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Tcr

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Posts posted by Tcr

  1. Deus Ex Machina

    in Writers' Corner

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Desiderius Price said:

    The deus ex is certainly prone to abuse, but I can see its use in situations where you’re focusing on a character’s reflection, helplessness, etc, or in a comedy that’s not taking itself seriously.  (Or, in a superhero story where it’s pretty much a given.)

    I think the superhero in itself is a deus ex.  However, you have a point, there are times and places for which it works (and, on many occasions within those that you’ve mentioned, I’m more than certain that they would work.  I do admit, the comedy deus ex is probably a more well known idea, since, like you said, not taking itself seriously.)  I did overlook some of those in my thoughts, too, so…  There’s a point.

    I never did like the ‘in-the-nick-of-time’ ideas, even in the distant past where I knew little of writing but would bury my head in books…  It was also so, disappointing and, to me, felt cheap in that regards.  When I started writing, I couldn’t bring myself to use the deus ex, so I tried carefully to get my characters around, maneuver them into avoiding needing that assistance.  Albeit, I’m sure someone could point out a few scenarios within mine that I have posted that present as a deus ex, probably the same ones that prompted this.

    I do have to say, there was a novel I read a couple years ago, can’t remember the name right now (...), but they actually played with the idea of the deus ex.  Not meant to be a comedy, I don’t think…  (Maybe I was reading it wrong...)  But, they constantly had their characters saved by extraordinary situations, but, at the end, when you think it’s supposed to…  It just didn’t happen.  So, it could potentially work if you get the reputation during that particular story, then throw it to the wind and go ‘Ha, ha!’

     

  3. Deus Ex Machina

    in Writers' Corner

    Posted

    Recently, I’ve been reading over some of my own work, both stuff I’m editing in hopes of publishing and what I’m writing on here, and have found a few situations that could be considered a Deus Ex Machina.  In the ones I’ve been reading around here, I haven’t come across it.  That said, I have been reading and watching various things of late where the Deus ex would seem to be making a comeback.
     
    Anyone who knows what the Deus ex is, please skip the next paragraph as I clumsily explain what the Deus ex Machina is...  (Feel free to throw tomatoes at me for this explanation...)
    I’m assuming everyone knows what the Deus ex actually is, but, for the sake of everyone understanding (in case someone doesn’t)...  In a nutshell, this is the ‘God from the machine’ device where the seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the introduction of a sudden, ‘inspired’, or god-like intervention.  This is where the hero is surrounded by the enemy, back against a cliff, with no way out, everything looking grim, then, suddenly, the cavalry shows up and chases them off.
     
    I, personally, try very hard to avoid using this device for one reason.  (Okay, I hear the chairs moving, put them down before you throw them at me...  For a moment, please...)   On a personal and, in many ways, stylistic approach, I find using the Deus ex to be a lazy piece of storytelling.  (Okay, that lemon bouncing off the head hurt....  Hey, so did that lime!)  Yes, I do understand, there are some points in time where this has happened in reality (ie: the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and rescue of her crew), but, for the most part, it just doesn’t happen.
     
    So, now I’m wondering, does anyone actually use the Deus ex for theirs?  Am I simply reading minority ideas and am, therefore, in the minority?  Thoughts on the idea of the Deus ex?
     
     

  11. TCR's Review Response Thread

    in General

    Posted

    Come Hell or High Water

    Chapter I through IV

    Thanks, DA, for the reviews.  So, from DirtyAngel:

    LOL pretty good. Were some syntax errors but nothing that detracted form the story. I liked it so far, just finished chapter 1. Oh and yes, everyone is transfixed by boobs :P bra covered or not LOL

    This is really good and there really aren't very many grammer mistakes. I'm waiting for 5 now :P

    Firstly, thanks for reading and taking the time to review ;).  Glad you liked it.  I’m also glad that at least none of my errors detracted from the reading, so that’s a good.  Every so often I notice things myself that are screaming after I post them and, while I should go back over and fix them…  Well, no excuse…  lol.  This also goes for the grammatical errors involved to…  Been noticing a lot of missed stuff…

    And yes, boobs…  Everyone is transfixed by boobs…

     

    Chapter Four:

    From CloverReef:

    Thanks again.  Glad to see that lack of beta hasn’t driven everyone away ;).

    The relationship between Zara, Zakari and Jordin is amusing. They seem really close. So there was an odd moment when Zara had to explain to them why she joined. They seemed like they'd been friends for a while, so should already know that. But maybe they just met and just really clicked? Oh well, either way, I look forward to seeing more from that trio.

    Zara's lil argument with herself was adorable btw, and her ex is a bitch - she said so herself - so why would she even want to make anything up to her?

    Oh, and I'm totally shipping Jordin and Zakari.

    The little encounter at the end was my favourite part. I'm getting all atwitter! The fun stuff's about to commence, now ain't it?!

    The back and forth banter was a little troublesome, so I’m glad it all worked out in the end.  I wrote the line about her hating the travel with the idea in mind that the three of them getting together was not a common occurrence (especially with them usually being in differing places; ie. Zara in London, Zakari likely in Saskatchewan (as I hope was adequately implied), and the idea that Jordin would be in Louisiana.  I guess that could have been explained a little more and doesn’t really satisfy against the oddity of it, either…  Hmmm…  Well damn…)

    I thought the argument was good way to add in the (fictional) ‘11’d out’ and give a bit of an explanation without forcing a lot of exposition in there.  (See?  I’m learning! ;) ).  As for the ex…  Yeah, there’s a few other words I’d use, but bitch sums it up fairly...nicely?  With regards to shipping Jordin and Zakari, yeah, that was the intention in implications ;) .  So, glad that worked, too ;) .

    Oh, yeah, fun’s a-coming.

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