NightScribe

Excellent point. And working with a song by another musician just doesn't apply to today's music. Classical composers would do it as well, if I'm not mistaken, it's referred to as a "variation." Even Mozart would take someone else's composition and noodle around with it, creating something different. (A wonderful example of that, although fictionalized, is in the film Amadeus). Yeah, old Wolfgang was a real hack with no talent of his own. I think there are so many adult HP fans who want to explore more "mature" themes that just aren't gonna happen in the actual books. And I'm not talking about sex, sex, and more sex. I think so many readers are drawn to the adult characters in the book and want to see them in more adult situations, behaving like adults. The HP books are told through the eyes of a child/teen (Harry). And having created characters like Voldemort, Lucius and the ever enigmatic Snape, but not revealing much about them, there's alot of people ready to satisfy not just their own, but others' cravings to know about their lives, loves, etc.

Sorry, lightgoddess, if you were referring to the story I mentioned in the initial post, it's long gone. But man, you would have loved it, it was so lame. Never fear, you know my knack for finding these things.

From what I saw on an HP fan site, they filmed that scene. The guy who plays Crabbe or Goyle was commenting on it. Of course, it could get cut, but I hope not. Spinner's End, yes!!!! In fact, I think they should just start the sixth film with Spinner's End. Screw that first chapter about the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic talking, that bored the hell out of me, quite frankly. I've read so much into that chapter, (SE) I want to see it, unadulterated. To my mind, sixth film should just start with that, then, after the Unbreakable Vow is made, go from those twisted coils around their wrists to the title sequence and then...we're off. (No, I haven't thought too much about this.)

In regards to the never-ending hard-on, does this include the lack of said men to uh...achieve release? Talk about being sore; I both sympathize and empathize with the prostitutes. I know I wouldn't want a lover to take a 'lude before getting it on. An ex of mine (years ago) took one while we were talking on the phone and he passed out. Damn good thing I wasn't with him and he was on top of me at the time!

Uh...I virtually shagged every member of the forum? Naw, just kidding. Actually a very nice person gave them to me; they had loads and didn't know what to do with them. It was kind of a "thank you" for steering them towards a craptastic fic that made them laugh. Ok, so cute and geeky. I can live with that. I think the reason I printed those was because the fic was kind of a departure for me. A period piece and I wanted it to "read" more Victorian. So, as a Lime, there was a lot of prose and metaphor (not to mention good old fashioned Gothic angst), plus classical music references. I set up very concrete boundries and it struck a chord with readers. Of course, one of my favorite reviews was an e-mail I got for a different fic when AFF was read only. I believe it was something like "do you ever get tired of writing f***ing great stories?" I love that one. Short, sweet and to the point.

Of course, the length of most HP novels requires cuts when adapted for film. I can live with most. But I found with GoF that a scene was cut that had me truly stunned. I was in the theatre, waiting...waiting...waiting, for the big scene where Snape "outs" himself as a Death Eater in front of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, etc. And it never happened! Honestly, I sat there, incredulous, for the rest of the film. I admit, that left me feeling rather indifferent about the whole movie. I've warmed up to it since, through DVD viewings, but that missing part still blows me away. Isn't that kind of important? It plays a rather big part in the following films, hell it's part of the set-up for the fifth! (I was also looking forward to the Yule Ball scene where Snape was breaking up the couples-at least we got that on the DVD). Anyway, was anybody else a bit dumbfounded by that particular cut? I can do without the house elves and other things, but to snip that is just wrong. Have there been any other edits, in any of the films, that you didn't agree with?

I haven't really come across any haters like you have, but it does make you think. They could just be snobs and view everyone interested in fafics as losers, equating them with die hard Star Trek and Star Wars fans who dress up, go to conventions and live the fandom life. I don't understand that level of devotion, but who are those people hurting, really? Answer: Nobody. Perhaps a good argument would be to point out that there's a lot of "legitimately" published fanfic. Walk through a bookstore in the sci-fic section. There's a ton of Star Wars and Stark Trek novels (others as well, in other genres, but those two spring to mind). Are they validated by these people because they are published the old fashioned way and you have to pay to read them? Could it be envy? Could it be the frustrated writer syndrome? Easier to bash than to try it themselves and be criticized? My brother, who dabbled in writing years ago, scoffs at fanfic. I just shrug. Like you, I find it helps with improving my skills and at least there's an outlet for getting your stuff out there. The great thing about AFF is that there's also an original section; fafic can be a stepping stone to putting a completely orignal story out there and getting feedback. Here's another thought; if these people are bashing the fanfics, could it be that they secretly read them, like them, but don't want to admit it? Self-loathing fanfic lovers; they're afraid to be identified as "losers." Think about it. It's one thing to say, "I don't quite get it, it's not my thing," and another to really go off on a rant.

