AngryDesiDoughboy
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jan 22, 2012
Age: 19
Posts: 73
Location: St. Paul, MN.
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 Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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| Or if you don't know how real people really think? |
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chaosdollheads
Emu Egg
Joined: Apr 03, 2012
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| i'm an aspie writer who expects to have his novel published (once i'm finished nitpicking it, of course). alpha readers tended to point out how one of my main characters was a jerk, an as*hole, etc. i was totally taken aback as the character was behaving as i would have and, knowing the character's intentions well, i knew they were, in fact, being kind and had very good intentions. when it comes to nuance, i need the help of my friends in this regard. it's important to get across to them what i'm trying to accomplish and what the mindset of a character is -- otherwise assumptions are made and i'm left with a novel full of unintended jerks. |
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SanityTheorist
Wandering Artist
Joined: Feb 14, 2012
Posts: 2094
Location: The Akuma Afterglow
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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Back and forth dialogue is the tough part...the personalities have to either absorb each others' words or deflect them, and it's hard to know when they should each do that.
_________________
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Currently working on getting in a studio to record my solo album 40+ tracks written.
Chatroom nicks: MetalFluttershy/MetalTwilight/SanityTheorist |
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Aelfwine
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: May 04, 2012
Posts: 184
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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I'm also writing stories, but I'm more interested in inventing landscape, political, historical and economic backgrounds and interesting places.
I'm not really interested in the characters. It is more interesting for me to invent an as complex world as possible.
For me it is not so important what the characters are thinking, when it isn't important for the storie. I'm also not good in writing dialogues. |
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BrandonSP
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Age: 23
Posts: 999
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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| After struggling with novel-writing for years, I have grown disillusioned with it and lost confidence in my ability to tell character-driven stories. Plotting and characterization in particular are difficult for me. On the other hand, I really enjoy creating fictional worlds and histories. I wish there was a way to create a fantasy world and profit from it without having to think up character-driven stories for it. I do own a book called The World of Kong, which essentially shows off the creatures and environments created for the recent King Kong remake, and I wish I could do something similar to it. Is there a market for books that can display your worldbuilding without needing a character-driven story? |
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NeueZiel
Seņorita Gamera
Joined: Apr 29, 2012
Posts: 1246
Location: Kapustin Yar
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:36 am Post subject: |
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I'm reading a ton of scifi now for ideas, I've read enough books, watched enough shows to have..a basic idea of how people interact but I just need some really good books with likeable young female protagonists. The protagonist in the book I'm planning is around 15 or so and she's lived a very sheltered life (due to circumstances related to the story). I want her to be likeable and cool yet at the same time I must be honest, I fear I have a streak of misogyny. I don't want her to act like the girls I've dealt with in real life, who are whorish, manipulative, obsessed with boys etc. I also don't want her to be stereotypically, "YEAH I CAN DO THIS BECAUSE I'M A GIRL." My favorite female protagonist I can think of off the top of my head is Lyra from the Northern Lights Trilogy, but she's a child.
I actually had several ideas for inevitable romances, if they do go that route, but I almost think its better not to. They are mostly platonic in nature too. A lot of bad things are going to happen in my planned series of stories and I want her to preserver and not become eroded away and hardened/slowly go insane. I notice that seems to be a popular theme, writers love to torture their protagonists, rip them apart. Of course bad stuff can happen, of course they will fall, get mud on their face and sprain their ankles (I'm being figurative here) but at the end. Lots of drama and pain is planned anyway.
I have a world planned, ideas, and I'm even researching physics some since I'm not too sharp on science, reading scifi..but what matters to me the most is character interaction. I get disgusted at how people cite TV tropes so much and say "WELL YOU CANT DO THIS BECAUSE ITS A CLICHE". You don't want your idea to be purely derivative but I think good characters and writing is what delivers a truly good story, not "innovation".
With scifi books I'm having this big struggle so far: they always depict big battles and lots of guts, tough space marines (Forever War etc) but I want to do a story that splits that but contains a human element. I'm almost starting to think its maybe a better idea to go look toward WW2 fiction for ideas. I've had my feel of semperfi space marines who are super tough and manly. |
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Aelfwine
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: May 04, 2012
Posts: 184
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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For everybody wo like inventing own fantasy world but is bad at decribing feeling I would recommend to read Tolkiens Silmarillion.
