9962 réponses à ce sujet

[PMC65]

flippedeclipse wrote...

PMC65 wrote...

Johnny Cash's version of Hurt was the song that finally made me connect to Garrus. I've never cared for that character (not hate or love) and when starting to add him in the story it was a struggle to hear his voice. That song was one of the key things that started our dialogues ... I know that some see him as batman but for me he came alive as a Doc Holliday.

Hehe, the fic just so happens to centre around Garrus' darker side. And I definitely understand having problems hearing his voice; I've been trying for literally months to get it right, but I still feel like what I write is convoluted by what Garrus is portrayed as in most fanfiction centring around him (and boy, is there a lot haha). ME3 Garrus is a little easier to write, but I try not to touch his ME2 version with a ten foot pole.

ME1 he just felt so lost and needing a mentor ... there was also a troubled side to him that I picked up on but never really dwelled on. Now that I'm in the race for Saren he is needing me to pay attention to him. Argh! In trying to hear him I checked out his thread and saw how he was looked at as a badas5 cool batman which was so far from where I saw him. It took me a while to finally hear his voice which I guess is the way it should be ... Garrus himself has trouble expressing himself. In my head he is adamant that he is no Batman but more Doc Holliday so he guides me ... If I don't force him to be what popular opinion dictates then the story willl flow ... Besides, readers have a bajillion Batman Garrus stories to choose from. Everyone wins!


As to music, I don't see a big change in music in the future ... A music teacher of mine did a whole lecture on how new is old. The guy was pulling out instruments of past times, melodies, songs, etc. and then comparing to music of the day ... It was interesting, although I've forgotten most of it since it was over 20 years, but the point of "nothing new" was remembered.
Go to clubs today and you will hear everything from rockabilly to techno and I think the future will be the same. You will have classical, acoustic, opera, synth, etc. There are clubs today that even have big bands swinging to the sounds of the 40's and it's fun to see people go out on the dance floor and jitterbug / Lindy Hop! Even swing is still alive and going strong. 
Now if a type of music that feels more like LSD (if you will) is put out (alien music?) then there will be people that will love and embrace it and others who will hate and avoid it. That is where I could see a whole new type of music coming from though ... Aliens. Having just wrote that I could just see a group of humans hearing an asari piece and looking at each other shaking their heads, "What is this crap?"

Oh, wait. That was me at a Lilith Fair ... Never mind.

[lillitheris]

PMC65 wrote...
 That is where I could see a whole new type of music coming from though ... Aliens. Having just wrote that I could just see a group of humans hearing an asari piece and looking at each other shaking their heads, "What is this crap?"

Even alien music wouldn’t be that different (to us), given our limited senses. Mixed senses are definitely a plausible avenue, as are either hallucinogenics or simulated effects, but even they don’t fundamentally change the music itself, I think.

…

I’ve always somehow imagined the asari essentially a drum’n’bass society. I briefly thought about introducing them as having punk/hardcore as their ‘classical’ music, but that might be a little self-servingly silly. I see the temptation to attach an aetherial quality to their music, like DCD, Enya, and so on…but somehow that seems wrong, too. I don’t want to say it seems ‘too obvious’ because my interpretation certainly isn’t any more ‘correct’ than anyone else’s…it just doesn’t quite fit my view.

And, like I mentioned, Liara found some music in the databanks on the Normandy and is totally into the 80’s sound of The Cure, Sisters of Mercy…

I once laughed quite heartily imagining Liara singing “The Final Countdown” at the top of her lungs and really getting into it in the Captain’s cabin on the Normandy…

…

Also, thanks to Drussius for sanity-checking the last chapter…feel a  bit better about it, now, though I do have a few places I will copyedit.

Modifié par lillitheris, 19 juin 2012 - 07:07 .

[Drussius]

Not to derail the music discussion, but I'd like to hear some opinions on pacing and original characters. Some people might have seen that for my first fanfiction, I plan to focus on original content because it's more in my comfort zone, and I'm including one of the ME2 squadmates in the story to sort of ease myself into trying to represent well-established figures.

So, with original characters being much of the focus of the story, I'm starting a bit slowly so that I have a chance to introduce them, let the readers learn a bit about them, and so forth. However, as I reread my first chapter to clean up errors and make changes where I feel necessary, I find myself wondering if the fact that the early scenes of the story have NOTHING to do with what will eventually be the major issue at hand is going to become a distraction for readers.

