasy I would think you could mix up history/religion how you want and people would not really care.  Take DAO for example - as a non-history-buff I picked it was set in early history : pre electricity, pre-guns, post-wheel, but I think perhaps architecture lends itself to post guns but I am not sure really.  My point is though, I dont care.  Fantasy is fantasy and its your world.

Personally I do like a kind of familiarity or believability when I am presented with something.  Like a big jumbo jet landing in the middle of Denerim would be pushing it.

[Rinshikai10]

I see, My own project revolves more around some of Romes greatest enemies, or a least their descendents which are my main characters. I have been looking at each of their histories to get reference, as well as the time period (458 AD five years after Attila the Huns death) to get an idea for my setting.

The only major concern that I have is making sure that I am staying true to that said period. even though I know the events in my tale never happened.

Also, is our group ever going to start doing our week Concrit again, or is that really happening anymore.

[Tryynity]

I am not sure I think alot of us are doing other things at present, but I see people are still dropping in.

I want to let everyone know about a site I have just found that I think most of you will be interested in.

It is called Fanstory.com . It has regular contests, and reviews are highly encouraged by rewarding you online points which you use to enter the competitions and promote your own work.

Poetry,
Short Works
Novels
Scripts

they even accept Fanfiction and Adult/Erotic material.


This is valuable feedback and exposure for would be writers. It costs a small amount of money to sign up to and they also host classes.

Later you can advertise your books for sale via your profile, for free. So all the fans you collect know when you are published.

Check it out peeps and see if it suits your needs, I know it suits mine so far.

Let me know you are there if you sign up.

[Rinshikai10]

Sounds interesting.

[tklivory]

I'm on Fanstory now (now that I've actually started to write again), but I also don't want to forget the thread here... despite summer now drawing people away, I'm just glad RL released me from its clutches a bit... Hello everyone!

@ Rinshikai: when I write, I tend to make my own worlds, mainly because I have an odd resistance to writing in the 'real world' (not reading it, only writing it).  I think this is because I grew up with a distaste of lying, so to me, Low Fantasy is an odd kind of lie when I *write* it (not read it).  I know, it doesn't really make sense, but that's why my personal writing tends to be High Fantasy or science-fiction set waaay in the future or in truly alternate Earths (like, say, Earths where electricity was discovered and utilizied on a national scale by the Egyptians).

Having said that, my favorite books to *read* tend to be split between High and Low Fantasy, some sci-fi, and very little actual 'literature' (i.e., non-fantasy).  Favorite books outside of fantasy are Shogun and Watership Down.

BUT I do think it is inevitable that history be part of world building even for High Fantasy.  The Roman Empire for Western writers just seems to be the kind of 'this is an empire' stereotype, and of course the knights and chilvalry of medieval times is used again and again.  So elements of reality and true history will influence, if not outright be copied, by writers in fantasy *and* sci-fi.


EDIT: quick note, now that I'm not... ah, dealing with what I was dealing with in RL anymore, I'd be willing to take up the reins of arranging for critiquing again...

Modifié par tklivory, 26 juillet 2012 - 11:37 .

[Rinshikai10]

Good to see your back Tklivory I'm also on fanstory, and I'm glad Tryynity pointed me to it.

[Tryynity]

Where are you Rin ? I am Tryynity (Belle) on there as well as here. I need a fan
or 2

or 3

[Rinshikai10]

Done.

[maxernst]

I found it heartening to read this quote from Woody Allen:

"I have an idea for a story, and I think to myself, my God, this is a combination of Eugene O'Neill, and Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller … but that's because [when you're writing] you don't have to face the test of reality. You're at home, in your house, it's all in your mind. Now, when it's almost over, and I see what I've got, I start to think: what have I done? This is going to be such an embarrassment! Can I salvage it? All your grandiose ideas go out the window. You realise you made a catastrophe, and you think: what if I put the last scene first, drop this character, put in narration? What if I shoot one more scene, to make him not leave his wife, but kill his wife?"

In a way, it's comforting to know that even at that level of skill and experience that the ideas as you imagine them in your head never come out quite the same way on paper. Well, on film in his case, though he has written short stories.

[Tryynity]

That is true Max - its the communication side of things that let me down. I see the story in my head but when I try to put that into something someone else will read and understand exactly what I wanted them to see. I would much rather paint or film rather than write. Is much easier for me.

I highly commend anyone that writes in a 2nd language that must be so very hard to do.

Like going to a hairdresser and explaining to them the exact look you want - you know it but try telling them. For the record I never come home looking how I had envisioned. LOL (Hint: take a pic w/you)

[Rinshikai10]

LOL, you make a great point. Ideas can sound great in your head but unless you can get them out on paper and show it to others you never really know.

[TEWR]

Resurrecting this thread now!

Does anyone have any tips on description and structuring dialogue?

[Knight of Dane]

I'm sure you heard of "show not tell" before TEWR, but that is the best tip I've got. They made a point of it during my Creative Writing module in uni that it's important to couple sialogue with descriptions of movement, facial expressions and bodily letouts, like sighs of releif etc.

There isn't really any correct way to construct dialogue as I understand it, but the most widely used is the "hello darling" model where you split with new lines whenever someone else speaks.
Description is interpretation, what do they do and how do they react during conversation. Remember not to have too long passages of pure dialogue as it doesn't engage the reader.

Do you have any text books to look into? In my module we worked with one called "The Road to Somewhere," pretty good all around.

[lil yonce]

@Knight of Dane. Thanks for the tips. They've helped me fix some of the weak points in my dialogue writing. The short stories in my anthology book for class had tons of narration and not much dialogue at all for me to learn from.

[Tryynity]

A tip I was given once is read it out like a script and see if it sounds natural. Put you characters somewhere in another IRL setting like you were over hearing them speak at a Café

I have read some really stiff dialogue by a 20 book published author - so sometimes I think it really doesn't matter how well you write but rather how well you are received. Have a good story and tell it the best you can.

I wonder if we bog ourselves down with mechanics of writing. Dont get me wrong I think it is good to learn the basics, but then develop your own style. Take an artist - they start by learning and practicing technique but then develop into their own style - sometimes unconventional. Not only that you would recognise their work even if it wasnt signed.

[Rinshikai10]

Good to see some life back in this thread.

[lil yonce]

Rinshikai10 wrote...

Good to see some life back in this thread.

I didn't know you wrote fanfiction, Rinshikai.

And can anyone offer concrit on a developing piece? Please.

[Rinshikai10]

Sure I'll help! send me a link.

Modifié par Rinshikai10, 30 décembre 2012 - 07:36 .

[lil yonce]

Rinshikai10 wrote...

Sure I'll help! send me a link.

Thanks, I sent you a PM.

[Rinshikai10]

Resurrecting this board after a full three months. Can anyone provide me with a source for a Beta reader? Fanfiction.net is not doing me any good.

[lil yonce]

Looking for Constructive criticism on a few pieces. Any comments would be appreciated.

http://social.biowar...35/blog/233328/
http://social.biowar...35/blog/233364/
http://social.biowar...35/blog/233413/
http://social.biowar...35/blog/233437/