(The story takes several millennia, there is no main character, the world is as complex and complicated as possible, the writing stile is a little bit autistic and difficult)
I've noticed that in nearly every book (whether good or bad) has a love storie.
Bit I'm not really interested in love stories and I think that they are mostly boring.
Also I don't write much about the love or daily life from the characters if it is not vital for the story.
I only write things that are important for the history of the world, or if I'm interested in it, or if it makes my world more complex.
(I think that characters should have a little bit privacy.) |
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NeueZiel
Seņorita Gamera
Joined: Apr 29, 2012
Posts: 1246
Location: Kapustin Yar
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Aelfwine wrote: | For everybody wo like inventing own fantasy world but is bad at decribing feeling I would recommend to read Tolkiens Silmarillion.
(The story takes several millennia, there is no main character, the world is as complex and complicated as possible, the writing stile is a little bit autistic and difficult)
I've noticed that in nearly every book (whether good or bad) has a love storie.
Bit I'm not really interested in love stories and I think that they are mostly boring.
Also I don't write much about the love or daily life from the characters if it is not vital for the story.
I only write things that are important for the history of the world, or if I'm interested in it, or if it makes my world more complex.
(I think that characters should have a little bit privacy.) |
Yes, that book is one of the most autistic classic novels I have ever had the (mis)fortune of reading. I could never finish it. Definete recommendation to people who love worlds, big history..less characers. |
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351Boss
Blue Jay
Joined: Aug 26, 2011
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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NeueZiel.
Have a read of Fourth Reality, it's scifi set in current time with the human element and a female protagonist who is on the spectrum... |
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NeueZiel
Seņorita Gamera
Joined: Apr 29, 2012
Posts: 1246
Location: Kapustin Yar
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| 351Boss wrote: | NeueZiel.
Have a read of Fourth Reality, it's scifi set in current time with the human element and a female protagonist who is on the spectrum... |
I can't find it on amazon, do you mean the Fourth Way? |
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351Boss
Blue Jay
Joined: Aug 26, 2011
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 11:46 am Post subject: |
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Hey NeueZiel
It's available on amazon the author is LN O'Rourke
or try the author website for other availability www . lnorourke.com.au
Cheers. |
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TrudyG
Emu Egg
Joined: Apr 16, 2012
Posts: 6
Location: St. John's, NL, Canada
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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I know that I have full intentions of completing the re-write of the novel I've got finished, and then sending it around to publishers once it's been gone through by my beta and gamma readers. It's a science-fiction novel, character-driven. (Most of my stories are character-driven; I can do a bit of the hard science, and I like science, but in the end, stories are about the characters.)
A thought to those of you who aren't sure about writing characters: Have you tried writing fanfiction? (Which is fiction for your favourite show(s) and/or book(s).) I started writing it in 1995, and it has helped me immensely when it comes to dealing with writing interesting, well-rounded characters - because when you're writing, you're writing characters that you know, that you've followed through their adventures, and it's easier for you to know how they'll react. I went from writing cardboard characters to dealing with 3-d characters very quickly, and (ironically, to my mind) got a lot of feedback saying how well I'd portrayed the characters, how the readers felt like they could hear the characters in my dialogue, and not a few saying the story I'd written should have been part of the show. When I went back to writing my own original stuff, I found that translated into giving me a better handle on how to write 3-d, well-rounded original characters.
*shrugs* It's a thought to consider.
Anyway, I'd love to continue a conversation about writing (yes, you've hit on one of my obsessions here - I've been determined to be an SF/Fantasy novelist since I was 8 years old).
TrudyG |
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TrudyG
Emu Egg
Joined: Apr 16, 2012
Posts: 6
Location: St. John's, NL, Canada
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hm - noticed a few of the rest of you have posted your current stories-in-progress, etc. up, and figured I might as well do the same! 
Search and Rescue: Book 1 of the Psi Department series - Science Fiction
This was my 2008 NaNoWriMo novel, and the one I'm currently re-writing.