I realize it's difficult to make judgments without having read the story, but I'd like to hear thoughts. Using the first chapter or two to introduce characters without having the content of those chapters link to later conflicts... non-issue because the characters need to be established in the reader's mind? Or would a rewrite to tie into later events better serve the story?

Edit: I shouldn't say they literally have NOTHING to do with later events. I am maneuvering various characters together little by little and working toward how they end up in the same place, but you know... event A in chapter one does not lead to why events B and C happen later...

Modifié par Drussius, 19 juin 2012 - 07:12 .

[fainmaca]

You know... I could picture the Asari listening to really shrill music. A lot of sharp strings and synthesised noises that reach pitches that would make a Human cringe.

as for other species, I imagine that Quarian music may have evolved to be a more communal thing since their exile. Can't imagine a crew going silent to listen to one of their own sing. They'd all want to join in. You can picture the hulls of their ships shivering to a whole crew singing together.

[Ursakar]

@Drussius

I think it is important to establish an OC character before you start the actual story. In my fic I had to introduce two major OC and I did it by giving the readers a rather short version of the character's past to establish a character in reader's mind. It took the greater part of the first chapter to do so but I believe it was a right thing to do.

[lillitheris]

fainmaca wrote...

You know... I could picture the Asari listening to really shrill music. A lot of sharp strings and synthesised noises that reach pitches that would make a Human cringe.

as for other species, I imagine that Quarian music may have evolved to be a more communal thing since their exile. Can't imagine a crew going silent to listen to one of their own sing. They'd all want to join in. You can picture the hulls of their ships shivering to a whole crew singing together.

That’s how they stress-test their new vessels!

[Drussius]

fainmaca wrote...

You know... I could picture the Asari listening to really shrill music. A lot of sharp strings and synthesised noises that reach pitches that would make a Human cringe.

as for other species, I imagine that Quarian music may have evolved to be a more communal thing since their exile. Can't imagine a crew going silent to listen to one of their own sing. They'd all want to join in. You can picture the hulls of their ships shivering to a whole crew singing together.

I like that image. Espcially after all the time spent on the Migrant Fleet.

Wasn't there something in ME 1, while clearing out Geth bases, about the voice of a Quarian Soprano, singing a mournful melody, being broadcast through a terminal? For some reason when I think of Quarian music, that bit of text comes to mind.

As for Asari, I tend to think of something very melodic, very tranquil... Harps and soft wind instruments like flutes, etc. Perhaps a bit too predictable, but with their cultural tendency toward understanding instead of conflict and consensus instead of imposed leadership, I just imagine music that lends itself to tranquility.

[lillitheris]

@Drussius It’s a tricky balance…you can weave the details in completely through ‘this situation is like…’ memories, flashbacks, ‘reviewing service records’, dreams, and things like that, but unless you plan long ahead, it’s hard to know how much of it you need to do, and when. It can work really well, but it’s a riskier choice.

An info dump chapter at the start is a good way to do it, but then there’s the problem of just going into exposition without any other purpose to it. I’d say it’s a safe option, though, it’s unlikely to alienate anyone even if it’s a little artificial — people understand the need to do it. The more obliquely you can do it, the better, of course… the opening sequence of ME with Hackett and Anderson (or is Udina there? Don’t remember) isn’t actually that bad a way to do it, if you can think of a way to have essentially an external perspective for the introduction.

[dpMeggers]

Drussius wrote...

Not to derail the music discussion, but I'd like to hear some opinions on pacing and original characters. Some people might have seen that for my first fanfiction, I plan to focus on original content because it's more in my comfort zone, and I'm including one of the ME2 squadmates in the story to sort of ease myself into trying to represent well-established figures.

So, with original characters being much of the focus of the story, I'm starting a bit slowly so that I have a chance to introduce them, let the readers learn a bit about them, and so forth. However, as I reread my first chapter to clean up errors and make changes where I feel necessary, I find myself wondering if the fact that the early scenes of the story have NOTHING to do with what will eventually be the major issue at hand is going to become a distraction for readers.

