cu-kid9
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Posts posted by cu-kid9
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Yeah...I'm confused too. So, if someone gave you naughty points, they're just gone? And I opened a bank account and have a lot less there than before the upgrades (which I adore, by the way). The naughty points aren't really a big deal, except that this is the second time I've had them wiped from my account.
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You can go to their site to create an account: National Novel Writing Month. They also do a Script Frenzy Month (which I don't participate in because I can't write scripts) and have programs for youth writing.
And, yep, it can be fanfiction. I think there was a thread there on their forum about that. They consider fanfiction original writing.
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So if you have 50,000 words on Nov 30 when its due to be submitted you have a chance of winning right?
If you have 50,000 by November 30th, you win! But you can't start writing until the 1st of November -this means no prose written out. You can have plots, outlines, character descriptions, research, etc. but you can't start writing the actual story until the 1st of the month. You can submit pieces of your work during the entire month (they have bots that will do your word-count for you) so you and other people can see how you're coming along. You can also submit an excerpt so other people can read what you've come up with.
The hardest part, for me anyway, was just writing. If you get bogged down with going back through and editing, you'll never make it. Editing is for December. In November, you just let it all flow out of your fingers, onto the keyboard no matter how stinky it is!
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I love your advice! I do this all the time (although, writing about my dog scratching her butt on the carpet is a little too crass for me
). If I'm stuck on something, I write something else...doesn't matter what, just as long as I'm writing.And, I find, that somewhere in the midst of writing about how my roommate's fat cat has to practically do sit-ups to clean herself, I have a breakthrough and can go back to writing about how a seemingly good guy is really up to no good.
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I tried to read everyone's responses thoroughly, but this is a really long thread. So, if I say something someone else has already said, forgive me.
I think it's a bit ridiculous to say that fanfiction isn't "real" writing and the authors of these stories aren't "real" writers. I've seen more "real" writing in fanfiction archives than in the originals. Unfortunately, to find these, you don't have to merely weed out the bad ones -you almost literally have to trudge through them before you find those rare gems of good, solid writing.
Maybe I'm a little confused about what some people's definition of "real" writing is. What do these stories lack that make them any less real or serious from an "original" piece? Is it just that they're using characters that have already been thought up by someone else? That's bull. Characters -and plots- from literature get recycled and reused all the time. By saying that other people have no right to change the way a character acts, how they look, what they do, is like saying that the original author's work was like a sacred text that is completely and utterly infallible in its creation. You limit the creative potential of every writer and artist out there by that one statement. It's like saying you have to come up with all your own special, perfectly original ideas -all the time. I'd like to meet one, just one, writer or artist that can honestly say that what he/she has written or painted hasn't been inspired by someone else's work. Tolkien was probably one of the greatest and foremost writers in the fantasy genre. If you think about it, really, everything after that was just fanfiction (and where did he get his ideas? Hmm).
You can't own an idea. Sure, you can write it all down, publish it (if you should be so lucky), and get it copyrighted to your heart's content. But, in the end, you're just copyrighting words on a page. The Idea, that fundamental wisp of thought that led to the words on the page, can never truly be owned. You will release it to the masses and they will interpret it how they will. And then, if you are truly lucky, they will love it -so much so that they will want to immerse themselves in your world, think up new experiences and adventures, new characters to interact with the old. If a story ended and no one was around to explore the possibilities of the idea contained within it, what would happen? A new and potentially exciting world would suddenly cease to exist simply because it was forgotten.
It doesn't matter if Rowling never intended or hinted at Snape being gay. The fact of the matter is, the fanfic authors are exploring new ideas based off the old...and people act like that's never happened before.
It's unfortunate that fanfic writers have been deemed an unimportant part of the literary world. Their creativity sometimes exceeds that of "original" writing.
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So if you write it earlier and submit it in november that would be cheating and kind of defeats the purpose of doing the challenge in the first place.
Exactly. The whole point is just to see if you can do it.
This year was the first year I finished. It's a ride, I'll tell you that, full of all kinds of anxiety, frustrations, nervousness, and irritation.
But, it's really fun too. I came up with things I never dreamed I'd come up with. My outline from October got thrown out the first few days in -and a good thing too. I started coming up with plot twists, important background info, and character development that I never thought was possible for me. There are good days and bad days. I had days where I didn't write anything, and then would turn around and write 5,000 words.
People, I think, tend to go about NaNoWriMo the wrong way. Last year, I tried to write everything chronologically. For some people, this works (especially if they already know, chapter by chapter, what's supposed to be going on). But I tend to write by the seat of my pants; I never know exactly where I'm going to end up. Or, if I have some vague idea, I never quite know how I'm going to get there. Writing the story in parts and then going back in and writing all the connecting stuff works best for me. I'm left with kind of a mess at the end of the month, but it's a mess that has, at least to me, some kind of order.