Summary: Brendan Saunders is a Search and Rescue telepath stationed with the Tethys Planetary Search and Rescue, who has a justified dislike for security agents. Ryuu Kitagawa is a Psi Department Security Agent, fleeing an attack on his post with vital information. When Ryuu stumbles (literally) into Brendan while looking for assistance, what will happen? And can they learn to get along enough to stop the people after Ryuu?
A Fox's Fight: Book 1 of The Fox's Journey - Fantasy
This was the first part of my 2009 NaNoWriMo novel, and it's on the list to be re-written after I'm satisfied with SaR.
Summary: Detective-Sergeant Darrel Greene of the Toronto Police Services (Drug Squad) doesn't believe in spirits. Mayumi Miyanobo, a kitsune - a spirit-fox - of Kyoto, doesn't trust the police; especially when they don't believe in her existence. But when Toronto is threatened by the spread of a new, dangerously addictive drug, can they work together to stop it in spite of all that?
Lost and Found: Book 2 of the Psi Department series - Science Fiction
The sequel to Search and Rescue, LaF is currently a work in progress. As in, I've scrapped the first three versions I've tried, and I'm not sure how to go on to a fourth. But I'm going to try - once I've got SaR ironed out.
Summary: Brendan and Ryuu have been partners for a year now, and things look to be going rather smoothly. Then there's an escape from the High Security Prison on Nara, Ryuu's homeworld, just as they are both invited for the annual Kitagawa Family Gathering. Their typical luck, as the Psi Department Commander would put it. Only these escapees have a history with Brendan, and they want him dead; and Brendan still hasn't told Ryuu the full story behind it.
The Trickster's Trade: Book 2 of The Fox's Journey - Fantasy
This was the second part of my 2009 NaNoWriMo novel, and has not yet been finished - because I've found that I've got to do the re-writes on AFF first.
Summary: Detective-Sergeant Darrel Greene is dealing rather well with the revelations he's had, that the world isn't quite the way he thought it was for years, when an injured grey spirit-fox kit ends up on his doorstep. At the same time, Mayumi's mother and an Elder of her clan - an Elder who has never liked the fact that her father was an outlander - have come to find out about what has been happening. The Greater Spirits are cackling in glee as Darrel and Mayumi struggle to understand the magnitude of the threat they may be facing.
The Pack - Science Fiction
This will be August's Camp NaNoWriMo story (well, all but the first two and a bit chapters - they're already written). I've had this planned for the last 5-7 years, but haven't gotten very far on it. NaNoWriMo always helps!
Summary: Earth went on a colonization spree starting in the year 2115, when faster-than-light travel was finally made practical. Unfortunately, the Terran Confederacy that developed lost track of a number of their colonies, for a variety of reasons; augmented when the Civil War that marked the end of the Mid-Colonization Era started. But now, the war has been over for three hundred years, and the Confederacy is finally starting to make its way back out of their home systems, on a search for that which was lost. The Exploration Ship Marco Polo, after two years of investigation, finally finds a Lost Colony that has not only not gone backward technologically, but has prospered and grown, with two colonies of their own, now.
The Chikyuu-jin, the people of Shinseikatsu and the colonies Amachinowa and Heiwa, have been expecting the Terrans for all the eleven Earth centuries they have been "Lost". They have secrets - secrets that make them far more alien than the Terrans expect - they want to keep for as long as possible, and some among them willing to kill to keep those secrets. When the Terrans and those secrets clash, who will triumph? Will there be war, or will those who believe peace can happen even with the Terrans win the day?
Hope you like my descriptions; if any of you find them interesting, feel free to reply or PM me - I'm always happy to talk about my writing!