I realize it's difficult to make judgments without having read the story, but I'd like to hear thoughts. Using the first chapter or two to introduce characters without having the content of those chapters link to later conflicts... non-issue because the characters need to be established in the reader's mind? Or would a rewrite to tie into later events better serve the story?

Edit: I shouldn't say they literally have NOTHING to do with later events. I am maneuvering various characters together little by little and working toward how they end up in the same place, but you know... event A in chapter one does not lead to why events B and C happen later...

A small introduction is good, but I think that backstory as you go also works. So you have Character A who is established as being X years old and from planet Y. Then later they can drop hints about/explicitly state that being part of/witness to event Z which is what drove them to become the way they are and why they got involved with Event B/C or what have you. 

It's a question of whether you feel the pacing will be better if you prologue it or just jump in. 

[Drussius]

I'm doing my best to work in little bits of personality and backstory while presenting situations that will eventually lead the characters to come together. But at the same time I don't want to fall into the "info dump" trap that you mentioned, lill, so I'm trying to be sparing about it so that I can reveal a bit more as I go forward, as Meggers suggested. I don't want to do any 100% backstory passages. I like to sprinkle that stuff in as the story moves forward, save perhaps for the occasional daydream/dream sequence or perhaps a flashback.

My main concern is just that the events taking place in the first few chapters might seem disconnected from the rest of the story, just because they have very little to do with the rest of the plot in my head other than to introduce characters and get them to where I want them to go (Zaeed being an exception. The path I've started him on will lead DIRECTLY to his place in the later events).

But I appreciate the different viewpoints. Even if I don't change what I have written, it's good to hear other people's thoughts on the matter to help me decide. I've already done a fair bit of rewriting of certain things, so perhaps with some new perspective I can make a few more small tweaks to make myself happy with where things are going.

Modifié par Drussius, 19 juin 2012 - 08:00 .

[hot_heart]

Introduce them bit by bit. Don't forget that character is revealed through more than chunks of backstory. How they act, speak, move - it all defines them.

[Sialater]

There was also that asari on Ilium, the one trying to screw over the Feros colonists? Her mate died in the Morning War since she was studying quarian opera? "She said they had old souls."


So, I'd think quarians would be very musical.  Now... I have a sudden desire to have Shepard coming up on a distracted and singing Tali.

Modifié par Sialater, 19 juin 2012 - 08:25 .

[Drussius]

hot_heart wrote...

Introduce them bit by bit. Don't forget that character is revealed through more than chunks of backstory. How they act, speak, move - it all defines them.

Agreed. I wish I was happy enough with chapter one of my little story to post it so you all can see what I'm doing and I can be a little clearer about my concerns. I guess it's less a question of character worries than plot worries. I think I'm doing okay at introducing the characters (when I finally publish it I'll love to hear thoughts on the matter) but my concern is that in introducing the characters through different events, the events themselves will feel out of place in comparison to later chapters.

[dpMeggers]

Drussius wrote...

hot_heart wrote...

Introduce them bit by bit. Don't forget that character is revealed through more than chunks of backstory. How they act, speak, move - it all defines them.

Agreed. I wish I was happy enough with chapter one of my little story to post it so you all can see what I'm doing and I can be a little clearer about my concerns. I guess it's less a question of character worries than plot worries. I think I'm doing okay at introducing the characters (when I finally publish it I'll love to hear thoughts on the matter) but my concern is that in introducing the characters through different events, the events themselves will feel out of place in comparison to later chapters.

We tend to be our own worst critics. Chances are it's better than you think it is. Also, given that you seem to be writing a fair wack before publishing, you'll probably notice if you have flow issues and be able to correct it.

(Unlike me, I publish Chapter at a time, and then realize that some of the stuff from previous chapters seems a bit unlikely/silly...even with a plan *facepalm*)

Edit: on an unrelated note, I just found out that there is Tetris fanfiction. As in people write fanfiction about Tetris. I'm worried.

Modifié par dpMeggers, 19 juin 2012 - 08:38 .

[IliyaMoroumetz]

Believe me, you'll be better about your stuff if you finish the whole story first, and then publish it. Like I did with my Kelly story. Took me two and a half months to finish, but it turned out great!

Give it a shot. Don't worry about publishing until you've completed the story. That gives you time to go back and reread your story to iron out any details that might have been missed.

