Avarion
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Posts posted by Avarion
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I have The Writer's Block which is literally a fat block of a book full of triggers to jump start the imagination. Very handy!
I also have The Writer's Book of Days which takes an unusually holistic approach to practising writing, overcoming the censor and conquering writer's block. This is my favourite of the two as it's such a pleasure to read in itself.
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I think it was leftovers from an old roommate - he was one of those people who just threw books away (sacrilege!). I just can't bring myself to even think about reading it, though...
Lol I'm the same way; I refuse to throw books away. I'd probably free up tons of space by donating some books to a charity shop but I never know if I'll suddenly get the urge to pick one up to read it again.
I feel like I read slowly when it's something I'm reading for enjoyment or it's one of those books that has so much detail that I'm afraid if I skip something, I'll miss an entire plot element.I have the same fear; I'd skim huge portions of boring books during English classes in college and later suffer for it when it came to the exams, but I try not to let my eyes dart ahead no matter how eager I am to find out what's going on.
Did you borrow the Follett book because you wanted to read it? My mother has a tendency to just give me books that she thinks I'll enjoy - which I sometimes do - that's how I ended up reading Abundance and Special Topics in Calamity Physics. She gave me another one called A Thin Place, which I just couldn't get into. It had a sort of Tom Robbins/Skinny Legs and All element to it, where the inanimate objects started thinking/talking...but it wasn't done nearly as well as Robbins, I don't think.I think I wanted to read it... it's been months since she gave it to me and now I've forgotten what drew me to it in the first place. Some things I borrow from friends and family and later think 'what the hell did I want to read that for!?', but most of the time I do genuinely want to read them just to find out why they were written in the first place. I'm also borrowing my boyfriend's copy of In Search of Schrodinger's Cat. I'm no physicist, I know absolutely nothing about physics, but the blurb makes it sound so good that I'm itching to see what all the fuss is about. I bought a copy of Godel, Escher and Bach; an Eternal Golden Brain by Douglas Hofstadter for the same reason. But it's such a dense book full of the most perplexing maths that I can't seem to read it for more than about half an hour. It needs its own dummy's guide.
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I didn't buy the Ken Follet book; I'm borrowing it from my boyfriend's mum. At this rate she won't get it back until next Christmas, and even then I doubt I'll be halfway through it!
I read at an excruciatingly slow pace. I'm not dyslexic or anything, I just don't like rushing the voice of the narrator in my head. Does anyone else do the same thing?
I would approach Dianetics with an open sense of humour. That is, of course, unless you take Scientology seriously! I, too, am curious as to how you acquired a copy as I can't imagine anyone besides Tom Cruise venturing out for a copy of Hubbard's writing.
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I like "box", but then the stories I read all involve robots. A sentence like "He couldn't wait to be inside her wet folds" doesn't fit when both parties are made of metal, but "He desperately wanted to be inside her sturdy, steel box" does.
Lol!
Well, it is about time and place as I mentioned before. I agree it wouldn't fit at all to describe a robot's nether regions as something organic and juicy. I would imagine that would cause a bit of a rust problem =/
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I'm also frightened of grids. I went on holiday to Greece when I was about eleven years old, and down the main road there were so many open grids or ones that looked as though they'd collapse if they were stepped on. When I came home I found myself avoiding them when I was out and about, purely because I imagined them giving way beneath my feet.
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My strangest fear is of cluster and honeycomb patterns. I can't even begin to describe how physically sick looking at them makes me feel. I absolutely dread getting stung by bees on Animal Crossing because of the repulsive dots that appear on the swollen eye.
I feel sick just talking about it @_@
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xD
I don't understand why people include it in the build up to sex scenes either personally. I hate having my stomach licked entirely, and I sure as hell don't want my belly button messed around with. I do wash it though!
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Hmm... I agree with the previous user. I'd definitely have more than one car, but depending on my nature and attitude would depend on the type of car I owned. If I was flashy and into bling, I think I'd have a Porsche Carrera GT to show off to my friends who still ride the bus to school. If I was a more macho type of guy I'd have a 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 KR. Looks very brutish for a car.
If I was somewhere in between flashy and macho, I'd probably have an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It's halfway between metrosexual and brute, and is very expensive to say the least!