(Edit: Just a note about the Psi Dept. series and The Pack: All telepaths have some element of the autistic in them; it was a trade-off in neurological wiring against the telepathy, and the "need" for telepathy won out. They aren't terribly obvious - at least, not with Brendan and Ryuu - but they are there. As for in The Pack... well, some among the Chikyuu-jin - specifically the Chikyuu-mure, as they are called - could easily be considered HFAs if one wasn't aware of what they truly are. *grins evilly*)
TrudyG |
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BrandonSP
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 06, 2010
Age: 23
Posts: 999
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| TrudyG wrote: | The Pack - Science Fiction
This will be August's Camp NaNoWriMo story (well, all but the first two and a bit chapters - they're already written). I've had this planned for the last 5-7 years, but haven't gotten very far on it. NaNoWriMo always helps! Wink
Summary: Earth went on a colonization spree starting in the year 2115, when faster-than-light travel was finally made practical. Unfortunately, the Terran Confederacy that developed lost track of a number of their colonies, for a variety of reasons; augmented when the Civil War that marked the end of the Mid-Colonization Era started. But now, the war has been over for three hundred years, and the Confederacy is finally starting to make its way back out of their home systems, on a search for that which was lost. The Exploration Ship Marco Polo, after two years of investigation, finally finds a Lost Colony that has not only not gone backward technologically, but has prospered and grown, with two colonies of their own, now.
The Chikyuu-jin, the people of Shinseikatsu and the colonies Amachinowa and Heiwa, have been expecting the Terrans for all the eleven Earth centuries they have been "Lost". They have secrets - secrets that make them far more alien than the Terrans expect - they want to keep for as long as possible, and some among them willing to kill to keep those secrets. When the Terrans and those secrets clash, who will triumph? Will there be war, or will those who believe peace can happen even with the Terrans win the day? |
This is my favorite one of the concepts you've listed.
I notice that a lot of your characters have Japanese names and that creatures from Japanese mythology (especially kitsunes) feature prominently. Are you Japanese or otherwise a big fan of Japanese culture?
Anyway, I've just started writing the following story, but I have a rough mental outline of where I want it to go:
Ouggiri: Nubian Queen - Fantasy/Historical
King Ajala of Nubia (an ancient kingdom in what is now Sudan) has died, leaving the throne in dispute between his daughter Ouggiri and her younger half-brother Nalsu. When Nalsu wins the priesthood's endorsement and proves to be a ruthless tyrant, Ouggiri flees to neighboring Ethiopia so she can raise an army against him. Along the way she rescues Godric, a handsome English warrior who won't explain exactly how he got lost, and then she must test her martial skills and prove herself a competent military leader.
Sorry, I suck at writing brief synopses. 
Anyone, a little over 1,000 words and one chapter into it now. |
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NeueZiel
Seņorita Gamera
Joined: Apr 29, 2012
Posts: 1246
Location: Kapustin Yar
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| Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 1:31 am Post subject: |
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I've worked around some of my concepts and really like the decision I've come to, right now I'm researching politics and different governments. The story I'm going to be working on is like this basically: you know how the Redwall series is about heroic mice standing upright fighting with swords and being all brave and cool? Take that concept but apply it to a more modern setting, add in all sorts of small furry animals (cats, canines, ferrets, weasels, birds, etc) and add in the most absurd, manipulative, silly politics ever. The world of the story is geographically identical to our own, mostly..you have Africa, Asia, North and South America etc..some countries even have their own counterparts, such as France, Italy etc. Other (most) countries are split up very differently though there are quite a few parallels to our own real world, such as disputes over natural resources, territory etc. I guess the political thing makes it kinda like Animal Farm too.
You may be saying: well damn that's the stupidest sh** I've ever read! Cats and dogs flying fighter jets and in tanks? Birds in the chain of command? Why don't the cats eat them? Well, I'm working on that and again I'd like to reference Redwall again, since mice don't do the things...those mice do. I'd like to do multiple books and have several conflicts figured out but I'm in a mega research process now, the first story (though not chronologically the first) is going to about a battle vaguely based on the Iraq-Iran war conflict, in that it involves two similar countries who hate each other very much and are being aided by different super powers. The protagonists (the allied forces in the book) initially start out on one side and do well but manipulative and greedy politics start to screw them over and make the conflict escalate and worsen. Lots of cool battles planned but unlike a Tom Clancy book (not the biggest fan of him actually) this story is more of a fun fictional romp with twists and turns but obvious satire.
The conflict will be referred to as The War of Passive Aggression. |
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