True and lots of foreplay and post-coital affection doesn't hurt. Caressing, nuzzling, massage etc. To use a really bad analogy, it's like leaving the engine running, but you've got the car in park, idling. Of course, I'm speaking from the female perspective in regards to adult partners; I honestly don't remember the hot & horny teenage years (hmm, they must have been some forgettable guys). Also, if you're going for realistic, don't forget that alcohol and drugs (in case they factor into your story) can have a negative effect on performance.

It bugs the hell out of me when you read a story that you just know some kid cranked out over the weekend, with bad characterization and a plot so thin, it's transparent. And without bothering to proof, edit, or spellcheck, they just published it. Then they get pissy when reviewers politely offer advice...or ask them if they're 12. Argh!

Amen to that. When I first started posting, I'd put "please r&r, feedback highly desired" in with my disclaimer at the beginning of every chapter. Once, I even put "let me know what you think, good, bad or indifferent." And got nothing. One thing I have noticed is when I post a new story, hits for older ones go up, so people must be interested enough to check those out. It's a trade-off I've come to live with. And I admit to a bit of geekiness here, but the one fic where I got thoughtful reviews, I actually printed them out and tucked them in a binder with my hard copy of the story. I'll look at them once in a while for an ego boost, grateful for their comments, and really happy that people got what I was trying to say in that particular fic.

Have any Rickman fans ever seen The Barchester Chronicles? From around 1983? My God! Rickman was in his 30's but he looked about 25 or 26. It's a period piece and he plays a somewhat ambitious, ruthless clergyman. Of course, he's dressed all in black and his character's name is, get this, Obadiah Slope. That's right. Slope. I swear, aside from the light colored hair, he was Snape. Hmmm....did J.K. Rowling get some inspiration there???? (I've read she hand picked Rickman for Snape). I loved Richard Harris as Dumbledore. Everytime I watch the first two films, I just think, "man, I miss him!" He perfectly embodied the character.

I've been posting regularly since April with no problems. There's a few changes, mostly in regards to the split archives. You have to log in through the archive you want to post to. You can't post, say, a Harry Potter story if you're logged in to the Anime archive; you've got to log in to HP. Other than that, it's been okay. Welcome back and happy posting!

True. I found a fic and questioned the author about it, as it had similarities to another on the site. They swore they never read the other one and said they were 18 and wrote the story 2 years ago. When I checked their author page, it showed they joined AFF...guess what? 2 years ago. But the story in question wasn't posted here then. Hmmm. They screwed themselves. They ended up deleting all their fics under that name. They may be back, lurking with a new identity, but they'll screw up again. Sometimes, and I can't explain why, you just know it's some underage kid who wrote some story. It's a gut instinct. They give themselves away in a number of ways, like "borrowing" from a better fic, or turning tail and running when you offer concrit, especially "get a beta."

Ah, Pixagi, you have the talent for finding these things...much like I have a talent for finding laughably bad fics, (which usually makes me suspect they're written by some kid home for summer vacation). To counteract the mechanical Megan Consoer reviews, cruise through the Phantom of the Opera fics. There's a few stories with between 20-60 reviews, most left by the same person Black Rose Phantom or BRP. Oh, those are interesting and she is...quite the character. And she has a pat response to people who review her stuff. She must just cut and paste it.

That's the first thing I thought of. It definitely sounded like some 16-20 yr old, trying to be mature. I think Melody pointed out that they probably read some minor story and enjoyed it, then guilt made them leave the post. Have you seen the dear girl leave a post anywhere else on this forum? I haven't. Good riddance.