Also, it doesn't have to be good -that's what December is for. During November, you are allowed to write the most obnoxious, ridiculous, cheesiest stuff you want. I'm currently going back through and taking out stupid dialogue and horrid bits of description and re-writing them.
It's a little less like a contest and more of a commitment to yourself. You just say, "I'm going to write 1,700 words everyday for a month," and before you know it, you have a novel. I recommend trying it -you never know what you might come up with.
Congrats on winning, Kirlaskia! I keep spying your story on AFF and keep meaning to check it out, but I just haven't had the time. I'll try to set some aside soon and take a peek.
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The first fan-fic I ever read was...gosh, it was so long ago now, I can't remember. It wasn't on this site (although, I think you can find the author here...Autumn-something-or-another -I'm too lazy to look it up). It was Yu-Gi-Oh yaoi where the Yamis were vampires.
I did this:
And I loved it. L.O.V.E.D it.
I don't write yaoi, but, by gods, I'll read the shit out of it!
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I think, to a certain extent, everyone feels a little depressed when they can see the end of a project looming. You've spent time and energy on a new creation, and now you have to let it go. I've done the same; sat around and not written anything because there's something a little terrifying about The End.
But you should also feel a sense of accomplishment! It's a tough thing, sticking with something through its completion. If you feel you need to stretch back stories and plot, then do so. Write a series, write a collection of short stories about your characters that can be independently published. You're ultimately to one who decides how much needs to be said -if you feel there's more, then write it.
I'm not sure if that really answers your questions, or helps in any way. But that's my two cents, for what it's worth
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Acquiescence of the Heart and its sequel Revelations by cu-kid are another.
Thanks.
All of my favorite stories never get updated grrrr!
My favorites are anything by Quillwing717 (Inu fandom) -except she hasn't updated in forever and I'm kinda feeling the withdraw. Also, fallenangel7583's "Shades of Gray," most of Tirch's romances in the Originals section. Rosesareblue had one in Erotica that I really liked called..."A Boy Girl Thing" maybe? I dunno. The story is gone
My guilty pleasures are the romances written by templeton21.
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A graveyard was the strangest place for me, too. It was this big one that was way outside of town and had a ton of mausoleums, which normally totally creep me out. Teenage horniness must have negated the creepy factor.
Most cliched place...back seat of my parent's car (mini-van, actually...how convenient that the backseat folds down into something almost bed-like
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Ok, so if someone just leaves a "I love this story update soooooooon pleeze" I am still HONORED that reader took time to click the rate and also leave me a review!
I had a reviewer once...every chapter all he/she left was, "GREAT STORY. PLEASE UPDATE SOON" or variations of this. While the ALL CAPS annoyed me slightly, at least the person took the time.
These, I don't think, constitute the stupid reviews. The stupid one I got (the loooong one) said something to the effect of how the reviewer didn't like reading lemons and usually skipped over those parts...and then proceeded to say that I wrote a fantasy-like version of what a girl's first time having sex was like.
Why was this stupid? Well, first of all, nowhere in my story did I mention that the girl in question was a virgin. And, secondly, why the sudden interest in my lemon when he/she doesn't like reading them in the first place?
Boggles the mind, it does.
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I don't mind the "OMG! I luuurv your story! Update soon!" reviews (they're only irritating when they're in ALL CAPS with multiple !!!!!!s). These have their place and at least someone took the time to hit the review button and let me know they're enjoying my story.
I really think the reason no one leaves anything constructive anymore is because of all the fan-brats out there who get pissy if anyone so much as hints at something wrong with their story. They take everything personally and ruin it for the rest of us who actually want people to take some time out and be critical. What a shame.
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Not only that but I feel like some of the ideas I come up with are so cliche sometimes. I feel like somebody in the section has already come up with such ideas and that if I write it I am going to be labeled copy cat or some bs of that sort.
I wouldn't worry about whether or not your ideas are cliched or not. I'm usually of the mind that there are no such thing as new ideas; there are simply revised, updated versions of old ideas. I think that if you write well, even the most cliched idea can be fresh and interesting.
About being a copy-cat...Well...That sort of goes along with the whole "cliched ideas" thing. I stumbled on Holly Lisle's Writer's Index and, to my surprise, found something really interesting there -a section called How To (Legally and Ethically) Steal Ideas (It's not really what it sounds like
). Besides, you know what They say: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." -
Though I admit, if I’m cruising for the smut, I’ll skip ahead sometimes.
I do the same thing sometimes.
I have a few authors whose work I'll read no matter how long it is. If a story is thirty chapters and still has my attention, that's good stuff. I think with the longer stories, sometimes, readers don't want to have to make the commitment...it's kind of like a one-night stand, you know? They want to get in, be pleased, get out and leave you with a quick "That was great, thanks" -or just sneak out without leaving a review or rating the story.
The stories I write pretty much vary in length. It all depends on how much needs to be said, what's happening, how immersed I've become in chasing rabid plot monsters.