The additional car would definitely have to be the Mercedes McLaren SLR.
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Doesn't sound too good at all at the moment =(
Perhaps you could try public transport or use a bike as another user previously mentioned.
As for heating, I'm not sure what to suggest I'm afraid. As a temporary measure until you can afford oil for winter couldn't you use those small electric heaters?
I see the frustation with NASCAR. I feel the same way about F1; seems like such a waste of fuel on something so pointless.
I hope things get better soon =)
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I'm juggling a few things at the moment. I'm reading Straw Dogs by John Gray, God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens and Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre. I'm supposed to be reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett as well but the sheer size of the book puts me off!
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Some fics do, unfortunately, contain some of the most cringeworthy and horrific cliches and euphemisms, and sadly the whole experience can be ruined by inappropriate vocab. Poor spelling and grammar always gets on my nerves in every kind of context I can think of, but sometimes I can tolerate a few cliches just as long as the rest of the story provides generous compensation.
I really do hate stupid words like 'box' and 'flower' to describe a woman's vagina, although that in itself is far too clinical. I do quite like the word pussy though, even though I never used to. I don't know why I warmed to it at all! As with all things, it's about time and place, and if I saw the word 'pussy' ten times in a short paragraph I'd find a new story to read.
It's not so much specific words that get right under my skin, it's specific cliches within a given scenario, especially when it's blatantly obvious that the author in question just doesn't have a damn clue what they're trying to describe. That may not be any fault of their own, but either way, it is incredibly annoying. I can't stand reading fics that take their time to build up a sex scene and then two seconds later BAM! The guy's blown his load and the girl's 'trembling from the aftermath of her climax'... UGH!
But I think the one thing that makes me grind my teeth, clench my fists and throw a real wobbly is reading fics about a character losing her virginity. Stories of guys doing it for the first time are never half as bad, but stories of girls getting their cherries popped *really* do my head in because they never sound anything like real life. I don't want to read a load of sappy drivel then launch into a scene of hot rampant first-time sex between a couple of teenagers! When I think of the first time I think of emotional vulnerability, curiosity, fear, excitement, awkwardness and embarrassment.
Grrr... gets me so damn angry!
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I think first-hand experiences vary from writer to writer; some will find it a useful tool where others won't feel the need to utilise it whatsoever. In any case, either is fine as long as the subject of your writing doesn't sound contrived or unbelievable.
I've read tons of stories that chronicle the 'stages' of a female orgasm, and most of the time I get the distinct feeling as though the author of the story clearly has absolutely no idea what an actual female orgasm feels like. That being said, there are some people who write about a climax that is so accurate you assume they are writing from a first hand experience, but the author could be abstinent and has relied solely on the power of the imagination.
When it comes to situations such as rape, for example, it's not so much about detailing the act, it's portraying what is felt, and as such a first hand experience isn't necessary because we all have the ability to imagine what it could feel like for someone to do something to us without our consent. Personally I think it's far more important to read something that provokes an emotional reaction as opposed to something that is trying to document an account of physical sensation, whether it is pain or pleasure. I think exploring human emotions and the human psyche is much more dynamic and engaging than writing about physical sensations.
I think if you can envision yourself in a situation you haven't experienced and can allow yourself to feel all the emotions you would typically associate with that situation, you can rely on imagination alone to write something convincing and powerful. But there will be some things you simply cannot relate to and can't imagine, so a secondary source is a good idea. If you do have first hand experiences of the subject you wish to write about, then it is simply up to you whether you choose to use it or not. I find it definitely helps to add substance to a piece of writing but it isn't crucial at all.
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Personally, the rewards of writing are entirely self-absorbed. Anything I write is a transcript of a fantasy playing itself out in my imagination, and ultimately my goal is to do justice to that fantasy. During the process of transcribing my thoughts and ideas I'm not at all concerned about what other people will think of my work. All that matters to me at that time is my own enjoyment. If I disciplined myself to sit down and write something for others to enjoy, it wouldn't feel half as exciting or as personal as it does when I aim to please only myself. It's just an added bonus if other people enjoy my work. Of course, getting a good review is the icing on the cake, even if it's just one.