I loved Robbie Coltrane as Cracker and I understand BBC America will be airing another one sometime in the near future. I'm looking forward to it. I've been a Maggie Smith fan for ages as well. I understand exactly what you mean, it's his carriage and demeanor and let's not forget that indefinable something called "charisma." Someone does not have to be "classically" handsome or beautiful to have "it" to make them attractive. Rickman is loaded with "it." That voice doesn't hurt or hinder either. I mean, I adore Hans Gruber, sociopath that he is. (And, God, can you picture him as Valmont in "Dangerous Liaisons?" I practically swoon at the thought!) Neither do I. I thought he was spot on in his characterization. You cannot help but sympathize for the truly gentle man driven to violence through no fault of his own. He became one of my favorite characters. Fiennes as Lupin would have been interesting, but he's got such a talent for humanizing villains (Schindler's List, Red Dragon) and making them...alluring. Voldemort had to have something (that charisma thing again) to get people to follow him right?

That's pretty...uh...wacked. Just today, as I was committed to blowing off working while my supervisor was at a seminar, I stumbled across a Nightmare on Elm Street/HP fic. It was pretty gruesome and I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. Voldemort (or was it Freddy?) having a chimera rape Sybil Trelawny. Weird, man. But I admit I was skimming through it.

Just for another topic of discussion, what's the craziest, strangest or silliest idea for a challenge you've seen posted? I'm thinking of posting one myself, just to see if anybody bites; I think good authors could have some fun with it (a parody challenge, obviously).

Hmm...I don't know. I know there was a book back in the '80's that a lot of phans like, but I've never read; from what I heard about it, I always thought it was a prequel. I'm not a rabid PotO type, I just liked the orignal novel well enough to write one fafic and leave it at that.

I'm not partial to HP/Star Wars or HP/Naruto, (I find Naruto himself to be quite annoying, personally). I generally avoid the cross-over thing, unless something really seems to click. One of my pet peeves are the PotO stories set in present day. Dudes, Erik dies before the turn of the century...the 20th century! I wouldn't mind so much if those were coded as AU, but they usually aren't, which only makes me think of some 160 yr old guy running around modern day Manhattan or whatever. But that's just my quirk.

I usually take the more graphic approach, then feel like I should, I don't know, "dress it up pretty" or something. That's when I end up getting into the prose. I think it depends on where the characters are in their heads, emotions, relationship, etc. If it's a deep connection, more prose, if they're just having a wild fantastic shag, graphic.

Okay, I'm quoting myself here, but: "...her engorged, crimson lips unfurling like the soft petals of a lotus...lodging his head between her porcelain thighs, he pressed his mouth upon her mound; licking, lapping, glutting himself on the succulent pomegranate folds of her flesh, the savory nectar flowing over his tongue and cascading down his throat." "Flame of the Cyprian Fire" That was one of my rare "lyrical/poetic" moments.

I agree, 100%. If it wasn't for Rickman, I don't think the amount of ladies (and some gents, for that matter) swooning over Snape would be that great. Just for fun: Black silk bedding....$800.00 Perfectly fitted lingerie, stockings and shoes....$395.00 Barry White CDs....$100.00 Night of unbridled passion with Severus Snape....priceless

Melody, I'm LMAO! I was looking at your list and I think it's a safe bet I've used at least 98% of those terms, and a few that weren't mentioned. Here's a link to a website that may be useful to anyone interested: Sex-Lexis Dictionary Also, Roget's College Edition (or is it Collegiate?) Thesaurus is unabridged, so they've got the most common terms covered. Who knew a reference book could be so damn entertaining?

In regards to the adult characters in the HP world, do you think the choices in film casting had any kind of impact on fans? What I mean is, if you read the books before seeing any of the films, did an actor change your opinion of a character, for better or worse? Examples: I really liked Gary Oldman as Sirius, but when I started to read the novels (after the 3rd film) I couldn't stand the character (apologies to all Sirius lovers out there). Do you think Snape would be such an iconic figure now if the original choice to play the role had done it, instead of Alan Rickman? (I'm saying a big NO to that one). And Voldemort...I was really kind of indifferent to him and didn't quite feel how evil he was when reading the books. I think Ralph Fiennes was the perfect choice to make that evil palpable, not to mention creepy.