[hot_heart]

"Writing is rewriting."

[Drussius]

dpMeggers wrote...

We tend to be our own worst critics. Chances are it's better than you think it is. Also, given that you seem to be writing a fair wack before publishing, you'll probably notice if you have flow issues and be able to correct it.

(Unlike me, I publish Chapter at a time, and then realize that some of the stuff from previous chapters seems a bit unlikely/silly...even with a plan *facepalm*)

Edit: on an unrelated note, I just found out that there is Tetris fanfiction. As in people write fanfiction about Tetris. I'm worried.

Okay, first I have to say... I too am worried about the state of the world when there is Tetris fanfiction... How would that even work? "The T-block hoped it would be dropped into the slight dip between the long block and the square block, where a hole existed that it could be 'plugged into' but it saw to its dismay that it would be dropped elsewhere."

Second, I don't know if I could write the ENTIRE story before publishing. I'm a bit too eager to get some feedback. But I was definitely going to only start publishing when I finish Chapter 3 (or maybe 4). That way I could publish Chapter 1 while I work on 4(5), and so forth. That way I can be sure I have lots of room to go back and alter the story if I feel I need it.

[hot_heart]

Deux ex machina: long block appears and resolves it all.

[Sialater]

dpMeggers wrote...

Drussius wrote...

hot_heart wrote...

Introduce them bit by bit. Don't forget that character is revealed through more than chunks of backstory. How they act, speak, move - it all defines them.

Agreed. I wish I was happy enough with chapter one of my little story to post it so you all can see what I'm doing and I can be a little clearer about my concerns. I guess it's less a question of character worries than plot worries. I think I'm doing okay at introducing the characters (when I finally publish it I'll love to hear thoughts on the matter) but my concern is that in introducing the characters through different events, the events themselves will feel out of place in comparison to later chapters.

We tend to be our own worst critics. Chances are it's better than you think it is. Also, given that you seem to be writing a fair wack before publishing, you'll probably notice if you have flow issues and be able to correct it.

(Unlike me, I publish Chapter at a time, and then realize that some of the stuff from previous chapters seems a bit unlikely/silly...even with a plan *facepalm*)

Edit: on an unrelated note, I just found out that there is Tetris fanfiction. As in people write fanfiction about Tetris. I'm worried.

No.  What should worry you is that there's PRON fanfiction about Tetris.

[lillitheris]

dpMeggers wrote...

Drussius wrote...

hot_heart wrote...

Introduce them bit by bit. Don't forget that character is revealed through more than chunks of backstory. How they act, speak, move - it all defines them.

Agreed. I wish I was happy enough with chapter one of my little story to post it so you all can see what I'm doing and I can be a little clearer about my concerns. I guess it's less a question of character worries than plot worries. I think I'm doing okay at introducing the characters (when I finally publish it I'll love to hear thoughts on the matter) but my concern is that in introducing the characters through different events, the events themselves will feel out of place in comparison to later chapters.

We tend to be our own worst critics. Chances are it's better than you think it is. Also, given that you seem to be writing a fair wack before publishing, you'll probably notice if you have flow issues and be able to correct it.

(Unlike me, I publish Chapter at a time, and then realize that some of the stuff from previous chapters seems a bit unlikely/silly...even with a plan *facepalm*)

Edit: on an unrelated note, I just found out that there is Tetris fanfiction. As in people write fanfiction about Tetris. I'm worried.

4-straight/L-block :wub:

[MrStoob]

RE: Tetris. classic college humour short:

[fainmaca]

No! Everyone KNOWS that the L-block is a S L U T! The 4-Square is the only one for straightie!

[MrStoob]

I never liked reverse S, always pushing itself on me!

[fainmaca]

But you know who's a writer's pet? the T. I mean, come on! Every. Single. Game. Has to feature that spoilt little b!tch in some way.

[Drussius]

Very minor issue. Will it be at all out of place to use the phrase "the two girls looked up..." or something like that when speaking about two Asari? I know all Asari are female (semantics of the intricacies of mono-gendered races aside), but I don't want to break some sort of unwritten immersion rule by referring to them as "girls" or "women" instead of as "Asari" all the time. Just for the sake of varying the terminology in my writing a bit...