Additionally, I would say the ultimate reward of transcribing my fantasies is adopting a character to experience all the things I would never, ever get a chance to do in the real world. I relish all opportunities to escape and I don't think there's anything better than escaping through an absorbing story, or writing your own.
Naturally, finishing something is a reward but feeling satisfied means more.
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Welcome Avarion!
I think that quite a lot of us hung out at AFF reading before either choosing to join the forum or simply stumbling in one day by accident. Whatever brought you here, I hope you find many fascinating people and things to enjoy. I can sympathize with your concerns regarding your style. My writer's block got so bad that I simply walked away from writing completely for years but it can be a joy rediscovering your own unique voice. Good luck with it and just have faith in yourself. While I probably shouldn't be giving advice, it seems to slip from my mouth and fingertips of it's own accord!
Anyway, welcome to AFF. There's some excellent DBZ and Potter fics posted here as well as lively conversation to be found in the forum. B)
I think the biggest crutch of writer's block is that we worry about it getting worse and make it worse by worrying! The cycle can sometimes feel endless, but the only way to break through it is to overcome the inhibitions that have alienated us from our work. I currently feel as though my block is still quite serious as I can't even write a diary; it's not that I don't have anything to write, I just can't face my own thoughts staring back at me. It's almost as if writing down what I feel is too close for comfort. I suppose, in a sense, it's a bit like denial; it's the refusal of honesty, and it acts as the imagination's deadliest pollutant. I thoroughly appreciate all advice, thoughts and opinions on writer's block as it's quite fascinating in its own way.
As for DBZ fics, I've read some remarkable work in the past week or so, although it's a shame there isn't much new material to browse. Most of the stuff I've read so far is several years old. I wonder why submissions have slowed down.
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Hey everyone. I'm Avarion; I joined AFF a couple of days ago after spending about two years dropping by from time to time, so in a sense I'm an old newbie, though I am brand new to the forums.
I'm normally on here reading DBZ fics although I do love a bit of Harry Potter yaoi ;3
I used to contribute to FF.net before they scrapped the NC-17 rating, and did attempt to write less explicit material but I didn't enjoy toning down my ideas, so I never bothered to submit any work until now.
At present, I don't feel as though my writing is organic or has a particular style or flow. I've suffered writer's/artist's block for around three years and if any of my work seems contrived then it most probably is! I feel I am my own worst critic and I fail to give any of my work the chance to evolve, but as I contribute to AFF I hope I can develop a proper voice and write more engaging material.
Aside from that, I'm a 20 year old (or young!) philosophy student studying at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in England, and I'm due to start the second year of my degree in September. I love a wide and highly diverse range of music, although at present I am very much into drum and bass and electronica. I read tons of books, though mostly non-fiction in the past 18 months or so, but my favourite novel of recent years has to be Memoirs of a Geisha. Utterly spellbinding.
I can't help but ramble with this type of stuff even though I do worry about sounding self absorbed, so I think I'll bring this post to a close for now.
There's more info on my Myspace page and some pics, so if this has been inadequate feel free to take a gander.
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Hi everyone; I've finally joined AFF after a couple of years of lurking and this is my first submitted piece of writing. If you're a Dragonball Z fan, or more specifically a Vegeta fan, please check out my story :3
Title: Hot Mess
Author: Avarion
Summary: It's official; the bathroom is the new boudoir!
Rating: Adult++
Pairings: Vegeta & Bulma
Feedback: Massively appreciated! All criticism is welcomed and encouraged
URL: http://anime2.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600022122
Thanks for reading this; hope you enjoy my story!
Avarion
Vocabulary Turn-offs
in Writers' Corner
Posted
That's a good sex scene. I disdain a chronicle of physical events. We all know how the biology works, we all know the sounds that are generally produced; is it really necessary to document them all without adding any substance? I often find it the case that sex scenes which merely suggest the act of sex itself are far steamier than their graphic counterparts when the writer goes to great depths to explore the characters involved and their relationship. That being said, sex scenes which are full of description and little else can sometimes feel tedious, especially if it feels the writer is going round in circles. As with most things, the key to getting it right is finding a balance.