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There's a pinned thread in Aimless Babble, "New? Introduce Yourself!" where you can post this (someone may move it there).
Regardless, welcome!
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There may indeed be something useful in the review. In fact, I think it's pretty fair to say that in all bad reviews (besides those that just say "You suck") there's probably some small gem of good critical feedback. But it all depends on how the reviewer approaches it, too. I'm not saying that you should walk on eggshells when providing concrit, especially if the author has asked for it. But there's a difference between sophisticated, skillful concrit and boorishly rude drabble.
If you're going to offer concrit do so, but do it clearly, concisely, and, as Shirotaka says, do it positively. This isn't to say that we should be sitting around a bonfire, holding each others hands, singing Kumbaya and trying to make sure no feelings get hurt, but antagonizing an author right off the bat is the surest way to get him/her to not listen to anything you have to say. Don't waste the author's time by making them search for something helpful amidst the negative words.
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I inched across the finish line this year! I think I was only 70 words or so over 50,000.
*wipes forehead* But I did it!
I'm taking a well-deserved break from it and, hopefully, I'll be able to tackle it again in a few days, get all that connective tissue written. And, though it may not ever do anything but sit on my computer, at least I made it this year.Congrats on winning NaNoWriMo, shinigamiinochi!
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I'm a girl, which I think surprises people given my kind of gender-neutral penname (my real name is just as bad
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Eh, I have to agree with orleans on this one. I don't like winter, I don't like being cold -it can be 60 degrees outside and I still think it's chilly. The past two or three days we've had nothing but overcast skies. The first day it snowed, the past two days it's been freezing rain. I hate the constant threat of always falling and busting my ass too.
I agree it's good for hot chocolate and staying inside and just veggin' out -but I've had to go out every day in the crappy weather, scrape off my car (which is more like a car-cicle at this point than anything else), and drive in it (the snow isn't as bad as the ice to drive in, but it still kinda freaks me out sometimes...mostly because other people don't know how to drive in it).
The winters here tend to be bad anyway because there's nothing to stop the wind, which just makes it bitterly, bone-chilling, blood-freezing cold.
BRRR! It's makin' me cold just thinking about it!
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Guess I've never before met a person who doesn't want concrit.
I think the point is that we're not looking for people to just say, "I don't like your story and I don't think you write well." We want to know why. If a reviewer can't back up his/her opinions with valid reasons, then there's no point of them even opening their mouth (er, you know what I mean).
The actual point of concrit is to point out things that aren't working well, or technical problems in a way that will help the author and suggestions on how to go about changing or correcting the problems. Saying "Your story is awful" isn't in any way constructive, it's just critical.
I think nikolatesla1 has a point: Why read it if you don't like it? In fact, why even bother to tell me that you didn't like it if you don't have anything helpful to say to me? We all have different likes and dislikes. If I happen upon a story that isn't particularly my cup of tea, even if it's exceptionally well written, I don't leave a review saying I didn't like it; I just move on.
Oh, and as far as long (I dunno how good they are...) reviews without concrit -I can write them, trust me
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"Every day's a holiday when you're pagan!"
Not sure where I heard that, but I love it.
Holiday season means family and drinking.Used to be I asked for more family and less drinking.
This year I find myself wanting to drink so much I can see less of my family.
Man, do I agree with this. I'm pretty much of the mind that most of my extended family should be put in straight-jackets and sent to a psych ward...and that's on just regular days. During the holidays, it gets even worse.
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They started playing all Christmas music all the time now at the airport where I work! ARGH!!! And it will go on until the 1st of January...Tomorrow I get to listen to it for eleven, yes ELEVEN, hours
To make matters worse (like they could be), there are these HUGE inflatable decorations over the revolving doors. The one closest to me has Santa on a train and behind him is a penguin that pops out of a box.
I wish I had a blow gun and some darts.
The only bonus this year is that the gi-normous boxes wrapped like presents that they usually hang from the ceiling have gone "missing" -which I think means someone stole them. Sweet!
Oh, and totally off the subject: Hi, SFC Omicron!
Glad to see ya here! -
I doubt that's the problem unless you're really verbose.
Weeell...it happens sometimes
The review is here: Review It should be the last one on the page.
Character Names.
in Writers' Corner
Posted
I use Behindthename.com (the first name and surname page) too, but only if I need a name that needs a specific meaning -and even then, I tend to change the spelling slightly if I don't like the original.
I am constantly writing down names that I see or hear -e.g. Spiro Xanthos (I loove that one), Rade, Xanthia, Rhean- all of which I keep in a little book for reference when I need a good, strange, interesting name. I like coming up with guy names the most for some reason (my recent characters have been Astor Delaney, Cillian Blake, Leif Rosenhart).
I got slack in a creative writing class one time for using names that were "unpronounceable."
Okay, it was a story about Ragnarök and I was using Nordic names -sheesh.